We will be in Porto in late October and we will still have a car with us since we are going on to the Duoro Valley. I am looking for suggestions/advice on hotels that: A) have parking, and B) that are easy to get to without driving all the way through Porto. This will be our first time in Porto and I am having trouble getting oriented to this city. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
8723 posts
We stayed at Hotel NH Porto Jardim in 2023. It has its own parking garage and was fairly easy to reach since it isn’t right downtown. We used Google maps to get us there. From it we walked all over the city and felt it was in a good location. It’s on the side of the city that should make departing for the Douro valley easy. I think hotel parking was €11 per night, but I can’t remember for sure.
If you happen to need to do laundry while in town, there’s a self service laundromat a five minutes walk from the hotel.
Posted by
19 posts
I’d avoid driving into Porto at all if you can, it’s not a car‑friendly city.
A good approach is to stay just outside the historic center, somewhere like Vila Nova de Gaia (across the river) or near Boavista / Foz. Much easier access by car, more hotels with parking, and you can Uber or take a short metro ride into the center.
Another easy option is to pick a hotel with parking and just park once and don’t move the car until you leave, that’s what most people do.
Main thing: don’t plan to drive around Porto itself… tight streets, hills, and traffic.
Posted by
OP
San Carlos, CA, USA
402 posts
Thank you for your replies. We booked the NH Hotel Porto Jardim. We will park the car at the hotel and leave it there till we leave Porto. Thanks again.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
8723 posts
I think you’ll enjoy the hotel. Being a newer hotel, its parking garage was easy to maneuver in and the spaces were wider than most parking garages I’ve used in Europe.
Posted by
OP
San Carlos, CA, USA
402 posts
Thank you jaimeelsabio.
Another question: In looking at the front of the hotel and the parking garage entrance on Google Maps 360 photo, it doesn't look like you can make a left turn into the parking garage, although that's what the Google Maps driving directions say to do. Do you have any recollection about this? Thanks so much.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
8723 posts
If I remember correctly you are correct. What I did was continue past the hotel and curve in the street. I then turned left about 1/4 mile past the hotel, then immediately turned left again at Estacionamento Duque de Loulé (parking lot); it was like making a U-turn, but legally. Then went back to the hotel.
Posted by
OP
San Carlos, CA, USA
402 posts
jaimeelsabio, thank you for your reply! I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. Your answer is just what I was looking for. Thank you so much!