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Porto ([鈥榩蓴rtu]) is the second large and significant city of Portugal, considered also Capital do Norte (Capital of the North). Historically known as the Invincible City (Cidade Invicta), today it is one of the oldest centres in Europe, home to almost 2 million people. First known settlements here date back to the end of the 3rd century, the area being then inhabited by Celtic people. During the Roman occupation, Porto served as an outpost and as an important commercial port, starting to develop and grow as a powerful trading and strategic location. The combined Celtic-Latin name it got back then - Portus Cale - is believed to have become the origin of the name of Portugal.

Today, Porto鈥檚 medieval streets, centuries-old settings featuring different architectural styles, riverside walks, plentiful hidden gems the city is packed with, combined with varied and rich food culture, diverse art scene, authentic port wine and vibrant nightlife all together form a truly unique experience hard to forget for anyone visiting the Invincible City.

Accommodation-wise, Porto welcomes you with a plethora of boutique-style and ritzy hotels, wonderful homey guest houses, fun hostels and a continuously growing number of apartments for rent, ranging from luxurious to very affordable. However, please note that many rentals are hosted in centuries-old settings, and do not have elevators. Moreover, as a hilly street, Porto may become a challenge if you have any difficulties walking, because either to or from your rental you鈥檇 have to go uphill.

Table of Content

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Part 1. A quick glance at Porto鈥檚 recommended neighbourhoods

Ribeira & S茫o Nicolau - lively and charismatic, it鈥檚 the most touristy area of Porto with an average offer of differently priced rentals

Miragaia - fascinating and tranquil, it鈥檚 the perfect area for a romantic vacation, featuring fewer accommodation options

Baixa - busy and happening, it鈥檚 Porto鈥檚 humming downtown with rentals aplenty

厂茅 - genuine and reserved, it鈥檚 the oldest part of the city welcoming you with lower rents

Cedofeita - hip and engaging, it welcomes you with a lot of fun spots and activities to explore with or without children, and offers a wide range of rentals to choose from

Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos - youthful and diverse, is the place to experience the life of a local, boasting higher-quality rentals for lower prices

Foz do Douro - residential and plushy, it鈥檚 the perfect neighbourhood for a beach vacation combined with discoveries, and expensive rentals on offer

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Part 2. Recommended neighbourhoods and hotels to stay in Porto

Ribeira & S茫o Nicolau

Pronounced: [,蕘瑟鈥檅eir蕦], [鈥榮蓹u ,n瑟k蓴鈥檒au]

- Overview

The historic centre of the city, Ribeira & S茫o Nicolau form one of the most tourist attracting areas in Porto. But it鈥檚 much more than just centuries-old buildings. Traditional settings carrying cultural wealth, rows of colorful postcard perfect houses, narrow cobblestone streets all lined with restaurants and cafes, hole-in-the-wall taverns, bars offering gorgeous views of the Douro river, colorful wine boats - will all make you immerse yourself in the city鈥檚 heritage. Crowded as it gets, it never loses its charm, especially after dark when all the lights turn on and people from all around the city gather in the area for a nice talk. Hence, noisy streets till late at night. Given the proximity to one of the highest concentrations of alcohol in the world - the port wine hub right across the river, added to the multitude of restaurants in Ribeira, be sure that every evening that you鈥檒l spend here, you鈥檒l head back to your rental well dined and, especially, wined.

Accommodation-wise, Ribeira & S茫o Nicolau features averagely priced rentals, but you鈥檒l find a few cheap ones too. It would be the perfect area to stay in for the elderly, couples looking forward for a romantic yet lively escape, families traveling with toddlers or those who have any difficulties walking, as it鈥檚 the flat part of the otherwise hilly city of Porto. Beware though that if you are a light sleeper, better avoid renting here.

- Main Attractions

* Igreja de S茫o Francisco (must see)
* Est谩tua do Infante D.Henrique
* Palacio da Bolsa (must see)
* Casa do Infante (must see)
* Cais da Ribeira (must see)
* Ponte Dom Luis (must see)

- Recommended Walks

With this self-guided walking tour of Ribeira, you鈥檒l easily find your way around:

* City Orientation Walk

- Pros of Staying Here

- Authentic atmosphere
- Varied rentals on offer
- Romantic area
- Many eateries and bars
- Many historical attractions are here

- Cons of Staying Here

- So crowded that it might get confusing
- No good for light sleepers

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Miragaia

Pronounced: [,m瑟r蕦鈥檊蕦瑟蓹]

- Overview

Visually similar to the charming Ribeira, Miragaia will add up to the atmosphere with its quiet streets and even more amazing views. Obviously, to get some nice perspectives of Douro, you can sit back and relax in one of the riverside restaurants or cafes. However, if you head to the uphill part of this neighbourhood, you鈥檒l be rewarded with truly unforgettable sightseeing. The part of Miragaia displaying the riverside, Vila Nova de Gaia and Foz, it is the place to make some unexcelled panoramic pictures with both your camera and mind, especially after dark when all the houses, restaurants and cafes light up. It is also home to several centuries-old settings and a series of stores. On holidays, Miragaia is the last neighbourhood to go to sleep, or does not do so at all. Regardless, it鈥檚 the perfect area to stay in for a romantic vacation, and for a quiet time off either on your own or with a family. With a limited accommodation offer, it will welcome you with some gorgeous villas, suites, guest houses and hotels, averagely priced.

- Main Attractions

* Hospital Geral de S.to Antonio
* Estatua de Antonio Nobre
* Museu dos Transportes e Comunica莽玫es
* Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis (must see)

- Pros of Staying Here

- Serene area presenting marvelous sightseeing
- Higher quality accommodation
- Home to several historical settings
- Perfect for a romantic or family vacation
- Many eateries and cafes
- Well connected to other areas

- Cons of Staying Here

- Fewer rentals
- Might be noisy on holidays

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Baixa

Pronounced: [鈥榖蕦瑟蕛蓹]

- Overview

Porto鈥檚 beating heart and generally considered the city鈥檚 downtown, Baixa has got something in its sleeves for every visitor. History and architecture buffs will need some time to study the neighbourhood鈥檚 settings. Art enthusiasts will gladly wander its gallery-like streets, featuring many buildings decorated with azulejos, the traditional painted ceramic tilework, all worth exploring. The multitude of eateries and gourmet spots will satisfy any taste and budget, making Baixa one of the foodies鈥� preferred areas. Ever heard of an 鈥榠mperial鈥� fast food restaurant? You鈥檒l find it here. Among all, Baixa is also a great place for shopaholics. Pay attention to the local brands and designers outlets, and you鈥檒l find really cool stuff. Accommodation-wise, Baixa offers a huge variety of rentals, most on the average and cheaper side, as per Porto鈥檚 price standards. However, here you鈥檇 have to pay more for the same accommodation and service than in some other neighbourhoods.

- Main Attractions

* Capela de S茫o Jos茅 das Taipas
* Igreja da Miseric贸rdia (must see)
* Centro Portugues De Fotografia (must see)
* Est谩tua Antonio Ferreira Gomes
* Torre dos Clerigos (must see)
* Est谩tua de Ramalho Ortig茫o
* Clerigos Church (must see)
* Igreja do Carmo (must see)
* Fonte dos Leoes
* Museu de Historia Natural
* Reitoria da Universidade do Porto
* Praca Guilherme Gomes Fernandes
* Pra莽a da Liberdade
* Estatua Ecuestre de D. Pedro IV
* Igreja de Santo Ant么nio Congregados
* Batalha Square
* Santo Ildefonso Church
* Praca de Carlos Alberto
* Rua de Cedofeita
* Avenida dos Aliados (must see)
* Igreja da Trindade
* Capela das Almas (must see)

- Recommended Walks

Discover some of the most interesting spots, religious sites and shopping options when following these walking tours of Porto:

* Tour of Porto鈥檚 Landmarks
* Tour of Porto鈥檚 Places of Worship
* Tour of Porto鈥檚 Fashion Shops
* Tour of Porto鈥檚 Specialty Shops

- Pros of Staying Here

- Lively area
- Wealth of accommodation options
- Many attractions for any taste
- Wine bars, cafes and eateries galore
- Most nightclubs are here
- Well connected to other neighbourhoods

- Cons of Staying Here

- Higher prices for similar service

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厂茅

Pronounced: [s忙]

- Overview

Narrow lanes, historical settings, old taverns, clothes drying on wires - all suggest that 厂茅 is the true soul of Porto. It鈥檚 the oldest part of the city, hosting medieval houses most inhabited by locals and expats. Even the streets bear inherited names. Eateries here serve traditional snacks and drinks. If historical and authentic is what you are looking for, here is the ideal neighbourhood for you to stay in. It鈥檚 not the case, though, if you are visiting by car. Given the narrow steep streets, driving becomes very difficult. If you want to challenge yourself, try to explore it on a bicycle. Having said that, 厂茅 is perfect for those traveling by a motorcycle. With accommodation ranging from affordable upscale hotels to cheap hostels, the area is well suitable for a longer stay.

- Main Attractions

* Porto Cathedral (must see)
* Igreja de Santa Clara (must see)
* Sao Joao National Theater

- Pros of Staying Here

- Authentic atmosphere
- Affordable accommodation
- Eateries serving international cuisine
- Home to Porto鈥檚 historic train station
- Well connected to other neighbourhoods

- Cons of Staying Here

- Gets empty by night
- Easy to get lost in the medieval maze
- Not suitable for those traveling by car
- No nightlife

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Cedofeita

Pronounced: [,sdu鈥檉蕦瑟t蓹]

- Overview

Cedofeita is the hip and trendy neighbourhood of Porto, displaying what its modern culture is about. Fun and entertaining, it is not as busy as other districts, yet close to many attractions. Home to various galleries and hip spots, this neighbourhood is popular with students and, especially, art buffs. Combine that with urban cafes, jam sessions, quiz nights and stylish shopping and you鈥檒l get a pleasant and entertaining area. You won鈥檛 find many clubs here, but you won鈥檛 get bored at night, as oftentimes people take the party to the streets. If you are a young couple looking for a romantic and fun escape, stay in Cedofeita. This is also the area for you to rent in when visiting with kids and willing to escape the noise and busyness yet be close to the main tourist spots. Price-wise, here you get to choose between some of the cheapest hostels to the most expensive hotels.

- Main Attractions

* Casa da Musica (must see)
* Estatua Guerra Peninsular

- Pros of Staying Here

- A wide choice of rentals for any taste and wallet
- Positive and fun environment
- Good for families
- Plenty of hip places to visit or sit back and relax
- Well connected with other areas

- Cons of Staying Here

- Some areas might feel a bit remote

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Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos

Pronounced: [lur鈥檇忙lu du 鈥樕�:u蕘u 蓻 ,m蕦s蕦鈥櫴伱�lu蕛]

- Overview

The part of the city where fishermen and sailors used to live, Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos is the district to stay in if you want to get a taste of a local鈥檚 life. The neighbourhood features many contrasts: there are Victorian mansions, aristocratic palaces and gardens, industrial buildings and hip spots to name just a few. If you go uphill, you鈥檒l find narrow streets and one or two-storey buildings bringing in a traditional Portuguese village feel. Its northern side lined with Avenida de Boavista is arguably the most upscale part of Porto, featuring modern buildings and several ritzy stores and cafes. Home to many educational institutions, Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos is a youthful area where you鈥檒l meet many students. Hosting a range of hipster bars, it鈥檚 the place where the bohemian youth hangs out. Generally, there are not too many eateries, you鈥檒l spot cafes here and there and find a series of groceries and markets. Given the green areas and quiet, it is well suitable for a family stay or retirement vacation. As more of a residential neighbourhood, it has many high-quality accommodation options at reasonable prices, making it a good choice to set base on a longer stay in Porto.

- Main Attractions

* Museu do Vinho
* Museu do Carro Electrico (must see)
* Museu Romantico (must see)
* Pavilhao Rosa Mota
* Jardim do Pal谩cio de Cristal (must see)
* Cemiterio de Agramonte
* Serralves Foundation (Serralves Museum) (must see)

- Recommended Walks

Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos is the district where you鈥檒l find many museums, here is how you can optimize your time when exploring them all:

* Tour of Porto鈥檚 Museums

- Pros of Staying Here

- Wide range of accommodation options available
- Lower prices for 4* and 5* hotels
- Plenty of green areas to take a nice break
- Good for family vacations and quiet escapes

- Cons of Staying Here

- Rentals are mostly clustered in several areas of interest
- A bit remote

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Foz do Douro

Pronounced: [鈥榝蓴蕭 ,du 鈥榙蓴:ru]

- Overview

Foz do Douro is the main target for those coming to Porto for a beach vacation. Unsurprisingly, this is the most expensive area of the city, accommodation, food and fun coming with a touristy price tag. The neighbourhood boasts gorgeous blue flag beaches, stylish high-end hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, historical landmarks, modern nightclubs, waterfront views and much more - what else could you possibly desire? After an exhausting day of enjoying the Ocean waters and sunbathing, just sit back at one of the sunset bars among the locals sipping their gin-based drinks, to get ready for another tiring day-off at the beach. Beach and river sidewalks are perfect for a nice walk, bike-rides or jogging, enjoyable for either families, couples or slower-walkers. Although the beachline part is more of a bustling area, the rest of Foz do Douro conveys a residential feel. You won鈥檛 find many hotels in this neighbourhood, apartments being mostly available for rent. Regardless of the property type, be sure that accommodation will be relatively expensive.

- Main Attractions

* Fortaleza de S茫o Jo茫o da Foz

- Pros of Staying Here

- Perfect for a beach vacation
- High-quality accommodation and eateries
- Plenty of spaces to stroll, cycle and jog
- Varied attractions
- Markets for fresh produce
- Waterfront bars and fancy nightclubs
- Connected to other neighbourhoods by tram

- Cons of Staying Here

- Everything comes at a higher price
- A bit remote

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Part 3. Getting from the airport to your hotel

Porto Airport (officially known as Francisco S谩 Carneiro Airport, OPO), is the second busy airport of Portugal, and is located 7 miles away from the city centre. Getting from the Airport to downtown is pretty easy as Porto鈥檚 public transport system is well developed, comprising metro, busses and trams. FYI, there are three tram lines (1, 18, and 22) that run old 1920s鈥� iconic Portuguese trams - these operate in the daytime only, have limited schedules, and do not go to the airport - while the ride is an attraction itself. Here are the ways to get from the Airport to Porto.

Metro

This is a relatively fast way to get to downtown. The trip from the Airport to city centre lasts about 40 minutes. Right after you pass customs, you鈥檒l see many signs leading you to level -1, where you can take the metro. You鈥檒l find vending machines, which take credit and debit cards, coins and banknotes, and give change. The Andante Azul ticket itself costs EUR 0.60 (~ USD 0.70), and it is rechargeable, so don鈥檛 throw it away. To get to downtown, you鈥檇 need a Z4 ticket which is EUR 2.00 (~ USD 2.30). You can use it 1 hour and 15 minutes from the moment of validation. Therefore, your trip will cost you overall about USD 3.00. Don鈥檛 forget to validate your ticket before you鈥檙e on the train, the fines are really high.

The metro line passing the Airport is the E (purple) line, taking you to the Trindade station, in Baixa. From there, you can get pretty much everywhere around the city by taking either other metro lines, or one of the buses or trams. You can use the same ticket as long as it鈥檚 still valid. Otherwise, you鈥檇 have to recharge it. If you鈥檙e heading further to Baixa or 厂茅, you can alight 1 or 2 stations after Trindade.

However, if you are heading to Foz do Douro, it might be easier for you to change the route a bit. You鈥檇 need to take the same purple metro line, and hop off at Senhora (Sra) da Hora metro station, change to metro A (blue) line to Matosinhos Sul station, and there transfer to the Matosinhos-Praia bus station to take the bus line 500. A part of this bus trip will pass by the coast, so you鈥檒l also get the to admire the Ocean a bit.

Similarly, you can take the E metro line till the Francos station, transfer from there in a minute鈥檚 walk to the Sid贸nio Pais bus station, and take the bus 202. It will also take you to the coast, but will cross the neighbourhood on its way.

You can use the metro between 6am and 1am.

Shuttle Bus

Terravision is running two lines of shuttle busses from the Francisco S谩 Carneiro Airport to Porto. One of them will take you to Aliados, and the other one will take you to Boavista. The shuttle busses operate between 4:45am and 12:35am. A one way trip will cost you EUR 5.00 (~ USD 5.75) and the journey will last 15-20 minutes, making it a convenient and fast way to get to the city. Just to make sure you have a spot on the shuttle bus, it might be better to pre-book it online.

Similar services are also provided by other companies, such as GOIN Shuttle, VMTransfers, 100 Rumos Shuttle and other companies. Their prices range from EUR 5 (~ USD 5.75) per person to more than EUR 20 (~ USD 23), so if a shuttle transfer from the Airport to your hotel is what you鈥檇 opt for, better make a small research before your trip and choose the most convenient service for you.

Bus

Bus line 602 will take you directly from the Airport to the city centre. It will pass on its way several stations bordering Cedofeita and Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos, and ending the trip at Baixa. You鈥檇 need the same Andante Azul ticket. The journey will last about 50 minutes up to an hour. If you鈥檙e staying in beach zone in Foz do Douro, you should take bus line 120 to the Matosinhos station, walk about two minutes to change stations to Matosinhos-Mercado. From that station you should take bus line 500 and enjoy the journey along the coastline. Don鈥檛 forget to alight at the station you need to get to your hotel!

Taxi

As usually, taxis can be a very convenient way to get to the needed destination. If you鈥檇 like to take the cab from the Porto Airport to your hotel, you may either pre-book it online, or just take one of the taxis available right next to the exit doors. The price may vary from EUR 20 to EUR 30 (~ USD 23.00 - 34.50), however you should know that if your route passes motorways, the corresponding fares will be included in the price of your trip. Moreover, the total price may be higher with up to 20% for the late/night hours and holidays.

Car Hire

At the ground floor of the Francisco S谩 Carneiro Airport, you鈥檒l find information desks of a series of car rental companies. The prices per day per car start at EUR 17 (~ USD 19.5, at the moment when this article was written) and will vary according to the negotiated conditions and length of your stay or rental.

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Part 4. A Few Tips to Choose the Right Neighbourhood for You

If you're still undecided on where to stay in in Porto, here are some quick tips.

When traveling with a family, the best neighbourhoods to stay in are Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos and Miragaia.

If you are visiting on a romantic vacation, or just a pleasant romantic stay is what you are looking for then choose Miragaia or Ribeira & S茫o Nicolau.

When visiting Porto for just a day or two, choose rentals in Baixa or Ribeira & S茫o Nicolau. If you鈥檙e going to stay here for a while, then set your base at 厂茅 or Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos.

If traveling on a budget, you鈥檒l find suitable accommodation options in Baixa, Cedofeita, 厂茅 and Ribeira & S茫o Nicolau. If you鈥檙e looking for a more upscale experience, though, you鈥檒l find it in the northern (Boavista) part of Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos and in Foz do Douro.

Generally, Porto cannot boast a buoyant nightlife. But if you鈥檇 like to be closer to most clubs, stay in Foz do Douro or Baixa.

If shopping is your game, stay in Baixa. The latter, together with Foz do Douro, are also a good choice for foodies.

History buffs will find a lot to explore in 厂茅, Ribeira & S茫o Nicolau and Baixa. Art enthusiasts will enjoy their stay in Cedofeita. Ribeira & S茫o Nicolau and 厂茅 might be the preferred areas for architecture fans.