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...

We stayed by the cathedral, and found the location perfect on a small, quiet street.
https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/bo-...partments.html

The apartment looks lovely. Is there an elevator or parking? Is it in a steep, hilly area (I know this may be a silly question)? We are between that and Mercure Aliados Hotel if there are any thoughts?

I don’t know the street where xyz99 stayed, but I do know the area around Mercure Aliados.
The apartment looks really lovely as do the other ones run by that management group. I’ve bookmarked them!

If you’re staying for a short period of time, 3 nights, you may want to rely on a hotel with a 24-hour desk staff since this is your first visit to the city, just to ask questions about how best to get around, etc.

But apartment management companies have a central office where you can go for any help you may need or call. We’re staying in an apartment now but for 7 nights in a city we know very well and where we have friends to lean on if needed. The kitchen facilities and washer/dryer have come in handy, I must say, and are a money-saver.

It depends on your personal preferences, I think.

xyz99,
Thanks for the link to the Oporto Street apartments! For our next visit, I really like the Sá de Noronha ones and their location. Good find!

Rua das Aldas is the oldest street in Porto. It is on the top of a hill, near the Sé Cathedral. No cars. And probably no lift (this is Heritage, classified by Unesco). It is inside the defensive wall (that no longer exists) built by the Romans between 300-400 dc. This street, as well as Rua da Pena Ventosa and Rua de Sant'Ana, are the only ones inside the old wall that escaped to the portuguese demolition fever.

You really don't need a car in Porto, but there are several parking places, the cost is around 13 euros per day. But to reach these apartments you have to walk. Taxis can leave you close by.

Note that they have several kinds of apartments and not all of them have the same view (or size).

Edit to add: if you search on google maps, you can see that rua de Sant'Ana and Rua das Aldas are very near, and parallel to each other. However, from Rua de Sant'Ana to Rua das Aldas, you have a staircase with more than 100 steps, Rua de Sant'Ana being on a lower level.

Not wanting to hijack this thread, but I am looking at what appears to be an ideal apartment for our needs in Porto, when we will arrive in mid September. We'll have a leased car with us, so parking is important, even though we may not use the car while in Porto. We will stay four nights, and I'm finding it a bit confusing figuring out neighborhoods.

Until we commit to booking, we do not have the actual address, but on a map the apartment is near the intersection R. do Sol and R. do Gen Sousa Dias - between Pte Luiz 1 and Pte do Infante. It is an upper story apartment with a balcony view of the river, and reviews mention that it is quiet at night.

Anyone have opinions as to this location? We are strong walkers and hope to explore the city, and with the car we can venture out a bit further if need be.

Dear Fodorite friends, all of you-thanks for your detailed, and thoughtful, additions to our quests for accommodations. We have made a somewhat "radical" decision--we are going to spend the 3 nights around Porto in the Foz, with free public parking in front. We were just very perplexed by the hills and stairs and decided to stay somewhere quiet and flat, take the tram and uber wherever we need to be. We are following that with 2 nights in Cascais.
Here is the itinerary:
Lisbon-3 nights @ Hotel de Baixa
Evora-2nights @ ADC
Tomar-2nights @ Thomas Boutique Hotel
Cuimbra-2nights @ Pharmacia Guest House
Foz - 3 nights @ Duas Portas
Cascais-2 nights @ Westlight Cascais Chalet

I will be scouring your trip reports for ideas for restaurants and attractions to visit. More another time soon and, I promise, a trip report. I cannot promise, though, that I can do it "live". ;)

I’ve stayed several times in Foz when wanting to be close to the beaches and not in the center of the city.
While Old Foz, Foz Velha, does have some slight hills, the area where we’ve stayed is flat and Foz has a lovely ocean side promendade.

To get back and forth to the city center, we take the double decker bus 500. It also takes us to Matosinhos further up when we want to indulge in a seafood feast at one of the marisqueiras on Rua Heróis de França that faces the fish market. We like O Valentim (Helena and her family have other favorites there that we have on our list to try.

I do know the Duas Portas (flat) location because we’ve stayed nearby in a 4-room B&B near the Jardim do Passeio Alegre. There’s a very nice pastry shop nearby, Paparoca, for breakfast treats and lots of nice, casual, inexpensive dining. We’ve tried Casa de Pasto da Palmeira, Bar Tolo and Pisca, all within walking distance.

We were going to return in October but had to cancel our week at the Vila na Praia apartments but plan to return next fall.

I also know the location of your lodging in Cascais, as we passed it every day going back and forth from the Cidadela into the center. It looked lovely and couldn't be more central. The pedestrian walkway from the Cidadela all the way to Boca do Inferno is easy and very flat, if you hit a nice sunny day, and there is the Casa de Guia, a manor home converted into shops that also has several restaurants with terraces overlooking the ocean where one can stop for coffee. The local bus will also take you there and Uber and Bolt worked well for us in Cascais. I could live there. It´s a lovely, well manicured seaside community.

I don’t know the Pharmacia in Coimbra. I see it on the map but can’t tell how much climbing will be involved. We stayed on the other side of the river at Quinta das Lagrimas, took a taxi to the University and after our city touring, walked back home along the river and over the bridge.

awww, thanks Maribel for all of your information and validation!

Virginia, I love the location! I think you are going to have a very good time!

The bus mentioned by Maribel, the 500, will be a very good friend of yours! You can use a Visa card (not amex, eurocard, etc, just Visa) to pay the trip or just buy with cash your ticket from the driver. Both ways are interesting: if you take the bus west direction, untill Matosinhos, you will find all those great restaurants of fresh fish. Went to "O Fernando" a few days ago, and even not being a favourite for me or any member of my family, I must say their seafood rice is really very good!

On the oposite direction, the 500 bus leaves you (last stop) at São Bento train station. You can also take tram nr 18 that leaves you uphill near Clérigos tower and the surroundings (my neighbourhood, so the best in Porto, try to have a meal at "Taberna Santo António", one of the best family restaurants in Porto).

You can easily walk to the garden "Jardim do Passeio Alegre". It is a very nice garden, and there are parrots there (you have to look up), don't ask me why, they are foreigners that adopted Portugal as their country, In that garden you should visit the toillets - not to use, just to visit. On the ladyies side, the "cabinet" on the left is protected with a glass and you can see the most beautifull sink (etc) you can imagine on a restroom! In front is the fortification named "Forte de São João Baptista da Foz" - very interesting. And... well, I'm not going to talk about the lighthouses! Just be sure the waves are not crazy, or you will be really wet!

Again... nice choice! The city center is easily reachable, and you will be more in a "local" place!

Helena

Yes, do visit the toilets at the Jardim!

For a nice, ¨fancier¨ meal in Foz, but that have a very reasonably priced business menu for lunch, we have enjoyed Wish in Old Foz, next to the church, and Cafeína, a few blocks up from the beach. And for burgers, you have Peebz.

Chef António Vieira -Restaurante Wish, Chef António Vieira

https://www.cafeina.pt/pt/

https://peebz.pt

Foz is a very relaxing place to stay in a more local environment. We do both, stay in Porto in the center and in Foz when we want to be next to the ocean. Duas Portas is located right where the Douro River meets the Atlantic.

HelenaFatima and Maribel—thanks! We are getting very excited and appreciate these ideas so much!

19t,
Just a little info about the family behind Duas Portas. To renovate the 19th century house and turn it into a small 8-room boutique hotel was the idea of Luísa Penha, the architect- wife of the acclaimed Porto architect and Pritzker-prize winner, Eduardo Souto de Moura. His daughter, María Luisa, also an architect, runs the inn. On our first visit to Foz we stayed in a 4-room B&B, now closed, that had been designed by Souto de Moura. His style is minimalist-Nordic. It was opened in 2019 and has a garden, a very unique place that feels more like a sophisticated home rather than a hotel.

The vintage tourist tram 1 passes right by the house, but you will be better off always taking the bus 500.

I just got back from a stay on Rua de Santa Catarina. Booked it because it is a block and a half from the Bolhao Metro stop, which is only three stops from the Campanha station where I got in, and I was thrilled. Pastry shops every 50 feet, including one where they crank out the natas one sheet after the other and serve them fresh and warm, super convenient for transportation all over town by bus and Metro, pleasant walks down toward the funicular or all the way down to the river, plenty good eats nearby. Friendly area, with a Pingo Doce grocery three blocks away (the Bolhao market was 2 blocks) and many coffee options. Paid 52 Euro/night to stay at the Casual Raizes in a modern, fresh, super quiet room with fridge with a view to the courtyard where I slept for an hour after a big lunch in the swinging wicker basket chair (the only negative was that the courtyard is floodlit at night so you have to keep the drapes closed). Here's my piccies, including of the hotel:

After all the help and the good ideas I got from you planning the trip, I'm glad to hear I could repay at least for part of it. We loved the location, it was clean and quiet, but as expected, no a/c.

Fascinating background information! Thank you! p.s. what does 19t symbolize/mean?

I wrote ¨virginiafish¨and somehow it got turned into ¨19t¨. Have not the slightest idea how, This ipad moves in mysterious ways.

Can you share a link to the apartment you are looking at. We are looking for a 2 bedroom apartment for an April 2024 trip to Porto
Thank You

We stayed at the Intercontinental in Porto in June and found the location to be quite central although next to subway construction. Loved the Bolhao market. Also enjoyed seafood by the sea.