A fascinating city to visit, some of the best located boutique hotel accommodation in Porto offers fantastic views at surprisingly affordable prices. Even suites and apartments in places like Torel can house numerous guests seeking a relatively inexpensive luxury getaway without breaking the bank. With one-off rooms, delightful Portuguese breakfast options, and even spa facilities on offer, why book a standard hotel room when boutique ones are available? Read on to discover more about what makes Porto one of the best places for a luxury vacation.
In almost every location on the Porto map, you will find boutique-style hotel rooms on offer for you and your guests. This is because Porto is an upmarket city that is loved by many tourists from both North America and other parts of Europe. With unique features, their own design style, and luxury dining – in many cases – boutique hotels in Porto offer a more rounded experience for their guests than some of the more generic hotels in the city. If you have ever dreamed of the perfect way to experience Porto and Portugal more widely, then you should certainly consider booking a stay in a building that will offer more charm and character than a standard hotel. Given that Porto faces both the majestic Douro River and the sea, you'll want to make your stay as memorable as possible and this often means it is best to stay in a boutique hotel room.
Whether you want a suite or a room with a single bed to stay in, you will find boutique hotels in Porto that will suit you down to the ground. It isn't so much that boutique hotels in Portugal offer luxury - because they do. Rather, it is the personalized welcome you can expect whether you choose to stay in a modern or historic building. All hotel rooms in boutique hotels in the city are great at feeling individual through the use of one-off decoration to singular room layouts. Check the various room features before booking, such as whether you'll have a balcony with a sea view or a private garden you can rest in, for example. Although many of the best luxury hotels in Porto were built in the 19th century, some are more modern and date to the latter part of the last century. Either way, you can expect modern facilities in your boutique room, including high-definition TVs, Wi-Fi, and free use of your own en-suite bathroom. From the great luxury of the Torel Palace apartments to a suite in the charming Porto Flores, the city has a wide variety of boutique options in every location to explore.
You can usually find great offers no matter where you choose to be located during your stay in Porto. Use a map when booking to make sure you will be local enough to the city center to avoid excessive travel. Check out the beautiful suites and rooms in hotels located close to Miragaia, one of the oldest and most photogenic neighborhoods in the city which is also convenient for several city parks, ideal if your hotel doesn't have a private garden for guests. There again, the Vila Nova de Gaia district is ideal for wine lovers. This part of the city is just south of its center and full of cafes and terraces, affording a free view over the bustling Douro River. Yes, rooms can be small in this historic part of Porto, but they often more than make up for it because of the views you can obtain there. The São Nicolau area is similar but faces south, offering views over the Douro from the opposite bank. Here is good if you want to access São Bento railway station, the city's terminus from the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon, or Lisboa as locals call it. Whichever location you opt to bed down in, you can expect a truly great stay thanks to the superb service levels that are typical of all boutique hotels in the city.
Prices fluctuate for all hotel accommodations in Porto, including boutique rooms, suites, and even house or villa-style bookings. The high season is from June until about the middle of September. If you plan to visit then, book your rooms as far in advance as possible. Out of the high tourist season, more offers tend to be made, and you can often find a unique building to book, even ones with sea views in the west of the city, at more favorable rates. Note that any hotel is likely to advertise a more costly room rate over Easter and the festive period, however.
In small hotels, your restaurant options may be limited to breakfast only. If so, you'll have to find an off-site restaurant somewhere local. This won't be a problem in Porto, however, which seems to have a bar or restaurant on most street corners. In luxury hotels, you can expect a fine-dining restaurant, many with a great wine cellar. Check whether breakfast is included in the price of your room or if a surcharge will be made before you book. Bear in mind that the entire vacation experience you'll have can be affected by how good or otherwise the food is, so it is an important aspect of choosing a hotel if you're going to enjoy the city break of a lifetime.