Are you planning a trip to Portugal’s Northern Capital and wondering where to stay in Porto? Captain Ulysses has listed his tips and recommendations to help you find the perfect pied-à-terre!
Contents
👉 In which district to stay in Porto?
👉 Hostel recommendations in Porto
👉 2-star hotel recommendations in Porto
👉 3 and 4 star hotel recommendations in Porto
👉 Luxury hotel recommendations in Porto
👉 How much are hotels in Porto?
👉 When is it cheapest to travel to Porto?
👉 On which site to book your hotel in Porto?
💡 The Captain’s tip 💡
Want to know more about Porto’s history? Captain Ulysses highly recommends this free guided tour of the city. It’s up to you to choose how much you wish to tip the tour guide!
In which district to stay when visiting Porto?
The Ribeira district, in the historic center, is without a doubt the most popular area for visitors coming to Porto. Located on the banks of the Douro River, it is a lively neighborhood gathering countless bars, restaurants, stores and tourist attractions.
That’s also where most of Porto’s tourist accommodations are located, from luxury hotels to youth hostels.
Vila Nova de Gaia is a municipality located on the south bank of the Douro River, opposite the Ribeira district, just across the Dom Luis Bridge. Vila Nova de Gaia is known for its many wine cellars, but also for the breathtaking view it offers over Porto. If you prefer to be a little removed from the bustle of the city’s bars while remaining close to the tourist attractions, then Captain Ulysses warmly recommends staying on this side of the Douro.
Hostel recommendations in Porto
Located in a 19th century building in the historic center of Porto, a 10-minute walk from the Torre dos Clerigos, Gallery Hostel has plenty of excellent customer reviews. The rooms are very clean and the interior design is elegant and trendy.
📅 Check rates and availability
Located inside the iconic São Bento train station, in the heart of Porto’s historic center, The Passenger Hostel is comfortable, stylish and trendy.
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Housed in an Art Deco building dating from the 1930s, Rivoli Cinema Hostel is located near Avenida dos Aliados and Sao Bento Station. Inside, you’ll find plenty of pop culture references, from Tim Burton to The Simpsons.
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Recommendations for 2-star hotels in Porto
Housed in a fully renovated Art Deco movie theater, Moov Hotel Porto Centro offers modern rooms just a 3-minute walk from Sao Bento Station. The staff is lovely and helpful.
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Located on Praça da Republica, north of the historic center of Porto, the Rex Hotel is housed in a charming historic building. The interior design is sleek and elegant.
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Decanting Porto House is located in a historic building a few minutes from the Mercado do Bolhão, in the historic center of Porto. The wine-themed rooms are clean and simple, and the staff is helpful and friendly.
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Recommendations of 3 and 4 star hotels in Porto
Located just a 10-minute walk from the Mercado do Bolhao, the Village Aparthotel By BOA offers beautiful rooms with a pleasantly elegant and bohemian decor. The staff is lovely and elegant.
📅 Check rates and availability
Just 300 meters from the beautiful Palacio da Bolsa, in the historic center of Porto, Mo House has a few hundred excellent customer reviews. Its perks? The neat decoration, the central location in a beautiful historic building and the warm and welcoming staff.
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Located n a quiet area, north of the historic center of Porto, the Fontinha Porto is a beautiful 4 star hotel. The rooms are sleek and modern and the terrace is quite simply beautiful.
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Recommendations of boutique hotels and luxury hotels in Porto
Nestled in the Ribeira district, near Porto Cathedral and the Torre dos Clérigos, the Pestana Vintage Porto is popular with travelers for its central location, impressive architecture and panoramic views of the city.
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With its panoramic city views, heated outdoor pool and impressive wine cellar, the Yeatman Hotel, nestled in Vila Nova de Gaia, next to Porto’s wine cellars, is Captain Ulysses’ favorite.
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Located in the Baixa district, near Praça da Liberdade, the InterContinental Porto – Palácio das Cardosas is a stunning hotel. The rooms are sleek and elegant.
📅 Check rates and availability
How much are hotels in Porto?
The Captain cannot give you a precise estimate of the cost a hotel in Porto, as prices can vary considerably depending on the season, the location of the hotel and the quality of the accommodation.
However, here’s a quick rundown:
- 20-30 euros for a bed in a youth hostel,
- 60-100 euros per night for a 2-star hotel in Porto,
- 100-150 euros per night for a mid-range hotel,
- over 150 euros per night for a luxury hotel.
When is it cheapest to travel to Porto?
Unsurprisingly, if you’re on a budget, it is best to travel to Porto during the low season (in January, February and November in particular).
Also try to be flexible and book your accommodation as far in advance as possible.
Want to pay less for your flights? Take a look at Captain Ulysses’ article: 10 tips to pay less for your plane tickets.
Where to book a hotel in Porto?
Pour réserver votre hôtel à Porto, le Capitaine Ulysse vous recommande chaudement soit Booking, soit Hotels.com. Vous y trouverez une très large sélection d’hébergement : il y en a pour tous les prix et pour tous les goûts. Pensez bien à regarder les avis clients pour éviter les mauvaises affaires !
👉 Skip the lines: book your tickets and visits in advance!
👉 Looking for tips and recommendations? Here are all the Captain’s suggestions in Porto!
🛏️ Accommodation: to book your accommodation in Porto, Captain Ulysses warmly recommends Booking.com. From youth hostels to luxury boutique hotels: there’s plenty to choose from. The Captain particularly recommends:
– youth hostels: The Passenger Hostel and Urban Garden Porto Central Hostel
– budget and mid-range hotels: Decanting Porto House and Porto Charming Hotel
– high-end hotels: NH Porto Jardim and The Yeatman.
🎟️ Activities: museums, monuments, guided tours, boat tours, excursions… there’s plenty to do in Porto! To avoid wasting time in endless queues, especially during high season, the Captain strongly recommends that you opt for skip-the-line tickets and book your activities in advance. You can book all your tickets and tourist activities on GetYourGuide and Civitatis.
⛵ Cruises: Porto is undoubtedly synymous with Douro! It’d be a shame to leave the “Capital of the North” without embarking on a Douro river cruise. If you’re only staying in Porto for a long weekend, the Captain recommends the six bridges cruise. If you have more time, then he highly recommends the Douro Valley cruise with wine tasting & lunch.
🎫 Citypass: valid from 1 to 4 days, the Porto Card includes unlimited access to city transport (including to get to/from the airport), free entry to 6 museums and a selection of discounts in museums, attractions, Port wine cellars and shops.
🚐 Transfers: you can take the metro at the airport to get to the city center (1/2 hour). But if you prefer to avoid public transport, you can also book a transfer at very reasonable prices.
🚌 Local transport: you’ll propably quickly tire of Porto’s steeply sloping streets and might be tempted to take local transport instead of walking. The public transport network is convenient and easy to navigate. You can buy your tickets directly at metro stations and bus stops (be careful, you will need to take 1 Andante card per person).
You should also know that access to public transport is included in the Porto Card. Otherwise, the hop-on hop-off bus tours are great options to explore the city. You can also opt for a pass including access to hop-on hop-off buses, the funicular as well as tramways.
Among other means of transport, you can also try the bicycle, the electric bicycle, the segway, the tuk-tuk, the small train …
✈️ Flights: to book your flights to Porto, Captain Ulysses warmly recommends Skyscanner. You’ll be able to compare countless offers to find the best deal. If your dates are flexible, you can also compare prices over several months to find the cheapest flights possible.
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