Where To Stay In Porto (Best Areas & Hotels in 2025)
Are you wondering where to book a stay in Porto? You’ve come to the right article.
Porto is Portugal’s second largest city after Lisbon, and known for its amazing food and wine, scenic Douro river views, and historic architecture that looks straight out of a postcard. I spent three nights in Porto, and fell in love with its relaxed atmosphere.
This article will cover exactly where to stay, and a list of the top-rated hotels in each area. From charming boutique hotels to wine resorts, there’s something on this list for every type of traveler!
Here are the best places to stay in Porto Portugal for first time visitors.
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Best Areas To Stay In Porto
The best areas to stay in Porto are downtown, the riverside district (Cais da Ribeira), the home of port wine cellars (Vila Nova de Gaia), and along the coast (Foz do Douro).
If you want to be near everything, the best area to stay is downtown.
Here you’ll be within a 15 minute walk of all of the popular attractions, including the Clerigos Tower, Porto Cathedral, and Luis I Bridge. The heart of downtown is mostly flat, and it’s dotted with cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops.
If you want to stay at a hotel with a river view, opt for a hotel in Cais da Ribeira. This is a riverside district overlooking the Douro River and Luis I Bridge, that’s within walking distance to downtown.
It’s home to many charming hotels, but it requires an uphill hike to get to Porto’s city center so it’s not ideal for those with mobility issues.
If you’re a wine connoisseur, consider staying in Vila Nova de Gaia. This is a riverfront city that faces Porto, on the opposite side of the Luis I bridge. It’s where port wine is stored and aged, and home to a variety of port wine cellars, port houses and wine museums.
But keep in mind that it requires a 20 minute uphill hike to get to the Luis I Bridge. From the bridge, however, you can easily hop on the metro (Jardim do Morro) to get back to Porto’s city center!
Lastly, if you’re visiting Porto in the summer months, consider a stay in Foz do Douro (Mouth of the Douro). This is where the Douro River meets the Atlantic Ocean, and the coastal area of Porto, with long stretches of sandy beaches.
Here you can go for long walks on the promenade, ride bikes along the coast, or enjoy amazing seafood by the water. It’s the ideal place to stay if you’re renting a car, but is also accessible by a 20 minute bus or tram ride from Porto’s downtown.
Here are some of the best hotel options in each area (vetted by reviews, price, and proximity to nearby attractions).
Downtown
Here are some of the top-rated hotel options in downtown, within walking distance to restaurants, and Porto’s main attractions.
Casa do Cativo
- Highlight: Comfortable hotel in the heart of downtown with free breakfast
- Ratings: 9.7 (905)
- Price: ~$197/night
Just steps away from the Sao Bento train station, Casa do Cativo is one of the most convenient places to stay downtown.
It’s a comfortable hotel with free breakfast, an outdoor pool, gardens, and rooms equipped with coffee makers. Here you’ll be right next to Porto’s Time Out Market, a variety of cafes, restaurants, and popular attractions.
GA Palace Hotel & Spa
- Highlight: Luxurious spa resort with gym, full-service spa, pools, and free breakfast
- Ratings: 9.6 (2982)
- Price: ~$500/night
If you want to feel like royalty on vacation, book a stay at the GA Palace Hotel.
This is a luxurious spa resort with a gym, outdoor pools and lounge areas, and onsite restaurant with live music. Here you’ll be steps away from the Luís I Bridge, Porto Cathedral, and popular cafes and restaurants in downtown.
Wine & Books Hotel
- Highlight: Luxurious spa resort with a gym, indoor pool, and rooftop restaurant with city views
- Ratings: 9.4 (1,028)
- Price: ~$340/night
If you want to enjoy city views from your hotel, opt for the Wine & Books Hotel. This is a 5-star spa resort with a gym, indoor pool, onsite restaurant, and rooftop terrace with sweeping views of the city.
It’s steps away from the famous Livraria Lello bookstore in the heart of downtown, and near numerous cafe and restaurant options.
Torel Palace
- Highlight: Romantic boutique hotel with outdoor pool, hot tubs, and free breakfast
- Ratings: 9.6 (1110)
- Price: ~$430/night
If you’re looking for a romantic place to stay, opt for the Torel Palace. This is a charming boutique hotel in the heart of downtown, with outdoor pools, hot tubs, and an onsite restaurant that serves free breakfast.
It’s in a convenient location, near several cafes, restaurants, and within walking distance to the popular attractions of downtown.
Porto Bay Flores
- Highlight: Luxurious spa hotel with a gym, indoor pool, and onsite restaurant
- Ratings:. 9.4 (1663)
- Price: ~$500/night
If you’re seeking a luxurious stay, opt for Porto Bay Flores. This is a 5-star spa resort with a gym, indoor swimming pool, full service spa, and onsite restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Here you’ll be just down the street from the Clerigos Tower, and a variety of restaurants, cafes, and shops in downtown.
Torel Avantgarde
- Highlight: Luxurious spa hotel with a gym, free breakfast, and Douro river views
- Ratings: 9.3 (2529)
- Price: ~$500/night
If you want to stay in a luxurious resort in one of the most beautiful areas of Porto, opt for the Torel Avantgarde.
This is a 5-star spa hotel with a gym, an outdoor pool area with panoramic views of the Douro river, and an onsite restaurant that serves free breakfast.
Here you’ll be steps away from the Crystal Palace gardens where you can spot peacocks on a morning walk, and around a 15 minute walk from downtown.
Cais da Ribeira (By the river)
Here are some of the best hotel options overlooking the Douro River in Cais da Ribeira, if you don’t mind a short uphill hike to get to Porto’s downtown.
Memoria Porto
- Highlight: Charming riverfront hotel with a free buffet breakfast
- Ratings: 9.3 (2,322)
- Price: ~$250/night
3If you want to enjoy a river view from your hotel, book a stay at the Memoria Porto. This is a charming boutique hotel tucked along the riverfront, with free breakfast and coffee.
Here you’ll be steps away from the Palacio da Bolsa building, and only a 5 minute walk from Ribeira square where you can enjoy live music by the river.
Ribeira Douro Hotel
- Highlight: Quaint riverfront hotel with free breakfast
- Ratings: 9.7 (1200)
- Price: ~$250/night
If you’re looking for somewhere comfortable and quiet to stay, opt for the Ribeira Douro Hotel.
This small riverfront hotel is steps away from the Ribeira square, where you can enjoy live music by the river, and less than a 10 minute walk from downtown. Guests can enjoy access to coffee makers in the lobby, and free breakfast each morning.
Vila Nova de Gaia (Home of port wine)
Here are some of the best wine hotels in Gaia, facing Porto and the scenic Douro river.
Vincii Ponte de Ferro
- Highlight: Elegant riverfront hotel with gym, pools, and unbeatable Douro river views
- Ratings 9.5 (5804).
- Price: ~$330/night
If you want one of the best views of the Douro River, book a stay at Vincii Ponte de Ferro.
This is a beautiful riverfront hotel in Gaia with a gym, restaurant, and rooftop pool and lounge area with an incredible view of the Douro River. Here you’ll be steps away from the Luis I Bridge, and a variety of port wine lodges and restaurants in Gaia.
Additionally, you’ll be right next to a metro (Jardim do Morro) you can hop on to get to Porto’s downtown in minutes.
The Yeatman Hotel
- Highlight: Luxurious spa & wine resort with a gym, restaurant, and outdoor pools with panoramic views of the Douro River.
- Ratings: 9.5 (1021)
- Price: ~$600/night
If you love wine and river views, book a stay at the Yeatman hotel.
This is a luxurious spa resort with a Michelin star restaurant, gym, spa, and outdoor lounge area with pools, and Douro River views. Here you’ll be steps away from wine museums in Porto’s WOW district, several port wine cellars, and a lively riverfront plaza.
Foz do Douro (By the ocean)
If you want to stay by the ocean, here are the top-rated hotels at the mouth of the Douro River (Foz do Douro).
Hotel Boa Vista
- Highlight: Beachfront hotel with a gym, rooftop pools overlooking the ocean, and free breakfast
- Ratings: 8.4 (3692)
- Price: ~$150/night
If you’re looking for an affordable hotel steps away from the beach, opt for the Hotel Boa Vista. This beachfront hotel has a rooftop bar and pool area with stunning ocean views, a gym, and a free daily buffet breakfast for guests.
It’s within walking distance to beaches, a lighthouse, and a long beach promenade lined with restaurants and cafes.
Vila Foz Hotel & Spa
- Highlight: Upscale beachfront spa resort with a gym, pools, and free breakfast
- Ratings: 9.0 (862)
- Price: ~$500/night
If you’re seeking a luxurious beach vacation, opt for a stay at the Vila Foz hotel.
This is an upscale beach resort with a gym, indoor pools, full-service spa, and onsite restaurant that serves free breakfast. Here you’ll have a beautiful ocean view from your room, and just a short bus ride to reach Porto’s downtown.
My Experience Staying In Porto
On my trip to Porto, I stayed in Oporto Seven Guest House, a budget-friendly hotel around 30 minutes outside of downtown.
This hotel was very clean, comfortable, and an overall great place to stay for budget travelers. It’s around a 10 minute walk to a metro (Carolina Michaelis), which you can take to get to downtown.
The only downside is that it’s not within walking distance to many restaurants or grocery stores, so you’ll have to rely on the metro to get around.
Best Budget Hotels In Porto
If you don’t mind being far outside of the city center, here are some of the best budget hotel options.
Boavista Guest House
- Highlight: Closest budget hotel to downtown that offers a breakfast buffet
- Ratings: 8.9 (2228)
- Location: Boavista
- Price: ~$100/night
If you want to be within walking distance to downtown, book a stay at the Boavista Guest House.
This is a clean and comfortable hotel with private rooms that offers a daily buffet breakfast for a fee. It’s only a 10 minute walk from downtown, and within walking distance to cafes, restaurants, and grocery stores.
Hotel Jaguar Oporto
- Highlight: Affordable hotel with free airport shuttle and onsite restaurant
- Ratings: 9.3 (2771)
- Location: Marques
- Price: ~$130/night
The Hotel Jaguar Oporto is the ideal place to stay if you don’t want to worry about transportation to the airport.
It’s a clean and comfortable budget hotel, with an onsite restaurant that offers a daily buffet breakfast, and a free shuttle to the airport. Here you’ll be within a 5 minute walk from a metro you can use to get to downtown, and a few cafes and restaurants.
Porto Hotels Map
Porto FAQs
How do you get around Porto?
Porto is very easy to get around, and has a metro, buses, and trams that will get you within a 15 minute walk of everything. To get to your accommodation, there is a metro station connected to the airport, as well as Uber/Bolt and taxis available.
All of the popular attractions in Porto are within walking distance to another (e.g. Porto Cathedral, Clerigos Tower), so I only relied on the metro to get to my hotel. Additionally, if you want to avoid walking, there’s everything from private tuk tuk tours to ebike rentals.
Is Porto walkable?
Yes, Porto is a very walkable city, and most of the attractions in downtown are within a 10 minute walk of another. To put it into perspective, the Clerigos Tower is around a 10 minute walk to the Porto Cathedral, which is only a 5 minute walk further to the Luis I Bridge.
If you plan on visiting Gaia, you can walk across the Luis I bridge, and it’s only a 20 minute walk to get down to the museums and port wine cellars.
It’s a very steep uphill hike to get from the riverfront plazas (Cais da Riberia/Cais da Gaia) back to Porto, but thankfully there’s a cable car available on both sides of the river!
Where’s the best place to stay for couples?
The best place to stay for couples is Cais da Ribeira or Vila Nova de Gaia, if you both don’t mind an uphill walk to get to Porto’s attractions.
These are the most scenic areas, with beautiful views of the Douro River, and lively riverfront plazas around sunset.
Where’s the best place to stay for families?
Porto is a very safe and family-friendly city. If you’re traveling with young kids in a stroller, the most convenient area to stay is Baixa, in the heart of downtown.
If you don’t mind a short uphill walk to get to the attractions, however, there are some great family-friendly hotels in Cais da Ribeira as well.
How many days do you need in Porto?
The ideal amount of time to spend in Porto is two to three days. You only need two days to explore the top attractions in downtown, and the extra day will give you time to explore the beaches, or go on a day trip to the Douro Valley!
Should you rent a car in Porto?
No, you don’t need to rent a car in Porto, as all of the main attractions are within walking distance. If you want to visit the beaches, they’re easily accessible by bus, metro, or Uber, which are all relatively cheap.
And if you plan on visiting the Douro Valley, there’s a variety of tours from Porto so you don’t have to worry about transportation.
Is Porto worth visiting?
Yes, Porto is absolutely worth visiting, whether you love wine, great food, or beautiful historic architecture. It’s slightly more relaxed than the hustle and bustle of Lisbon, but still has dozens of interesting sites, and activities for tourists.
Check out our perfect 2 day Porto itinerary for ideas on how to spend your time in town.
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