Where to Stay in Porto: Top Picks in the Historic Center on any Budget
One of the first questions we get asked when family or friends come to Porto is “Where should we stay?” For most first-time visitors, the answer is right in the historic center. Porto is not a huge city, but it is hilly, full of cobblestones, and a little more spread out than you may think.
Staying in the center means you can step outside and quickly access tourist highlights like São Bento or the Clérigos Tower, as well as many cafes and restaurants.
For this post, we’ll focus on hotels in the downtown area around São Bento and south. Here you’ll find a few major pedestrian streets packed with hotels, ending at the famous waterfront ribiera.
Personally, we prefer to be a bit farther away from the tourist rush and noise, but we have found our guests almost always wish to stay in this area for their first visit.
We are an American family that lives in Porto, so we only recommend places we would send our family and friends. In this article, we’ve pulled together the top hotels in the historic downtown for luxury, mid-range, and budget-friendly travelers. We’ll also give you some quick tips on what to expect and what to look for when choosing your hotel.
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Why We Recommend the Historic Downtown
We recommend historic downtown because it gives first-timers the easiest version of Porto. You’re close to the biggest sights, there are plenty of hotel options at different price points, and the whole area is easy to explore on foot.
You should be aware that, especially in the summer, some of these streets can get quite busy, and many visitors complain about noise from the street through thin glass windows. There are also hills. They begin at the riverfront and continue up, past Trindade train station (one of the major transportation hubs).
Wondering which month to visit? We’ve got a guide to each season with what each one has to offer.
Anything south of Trindade Metro Station is generally a convenient location, but most of our guests prefer to be around or south of São Bento rather than farther up the hill. This area puts you right in the center of the major sights and lots of great restaurants. It’s easily walkable, and you won’t have to fuss with public transportation unless you opt for a day trip out of the city.
Our Top Luxury Picks
If luxury is what you are looking for, these are some of the best hotels in the historic downtown area to consider. These are five-star hotels that offer top-notch service, spas, and a price to match.
G.A. Palace Hotel
This 5 -star hotel offers a luxury stay that is a little tucked away but still close to the center. Set in a restored 19th-century villa near Batalha and São Bento, it has that polished boutique feel. You’ll find elegant rooms, a full spa, a beautiful courtyard with an outdoor pool, and a year-round indoor pool as well. Breakfast is included with each room.
Address: R. de Alexandre Herculano 311
Book Now: G.A. Palace Hotel
Casa da Companhia
Right on Rua das Flores, Casa da Companhia by IHG is one of the best luxury options for visitors who want to stay in the middle of everything. The style leans historic and upscale, with restored 18th-century details mixed with a more modern finish. It has both an outdoor rooftop pool and an indoor heated pool in the spa.
Address: Rua das Flores 69
Book Now: Casa da Companhia
Torel Palace Porto
Torel Palace Porto is elegant and a little dramatic, with a more curated style than a traditional grand hotel. Located near Batalha, it includes an outdoor pool, plus some rooms include balconies overlooking the pool or the city. Larger suites also offer private entrances. Here you’ll also find the restaurant Blind, which has one Michelin star and offers a unique sensory dining experience.
Address: Rua das Entreparedes 40
Book Now: Torel Palace Porto
Our Top Mid-Range Picks
This is the sweet spot for many of our readers. These hotels still put you right in the middle of downtown Porto, at a great price point. They still offer a clean, stylish stay, but not with as many amenities as the luxury hotels.
Ribeira Douro Hotel
As you would expect, the Ribeira Douro Hotel is located right in Ribeira and is on the higher end of this category. Located in a beautiful old building on a cobblestone street, this hotel feels cozy and traditional, and some rooms have Douro River views.
This is the “almost luxury” stay, which we are squeezing into the “mid” category as rates drop substantially off-season. Family rooms are available, breakfast is often included, and guests rate this property overall very highly.
Address: Rua da Reboleira 54
Book Now: Ribeira Douro Hotel
DEUXMECS Porto
DEUXMECS Porto is a really good mid-range boutique option. It has a stylish historic-center feel with modern comfort worked into an older building, and some rooms include a balcony or terrace.
The style is modern with bright pops of color and fun twists. This is not your grandmother’s traditional stuffy hotel.
Address: Rua dos Caldeireiros 10
Book Now: DEUXMECS Porto
Mercure Porto Centro Aliados
A reliable mid-range hotel, Mercure Porto Centro Aliados offers modern amenities in a clean and contemporary style. Families will appreciate the availability of connecting rooms. It stands out for its outdoor pool and terrace, in a relaxed, leafy setting.
Address: Rua do Bonjardim 95
Book Now: Mercure Porto Centro Aliados
Descobertas Boutique Hotel by Aspasios
Descobertas Boutique Hotel has a modern, industrial boutique style and an excellent location on the Ribeira. Rooms have a “Portuguese Discoveries theme”, and guests rave about the breakfast and small touches like welcome drinks and free umbrellas to borrow.
Address: Rua Fonte Taurina 14-22
Book Now: Descobertas Boutique Hotel
Our Top Budget Picks
Because the area south of São Bento is one of the most popular parts of the city, budget options are harder to find here during the high season. Still, there are a few really solid options that keep you close to the historic center and keep costs reasonable.
During the low season, you’ll find lots of options for less than 100€ a night. You will find that prices fluctuate wildly depending on the season and what holidays or events are happening in town.
Hotel da Bolsa
A practical budget pick with a great location, Hotel da Bolsa is near the beautiful Palácio da Bolsa and Ribeira. It has clean, basic rooms in a traditional style and puts you within easy walking distance of many of Porto’s main sights.
Address: Rua Ferreira Borges 101
Book Now: Hotel da Bolsa
Casa dos Lóios by Shiadu
Casa dos Lóios Guesthouse feels more charming than a standard budget hotel, which is a big part of its appeal. It has a traditional historic-center style with a sweeping staircase and modern touches. Some rooms have a balcony, which adds a nice extra touch in such a central location on Rua das Flores.
Address: Rua das Flores 245
Book Now: Casa dos Lóios
Moov Hotel Porto Centro
Moov Hotel Porto Centro is centrally located in a restored Art Deco cinema near Batalha. The exterior facade is complemented by the fresh, modern style and an interior courtyard that offers a quiet respite from the city.
Address: Praça da Batalha 32-34
Book Now: Moov Hotel Porto Centro
What About Neighborhoods Like Cedofeita, Bonfim, and Gaia?
There are definitely other areas worth considering in Porto, and depending on your travel style, one of them might be a good fit for you. The downtown area is beautiful, historic, and packed with that classic tiled charm people envision before they arrive. But it can also be crowded, noisy, and a little less practical than it seems, depending on your itinerary.
Vila Nova da Gaia often comes up, as it is across the river and home to the port cellars, which are on many tourist itineraries. The Gaia waterfront area is flat and busy, while the hills above are quite steep.
This is a great place to stay if you plan to spend most of your time on this side of the river, focusing on port tours, or don’t mind walking. However, getting back and forth is not always easy- you’ll find a steep climb to the metro, and motor traffic across the bridges can snarl easily.
Cedofeita has a cooler, more local feel with great restaurants and shops, and we recommend it to someone who has already been to Porto before or wants a stay in an area that feels a little less touristy, and is interested in art galleries and a boho feel.
Bonfim, east of the historic center, is another good option if you are looking for better value or a longer stay. It is more residential, and that can be a nice change of pace. This is a more authentic, less gentrified area that has attracted lots of university students. You’ll find cool cafes and shops here, but you’ll have a longer walk to the more popular sights. Here you may want to use the metro.
A Few Quick Booking Tips
Here are a few quick tips for choosing a hotel that can make a big difference once you arrive. Porto is easy to enjoy when your hotel is in the right spot, but a place that looks good online can feel much less convenient if the street is noisy or the walk back is steeper than you expected.
Check the Exact Location
For this article, we’re focused on the walkable downtown area, but you should double-check the map before you book and make sure you’re close to the sights you actually want to see. Planning to use the metro? Boat tours? Look at your specific itinerary to see what makes sense for you.
Check Reviews for Noise
Downtown Porto is lively, which is part of the appeal, but it can also mean street noise, late-night activity, and even early-morning delivery trucks. Many of these hotels are in old buildings with single-pane glass, and even pedestrian-only streets may have noise issues. We always warn guests about noise, but they are still almost always surprised by the noise level. Keep in mind that many places don’t have A/C, so you’ll want to open windows for air flow.
Don’t Underestimate the Hills
While Porto is not as hilly as Lisbon, it is still built on a hill, and you will feel the climb from the river up to São Bento. Trindade and the Bolhão Market are even further up. A hotel that seems only a few minutes away from the center can feel a lot farther with luggage, or at the end of a long day.
Book Early in High Season
Porto is not a large city, and the best central hotels tend to fill up quickly, especially in summer. If you have your dates, it is worth booking early for the most options and the best prices. On the positive side, rates drop quickly outside of the busiest season, so it’s easy to grab a great centrally located room at under 100€ per night.
There You Have It
If it is your first time in Porto, staying in the historic downtown is usually the best choice. You will be close to the major sights, surrounded by restaurants and cafés, and able to explore the city on foot without having to figure out public transportation.
Our favorite area for first-time visitors is around São Bento and south toward the Ribeira, even if it is not the quietest part of town. Don’t miss our 1-day itinerary, or our broader 3-day itinerary to make the most of your time in the city.
Once you’ve explored the top sights, it makes more sense to stay in quieter areas outside the center to explore the greater Porto area via bus or metro. We’ve got a guide to getting around Porto when you are ready to explore.
Don’t miss our Top Things to Do in Porto and our best Portugal Travel Tips.
Ready to explore deeper into Portugal? Check out how to rent a car, and learn about driving in Portugal.
