The taster of port wine that greets you on arrival pays homage to this city, the capital of port-making - and a visit to its ancient port lodges on the banks of the Douro is a must while you're here. But staying in the World Heritage-listed historic heart can be exhausting and noisy. These apartments on the dramatic Atlantic-lashed seafront where the Douro meets the ocean, a quick tram or taxi ride from the centre, are the perfect solution. Here you can have your port and drink it - to the soothing sound of the breakers.
Housed in a 19th-century seafront mansion in the elegant Foz district, the 5 boutique apartments have been artfully designed by José Carlos Cruz, one of Portugal's foremost architectural firms, with creative furnishings to match. If the eye-catching art on the walls takes your fancy, you can buy it - each apartment showcases up-and-coming Portuguese artists. Start your day with a gourmet breakfast delivered to your door (extra cost); end it by cooking up a storm in your well-equipped kitchen or sampling Porto's restaurants, of which there are masses. Each apartment sleeps 2 in its main bedroom, but ingenious rollaway beds mean there's space for up to 5. Perfect for young couples, friends, families and design-lovers seeking independence and style while imbibing the faded glory of this wondrous city.
Highs
- Contemporary cool at its best; the apartments are all different, but each is stylish, spotless and brimming with design surprises
- Smell the sea and sleep to the sound of Atlantic breakers, knowing that historic downtown Porto is within easy reach
- Excellent value for money (prices shown are based on 2 people, but additional guests are only a bit extra) and rates include self-catering basics and daily cleaning
- Foz do Douro is a really buzzy district with interesting independent shops, restaurants and grocery stores
- An on-call concierge service by owner Miguel, to help you plan your days
Lows
- You’re not right in the centre, but it’s quieter here, you have the sound of the sea, and it’s only a 10-minute bus or tram ride from central Porto
- No formal reception. But Miguel is available at the press of a mobile phone button
- The beach in front of the apartments can get busy in summer; the sea is cold and often too wavy for swimming
- A cash or credit card security deposit must be paid on arrival
Best time to go
Come in March, April and May before it gets really hot, in September if you’re interested in seeing the grape harvest (well worth it), or in October for late summer sun. July and August have fantastic weather, but they are the high season with a lot of tourists. You may wish to time your trip to coincide with one of Porto’s many festivals, the most famous of which is the colourful Festa de São Joao (St John’s Festival) on 24 June.
Our top tips
Location
The apartments are set in the elegant Foz district of Porto (Oporto), 13km from the airport, in northern Portugal.
By Air:
Fly into Oporto Francisco Sá Carneiro. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving this airport.
From the Airport
The owners can arrange a transfer for an extra cost, or you can take a taxi or hire a car.
By Car:
For car hire see our car rental recommendations. You can park for free on the street near the apartments.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book with i-escape.
More on getting to Portugal and getting around
Airports:
- Oporto Francisco Sá Carneiro 13.0 km OPO
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 0.1 km
- Restaurant 0.1 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 17 independent reviews from i-escape guests
We were really impressed with our stay in Porto. The accomodation was spacious and had everything we needed (we were travelling with a baby). Despite being a self check in, the team there were constantly available over WhatsApp and went above and beyond to ensure we had a perfect stay. We enjoyed the area as well - plenty of places to eat right on the doorstep. We would stay again in a heart beat.
The apartment had everything (and more) that we needed for our stay. We loved the breakfast hamper and it was great to be able to choose our breakfast items. The helpful and friendly team were on hand - not that we needed much as check in instructions etc were easy to follow. A great stay.
We fell in love with our apartment immediately, It had everything we required for a week away. Being just outside of central Porto, yet close enough to walk or catch the tram in, it was perfectly located with lots of amazing places to eat and beaches nearby. The hosts are what make this place, as nothing is too much trouble. They go out of their way via regular WhatsApp messages to make sure your stay is comfortable and that you have everything you need. A complimentary breakfast delivered on the first morning was a lovely touch and we ordered another at short notice at the end of our stay. We wouldn’t hesitate to book again or recommend to others.
We would definitely recommend having the sea view apartment. The view of the sea and beach is just stunning (as are the sunsets). The room is well-designed, very comfortable and well equipped. The bedroom on the mezzanine floor is quite small and the bed is also a bit small when you are used to a super-king sized bed. For anyone sleeping in the living room area, the stairs are a bit of a nightmare for going to the bathroom at night. Perhaps they could provide a nightlight. Breakfasts are excellent (fresh pastries including pasteis de nata, eggs, meat, cheese, fruit, yoghurt) and well worth paying the extra for. The simple system of filling in a form for what you would like the following morning (long list) and leaving it with the breakfast basket when you put it out for collection worked well. .
The payment system was a bit complicated and communication not always clear, but things worked out okay in the end. There was also a problem with the router and the wifi codes. The codes they provided were incorrect and the router needed something done to it for the wifi and the TV to work, but this was finally resolved by housekeeping staff on the third day. We think the price was reasonable for the quality of the apartment and its location. We really enjoyed our stay at the apartment. We found it the ideal place to stay if, as we did, one wanted a mix of city and beach. The centre of Porto is very easy to reach either on foot (about an hour’s walk along the river) or on the 500 bus. Foz is a lovely suburb of Porto with good shopping, restaurants and cafes. The descriptions of the many beaches do not do them justice. They are succession of sandy coves between rocks with a decked walkway just about all the way along. They were cleaned every day and were well organised with bars, restaurants, changing facilities, showers, etc. However, the sea is cold and can be rough, so not ideal for small children.
Beautifully designed apartment that was spacious with lovely toiletries. We had a sea view and watched wonderful sunsets. Great setting with great pizza restaurant opposite. Excellent service via WhatsApp which was attentive and helpful. We were lazy and got breakfast delivered although lots of food shops nearby.
The apartment is in a great location, close to the beach, and it is well worth booking the sea view. There is a lovely walk along the esplanade to a beach restaurant/bar (Praia da Luz) where people gather to watch the sunset. The interior is as shown in the photos, cleverly designed, spacious with stylish furniture. There's a well equipped kitchen and we enjoyed the breakfast which was delivered to our door in the morning. Although it is in a quieter area than the centre of Porto, there are independent shops and restaurants close by. It is easy to reach the centre of Porto, either by bus, or on the old tram. Travelling on the tram is a must at least once and is sometimes quicker than the bus during rush hour! If time allows, a short bus trip from near the apartment to the port town of Matosinhos is worthwhile to sample the fish restaurants, where fresh fish is barbecued outside. We would definitely return to this apartment.
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