Porto is an easy destination to plan yourself: hotels, flights, car rental and activities in one place, no juggling ten different sites. Porto works well as a base for day trips to nearby towns and scenic routes. The city has an airport, so you can fly in directly. There are currently around 20 places to stay listed in and around Porto, covering a range of budgets. The catalogue includes 12 vetted activities and tours with real guest ratings. 4 routes to nearby towns are mapped out from Porto, handy if you're planning side trips beyond the city itself.
Accommodation in Porto starts at around €41 per night, with a typical rate near €135 across roughly 20 nearby options — handy for budgeting your trip.
Well-reviewed hotels: Se Catedral Hotel Porto, Tapestry Collection By Hilton, 4-star, guest rating 9.8 from 1486 reviews, from €130 per night; ICON Duplo Ribeira, 4-star, guest rating 9.8 from 2977 reviews, from €157 per night; Torel 1884 Suites & Apartments, guest rating 9.8 from 950 reviews, from €221 per night; Torel Palace Porto, 5-star, guest rating 9.8 from 1422 reviews, from €424 per night; Vincci Ponte de Ferro, 4-star, guest rating 9.6 from 6927 reviews, from €41 per night.
Day trips & routes: Trofa — about 30 km, 27m drive; Tondela — about 129 km, 1h 28m drive; Lisbon — about 325 km, 3h 16m drive; Barreiro — about 346 km, 3h 18m drive. Fastest option is Trofa: 27m by car.
Porto: what to know
Things to see: "Port : Private Yacht Cruise with Local Wine, Snacks & 7 bridges", rated 5 from 185 reviews, from €279; "Create Watercolour With Hugo do Lago in Porto", rated 5 from 179 reviews, from €35; "Porto 1/2 Day Walking Photo Tour & Portraits", rated 5 from 166 reviews, from €120; "Private Douro Valley Tour: Boutique Winery & River Cruise", rated 5 from 148 reviews, from €250; "Porto: Yacht Small-Group Douro River Cruise & 6 Bridges w/ Drink", rated 5 from 138 reviews, from €59.
Where to eat: "Tasco", Mediterranean/Portuguese, rated 4.9 (1597 reviews); "MUU Steakhouse", Steakhouse/European, rated 4.9 (2592 reviews); "Ode Porto", Mediterranean/Healthy, rated 4.6 (2052 reviews); "A Despensa"; "Meia-Nau Porto". Top-rated: "Tasco" at 4.9.
Porto has its own airport, so a direct flight is the fastest way in. Getting around the city and out to the 4 nearby destinations listed above is easiest by car — intercity public transport tends to be slower and less frequent. The median nightly rate in Porto is around €135, useful for comparing overall trip cost against nearby cities.
To rent a car in Porto you usually need a passport, a driving licence and a bank card for the deposit hold. With 20 places to stay nearby, it's worth comparing a base near the rental desk against one closer to the sights. Given 4 routes worth driving from here, check the mileage and one-way drop-off terms before you book. When touring Portugal, plan stops in advance: fuel stations and car parks in smaller towns are not always open around the clock.
