Porto sounds like seagulls flying overhead. Porto sounds like water lapping as you sit by the Douro River. Porto sounds like a group of Portuguese middle-aged women chatting to each other on the bus. Porto sounds like car tires clickety clacketing as it drives across cobblestone. 

After booking my flight from La Rochelle, France, I started to research where to stay in Porto, Portugal. I wanted to know the good, bad, & the ugly with the ultimate goal of finding the best places to stay in Porto. Whether you prefer luxury hotels, affordable hotels, or even Airbnbs, you'll enjoy exploring the seaside city. The best places to stay in Porto are within your fingertips!

Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel Best Places to Stay in Porto, Portugal Where to stay travel influencer
The view of Porto, Portugal & the Douro Valley. Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel is the yellow building. 
This is one of the best places to stay in Porto as far as location!

About Carmen

Hi, bonjour, bom dia. My name is Carmen. What do I know about travel? I’ve visited 22 countries. I’ve worked as a content producer for TripSavvy, the #4 largest site in the ad-supported Travel Information category. As a blogging coaching & social media consultant, some of my clients are travel influencers, travel companies, tourism boards, & more. Learn more about my blogging & career background. Keep reading to discover the best places to stay in Porto.

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Best Places to Stay in Porto, Portugal Where to stay travel influencer
Hanging out on the balcony of our Airbnb in Porto, Portugal.

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Planning Your Trip to Porto

If you’re considering where to stay in Porto, Portugal, first ponder about what you want to do while you’re visiting. Porto tourism continues to grow, so there may be some crowds depending on the time of year.

Create a list of 10 or more things to do in Porto. How far are you from those things? Ideally, I try to be within a 30-minute transportation ride away from the bulk of my to-do list/what I want to do; the occasional outlier is fine. Ultimately, you don’t want to be commuting for an hour each way every day- that’s a waste of precious time. 

What Are Some of the Best Places to Stay in Porto? 

Decide if you’re more of a hotel person or an Airbnb person. Porto tourism means there are plenty of choices. I have options for both, so read them all or scroll down to find what you’re looking for. Based on actual reviews, these are some of the top-rated, best places to stay in Porto.

Homes with a view of the Douro River.

Best Hotels to Stay in Porto

These are some of the top-rated hotels throughout the city of Porto, according to Google reviews, TripAdvisor reviews, and more. Take a look at each hotel & decide where to stay in Porto, Portugal.

InterContinental Porto - Palacio das Cardosas – Stare at the beautifully restored interiors. InterContinental Porto Palacio das Cardosas overlooks Liberdade Square. You can find the famous Livraria Lello bookstore & São Bento station within a close walk of the hotel.

Pestana Palácio do Freixo, Pousada & National Monument – Pestana Palácio do Freixo has gorgeous views overlooking the Douro River. The 18th-century palace was built by Nicolau Nasoni. Pestana Palácio do Freixo is part of the "The Leading Hotels of the World." This is easily one of the best places to stay in Porto.

Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa – Reviews show that past Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa guests appreciate the hospitality, the rooms, & the amenities (sauna, fitness center, Wi-Fi) but felt as though it might be out of the way for the average tourist. It's modern decor & facilities make it a popular choice.

Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel – Eat breakfast with waterfront views of the Douro River at Pestana Vintage Porto Hotel - World Heritage Site. The Pestana hotel building & location date back to the 16th century. This is a seriously stunning area if you're wondering where to stay in Porto, Portugal!

Infante Sagres – The Hotel Infante Sagres is a historic luxury hotel. It underwent renovation & reopened in April 2018. Notable decorative features of the Infante Sagres include ironwork, carved wood detail, & stained glass panels.

Spot Apartments Porto – The hip, cool rooms at Spot Apartments Porto feel homey, unlike your a boring, sterile hotel room. Spot Apartments Porto guests seem to love the location, clean and spacious apartment, & the friendly staff.

There are so many hotels & accommodations in the area. Scroll down to search the map to find where to stay in Porto, Portugal.
Blue and white azulejo tiles in Porto Portugal Best place to stay
Blue & white azulejo tiles in Porto - if you look closely, these are all individually painted tiles!

Search for Hotels in Porto

Search for where to stay in Porto, Portugal with this handy dandy map. Type in the date of your travel & it'll give you a list of options.

Booking.com

Consult my guide on how to save hundreds of dollars on flight tickets. I paid $350 for roundtrip tickets to London & $420 for roundtrip tickets to Paris! Browse through these tips on how to eat on a budget while traveling abroad without depriving yourself. Scroll down & read comments from readers to learn their tips too.

Best Places to Stay in Porto, Portugal Where to stay travel influencer blogging coach
Best places to stay in Porto, Portugal - Hotels, Airbnbs, & other accommodations. 

Airbnb Accommodations

Sign up for Airbnb with my link & get $40 off your booking. That could be a free night's stay somewhere! I stayed in Airbnbs in Amsterdam, NetherlandsOslo, Norway; Tijuana, Mexico, & manyyyyy more cities/countries.

Other Sources of Information on Porto

Visit Portugal - Information on Porto tourism & Portugal.
Visit Porto & the North - News, events, things to do, & information on Porto & the area north of Porto.
Visit Porto - Information on Porto Card transportation, trip planning, entertainment in Porto.

Do you prefer hotels or Airbnbs? Where do you think are the best places to stay in Porto?