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Porto, Portugal

Porto – Student accommodation, hostels and coworking spaces in Porto (Portugal). Maps of Porto, photos and reviews for each place in Porto.

Student accommodation - Hostels - Coworking in Porto (Portugal)

Students, international students, interns, backpackers, roomates and digital nomads can book cheap dorms and safe private rooms in downtown Porto, close to boarding schools, high schools, colleges, halls of residence and universities, close to buses or train stations, airports or major attractions in Porto.

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Reviews for Backpackers

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Glaiza
We stayed here for a night, and we had a good experience. Staff were friendly and helpful, we had clean and comfortable beds, rooms are clean, hot shower working with nice water pressure. Good value for money! Thankyou
9.7
Value
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Sarah
The hostel is ideally located, close to all amenities and the historic district of Ribeira. The staff is attentive and very pleasant, the rooms and bathrooms are clean.
9.9
Excellent hostel, I recommend!
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Justine
Very nice, clean and large hostel with a very pleasant garden. The staff however is not very welcoming.
7.7
Very clean and spacious hostel
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Laurence
I highly recommend, I stayed 3 nights and will definitely return. Bedding very good. A little noisy if you sleep in a room facing the park (because the bars downstairs are very busy with students on Friday & Saturday evenings) but when you walk around Porto all day, in the evening you are very tired!
8.9
great stay, very well located, very pleasant and professional staff. TB bedding.

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Porto – Student accommodation, hostels and coworking spaces in Porto (Portugal). Maps of Porto, photos and reviews for each place in Porto.

Welcome to Porto

You’re drawn inexorably down to the river in Porto. Nestled between steep banks and overlooked by the impressive Dom Luis I Bridge, the colourful riversides of Cais de Ribeira and Cais de Gaia feel almost magical, as if carved out of the valley by sheer imagination. On either side, narrow streets, relaxed bars and plenty of cheap hostels make this a slam-dunk city for groups of like-minded backpackers. Pick a city centre hostel to be near Porto’s historic heart, or a downtown hostel to explore the art deco shops and cafés of Vitoria. Still not enough to get you out of your hostel dorm? How about a long, elegant beachfront to the west of the city, and a cluster of fantastic festivals? Porto has it going on, so get yourself to a youth hostel in this Portuguese paradise and join the party…

Stand on the Dom Luis I Bridge

Porto’s steep-sided riverfront is its ‘killer app’, and this towering, split-level bridge dominates it. The view from the pedestrianized upper deck is breathtaking. The cable car that travels between the bridge’s southern end and Cais de Gaia is great too, but it’ll cost you €5.
Stand on the Dom Luis I Bridge
Stand on the Dom Luis I Bridge

Modernist architecture walk

Like a bit of art deco and art nouveau? If you’re in a downtown hostel you’ll encounter a surprising amount of it. Strap your shoes on and visit Armazens Cunhas, a department store straight out of Miami; the Coliseu do Porto theatre Rivoli theatres; the Batalha cinema; the gleefully OTT Majestic Café; and of course the opulent Livraria Lello & Irmão bookstore.
Modernist architecture walk
Modernist architecture walk

Stroll down Rue das Flores

Once the heart of the city’s jewellery quarter, this cobbled street is now lined with independent businesses, some traditional, some new and funky. Halfway down you’ll find the baroque Santa Casa da Misericordia church. Carry on downhill at the end of the street and you’ll find the old Ferreira Borges Market building, an impressive steel structure beside the Stock Exchange Palace.
Stroll down Rue das Flores
Stroll down Rue das Flores

The port houses

If you can see Vila Nova de Gaia from your hostel dorm, you’ll notice it’s dominated by port house logos. Port is BIG business here – it’d be rude not to visit a few tasting rooms, wouldn’t it? Cálem is right by the bridge, so start there.
The port houses
The port houses

Clerigos Church

It isn’t Porto’s biggest religious building by a long stretch, but it’s a minor masterpiece of Baroque architecture, and its iconic clocktower offers amazing views of the city – if you can hack the 240 steps.
Clerigos Church
Clerigos Church

Church of São Francisco

Large but unassuming from the outside, this UNESCO-listed Gothic church is hiding both a jaw-dropping interior and an interesting set of catacombs, accessed through the neighbouring museum.
Church of São Francisco
Church of São Francisco

Serralves

From the historic to the consummately modern – this complex features a museum of modern art and a fabulous art deco villa set in gorgeous gardens. If you’re the kind of backpacker that’s hooked on culture and architecture, this is unmissable.
Serralves
Serralves

Livraria Lello & Irmão

This art nouveau façade of this iconic bookstore is striking enough, but the interior is something else. Your eye follows the sweeping, curved red staircase up to an elaborate stained-glass window fringed with delicate plasterwork. Oh, and there are books too.
Livraria Lello & Irmão
Livraria Lello & Irmão

Sé/Ribeira

Porto’s historic centre, within easy reach of city centre hostels. Start at the cathedral and follow the winding, narrow streets below it down to the waterfront, packed with bars, shops and restaurants. It’s a little touristy by the river, but the constant buzz and the picturesque surroundings, loomed over by the Dom Luis bridge, more than make up for that
Sé/Ribeira
Sé/Ribeira

Miragaia

Though it’s close enough to Sé, Miragaia feels a world away from tourists – backpackers like it for its quiet, residential vibe, with cobbled streets and colourful houses. It’s also home to the ‘hidden’ Horto das Virtudes garden, and if you follow its streets downhill to the river you’ll arrive at the Museum of Transport and Communications.
Miragaia
Miragaia

Foz do Douro

Just a short bus ride from the city centre, this swish seaside suburb feels a million miles away. As well as the beach itself, there’s a long promenade with shady palm trees and bar terraces. Keep walking north and – if your legs are up to it – you’ll arrive at the extensive City Park (Parque da Cidade), which hosts the Optimus Primavera festival in June.
Foz do Douro
Foz do Douro

São João festival (June)

This centuries-old celebration of St John the Baptist is more raucous than reverent. It’s a huge street party with barbecues, fireworks, and an odd tradition of people hitting each other with toy hammers. Wherever your youth hostel’s based, you’re bound to see (and hear) some of the festivities.

Serralves Festival (May)

No half-measures from this lively cultural festival in the Serralves grounds. It runs non-stop for 40 hours, and features performances and workshops from every discipline you can think of.
Serralves Festival (May)
Serralves Festival (May)

Fantasporto

Film fan? Get yourself into a city centre hostel for this leading sci-fi, horror and fantasy film festival, showing big commercial releases and envelope-pushing indie work. Most screenings are at the art deco Rivoli Theatre.

Dia de Reis (January 6)

Kings’ Day marks the end of Christmas celebrations, but in many ways it’s as big a deal as Christmas itself. A family-friendly carnival atmosphere with lashings of ‘Kings’ Cake’ (bolo rei), a round, soft cake covered in candied fruit.
Dia de Reis (January 6)
Dia de Reis (January 6)

NOS Primavera Sound (June)

This offshoot of Barcelona’s Primavera Sound is one of the festival circuit’s best-kept secrets, and has a perfect vibe for backpackers. It’s like its big brother, but with fewer crowds and a far nicer parkland setting.
NOS Primavera Sound (June)
NOS Primavera Sound (June)

Marés Vivas (July)

The streets, riversides and cheap hostels are great, but don’t forget Porto has beaches too! There’s a slightly poppier line-up at this summer festival, which has a sweet seaside location in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Salão de Chá Aviz

This no-frills caf won’t wow you with its cuisine, but it will fill you up for cheap. A Franchesinha – a mixed meat sandwich covered in cheese and tomato sauce and served with fries, a tried-and-tested favourite with backpackers – will set you back €7.

Restaurante Casa da Música

Don’t want to skimp on quality? Head to the restaurant in this strikingly modern concert hall, close to the downtown hostels around Boavista. The lunch menu comes in at a cool €13 for three courses.
Restaurante Casa da Música
Restaurante Casa da Música

Black Mamba Burgers & Records

This is exactly what it sounds like – except that meat fans need not apply, because BM’s burgers are strictly vegan. Grab a burger, fries and drink for €7.50, and then browse the vinyl crates.

Pinguim Café

If you’re in an arty mood, head here. Behind the unassuming red façade on Rua del Belmonte is a bohemian, backpacker-friendly bar with a cool basement space for live music, theatre and readings. Also, they know their gins…

BH Foz

Out in Foz? Kick back at this stylish restaurant and bar in a restored art deco building within view of the sea. Great for an afternoon coffee, a few sundowners, or a full-on night out.

Aduela Taberna-Bar

The word ‘relaxed’ might have been coined for this local-as-you-like backstreet bar in Vitoria. Craft beers, good wine and a bit of tapas – you’ll want to hole up and drink and talk until the small hours. There are plenty of cheap hostels in the area, so it might even become your ‘local’...

Mercado do Bolhão

Porto’s bustling food market is a great place to pick up veg, cheese or charcuterie for a picnic, but it also has little stands selling cooked food at great prices. Perfect for hungry backpackers who need to grab something on the go.
Mercado do Bolhão
Mercado do Bolhão

Fernandes Mattos & Ca

This might be the gift shop to end them all. Behind the elegant façade you’ll find retro gifts, colourful toys and quirky gadgets over two floors.
Fernandes Mattos & Ca
Fernandes Mattos & Ca

Centro Comercial Bombarda (CC Bombarda)

If only all malls were like this. Head here for a cluster of indie art, craft, fashion and design boutiques under one roof - you’ll want to buy more than you can fit in the dorm.

Learn to love port: You probably associate it with expensive meals, but you’ll be amazed how cheaply you can sink a few drinks in the port house tasting rooms. They’re keen to sell to tourists, so free samples and low-priced tasting measures are common. And a white port is a fine thing on a hot day… Join a free tour: Pancho Tours (www.panchotours.com) will take you round Porto’s historic centre for free – though tips are welcome if you’re feeling generous. You’re likely to be in a big group, but it’s still a good way to get your bearings and meet other backpackers. The walks run daily year-round and last 2.5 hours. Don’t hang around at Ribeira: As buzzy as it is, there’s a big tourist markup at most places. Fine for a quick beer by the river, but look further afield for meals and nights out. Vitoria is a good bet.

Airport Porto’s Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport is about seven miles outside town, and the Metro is by far the easiest way of getting to the city centre’s hostels. Platforms are clearly signposted from the main concourse, trains depart every half hour and a single costs just €2.35. You can also catch local buses – six routes serve the airport, including two night routes. They’re cheap, but take longer. Rail Porto’s main stations are Campanhã and São Bento. Use Campanhã for intercity services, including to Lisbon. São Bento has mostly local services, plus the scenic Douro line – but even if you aren’t using it, it’s worth popping into the station’s main hall to admire its spectacular azulejos tilework. Bus Backpackers arriving on Rede-Expressos and Citi-Express bus services will arrive at and depart from Rua Alexandre Herculano 366. The closest Metro stops are São Bento and Batalha. Getting around Porto has an extensive metro network with six lines, and masses of bus routes. You can ride most forms of transport with an Andante ticket, but charging it with journey credits can be confusing: credits range from Z2 (two zones) to Z7 (seven zones), and zones are counted from the place where you begin your journey. So a Z2 credit is valid for travel within your current zone and into any neighbouring zone, and so on. If you plan to use public transport a lot, consider an Andante 24, which gives you unlimited travel within a given number of zones, or an Andante Tour ticket, which gives you network-wide unlimited travel for 24 hours (€7) or three days (€15). Language: Portuguese Currency: Euro Voltage: 220V Dialing code: +351 for Portugal, 22 for Porto Emergency numbers: Call 112 for ambulance, police and fire services. There’s also a 24-hour medical helpline on 808 242 424. Opening hours: Shops generally close for lunch, on Saturday afternoons and on Sundays. 9am – 1pm then 3pm to 7pm is typical. Large shopping centres are likely to open later, and city-centre bars will go until the small hours. Hospitals Hospital Geral de Santo António (Centro Hospitalar do Porto, EPE) Largo Prof. Abel Salazar, 4099-001 Porto, Portugal 022 207 7500 Hospital de Santa Maria Rua de Camões 906 Porto, Portugal 022 508 2000 Post office Munícipio (Porto) Praça General Humberto Delgado, 4000-999 Porto 022 340 0202 Tourist office Município do Porto - Posto de Turismo do Centro Rua Clube dos Fenianos, 25, 4000-172 Porto, Portugal 022 339 3472