The Best Hostels in Porto

Porto’s hostels are some of the best in Europe: arty, friendly, and set in beautiful old townhouses, often with family dinners and port tastings included. Here are our favourite hostels in Porto, for solo travellers, backpackers and budget-minded couples.

Quick answer: for an arty, beautiful hostel, Gallery Hostel on Porto’s art street. For a social vibe and garden barbecues, Porto Spot Hostel. For something quirky, the film-themed Rivoli Cinema Hostel. For the Ribeira, Being Porto or Bluesock. Many have private rooms, too.

Why stay in a hostel in Porto

Porto’s hostels are a big step up from the bare dorms you might expect. Many are in restored 19th-century townhouses with original tiles, high ceilings and gardens. Breakfast is often included, staff run walking tours and dinners, and private rooms can cost less than a budget hotel. They’re a good choice for solo travellers who want company, and for couples on a budget.

The best hostels

1. Gallery Hostel (Miguel Bombarda)

A restored 19th-century house on Porto’s gallery street that doubles as an art gallery, with original blue tiles, a garden, a cinema room and shared dinners. Dorms are small (from three beds) and rooms have their own showers. Consistently one of the top-rated hostels in Portugal. It’s a short walk to the Clérigos bar streets. Check prices

Breakfast is included, and a home-cooked Portuguese dinner is offered most evenings for a small charge. There’s a terrace for summer and a glassed-in winter garden. The nearest metro stops are Trindade and Lapa, and the Crystal Palace gardens are a short walk away.

Best for: design lovers and travellers who want a calm, sociable base.

2. Porto Spot Hostel (near Bolhão)

A friendly hostel on Rua Gonçalo Cristóvão with a garden, barbecues and daily dinners, about a seven-minute walk from the Bolhão market and Avenida dos Aliados. Breakfast is included. Private twins and doubles too. Check prices

The building is a 1930s design by the Porto architect Arménio Losa. Dinners are paid extra and served on the patio, and staff organise walking tours and nights out. There’s a guest kitchen if you want to cook.

Best for: solo travellers who want to meet people.

3. Rivoli Cinema Hostel (Aliados)

An art deco-style hostel with movie-themed rooms and a rooftop terrace, near the main avenue and the Rivoli theatre. Guests rate the location and staff very highly. Fun and central, with private rooms. Check prices

Breakfast is included, and the roof terrace has a small pool that opens in the warmer months, which is rare for a hostel in the centre.

Best for: a central, flatter location with a terrace to relax on.

4. Being Porto Hostel (near the Bolsa)

Stone walls and a cosy feel, a short walk down to the Ribeira and the cathedral. Breakfast is available for a small extra charge, and there’s a guest kitchen. Private rooms and female-only dorms are available. Check prices

Best for: being close to the river without paying Ribeira hotel prices.

5. Bluesock Hostels Porto (Ribeira)

A modern hostel in a historic blue-tiled townhouse near the river, opened in 2016, with privacy curtains on the bunks and suites with private bathrooms. Great location. Check prices

Each bunk has its own reading light and socket, and it’s on Rua de São João, a few minutes’ walk up from the Ribeira waterfront.

Best for: travellers who want hostel prices with a bit more privacy.

6. Selina Porto (near Clérigos)

A design hostel-hotel steps from Clérigos and Livraria Lello, with privates, dorms and coworking. Booking sites list it as temporarily closed until at least mid-December 2026, so check before you plan around it. Check reopening

Choosing a hostel

• Location: the Ribeira and Clérigos are central but hilly; Bolhão and Aliados are flatter and close to the metro.
• Hills and stairs: many hostels are in old townhouses without lifts. Ask if you have heavy bags or mobility needs.
• Private rooms are often cheaper than budget hotels.
• Dorm size: smaller dorms (four to six beds) are quieter. Some hostels offer female-only dorms, so check when you book.
• Noise: places near Galerias de Paris can be loud at weekends. Bring earplugs.
• Breakfast: not every hostel includes it, so compare the total price, not just the bed.
• Tourist tax: Porto charges €3 per person per night for guests aged 13 and over, up to seven nights. It’s usually paid at the hostel. A rise to €4 was under discussion in September 2026, so check the current rate.

Getting to your hostel

• From the airport: metro line E runs to the centre in about half an hour. Trindade and Aliados are the handiest stops for most hostels. See Porto airport to the city centre.
• By train: trains from Lisbon stop at Campanhã. Change there for São Bento, a short walk from most hostels on this list.
• By bus: long-distance buses arrive at the Campanhã bus terminal, next to the train station.

When to book

Porto is busy from May to October, and the best-rated hostels fill early for summer weekends and São João (23 June). The Queima das Fitas student festival in early May (2 to 9 May in 2026) also fills beds. Book a few weeks ahead in peak season. In winter, prices drop and you can often book a day or two before.

Budget tips for Porto

Walk everywhere you can, eat the prato do dia or a bifana, and look for free walking tours. See what to eat in Porto, Porto in one day, free things to do in Porto and Portugal on a budget.

FAQ

What is the best area for a hostel in Porto?

For first-timers, the area around Clérigos, Aliados and Bolhão is central and close to the metro. The Ribeira is more scenic but hillier and busier at night.

Is Porto good for solo travellers?

Yes. Many hostels run shared dinners, walking tours and nights out, which make it easy to meet people, and the centre is compact enough to explore on foot.

Do you pay the tourist tax in a hostel?

Yes. Guests aged 13 and over pay Porto’s tourist tax of €3 per night, for up to seven nights, usually at check-in.

Is Selina Porto open?

Not at the moment. It is listed as closed until about December 2026, so check before you book.

Prefer a hotel? See where to stay in Porto. Heading to Lisbon? See the best hostels in Lisbon.

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