Best Value Hotels in Porto, Portugal

There are 109 spacious and contemporary rooms at this four-pearl hotel in Porto’s Boavista neighborhood. While the city's soccer stadium is just across the street, travelers will need to take a taxi or public transport to reach the historic district, and it's a 15-minute walk to the closest metro. Style-wise, though, this is an excellent choice, with chic interiors, a sleek restaurant and bar, and excellent features for business guests. There are also some special touches in the sharp rooms for those who like modern technology, such as smart TVs and Bluetooth sound systems, and PS3 consoles are also available.

A historic Art Deco structure that once housed the Porto Fish Market is now the home to this stylish 95-room hotel. The riverside setting is scenic, but there are only a few casual cafes in the area, and it's a five-minute cab ride to historic Ribeira Square. The rooms -- which are spacious by European standards -- have the same vintage-contemporary as the hotel's common areas; their decor is a blend of sleek details with trendy and throwback accents. All have flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and pod coffeemakers plus sleek bathrooms and rainfall showerheads. The restaurant serves a breakfast buffet for a fee, and the lobby bar offers food and drinks in a bright, industrial-chic space. There’s no pool or fitness center, and a fee is charged for parking. 

There are 89 guest rooms at this three-pearl property set in Porto’s artistic district in the center of town. There are many top sights and attractions just a five-minute walk from the hotel, and the edge of the UNESCO-designated core is about 10 minutes away on foot. Rooms are sharp and simple, with a classic twist, and all include minibars, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs. A breakfast buffet with hot and cold options is available for a fee, and there's also a bar and terrace for guests wanting to enjoy a drink alfresco. Corporate guests can use the hotel’s two meeting rooms and business center.

Hotel Boa Vista is a mid-range property housed in a charming 19th-century building in the quiet Foz da Douro area, where the Atlantic Ocean and Douro River meet. The beach, restaurants, and bars are a short walk away, but Porto's historic areas require a drive to reach. The 71 rooms come in a range of sizes; all are well-kept, but dated. Minibars, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi come standard, and some have balconies and sea views, and jetted tubs. Hotel features capitalize on the river and ocean views and include a bar and restaurant plus a rooftop pool; there's also a gym with modern cardio equipment. 

First things first: While tourists certainly make their way here, the location -- well outside of Porto's charming historic core -- makes this primarily feel like a business hotel. On the whole, there are modestly stylish touches, though things are starting to feel a bit faded rather than chic. The 281 rooms include Sky Rooms with direct pool access and Comfort Rooms featuring dark blue carpeting and tube lamps that add a modern edge. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, safes, and minibars, but guests complain not all rooms have electric kettles for coffee or tea. The restaurant serves a breakfast buffet for a fee and Portuguese lunch buffets on weekdays. There's a bar with a small outdoor terrace, but the rooftop pool -- done up with eye-catching black-and-white fashion photos plus white pod seating -- is the main highlight. At night, the astro-turfed space turns into a lounge with amazing views of the Duoro River.

There are 148 large guest rooms at this mid-range property near Porto’s Jardim da Boavista. Some of the city’s attractions -- like the iconic Casa da Musica -- are within walking distance, but the most popular areas for tourists are a 10-minute drive from the property. Rooms are simple, modern, and spacious, and have free Wi-Fi and wall-mounted flat screen TVs. Club Rooms have access to an exclusive lounge and terrace. There’s a sushi bar on-site (not open every day), and a good breakfast buffet is available in the dining room for a small charge. 

HF Ipanema Porto is a starkly modern mid-range hotel in the Boavista area that's slightly outside the city center, and its reasonable rates reflect that. Nearby sights include the Rem Koolhaas-designed Casa da Musica, and it's a 10-minute cab ride to the historic center of town. The hotel has a Portuguese restaurant and cocktail bar, but aside from that, amenities are few -- there's no pool or fitness center. The 150 modern rooms -- which come with minibars, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi -- include Family Rooms with kids' rooms and Suites with separate living areas. 

Residencia LIS B&B is a charming budget guesthouse with a quaint vibe and attractive rates. It’s a bit far from the historic city center, there’s a bus stop just down the block from the guesthouse, and the Marques Metro station is a 10-minute walk. The guesthouse offers free parking (a major plus for the area), free limited breakfast, and free Wi-Fi. The 14 rooms are simple, classically styled, and clean, and there’s an outdoor patio with a small garden. The check-in deserves a special mention, as does the advice-filled owner, and thoughtful touches like port wine and desserts are offered upon arrival. 

Gallery Hostel is a stylish hostel in the Miguel Bombarda quarter near dining and nightlife -- it's a 10-minute walk to Clerigos Tower. The two-pearl property, with 15 rooms in two buildings, offers an ample free breakfast buffet, a good and inexpensive dinner service with wine, bimonthly art exhibitions, free walking tours, and a cinema room with big-screen DVD movies. Both dorms and private rooms are colorful and have character, and all come with free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and private bathrooms; some have iPod docks. While rates are a bit more expensive than the average hostel, the Gallery is excellent value when compared with many hotels. 

Hotel da Bolsa is a two-and-a-half-pearl property with an excellent location in Porto's historic district -- it's a short walk to Bolsa Palace, Porto Cathedral, Ribeira Square, and Sao Bento Station. The 34 rooms are traditionally styled and simple, though they include modern marble-tile bathrooms with rainfall showerheads. However, some rooms have tiny windows and light might be limited. All come with free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs. The hotel has a cocktail bar and a business corner, and a continental breakfast is available for a fee. 

Opened in 1877, Grande Hotel de Paris is a historic, two-and-a-half-pearl property with antique charm. The museum-like hotel is located on a cobblestone street in the historic district, a 15-minute walk to Ribeira Square. There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance, which is helpful as aside from a well-liked free breakfast buffet there's nor proper restaurant. A bar and an outdoor terrace are additional nice-to-have extras. The 42 rooms are smallish and plain when compared the rest of the hotel; they have old tube TVs and spotty Wi-Fi.

Moov Hotel Porto Centro is a funky budget hotel housed in the historic Cinema Aguia D'Ouro with contemporary interiors that feature movie-themed decor. Located on Batalha Square in central Porto, the hotel is a five-minute walk to Sao Bento Station. It has an outdoor terrace and guest lounge, and its 125 rooms, some of which have balconies, are modern and basic. They come with air-conditioning, small flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. A continental breakfast is available for an additional fee. 

There are 36 guest rooms at this budget-friendly two-pearl property set in Porto’s old town. It’s on a bustling street in the heart of the city, so guests can easily get around on foot or by public transport. The central location does mean that the hotel is noisy at times, and while rooms are modern, bright, and air-conditioned, many are small and some bathrooms we saw needed a deep cleaning. The private balconies with great city views in some rooms are a bonus. There aren’t many facilities on-site, but the hotel has a small bar, a meeting room, and free Wi-Fi throughout.