Where to Stay in Porto: The Best Areas (for First Timers)

The 4 Best Areas to Stay in Porto: A Complete Guide

And now, on to the main event – our breakdown of the best neighborhoods for first-timers in Porto. 

Our philosophy when it comes to deciding on a place to stay is to first choose the neighborhood, then move on to finding a great hotel, hostel, or apartment in that area.

The neighborhood you choose is going to have a much bigger impact on your trip than the specific hotel or apartment, we think, which is why we like to start with the neighborhood. 

We’re going to focus on four areas in Porto that we think cover a nice range of amenities, vibes, and locations. 

Now, we’re well aware that there is a contingent of you who are currently ready to throw your left shoe at the screen, saying “I don’t have time to read all of that, JUST TELL ME THE BEST PLACE TO STAY!” 

Here’s a quick summary of this guide if you’re short on time (though we’d recommend reading the section of the place you end up staying for tips and places to add to your list!). 

Clérigos: Our #1 Pick in Porto

Pros: Central & walkable | Good transit connections | Charming | Good food & drinks

Cons: Can be pricey | On a big hill

Recommended Hotels: Hotel Moon & Sun ($$) | chic&basic Gravity ($$) | The Poets Inn ($)

Recommended Apartments: Look At Me Serviced Apartments ($$) | Gharb ($$)

Ribeira: All the Riverfront Charm (…and All the Tourists)

Pros: Beautiful riverfront promenade | Good selection of places to stay

Cons: It’s all tourists | Uphill walk to go anywhere else | It’s expensive

Recommended Hotels: Rio da Vila ($$) | Gran Cruz House ($$$) | Exmo Hotel ($$$)

Recommended Apartments: Mouzinho 160 ($$) | Porto River ($$)

Bolhão: A Good Value for the Central Location

Pros: Central & walkable | Good transit connections | Relatively affordable

Cons: More commercial feel | On a big hill

Recommended Hotels: The Passenger Hostel ($) | Hotel Spot Family Suites ($) | The Social Hub ($$)

Recommended Apartments: Village by BOA ($$) | Your OPO Apartments ($$) | Casas do Rivoli ($$)

Bonfim: A MOre “Local” Feeling

Pros: Real people live here | Good food and drinks | Affordable

Cons: Not as walkable to the main attractions

Recommended Hotels: Timbre Heroismo ($$) | Artcore Hotel ($$)

Recommended Apartments: Thomaz Palace ($$) | Trait House ($$)

---

We put together an interactive map to help you visualize the areas we’re talking about and how they fit into the city’s geography.

We also included a few key landmarks (e.g. the train station and the best miradouros in the city). 

To see a larger version, hit the button in the top right of the widget and it will take you to a separate page. 

In the neighborhood descriptions below, we’ll talk about the layout and orientation of the neighborhoods, and hopefully this map will help you understand what we’re talking about.

Here’s a key for the neighborhoods on the map. You can also click on them to bring up the name.  

• Red: Clérigos
• Green: Ribeira
• Orange: Bolhão
• Blue: Bonfim

With that (not-so-short) summary out of the way, let’s get into the detailed breakdowns of Porto’s best areas to stay.

P.S. If you find yourself with an extra day in Porto and you’re not sure what to do, we cannot recommend this tour of the Douro Valley more highly.

It was the highlight of our entire three month trip to Europe a few years ago, and we’ve sent countless friends, family, and readers on the same tour (including Matt’s mom and two of Alysha’s best friends).

Book it now if you’re looking for a way to get out of the city and see another part of the country, you won’t regret it.

Clérigos: Our #1 Recommendation (Where We’ve Stayed)

As you can see on the map above, two neighborhoods that we’re going to cover are adjacent to each other at the top of the hill on the north bank of the Douro River. 

They are separated by Avenida dos Aliados, the big central plaza where you’ll find Porto’s city hall (and the fancy McDonalds), and both offer great transit connections and walkability with slightly different vibes. 

Since writing the first iteration of this guide five years ago or so, we’ve had trouble figuring out exactly what these two neighborhoods are actually called. 

Originally, we called this whole area “Baixa,” but after this latest trip we decided to separate them, because we really think they offer two different value propositions. 

After talking to a tour guide, we decided to just use the two main landmarks – Torre dos Clérigos and Mercado do Bolhão – to describe them. 

We’ve now stayed in both of these first two areas, and we prefer the area to the north and west of Torre de Clérigos, which we’re calling “Clérigos.” 

This is where we stayed on our latest trip to Porto, and we think you couldn’t ask for a better home base. 

Every time we looked up an exciting coffee shop that we wanted to go to, it was a good bet that it was in this neighborhood (our favorites are SO Coffee Roasters and Hakko). 

Which, as you might guess, means there is definitely some gentrification going on here. However, it’s a nice mix of hip and historic, with newer brunch and coffee spots alongside historic bars and shops. 

Add to that some good bars and restaurants and you have yourself a really nice neighborhood to explore right outside your front door.  

The other thing that we like about staying in this slice of Porto is the fact that you’re walkable to everything, including Ribeira if you’re willing to trek up and down the big hill between you and the waterfront (we are – we lived in San Francisco!). 

In addition to the walkability, you’re close to plenty of transit connections, from the metro stops (Trinidade and Aliados) that will get you to the airport to the plentiful buses that will take you down to the waterfront and across to Vila Nova de Gaia. 

Overall, between the things to do, see, and drink within the neighborhood itself and the walkability and connections to other parts of the city, we think this is the best home base for a trip to Porto (especially if it’s your first trip). 

Pros and Cons of Staying in Clérigos

Here are the pros and cons of staying near Torre dos Clérigos as we see them. 

Pros of Staying in Clérigos

It’s walkable to everything. From the waterfront promenade in Ribeira, to the Sé do Porto, to the Mercado do Bolhão, you’re within 15 minutes or so of basically anything you’re going to want to do over the course of your Porto itinerary. 

Good transit connections (including to the airport). When you don’t feel like walking, you’ve got access to excellent transit connections that will whisk you away to just about anywhere you need to go.

Including easy metro connections to and from the airport via the stations at Aliados and Trinidade. 

Charming streets & local businesses. There are parts of Porto where you’ll find a lot of multinational chains, like McDonalds and Alehop. This is not one of them. Nearly every business you walk by will be locally owned, and there’s a nice variety of places to eat and drink. 

Plenty of places to stay. With the “places to stay” section below, I think we set a record for the number of different accommodation options that we included in a single neighborhood because there are so many good options here. 

Cons of Staying in Clérigos

It’s pricey. The big con for this area is that it skews towards the pricier end of the spectrum in terms of the accommodation options. It’s not as expensive as the big European cities (London, Paris, Amsterdam, etc.), but it is on the pricier side for Porto. 

There’s a hill between you and the water. If you do want to walk down to Ribeira, it’s a steep downhill walk to get there (which means you have to come back up that hill on the return trip).

However, there are some bus lines running from the waterfront up the hill, which we definitely took advantage of when we stayed here. 

Recommended Places to Stay in Clérigos

Here are some cool places to stay in this area. 

Like we said, there are so many places to stay that caught our eye that we couldn’t narrow the list down beyond these six (usually we try to get down to about three, four max). 

Gharb: Charming Studios in a Great Location

This fully renovated guesthouse is just a block west of the Torre dos Clérigos, which means you’re situated in a great location for exploring Porto. 

Everything will be within 10-15 minutes of walking, and the metro station and buses nearby are plentiful. 

The majority of the units here are set up as compact studios, with one space that has a bed, a small seating area, and a kitchenette with a stovetop, refrigerator, and tea kettle. 

It’s a nice balance between a hotel-style room and an apartment, with the facilities you need to make simple meals and somewhere to sit other than the bed. 

They also have a bigger penthouse apartment, which is more than double the size of the studios and has a separate bedroom from the living areas, and a sofa bed if you need to accommodate an extra guest or two. Plus, good views and a private terrace!

Overall, a nice option if you want a little more space than a traditional hotel room, but don’t want to pay the premium for a full size apartment. 

Casa Falcão Boutique Hotel: Brand New + Great Location

This beautiful boutique hotel is brand new (at the time of writing this), and it’s on a quiet street a five minute walk away from Livraria Lello and the Torre de Clérigos. 

One of the things we like about this hotel is that they have some creative room configurations for groups or families traveling together. 

They’re basically adjoining rooms with two separate bedrooms centered around a shared bathroom (and in some cases a private terrace), but we like that you don’t have to book two rooms and request adjoining rooms (which sometimes don’t actually happen), they come that way! 

Rooms are sort of mid-century modern, and they’re well designed and relatively simple.

They have an onsite restaurant on the ground floor that serves a continental breakfast, if you’re into that (we always prefer using that precious meal to eat somewhere else in Porto). 

Hotel Moon and Sun: A Charming Mid Range Hotel

Hotel Moon and Sun is a modern, clean, and spacious mid range hotel in the heart of the neighborhood across the street from our favorite coffee shop in the city. The location is walkable to basically everything in the city.

First thing’s first, my mom and her friend stayed here when they visited Porto, and they loved it as a home base for exploring the city. 

The hotel is great value for the location and amenities it offers. Each of the rooms has A/C, a kettle, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a TV, and a private bathroom.

There’s also a concierge service, on-site bar, and shared lounge area for guests to hang out in.  

But our favorite thing about this hotel has to be its large rooftop terrace where you can enjoy an end of the day cocktail with amazing city views. It’s pretty difficult to draw yourself away.

Look At Me Serviced Apartments: Spacious for Groups + Families

Before Matt’s brother decided to join us on our trip to Portugal (which made it so we needed a bigger place to accommodate more people), we had this set of serviced apartments booked for our first ever trip to Porto years ago. 

On our most recent trip, we were looking for an apartment for a longer stay, and this place came up again in our search. 

We decided to stay here, and we’d definitely recommend it. 

It’s a great location because of the public transit connections. Between the metro stop at Trinidade, which is a half block away (and goes straight to the airport) and the bus stations on the street outside the station, you can basically go anywhere. 

While it’s not the most central accommodation option in the neighborhood, we walked from here to basically everywhere in the city, and it was great.

It’s also relatively quiet despite being five minutes from a bunch of great bars, coffee shops, and restaurants a few blocks west. 

These beautiful studios and loft apartments are located just off from the central Avenida dos Aliados, close to the Town Hall.

Each unit is bright and spacious, with hardwood floors, high ceilings, pastel colored furnishings, and large windows. 

All apartments here have a fully equipped kitchenette, including a coffee machine and dishwasher, and a dining area. Plus some also have a private balcony.

The studio apartments sleep up to four guests, while the lofts can accommodate up to six people across a ground floor and a mezzanine level, where they have a set of 2-4 twin beds (perfect for the kids!) in addition to the queen bed on the main floor. 

They’re ideal for larger families or big groups looking for some extra space in Porto.

chic&basic Gravity: Nice Boutique Hotel

chic&basic Gravity is a hotel that’s just as hip as the neighborhood it’s located in.

The hotel’s unconventional decor features brightly colored furnishings, plant pots on the ceiling, floating neon lights, and an unusual rooftop pool that bends at a 90-degree angle. We can assure you you’ve never seen anything quite like it.

As well as the mind-bending decoration, this unique 4* hotel features modern ensuite rooms with A/C, coffee machines, and minibars. There’s also a continental or buffet breakfast at the on-site Italian restaurant, a 24-hour front desk, and private parking.

Located just minutes from the Livraria Lello bookshop and Clérigos Tower, most rooms at the hotel come with a balcony or terrace with views over the city.

The spacious family room can sleep up to four people (children or adults) so is great for families or groups.

They also have a more affordable hotel a few doors up the street called chic&basic Tokyo Hoose that is, as you might have guessed by the name, Japanese themed. 

Smaller, less fancy rooms, but it’s a great location and if you’re going to be spending most of your time out exploring, the smaller room isn’t necessarily an issue.

The Poets Inn: An Affordable Guesthouse 

A more affordable accommodation option in Clérigos is The Poets Inn. The cozy literature-themed guesthouse is located just seconds away from Clérigos Tower and five minutes from Avenida dos Aliados.

There are 10 rooms to choose from, three of which are en-suite and seven with shared bathrooms.

If you’re willing to share a bathroom with other travelers, the Poets Inn has some of the cheapest and best value private rooms you’ll find in central Porto. Several rooms even have a private balcony with fantastic views over the city.

The guesthouse also has a fully-equipped guest kitchen and dining area for you to make your own meals, plus several living areas and a small library so you can cozy up on your balcony with a good book.

This fantastic little spot really feels like a home away from home in Porto.

Ribeira: All of the Riverfront Charm

Ribeira is the neighborhood on the north bank of the Douro River that separates the city from Vila Nova de Gaia, the city across the water on the south bank where you’ll find all of the port lodges. 

On a history-focused walking tour (Carlota’s tour, if you’re interested in learning more about the city’s history and culture), we learned about this part of the city’s history, and how it has gone through alternating periods of prosperity and destitution, largely coinciding with the Portuguese empire’s trading patterns. 

Today, it’s a part of the city that has us a little conflicted about whether or not we’d recommend staying there. 

On the one hand, it’s beautiful and charming, with nice architecture and a wide riverfront promenade, which we’re almost always into. 

On the other hand, it’s essentially built to attract tourists, and if you ask 10 Porto residents if they ever come to this part of the city, I would bet all 10 say “never.” 

The other thing to know is that Porto is built on a hill overlooking the river, and Ribeira is at the bottom of that hill. Almost every other thing that you’re going to want to do, see, eat, or drink is at the top of that hill. 

While Porto’s metro is great, it does not serve Ribeira all that well. Walking up and down hills is going to be a big part of staying here, which we’re fine with, but know that not everybody is as enthusiastic about hills as we are (we lived in San Francisco at the tippy top of Nob Hill for almost a decade). 

Overall, Ribeira is a very nice place to stay (and there are a bunch of good hotel and guesthouse options), but it does definitely offer some drawbacks that you should keep in mind if you choose it as your home base. 

Pros and Cons of Staying in Ribeira

Here are the pros and cons of staying in Ribeira while you’re in Porto as we see them. 

Pros of Staying in Ribeira

It’s beautiful. It’s right on the river, looking across at Vila Nova de Gaia (where you’ll find all the port lodges), and the buildings along the waterfront are cool, with their colorful facades and iron railings.

There are a bunch of nice places to stay. Unsurprising given the concentration of tourists in this part of Porto, there are plenty of nice hotels and serviced apartments here. Every other building seems to have been made into accommodations for tourists. 

Cons of Staying in Ribeira

It’s at the bottom of a hill. Which means that if you want to go anywhere, including the metro and train station, you have to walk uphill. And most of what you’re going to want to see is at the top of the hill.

It’s not well connected. The metro that will get you around Porto and to and from the airport runs higher up the hill, so Ribeira is a little less convenient in that regard.

There are buses that run from the water up the hill, but they’re often crowded and timetables are variable. 

It’s full of tourists. This part of Porto is undoubtedly the place you’ll encounter the highest percentage of tourists. You’re more likely to hear several different languages than Portuguese while you’re walking along the river. 

You’ll want to eat elsewhere. While not every single place fits this description, the vast majority of restaurants in Ribeira are expensive and not the highest quality for the price that you’ll find in Porto.

This makes total sense, it’s basically the equivalent of eating on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. 

Recommended Places to Stay in Ribeira

Here are a few of our picks for the best places to stay in Ribeira. 

Gran Cruz House: Beautiful Guesthouse + River Views

The Gran Cruz House sits right on the bank of the Rio Douro, with fantastic views out over the river and Ribeira Square.

The proximity to the water makes it a little more pricey than other hotels in Porto, but it’s definitely worth it for the unbeatable location.

The guesthouse features seven bright and colorful rooms, each of which is inspired by a category of Port Wine, including Tawny, Vintage, Ruby, and Reserve.

Traditional ​azulejos (those beautiful blue and white tiles), local ceramics, and splashes of blue and orange give the hotel a distinctly Porto feel and a uniqueness you won’t find elsewhere.

The on-site restaurant Casario has a fantastic menu of Portuguese specialties, a large port and wine cellar, and a terrace overlooking the river. An à la carte breakfast is served on the terrace each morning.

Rio da Vila: A Stylish Guesthouse near the River

Located just a couple of blocks north of the riverfront, Rio da Vila seamlessly blends 19th century charm with 21st century style.

The guesthouse has even won an international design award for its elegant and tasteful decor with elements inspired by the building’s history.

With just eight rooms in the property, fantastic personalized service is guaranteed. The friendly staff are more than happy to help with recommendations and booking tours during your stay.

Standard rooms are contemporary and spacious, with a small seating area, flatscreen TV, desk, and private bathroom. Or for a small amount more, you can upgrade to a deluxe or balcony room for a little added luxury.

An à la carte breakfast is served each morning at the Bistro Wine Bar on the ground floor, which also offers a selection of wines, cocktails, and snacks throughout the day.

Exmo. Hotel: A Stunning Boutique Hotel

Located just across the street from the grand Palácio da Bolsa and 100 yards from the riverfront, Exmo. Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel right in the heart of Ribeira. 

The 4* hotel features large rooms with rustic stone walls and sleek, minimalist Scandinavian-style decor. Each room also has incredible views over the city or river.

Some even have a balcony or terrace where you can enjoy your morning coffee.

Rooms range from cozy doubles to spacious suites to suit every budget. All rooms sleep up to two adults in a double or two single beds. An extra cot or bed for younger children can be added to the room for an additional fee.

A delicious buffet breakfast is served every morning. The hotel also has a trendy on-site bar serving food and cocktails throughout the day and evening.

Mouzinho 160: Beautiful Modern Apartments

These bright and modern apartments are a stark juxtaposition to the 19th Century building they’re located within.

Each of the beautifully designed apartments at Mouzinho 160 has a spacious living space, a well-equipped kitchenette, and its own private bathroom.

The apartments sit on the northern edge of Ribeira, towards Baixa and the many attractions of downtown – the perfect location for exploring both neighborhoods. Porto Cathedral is just minutes away.

There’s also a bus stop directly outside the building for easily exploring the wider area.

You’ll have a choice of one or two bedroom apartments. The largest apartment is split across two floors, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a private roof terrace.

Of course, the larger apartments are on the expensive side, but they’re ideal for those who like having a lot of space.

Porto River: Spacious Apartments on the River

For those who enjoy having their own space, Porto River offers spacious private apartments right on the riverfront.

The charming aparthotel mixes traditional rustic features, such as wooden floors, exposed stone walls, and wooden beams, with chic modern furnishings, to create a luxurious yet homely feel.

There are a variety of studios, one bed, and two bed apartments to choose from.

The largest apartment can sleep up to four adults and two children, making it a great option for bigger groups and families. 

Each apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen so you can prepare your own meals. There’s also a cozy living area to relax in at the end of a long day exploring the city.

Bolhão: Great Value + Walkability (Where We’ve Stayed)

As we mentioned above, Bolhão is one of the two neighborhoods that encompass the part of central Porto at the top of the hill on the north bank of the river, and they are separated by Avenida dos Aliados. 

Bolhão is the area on the eastern side of Aliados, and it offers similar benefits to staying on the other side in terms of walkability and connections. 

It’s anchored by the newly remodeled Mercado do Bolhão, an open-air food market with vendors selling all sorts of fruit, cheese, meat, and prepared foods (you should absolutely stop by on a sunny afternoon and sit on the north steps with a glass of wine and some tinned fish). 

For what it’s worth, we stayed here on our first ever trip to Porto, and it was a nice area to stay because it is somewhat removed from the crowds, but is walkable to just about everything we wanted to see. 

Of the main neighborhoods that form the spine of central Porto (Ribeira, Clérigos, Bolhão), we’d argue that Bolhão offers the best value of the three.

It’s a great location, especially if you’re up for some walking, but it’s just far enough from the river (and not as trendy as Clérigos) to be a little less expensive than those other areas. 

On the other hand, the reason we’d choose Clérigos over Bolhão is the fact that Bolhão feels a little more commercial, especially around Rua de Santa Caterina (the main pedestrianized commercial strip). 

We also found the bars and restaurants in Clérigos to be a little more interesting and found ourselves gravitating that direction fairly often, even when we stayed in Bolhão.

Pros and Cons of Staying in Bolhão

Here are the pros and cons of staying in Bolhão as we see them. 

Pros of Staying in Bolhão

It’s walkable. Similar to Clérigos, you’ll be within walking distance of just about anything you want to see in Porto within about 15-20 minutes. It’s a downhill walk to the waterfront (though you have to climb to come back up). 

It’s more affordable. Like we said above, of the three main neighborhoods that form Porto’s spine, this offers the best value.

It’s all relative – staying in Bonfim is going to be even more affordable – but the central location combined with the relatively low prices makes this an excellent place to stay if you’re on a budget. 

Good transit connections. You have a couple of metro stations that will get you to and from the airport, and plenty of buses running through the neighborhood that will take you to and from the waterfront, which are the two most useful transit connections for visitors in Porto. 

Cons of Staying in Bolhão

It feels more commercial. This is especially true around Mercado do Bolhão and Rua de Santa Caterina, which has a lot of multinational chains and shops selling cheap souvenirs that are clearly geared to tourists.

The architecture is also somewhat more modern, which only adds to that feeling. 

Recommended Places to Stay in Bolhão

Here are some specific places to stay in Bolhão that jumped out to us. 

Village By BOA: A Nice Aparthotel In a Quiet Location

This gorgeous aparthotel is a really interesting setup, with their apartments (ranging from spacious studios to two bedroom units) all spread across multiple buildings that face a big shared courtyard.

We like the way they’ve taken a historic building (or set of buildings, in this case), kept the idea behind it intact (compact housing around shared common areas), and modernized it to bring a pretty unique experience to visitors in Porto. 

The location is great, though it’s definitely a little bit removed from the heart of all the action.

That being said, if you like your sleep, this will be relatively quiet compared to other options in central Porto. 

Plus, the Trinidade Metro station is around the corner, which will get you to and from the airport (and the bus stops outside will get you down to the river). 

The apartments here are big, even the studios, and they have a couple of different layouts available for the units with one bed.

They have duplexes, which are sort of the equivalent of a one bedroom apartment with a separate bedroom from the living area, and studios. 

All of the units are extremely spacious, with plenty of places to sit and relax along with full kitchen facilities. 

The decor here is very “boho-chic”, but we’re into it. The entire property, which was originally built as a working class housing complex with small houses built around a shared outdoor area, was fully renovated over the course of two years, and it shows. 

The Passenger Hostel: A Boutique Hostel + Great Location

Located inside the iconic São Bento Station, this trendy boutique hostel is one of the coolest places to stay in Porto on a budget.

With its high ceilings, swinging sofas, and large windows overlooking the station platforms, a stay at the Passenger Hostel is certainly a unique experience.

The hostel offers spacious double, twin, and family rooms for a little more privacy, as well as mixed and female dormitory rooms.

There are several communal hangout areas and a bunch of daily activities organized by the hostel to help you meet other travelers.

Plus you can walk out the front door and jump straight on a train to explore the areas nearby. Getting around the city couldn’t be any easier.

Your OPO Apartments: Nice Serviced Apartments (Where We’ve Stayed)

We stayed at these nice serviced apartments on our first trip to Porto, and all three of us that were there for that leg of our trip agreed that it was an excellent home base.

Central and walkable, but not right in the middle of everything (so we got quiet evenings and mornings). 

The location here is nice because you’re a block or two up Rua Santa Caterina, the shopping street running through this neighborhood, but the stretch of street it’s on is not nearly as bustling, so it’s relatively calm and quiet. 

They have a range of apartments from compact studios to larger two bedroom units (which is where we stayed), and we liked the layout of our apartment, which had a living area and then a split level with a bedroom on the upper and lower floors. 

Casas do Rivoli: Nice Apartments + Walkable Location

Staying at these modern apartments puts you right in the middle of all the action. 

Of the options here, this is by far the most central, and you’re half a block off of Avenida dos Aliados, which means great access to buses and the metro along with excellent walkability to most things in Porto. 

They have a range of apartment layouts and sizes, from studios that are perfect for couples or groups of two, to larger two bedroom units that are good for groups who want separate bedrooms. 

Crucially, the units have air conditioning for those hot summer days in Porto, and they have washing machines you can use. 

Worth noting that to get to the elevator, you have to climb some stairs (it’s on the first floor, not the ground floor), which means carrying luggage up the stairs.

Not a problem for us, but could be challenging if you have mobility issues. 

Bonfim: The Hipster Choice in Porto

Of the central neighborhoods we have spent time in while we’ve been in Porto, Bonfim is the single place where it feels like locals actually live.

It sits to the east of the city’s main cathedral, sprawling from there out to the main intercity train station, Campanhã, which is where you catch the train to or from Lisbon. 

As we walked through Jardim Marques de Oliveira, a nice green space in the middle of the neighborhood, we were struck by the mix of people sitting in the park soaking up the spring sun.

You had a big group of older gentlemen sitting and chatting (which is something you’ll find in nearly every European city), a few groups of younger people (students, I assume), and a smattering of families with young kids all sharing the same green space.  

Bonfim is a really interesting neighborhood, and between our two latest trips, which were five years apart, you can really feel the pressure of tourism building as the crowds bleed out from the center. 

On this most recent trip, we heard far more English being spoken in Bonfim than five years ago, which is true of Porto in general, but is especially true in the neighborhoods on the outskirts of the center. 

However, the sense of community we saw on full display at that park is still alive and well here, and it’s the place to stay if you want to experience what it feels like to actually live in Porto (even if it’s for a couple of days). 

The other reason we like Bonfim is that there are some great places to stay, and you’ll pay less here than other parts of Porto simply because it’s a less desirable (and, if we’re being honest, convenient) location. 

The big tradeoff you’re making by staying here is walkability. 

Since you’re on the eastern end of the center, you could be looking at a 25-30 minute walk to get down to the waterfront, more to places like Livraria Lello and the Torre de Clérigos.

Now, there are some bus lines that will get you there much faster, if you need. 

Pros and Cons of Staying in Bonfim

Here are the pros and cons of staying in Bonfim as we see them. 

Pros of Staying in Bonfim

A slice of local life. If you look closely, you’ll find that areas like Ribeira have very, very few locals living in them.

After all, if you were going to live in Porto, would you want to live in the place that is constantly packed wall-to-wall with tourists? I think not.

Bonfim is a place that you’d actually want to live in, with leafy streets and pleasant green spaces that are slightly removed from the more hectic historic center. 

Good food and drinks. One of the reasons why staying in a place where locals actually live is important is the fact that the businesses in that place tend to be geared towards locals, which means you get places that you actually want to eat and drink at (rather than yet another brunch spot serving a full English Breakfast with Instagram-friendly decor, which is what you’ll find in Ribeira).

For coffee, we really like Combi (on the western end) and von&vonnie (on the eastern end).

It’s relatively affordable. The location slightly outside the main center of all the action means that there’s less demand to stay here, and therefore the prices here are slightly lower than in the more central neighborhoods. 

Cons of Staying in Bonfim

It’s not particularly walkable. The location here is the main drawback. You’re not really going to be within walking distance of anything on the western end of the center, like Livraria Lello or Miradouro da Vitória.

There are bus lines running to the center, though, which will help you cover that ground (especially down Rua do Heroísmo). 

Recommended Places to Stay in Bonfim

In Bonfim, there’s a range of guesthouse and apartment options for you to choose from.

The thing that really ties them all together is the value you’re getting.

It’s not the most central location, but you’re going to pay a lot less than other parts of the city. 

Timbre Heroismo: A Solid + Well Connected Mid Range Hotel

This property is one of the largest you’ll find in the Bonfim area. If you’re looking to stay in a quieter local neighborhood but retain the convenience and amenities of an established chain hotel, Timbre Heroismo is for you.

The modern property has clean and comfortable rooms, each featuring a unique piece of artwork. Spacious en-suite bathrooms come with a hairdryer and free toiletries. 

Other amenities include an on-site restaurant, lounge, bar, laundry, and 24-hour front desk. Private parking is also available at the property for those arriving in Porto by car.

The hotel is around a 20 minute walk to the attractions and landmarks of downtown.

Heroismo Station is also just a minute down the road from the hotel, so you can quickly jump on the metro into the city center (and there are buses running down the street in front of the hotel that will take you to the center). 

Trait House: Spacious Apartments in a Nice Area

Located a block away from the nice green space we talked about in the neighborhood description on the street with all the buses (which will take you down to the center), these spacious apartments are in a nice slice of Bonfim that is walkable to all of the neighborhood’s great places to eat and drink. 

The apartments here are BIG, ranging from one bedroom apartments at ~750 square feet (normal hotel rooms are around 200 square feet, for reference) to two bedroom units that are well over 1,000 square feet. Plenty of space!

All of the units here have full kitchens and air conditioning, and some of them have private patios or terraces, depending on the unit. 

One thing we want to note is that, while the building is right on a very busy street, the solid soundproofing and the fact that the bedrooms are at the back of the building mean that the street noise doesn’t reach the bedroom. 

However, we did note some reviews mentioning that sleeping on the sofa bed in the living area did have a bit of street noise, which isn’t a deal breaker, but is worth noting if that’s the setup you’ll be using. 

Artcore Hotel Porto: Modern + Great Value & Location

We really like this highly rated hotel for many reasons, like the fact that they have some fun wallpaper and good tile in the bathrooms, to the excellent location on the border of Bolhão and Bonfim, to the beautiful outdoor pool. 

The location here couldn’t be better. It’s right on the border with Bolhão, which means you’re just a 10 minute walk from the Mercado do Bolhão and other things in that direction. 

You also have multiple metro stations within 5 minutes of the front door, and a short walk to the street that all the buses running to the city center use. 

In other words, getting anywhere you need to go will be a breeze whether you’re on foot, or you want to use public transit. 

We really are suckers for some fun wallpaper patterns and good bathroom tile, and this hotel certainly delivers that. Think loud yellow-gold wallpaper and fun shower tile. 

They have a great outdoor pool, too (from April to October, depending on the weather), and private onsite parking (for a fee, of course). 

Thomaz Palace: Nice Serviced Apartments (with 2BR Units)

Last but certainly not least, Thomaz Palace is home to some fantastic serviced apartments that are perfect for larger groups and families looking for a comfortable, spacious place to stay. 

The renovated palace is on the border of Bonfim and Bolhão, which means you get some of the benefits of both areas (walkability, good food and drinks). 

The spacious two bedroom apartments can easily sleep up to four people without feeling cramped or on top of each other. Studios and one bedroom units are also available for smaller groups.

All of the luxurious apartments feature a clean and minimalist design with modern fixtures and large floor-to-ceiling windows.

Each unit has a living room with a sofa, a well-equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, microwave, and fridge, and a private bathroom.

The apartments are located just a 10 minute walk from Avenida dos Aliados and downtown. The property also has free parking for guests if you’ll have a car while you’re in town. 

---