InterContinental Porto Palacio das Cardosas

InterContinental Porto Palacio das Cardosas sits at the northern end of Praça da Liberdade. The building is a five-minute walk from the shopping bustle of Rua de Santa Catarina and remains within ten minutes of both Livraria Lello and the Clérigos Church and Tower.

This hotel works because of its placement relative to the city’s steepest hills. While most visitors spend their time navigating the severe inclines of the riverside, staying here keeps you on the more level ground of the central square. It offers an easier starting point than the guesthouses tucked into the riverfront alleys, which require a taxing climb just to reach your door at the end of the day. Choosing this address over the lower districts buys you the convenience of a flat walk home after a long afternoon in the old city.