Hotels in Porto

Hotels in Porto: prices, timing and areas

When to book a stay in Porto for less

Porto is cheapest in winter. February is usually the bottom of the market, about 42 percent below the peak season, when tourist traffic is lowest and the weather is mild. November is cheap too. The priciest is September, during the grape harvest and the wine festivals, when the weather still holds and rates can run more than double those of February. It is also dear and crowded in high summer and around the June São João festival. The day of the week matters too, though in Porto it is safer to aim for midweek outside big events. Interestingly, for many properties good rates appear close to the date, so booking even a few days ahead can pay off, but for September and São João it is better to book earlier.

What a stay costs by property type

Porto has a wide spread of prices, so a hostel bed and a family apartment are quite far apart. The cheapest sleep is in hostels and places below two stars; you pay the most for five stars in the centre. Below are indicative nightly rates for two people.

Where a stay is cheaper and where it costs more

Most people look for a room in the very centre, around the Ribeira, the São Bento station and the Aliados avenue, because from here you can walk to most of the sights. Trendy Cedofeita and Bonfim on the edge of the centre draw cafes and bars. The far bank, Vila Nova de Gaia with its port cellars, has a view of the old town. The priciest is seaside Foz do Douro by the beach, and cheaper options are the university area in Paranhos. Below are indicative rates by district.

Indicative rates for a double room, from summer dates. In Porto the gap between a quiet February and the September grape harvest can be more than double, so check the real price for your dates in the search above.

Which stay in Porto suits whom

• First time in Porto. The very centre by the Ribeira and the Aliados is the easiest base. From here it is a few minutes to the Dom Luís I Bridge, the Clérigos tower and the Livraria Lello bookshop.
• For families. Hotels with family rooms near the Parque da Cidade and the SEA LIFE aquarium. Easy to mix sightseeing with a day by the sea at Foz do Douro.
• For couples. Boutique places in Cedofeita and by the river, near the restaurants and bars. Close from here in the evening for a port tasting and dinner with francesinha.
• With breakfast. Many hotels in the centre include a buffet in the rate, which helps you set off early for sightseeing or a Douro river cruise.
• With a river view. Properties in Vila Nova de Gaia, by the port wine cellars, give a view of the old town across the Douro. Handy for an atmospheric stay.
• Near the airport. Hotels by Porto airport suit an early flight. The metro reaches the centre from here in under an hour.

Example hotels in Porto with prices

From a cheap room in the centre to five stars by the Aliados, a few Porto names with a from price. Just a starting point, as rates can climb noticeably in September and around São João.

From prices for a double room, from summer dates. In Porto the same hotel can differ a lot between February and September, so check your exact dates in the search.

When Porto costs more

The priciest is September, during the grape harvest and the wine festivals, when the Douro Valley and the city live by the vintage. It is also dear and crowded in high summer and around the June São João festival, with fireworks, street parties and the traditional plastic hammers. The nicest time to visit is spring and early autumn, April to June and October, when it is warm but less crowded. The cheapest and quietest is winter, especially February and November, outside the holidays.