We are two couples in mid 50's staying in Porto for 3 nights, 1 night in Pinhao and 3 nights in Lisbon in late October. Looking for best area to stay in both Porto and Lisbon (safe, walkable, closet to train/metro.
Also if anyone has recommendations for Pinhao (we will not have a car, traveling in via train) - easily accessed via taxi from train station or walkable. Also, can we walk to vineyard from there?
Thanks so much for the suggestions and ideas. Much appreciated!
Posted by
Calgary, AB, Canada
605 posts
Both Lisbon and Porto are very hilly, so recommendations often are around whether to walk up the hill at the end of the day!
For Lisbon we have stayed twice in the Castelo area, which is just above the Alfama. It is at the top of a hill, but you can find an elevator to take you part way up. I like it because it is a bit quieter in the evening, and we have restaurants up there we like. Barrio Alto is also up a hill, and maybe considered a little trendier. Baixa area is the flatter portion and probably the closest to transit. However it is also the busiest and most touristy.
I don't know Porto as well as Lisbon. A lot of advice was to stay near Ribeira, at the bottom of the hill, and near the waterfront. I found it to be so busy there that I was glad we had stayed further away. We stayed a bit outside of the Clerigos area. Hopefully others can chime in with a bit more advice.