It was hard trying to decide on what hotel to stay during our vacation and after our visit, I have…read moreto say that we chose a great location. While we were not directly in the city, we were close enough to walk everywhere and yet far enough away to not hear any loud music. We arrived early in the morning and our room was not ready which was to be expected. I loved that they accommodated us by allowing us to use the spa facilities for a quick shower that was much needed after our long flight. After we freshened up, they tagged our bags and left them with the concierge. We walked the city and got the lay of our location. We really wanted a quick nap before dinner, but when we returned to the hotel our room still was not ready and we did not fully check in until 3:45. The room was nice, but I think the photos online looked better than what we got. We did have a separate living space with a couch that we appreciated. The room was clean and they provided refillable bottles of water. While that was a great perk, it was a bit irritating that we had to call them each time we wanted a refill and they would only give you 1 bottle each time. My husband and I both drink a lot of water, so we ended up buying bottles to ensure that we had enough throughout the night. The breakfast was very good, although it was pretty much the same each day. The staff was nice, but not the best with recommendations or suggestions. The art work was very cool and the hotel very modern and pretty. I would definitely stay here again.

My husband and I loved our stay at the Torel Avantgarde. We were forced to make a last minute…read morereservation after finding that the AriBnB we reserved was horrible and not at all as advertised. Last minute reservations can be tricky when you are also traveling with two small dogs. However, the front desk staff responded to our inquiry immediately and we were warmly welcomed upon arrival. All of the rooms are named after artists and we were assigned the Van Gogh Suite. Like Van Gogh, the room was dry and moody. It was also very spacious with lots of room for our luggage. Housekeeping brought up two beds for our dogs and treats. They also offered bowls but we had brought our own. We were also given a bottle of champagne and offered two drinks at the bar. The bed was very comfortable and I slept quite well. Everyone at the hotel treated our dogs like celebrities. We were even able to bring them downstairs for breakfast and dinner because we had them in a stroller. The breakfast buffet is great. The bread that is served at the hotel is amongst the best I have eaten in my life. The staff was so accommodating and professional. One person asked us where we were going for the day and offered us lunch suggestions. The manager also comped our parking fees for each day because of an unfortunate experience we had at dinner. They also left a card in our car wishing us a safe journey and provided a bottle of water. We had a great time during our trip to Porto and the staff and accommodations at the Torel Avantgarde are a large reason why.

Booked this place because my hostel could not accommodate an early check in and it was conveniently…read morelocated one minute away . I booked a standard double room with a city view and it was beyond gorgeous . Think industrial chic industrial meets minimalist decor . Very very 2045 especially with the ambient lighting . The future is here and we're excited . Customer service overall here was also pretty good as far as Portuguese customer service goes ( 4/5). **to note in Portugal the customer is not always right and staff at various restaurants and or hotels will not go out of their way when offering a a specific service to a customer **

Second stay at this hotel. Our first experience was in 2022, and we stayed in what was advertised…read moreas the deluxe room, queen size bed with a sink for 2 people and large walk in shower. We planned our trip for Porto and made it a point to stay at the royal bridges hotel based on our first experience. We reserved the same type of room; however, upon arrival we realized quickly that the room was much smaller than what we remembered. The bed is not a queen, it's a full size bed. Smaller than what my husband and I are used to. The bathroom sink is for single person use...we book our rooms based on our personal preference (i.e. what we are used to at home) we don't go on vacations to sacrifice comfort. The staff is friendly though and speak English, so communication with the staff was seamless. Still do recommend as it's in a prime location. Within walking distance of major attractions and by a main travel route for Uber use.

Absolutely loved our stay in Room 4. The room was lovely with 2 balconies right over the river. The…read moremattress was fabulous, which is so important when traveling. The location couldn't be beat and the staff was phenomenal. They were so welcoming and helpful. We could not ask for more. The breakfast was good and who can't resist a free beer? Love this place and would definitely come back next time.

I highly recommend staying at this place! It's a central location to everything. The rooms have a…read morebeautiful view. The staff are wonderful and helpful. The breakfast is great and more than filling. I will be telling my friends and family to stay here. Stay here; you won't regret it.

I booked this hostel for my second accommodation in the Porto region and boy am I glad I did . It…read morewasn't that the other hostel was bad but this hostel was a bit cheaper and has one of the most amazing locations . Located right on the Douro river you have one of the best views of the region right from the lobby , the terrace outside and even some of the private rooms . Also booking a night here in any accommodation comes with free breakfast ( such a fan of their baked apples with cinnamon which is amazing in a bowl of special K / cornflakes btw ) and their Tomato salad with rosemary and feta with toasted break and butter . l was also a fan of as their welcome drink ( port and tonic ) which is delicious! Great value ! **Update** Updating my review after one full night here and reducing the score from a five to three stars . While again the location is great This hostel also has a very weird policy that prohibits guests from preparing their food in the morning because they have a breakfast service . While it is cool they offer a free breakfast it does not include certain items like eggs etc and even if you have a special diet and or you have your own food you are not allowed to use the kitchen until noon . After being yelled at by an older Portuguese woman that the kitchen was closed I confirmed after speaking with one of the staff that one would literally have to wake up and use the kitchen at 5 am if you had special dietary needs and could not eat what was being offered . In summary - Location is a 5 Cleanliness 5 ( I love how even in the dorms they will make your bed for you everyday like when you stay at a hotel ) Accessibility- ( for guest with special dietary needs or in need of additional services due to a disability ) 2.75 Customer Service also is an average 3.5 ( based on morning staff interactions the morning after ..which initially lowered my rating from a 5 to a 2 the my first morning at the hostel but the staff have been trying their best the following days ( like remembering what I can't eat and trying to modify my plate to accommodate my diet so I am raising their score ) ( overall I give this place 4.2 out of 5 stars and would recommend if you are staying in the porto region )

We stayed at the House of Sandeman as a hotel room. They also offer a hostel as well. Our room was…read morespacious, immaculately clean and beyond our expectations. Views from our room overlooked Porto and the Douro river. Wide plank wood floors and rustic beans demonstrate and highlight the beauty of this historic building. Our bed was spectacularly comfortable. The staff were polite, informative and professional. The included breakfast was an amazing spread of coffee, tea, fruits, cereal, vegetables, yogurt and various breads & sweets. All included with the room or hostel stay. Be advised there are many sets of stairs within this property and even some in the hotel room. I would absolutely stay here again! Beyond what we had hoped for & definitely one of the most scenic places I've ever stayed.

Classy place to end the night and have a few drinks with friends or loved ones. The view is…read morebeautiful inside and out. The food here is delicious and the service is excellent.

The ultimate in luxury in the Porto area. The view from our room was just stunning. We were…read morelucky enough to share our complimentary port on the terrace outside our room and enjoy the view every night. The staff was beyond helpful and knowledgeable. And the room was so well appointed. From the towels to the sheets and pillows every aspect of our large room made us feel so lucky to have picked the Yeatman for our visit to Porto. The food at breakfast was fantastic. A huge variety of wonderful dishes to choose from and the best omelet bar. Speaking of bars we opted for dinner a few nights in the magical bar with a wonderful pianist and captivating night view of Porto and the Bar staff went above and beyond to make our experience picture perfect. The concierges were also very helpful to set up tours or buy train tickers and with nightly dinner reservations.

Skip the hilly hike with a scenic cable car ride…read more Teleférico de Gaia is a gondola cable car route down along the hillside of Vila Nova de Gaia from the upper terrace by Dom Luis I Bridge. It features a colourful view of historic Porto across the Douro River. We paid €9 pp for a return ticket for efficiency rather than hiking between these viewpoints after landing & touring historic Porto and walking across the famous bridge. After a walk down a tunnel, the gondola ride-on system from the top is efficient like a ski lift. The ride itself is only around five minutes each way, but those five minutes gives you panoramic views of the Dom Luis I Bridge, the Douro River and Porto hillside neighbourhoods. At the bottom, we found a lively waterfront with music, wine patio, street vendors and Mercado Beira Rio. The ride back from the lower cable car station took much longer due to the lineup heading back in the late afternoon. As we ate dinner, we noticed a few cable cars still operating at sunset past the posted 6pm closing time for the perfect golden hour view across the Douro River. Skip it or hit it? It's worth the view & quick journey but be prepared to lineup at peak rush.

This is a good way to get a nice aerial view of the bustling Porto tourist area by the river. Keep…read morein mind this ride is VERY short - I'd say it will be 5-7 minutes max before you're already reach the other gondola station at the top of the hill but it's a great way to still take some nice photos and honestly save you a brutal walk up to the top area where the bridge is. There are also some nice little vendors at the top of the hill by the park where the gondola station is especially a great vendor who was serving some insane delicious lemon gelato from a street cart. You also are a short walk away up top from the bridge that you can take some awesome photos of the city and riverside area. Here's the deal, this will cost you a bunch of Euros so unless you're young and hardy and don't mind a long ass walk or aren't averse paying for a taxi to go up to the top, this is probably a good option if you want to save some energy or time or save any older people or kids in your party from a long walk.

The funicular is a great way to see the city of Porto, particularly on a warm, sunny day. After…read morewalking to the top to see the Monastery, we took the funicular back to the bottom before walking back across the bridge. We were thankfully able to take our dogs in a stroller and as you can see from the photo, they enjoyed the view quite a bit!

We stayed in town for five nights. We did stay on top near the Miradouro de Fontainhas. We walked…read moredown once to the river, but with our Bulldog and pet stroller it was pretty rough to walk up/down the steep streets. So we were happy to find this Funicular not far from our holiday rental. One way is 4 Euros, a two-way ticket is 6 Euros. Our pet stroller did fit perfectly. Our Bulldog was very welcome on the Funicular (one of the staff even was also a Bulldog-owner). Dogs ride for free even. On weekends the Funicalar is in service until late night even. It's steep and quick ride. And offers some nice views on the way. Even on weekends we only needed to wait a few minutes. Mostly no wait even. A very convenient way to travel to the top or bottom of lovely Porto. Prices are fair and the staff very friendly and helpful.

I found the hotel to be lovely. Situated right off the river with a beautiful view of the city…read morebridges and river. The staff was friendly and greeted us with a glass of port wine upon checking in. Breakfast came free with our stay and the food selection was wonderful. Omelettes on demand and huge selection to choose from food wise. Bed was super comfortable and I loved my room with a view!

Amazing staff. Amazing accommodations. Beautiful views, and although you are right by all the…read moredowntown action, the rooms were soundproof. Delicious wine and cheese bar downstairs open on certain days and times. We'll be back again!!