The Best Hostels in Porto, Portugal
Take a budget-friendly trip to Porto and enjoy tasting world famous port wine, strolling the banks of the Douro in the beautiful Ribeira area, the shops and restaurants of Rua Catarina and the city views from baroque Clérigos Tower. All of these hostels offer fun and friendly lodgings in great neighbourhoods offering you an authentic experience of the second-largest city in Portugal.
Porto Spot Hostel
Hostel
Choose this hostel if you like socialising in cosy common areas and a free breakfast. Porto Spot Hotel offers a kitchen, lounge bar and terrace for guests. Dorms come in three, four and eight-person configurations, including a female-only option. In addition to shared accommodation, there are private rooms with ensuite bathrooms. The staff lead guided tours of the city and there are regular party nights and barbecues.
The House of Sandeman
Hostel
With its polished wood floors, stone walls, leafy pot plants and quirky touches throughout, this hostel has great design. Dorm beds are framed by port wine barrels — Sandeman was the first port wine brand — and the bathrooms feature funky geometric tiles. There are also elegant double rooms if you’re looking for a bit of luxury. The hostel has a prime riverside position, with great bars and restaurants on your doorstep.
The Passenger Hostel
Budget Hotel, Hostel
Choose between shared and private rooms at this contemporary hostel inside the São Bento train station. The interiors have modern flair while nodding to the 19th-century heritage of the station, with antique furniture and vintage pianos. The large kitchen features long wooden tables to eat at and there’s also a library, roof garden and laundry room. Book at reception for everything from food to wine tours.
Porto Lounge Hostel and Guest House
Hostel, Guesthouse
This 18th-century building has been renovated into a bright and cheerful hostel with everything from budget dorms to private doubles and family rooms. Tangerine cushions and armchairs add colour to the whitewashed walls, and there’s a pretty sun terrace and a modern shared kitchen with glossy tables and a breakfast bar. Located near Avenida dos Aliados, you’ll be well placed to reach the city’s main attractions and nightlife.
Gallery Hostel Porto
Hostel, Luxury
There’s an arty feel to this family-run hostel, with its impressive stone staircase flanked by local artwork and Portuguese tiles. It has its own gallery for exhibitions and concerts. The 41 beds are spread across private rooms and shared dorms sleeping up to six, all of which are named after Porto’s most famous artists. Kick back with a local wine in the lounge bar, home cinema or sun terrace or join a free walking tour.
Porto Wine Hostel
Hostel
Who wouldn’t love a hostel themed around Porto’s famous sweet wine? Dormitories are inspired by styles and ages of port wine, from vintage ruby to 40-year-old tawny. Porto Wine Hostel is also well located minutes from the Clérigos Tower and overlooking the tree-lined paths of Cardoaria Garden.
Garden House Hostel
Hostel
Occupying a renovated 19th-century manor house, Garden House Hostel sits amid the shops and restaurants of Rua Catarina minutes from A Pérola do Bolhão, a traditional market with a beautiful azulejo facade. The belle époque-style Majestic Cafe is just a five-minute stroll down the road. The hostel’s biggest perk is the outdoor terrace and lush garden, where you can hang out and relax when you’re not exploring the city.
Rivoli Cinema Hostel
Hostel
Located across the street from the Rivoli municipal theatre and performing arts centre, Rivoli Cinema Hostel found inspiration for the design of its dormitories in films such as Amélie (2001), Pulp Fiction (1994) and Corpse Bride (2005). The hostel has a cool rooftop terrace where you can take in views of Porto, and a common area that’s set up for watching movies and playing video games. It’s hard to beat the location, too, which is minutes from Avenida dos Aliados and many of Porto’s landmarks and cafes.
Nina Santos contributed additional reporting to this article.