Porto-where to stay
 

Interested in recommendations for where to stay in Porto for a 2 day visit in March?

That depends on what you are looking for? Facilities costs? Access to the city etc
Have you looked at Booking or airBnb? They will have far more reviews then you will see here.

Use booking.com for research and the filters to narrow down your preferred price, required amenities, number of stars, booking rating, hotels or guest houses, and for just 2 days, choose something in the center rather than in (Vila Nova de) Gaia, to be in the city of Porto rather than in Gaia, across the river, or in Foz, where the Douro meets the Atlantic.

The Ribeira area is right at the waterfront, which can be very crowded and noisy, but the Old Stone Flats have been favorably reviewed here (but no a/c, which you probably won’t need in March).But there’s a lot of climbing involved for your sightseeing, since Porto is a vertical city.
Uber can help you get around.
Fodorite Seamus enjoyed his stay at the Vile Galé Porto Ribeira in a room overlooking the river. For the Ribeira, you do need to climb up to visit monuments.

When using booking.com I switch their default “top picks for you” to “top reviewed”, which will give me first the hotels with the highest rating (I aim for a review score of 8.7 or above, but I’m picky).

I like to stay in the area around pedestrianized Rua das Flores, as it’s handy with shops and nice restaurants within easy walking distance.
On the Rua das Flores, I know the Pousada, the Porto Bay Flores, the Casa da Companhia Vignette Collection, which may or may not not be within your budget, and also the Porto A.S 1828.

There's also the Eurostars Aliados, just to the east of the large square at Aliados, which is also handy.
And I remember that Fodorite melnq8 stayed at the Eurostars Centro, a quiet location, which she enjoyed.
(Eurostars is a very reputable chain)

Thank you, Maribel! When we needed to re-route our trip to avoid the car rally, we decided that, albeit the hills, we would regret it if we did not give a few days to Porto. Yes, we want to stay in the most convenient area to make the best of that time. We may stay a night in the Duoro Valley, so any thoughts about accommodations there will be helpful. I will be working on this today. Just curious, would this location -Rua Fonte Taurina 99 101, Porto 4050-270 Portugal - at Douro Guest House be good, as they get good reviews and look lovely?

I know the location of the Douro Guest House, and it does get great reviews. It´s at the river´s edge in the Ribeira district, so you will have crowds and noise and every monument you will want to see is a climb up. I don’t stay on or near the Cais da Ribeira for that reason…the climbing up for sightseeing. That´s why I prefer the Rua das Flores and Aliados areas, halfway up the city. Just my personal preference.

In March, I actually wouldn’t recommend that you drive into the Douro Valley. Why? Because the valley will be brown rather than green, not nearly as attractive as it is in May or September-October-early November during the harvest season.

You won’t be blown away by the Douro landscape, color-wise in March, and the Douro is really all about wine touring. Once you’re in the valley, for wine touring, it’s far better to stay for a few nights, rather than just one night, as the roads are narrow and slow and it just takes quite a while to get around. In addition it could be quite cool and rainy in March. We go in late October-early November when the fall foliage is just bursting with color, the best time, photography-wise to be in the Douro.

Just a few thoughts….we stayed on Rua Das Flores in an apartment-hotel, and was generally pleased with it although it is a pedestrian street and so, is fairly busy with people. We were just a short walk from the Sao Bento train station, and it was a busy part of the street, but it is very well-located and there are a number of coffee shops and restaurants right on or near the street. And, it wasn’t too noisy. You can’t go wrong staying on this street.

The area by the river is also busy, as Maribel points out. And it does require serious uphill walking!

I like the location of the place that melnq8 stayed. It’s still very central yet looks like it should be on a quieter street. Still, for a short stay, the Rua das Flores is very convenient.

These points are VERY well taken! We are not wine drinkers, so between that, and the time of year, I think we should not go to the Duoro Valley and, perhaps, extend our time in Porto at one of the locations (Rua das Flores and Aliados areas) that you are both suggesting, our wise travelers! Ok, back to the drawing board! I will be in touch and I appreciate your help so much!

Since you are’t wine drinkers and since March is not at all the optimal time for scenic beauty in the Douro, you would be wise to skip it and add that day to Porto, as there is so much to see to keep you busy for 3 days.
To give you a better sense of the city, you might want to look at progol´s and melnq8´s trip reports and especially their photos.

We stayed on the r. de São João, in a rental apartment--the whole building appeared to be short term rentals--a block and a half from the waterfront and one block in the same direction from a 24 hour taxi stand.

https://flic.kr/p/2gxYhoX https://flic.kr/p/2gxY8BZ https://flic.kr/p/2gxYi2A
no storage space in either bedroom.

We stayed on the r. de São João, in a rental apartment--the whole building appeared to be short term rentals--a block and a half from the waterfront and one block in the same direction from a 24 hour taxi stand.

https://flic.kr/p/2gxYhoX https://flic.kr/p/2gxY8BZ https://flic.kr/p/2gxYi2A
no storage space in either bedroom.

Thank you, Checking on this all soon. Very appreciated!

We stayed in the Myo Design House which I booked through booking.com. For some reason, I can’t get the link to work.

Good location, quiet bedroom despite street activity. Good communication with the host. We had an adequate breakfast delivered to us in a basket each morning. It’s a comfortable place to stay in a tourist-central location.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6f5ae6da5.jpeg
My favorite view from our window!

I love the view!

I strongly advise you not to stay at Rua das Flores at March.

Things change everyday, and since Progol stayed there, a flood happened (on the 7th January 2023) and the area is fragile. Authorities don't recognize that, but two days ago part of a street (Rua Trindade Coelho) colapsed, and we, people from Porto, believe it happened due to the flood, that happened due to the stupid decision of changing the course of the city river. This street is between Largo dos Loios and Rua das Flores, more or less 20 meters from the nice cat you can see on Progol pic (thanks again, Progol! By the way, the cat is still there, only it's paws got a litle bit wet).

Concerning Aliados area: Melqn did not stay at what we call Aliados area, she stayed like 50 meters from that area, and in Porto 50 meters can be a huge difference. That area is still, in my opinion, a very good area to stay. I don't know what to call it, so I will just point the hotels there: Eurostars Aliados, Mercure Aliados, Pestana Brasileira, Porto Teatro and Royal bridges. There are also apartments and guesthouses around there.

If it was me, I would stay at Rua de Santa Catarina. Not that I like it very much, but well... in March it can be a good choice (Grande Hotel do Porto would be my choice. It's vintage, full of history...). But there are others.

In a different location, if you can afford it, Hotel Infante Sagres is always a safe bet.

If you want the real ancient thing, the area around Sé Cathedral gives you that. Rua Escura, Rua da Bainharia and Rua das Aldas can provide you good places (and affordable) to stay.

Sorry for giving you so many different choices, but it's not easy to advice.

Thanks for the update on Rua das Flores, Helena. This is why it’s important to hear from a native who can tell us the very current situation. How is the construction coming along with the new metro line? Is the construction still going on around Aliados?

HelenaFatima, how awful about Rua das Flores!

Helena and Maribel, I’m glad you like that photo of the cat! 😉

We had a wonderful stay at Infante de Sagres, great breakfasts, friendly and warm service.

Maribel: construction around Aliados: sitll going, the noise if bearable, but the inconvenience is hard.

I'm not sure if you saw the devastation of the 7th Januarey flood, so I'm just leaving a link with images:

Thanks, Helen, as always, for keeping us up to date with both the weather woes (awful) and the ongoing construction.

I cannot thank you all enough. Digging in now...