Located on the left bank where the Douro River flows, Porto is considered one of the most picturesque cities in the world. Every year it attracts thousands and thousands of visitors from different parts of the globe, due to its colorful houses, reddish roofs and imposing landscapes that characterize the most famous photos of Portugal.
Because of the above, choosing where to stay in order to get the most out of the city is essential, in order to ensure the best possible experience. Below, we are going to tell you about the different areas of the city, and which are the best places to stay in Porto, Portugal, so that you can take the best experiences on your trip.
Neighborhoods with the best accommodations in Porto, Portugal
San Ildefonso Neighborhood
To start our list of the best places to stay in Porto, Portugal, we’re going to talk about the neighborhood of San Ildefonso. Although it is true that it belongs to the area of La Baixa that we will talk about below, it is worth differentiating it because it is in the northern area of the historic center of the city. Some of the key points in this part are the Mercado do Bolhão, the Church of Trindade and the Church of São Ildefonso. In addition, it has a metro station that connects directly to other parts of the city, including the airport.
One of the first luxury hotels we can recommend in Porto is Carmo’s Boutique Hotel. It is an intimate accommodation in Porto that is located in Ponte de Lima, in the heart of the Minho region, Porto region. It is a family-run business where personalized attention is provided with individualized services and true attention to detail. Included are aspects such as golf and cultural programs, wine tastings, gastronomic tours, private transfers, among other things.
La Baixa, historic centre
Secondly, we must refer to one of the most popular parts of the city both to visit and to stay, as is the case with Cedofeita and Foz do Douro, other areas of interest, such as La Baixa. We are referring to the historic center of Porto, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Without a doubt, it is one of the best areas to stay and enjoy the city, while having a very wide range of hotels, gastronomy and walking access to many of the most important points of interest.
While it is true that accommodation offers tend to be more expensive than in other parts of the city, it is a part where it is possible to save on transfer costs due to the proximity to tourist attractions. Some of the points that are in this area are the Elevador da Ribeira, Rua das Flores, the Cathedral of Porto, the Mirador Iglesia San Lorenzo, the Avenida dos Aliados, the Funicular dos Guindais, among others.
La Ribeira neighbourhood
The neighborhood of La Ribeira is the most beautiful and picturesque in the city, making it one of the best places to stay in Porto, Portugal. It has also been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and has, for example, the Bridge of Don Luis I, which was built by one of Eiffel’s disciples. It stands out for the walks to visit the Douro River, the colorful houses and the beautiful cobbled streets that make it one of the favorite areas of the city. In addition, on the banks of the river it is possible to find a large number of terraces and restaurants to enjoy, being a very lively area. The hotel offer in this part may be a little smaller, but it is also possible to find interesting and elegant accommodations.
Another of the hotels in Porto that we can recommend is the Cale Guest House. The hotel is just a short walk from iconic landmarks such as Casa dos Maias and Porto Cathedral. It is also metres from numerous museums, bars and restaurants, making its location perfect for enjoying the historic city. It has been recently refurbished and has only seven rooms, all elegantly decorated and with excellent services.
Vitória neighbourhood
We continue our list of the best places to stay in Porto, Portugal, by referencing the Vitória neighborhood, one of the most popular neighborhoods in Porto. It is also an area of the historic center and has accommodations for all budgets and interests, without sacrificing the best location. It is the area where you can find attractions such as the Clérigos Tower, the City Hall, the Aliados Avenue and the Lello Bookshop.
Boavista Neighborhood
We are going to conclude our list by talking about the Boavista neighborhood, which is one of the cheapest areas to stay in Porto, a little further away from the main tourist attractions, but also with interesting charming accommodation options and with good connection in terms of accessibility and transport to reach the key points of the city. The connection is excellent both with the historic centre of Porto and with the airport. In addition, it has some points of interest such as the Casa da Música, the Crystal Palace and the Bom Sucesso Market.
Finally, another hotel we want to refer to is Casa Carolina. It is a hotel that operates in a historic nineteenth-century building on a quiet street in the city center. This is a very charming boutique-style guesthouse that offers luxurious accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. It is only a ten-minute walk from the Soares dos Reis National Museum and fifteen minutes from the Cathedral.
