Excellence Luxury Villas · Porto
Luxury Villa Rentals in Porto
Apartments in the tiled old city above the Douro, with villas towards Boavista and the Atlantic at Foz
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Granite, azulejos and a glass of tawny by the river
Porto is a city built steeply on granite above the Douro, its hillsides stacked with houses faced in blue and white tiles, its church towers rising above terracotta roofs. Across the water in Vila Nova de Gaia, the port lodges have aged wine in cask for centuries. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city is happy to be less polished than Lisbon.
Our Porto collection runs to 90+ properties. Most are city apartments, from one-bedroom lofts in restored townhouses near São Bento to large family apartments around Bolhão. There are also a few villas with pools in the smarter residential streets of Boavista.
Here is a guide to the neighbourhoods, when to come and what to eat.
Porto at a glance
- Apartments
- 90+ apartments and villas, with up to 10 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £1,400 to £3,000 a week, from around £600
- Best areas
- Bolhão and Batalha in the centre, Miragaia and Ribeira by the river, Foz do Douro by the sea
- Best time
- May to October; late June for the São João festival
- Airport
- Porto airport, around 20 to 30 minutes from the centre by road
Browse all 90+ properties in Porto
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Nortada Carrascal Bolhao: Luxury 5-Bedroom Apartment with Rooftop Terrace & Air-Con – Porto Bolhao5 bedrooms
Refugio Rustico | 6-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Sao Tome6 bedrooms
Casa Douro Bolhao: Spacious 5-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Seaview – Porto5 bedrooms
Casa Azulejo Bolhao: Spacious 5-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Modern Design – Porto5 bedrooms
The market, the tiles and the busy heart of town
Bolhão is named after its market. The great iron and stone hall was restored and reopened in 2022, and it is once again the place to buy cheese, smoked sausage, flowers and fish. Rua de Santa Catarina runs past it, with the old Majestic Café and the tile-clad Capela das Almas.
Batalha, slightly higher up, is built around its square and the Teatro Nacional São João. São Bento station, with its entrance hall lined in painted azulejos, is a few minutes downhill. If you want to walk out of the door and be in the middle of Porto, this is the part of town for you.
Browse apartments in Bolhão
Down by the water
Ribeira is the postcard view of Porto: tall, narrow houses along the quay, rabelo boats that once carried wine barrels down the river, and the double-decked Dom Luís I bridge overhead. Walk across the upper deck to Gaia for the view back, then come down to the lodges for a tasting.
Miragaia, just to the west, is the old riverside quarter beyond the medieval walls. It is quieter, with steep lanes, washing hung between windows and the handsome Customs House on the waterfront. Several of our apartments here have river views.
Browse apartments in Miragaia
Sea air, modern art and the vineyards upriver
The old tram follows the river west to Foz do Douro, where the Douro meets the Atlantic. Foz has a seafront promenade, rocky beaches and good fish restaurants, and on a summer evening it feels almost like a resort. Boavista, inland, is greener and more residential. The Casa da Música is here, and the Serralves museum and park are close by.
Inland lies the Douro valley, where the vineyards of port are terraced into the hills. It is a World Heritage landscape, and the train from São Bento follows the river for much of the way.
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Francesinhas, tripe and sardines in June
Porto eats generously. Try a francesinha, a sandwich of steak and cured meats under melted cheese and a beer and tomato sauce, at least once. The people of Porto are nicknamed tripeiros after their tripe and bean stew, and they take the joke well.
May to October brings the warmest weather. Winters are mild but wet, as you would expect on the Atlantic coast. The great night is São João, from 23 to 24 June, when the whole city grills sardines, people tap each other on the head with plastic hammers and fireworks go up over the river. Our concierge can book port tastings, Douro cruises, restaurant tables and transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in Porto
Casa Cedro Boavista: Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa with Pool & Hot Tub – Boavista5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £3,703 a week
Casa de Vaz Portugal5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £3,685 a week
Casa Bolhao Porto: Spacious 4-Bedroom Apartment with Family-Friendly Features – Porto4 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £3,563 a week
Rent Villa Moreira Portugal5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £3,409 a week
Villa Nortada Carmim Clerigos Porto: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Terrace – Bolhao Porto3 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £3,402 a week
Casa Miradouro Ribeira: Chic 3-Bedroom Apartment with City Views – Porto3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £3,339 a week
Quinta Arouquesa Moldes: Luxury 5-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Air Conditioning – Porto Region5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £3,255 a week
Douro Escape House | 3-Bedroom Villa in Ribadouro Portugal3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £3,231 a weekWhy book your apartment in Porto with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Porto is steep, and an apartment that looks central on the map can sit at the top of a punishing hill, so we know which ones keep the river, the market and the restaurants an easy walk away. With 90+ properties in Porto, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Port lodge tastings in Gaia, Douro valley cruises and quinta visits, restaurant tables, private guides and transfers from Porto airport. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Porto?
Bolhão and Batalha are central and within walking distance of most sights, restaurants and São Bento station. Miragaia and Ribeira put you by the river, and Foz do Douro is calmer, by the sea, with good fish restaurants.
When is the best time to visit Porto?
May to October has the warmest and driest weather. Late June is lively because of the São João festival, and September and October bring the grape harvest in the Douro valley.
Can I visit the Douro valley from Porto?
Yes. It makes a very good day trip by car, by train from São Bento along the river or by boat, with lunch and a tasting at a quinta. Our concierge can arrange a driver, a cruise or quinta visits.
Can you arrange a private chef at a apartment in Porto?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in Porto cost?
Across our 90+ properties in Porto, weekly rates typically range from £1,400 to £3,000, with the most affordable from around £600 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Porto?
Porto airport has direct flights from several UK airports and is around 20 to 30 minutes from the centre by road, or a little longer by metro. Fast trains also connect Porto with Lisbon in around three hours.
Are there apartments in Porto for large groups?
Yes. Our Porto collection includes properties with up to 10 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your apartment in Porto
90+ apartments and villas in Porto, booked direct with our concierge on hand