Hotels

Hotels range from boxy but well-equipped business hotels to century-old grande dames in the city center. Gentrification has brought an influx of chic design hotels and small boutique B&Bs, as well as a flurry of homes opening their doors as holiday lets. Visitors who aren't averse to some nighttime noise will find hotels with bags of character and dramatic river views at the colorful (quite literally: the brightly painted buildings are part of its charm) Ribeira neighborhood on the banks of the Douro, while the streets around Aliados are packed with hotels that provide a perfect base for sightseeing. In the summer, Foz do Douro is a good option for those who want to be within easy reach of the beach, while Vila Nova de Gaia, surrounded by wine lodges, is ideal for visitors that are keen to sample Porto's most famous tipple.