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Find spaces that suit your style
Find the best place to stay — Porto
Top rated rentals — Porto
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Destination guide
Experience Porto in holiday lettings
Move over Lisbon, Porto's coming. Cool, collected and uber-handsome, this city on the steep-sided Douro Valley has plenty of draws to rival the Portuguese capital. Just check out the pastel-painted blocks of the UNESCO Ribeira area, awash with cantinas and tavernas and gorgeous azulejo-fronted buildings. That faces the Rabelo boats, where port is the tipple of choice, and spreads into districts of gilded Baroque churches and enticing museums. Regional markets and unexpected miradors dot the topographic town centre, and Porto holiday rentals nestle in old graffiti-strewn neighbourhoods where life pulses.
History
Historic sites near Porto holiday homes
Porto has an array of fascinating historic sites to delight the history buff. Holiday rentals can be found near places like Clérigos Church, an ornate church with an iconic bell tower and a spectacular marble altarpiece, and Bolsa Palace, a neoclassical landmark with tours and private events. You'll also like Porto Cathedral, a Romanesque cathedral with a fortress-like interior, a beautiful rose window and Gothic cloisters.
Things to do
Attractions near your holiday rental in Porto
Age-old trams and vintage carriages are the name of the game in the Museu do Carro Electrico – an exhibition dedicated to the iconic railcars that still rattle up Porto's hills. There are masterworks of Portuguese art from the 1800s and 1900s hanging on the walls of the Soares dos Reis National Museum. There are tales of winemaking and more in the Port Wine Museum down on the Douro. There are historic swords and weaponry and hulking tanks at the Museu Militar do Porto. You get the idea – the collections just don't stop coming.
Activities
Fun things to do near Porto holiday homes
Porto's like a maze, physically and culturally. You can so easily switch from staring up at handsome Baroque church spires, to sipping potent port wine in verdant vineyards far up the Douro. A tour or 2 can help you make sense of it all. That could mean a hop-on, hop-off open-air bus around the Ribeira and across the river. It could mean a local foodie helping you pick out the freshest veg and finest ports in the Bolhao Market. It could mean a ride on a motorised 2-wheeled personal transport around the cobbles of Porto Cathedral to the Dom Luis I Bridge.
Weather
Local weather during your stay in Porto holiday homes
The breezes of the Atlantic and the wide Douro estuary have a cooling effect on Porto, meaning although the mercury can climb to 30 degrees, it's rarely unbearable in the city, even during the hottest summer months of June, July and August. That's when most travellers seek out Porto holiday rentals in Ribeira or near Bolhao Market, to tour the streets in the sunshine and heat. Others will prefer the spring, in May, or the autumn, in September and October, which both tend to be balmy but loads less busy.
Natural features
Porto – a city in a valley
Porto straddles the Douro River at the point it widens to meet the Atlantic Ocean. The town cascades down the steep banks and lines the water with its famous wine cellars. Inland, you can travel to see vineyards blanketing the hills of the region. On the coast, you can bag Porto holiday rentals with front-row seats over the wave-bashed Praia do Carneiro or the promenade-backed Praia do Molhe, the start of a stretch of shoreline that's untrodden and secluded, but great for waxing up the surfboard and riding the swells.
How to get there
Transport options to and around Porto
Fly into Porto (OPO-Dr. Francisco de Sa Carneiro), the closest airport, located 6.4 mi (10.3 km) from the city centre.
If you're travelling by train, São Bento Station, Campanhã Station and Contumil Station are the main stations in the area. You can see more of Porto by jumping on the metro at Faria Guimarães Station, Trindade Station or Lapa Station.
Good for couples
Romantic holiday homes in Porto
If you're looking for a romantic retreat, Porto has plenty of idyllic locations. Holiday homes are available near places like Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, an elegant Victorian garden with fountains, pathways and Douro River views, and Serralves, a green parkland with formal gardens, wooded areas and spectacular sculptures. You can also visit the Soares dos Reis National Museum, an art museum within an 18th-century palace with Flemish paintings, Portuguese sculpture and other artwork.
How many holiday rentals are available around Porto?
Our 2022 accommodation listings offer a large selection of 4,387 holiday lettings around Porto. From 47 villas to 3,679 flats & apartments, find unique self catering accommodation for you to enjoy a memorable stay with your family and friends for a long holiday or a weekend break.
What are the most popular destinations to visit in Porto?
There are many lovely places to stay for a long holiday or just a weekend break in Porto. From Vrbo UK travellers, the popular destinations to visit are:
- Centro / Baixa: 2,203 holiday homes
- Boavista: 1,120 holiday homes
- Lapa: 1,131 holiday homes
- Campanhã: 374 holiday homes
- União de Freguesias do Centro: 2,782 holiday homes
Vrbo UK offers you the possibility to discover many other popular destinations in Porto! Please use our search bar to access the selection of self catering accommodations available in other popular destinations.
What are the most popular points of interest and landmarks to stay near in Porto?
Vrbo UK offers a large selection of holiday lettings near great places to visit in Porto. From Vrbo UK travellers, the top popular points of interest to stay for a holiday trip or just for a weekend are:
- University of Porto: 3,123 holiday rentals
- Portuguese Photography Center: 3,125 holiday rentals
- Center for Portuguese Photography: 3,120 holiday rentals
- Porto City Hall: 3,108 holiday rentals
- Dom Luis I Bridge: 3,115 holiday rentals
But there are many other points of interest around Porto listed on Vrbo UK where you can find your place to stay. Just write your wanted destination in our search bar and have a look at our selection of holiday accommodations.