Mercure Porto Centro Aliados Review 2026: Prime Location in Porto

Top Pick: Perfectly Located Accommodation in Porto

Mecure Porto Centro Aliados

Mercure Porto Centro Aliados

It feels like Porto has become one of Europe's hottest cities recently.

And I just got back from a trip there!

When I'm picking a hotel, my first steps are always filtering by ratings and price.

After that, location is my top priority.

Especially in Europe, where you often find yourself walking everywhere to explore,

and picking up little souvenirs along the way,

being able to easily pop back to your hotel during the day

can be a huge advantage.

And let's not forget Western Europe in the peak of summer these days...

the weather is absolutely scorching, like a giant sauna!

Taking a little break during the midday heat isn't just good for your health,

it'll also help you keep up with the rest of your itinerary.

For this Porto trip, the hotel's location

was absolutely perfect.

Plus, the room itself was incredibly comfortable,

making it a hotel I wholeheartedly recommend.

Table of Contents

1. Where to Stay in Porto: Location Guide

2. My Review of Mercure Porto Centro Aliados

3. My Top 3 Hotel Recommendations in Porto

1. Where Should You Stay in Porto? Let's Talk Location!

As a first-time visitor, I spent a lot of time doing a lot of research,

so my first step was to figure out where the city center actually was.

The true heart of the city is around the Baixa district or Aliados Avenue.

Let's take a quick look at the map, shall we?

My amateur markings might not be the prettiest,

but you can still make sense of it, right?

Green: The Baixa district, where Aliados Avenue runs through.

Blue: The Ribeira district, right by the river.

Red: The Cedofeita district, to the left of the city center.

Yellow: The Bonfim district

Most likely, you'll be debating between the Baixa and Ribeira districts for your accommodation,

these two areas.

I know I certainly was!

Just so you know, the unmarked area across the river is called

Vila Nova de Gaia.

If you're visiting Porto for the first time, just like I was?

I highly recommend choosing a hotel in either the Baixa or Ribeira districts.

It's super convenient for getting around, as it's right in the heart of the city.

If you want to maximize your time sightseeing and exploring local eateries, this is the place to be.

But a quick heads-up: the Ribeira district is notoriously hilly.

So pick your hotel wisely... it can be quite a workout!

The districts to the left and right of the central area

offer a more local vibe and you can often find relatively more affordable accommodation there.

Oh, are you dreaming of a riverside view stay (Ribeira)

but contemplating the potentially cheaper Gaia district across the river?

If it's your first visit... I'd strongly advise against it.

It's just too far from the main city attractions.

*Public transportation is available, to be fair.

The Mercure Centro Aliados, where I ended up staying,

as you might guess from the name itself,

is nestled right in the Baixa district, home to Aliados Avenue.

Here's why I chose this particular spot:

It's incredibly close to major tourist attractions like São Bento Station and Clérigos Tower,

the public transport links are fantastic,

and all the best restaurants and shopping streets are practically on your doorstep.

If you glance at the map above, you'll notice how many places I'd marked to visit

are all conveniently clustered in the city center, right?

What's more, the bus stop for the airport was incredibly close too!

Since Mercure is a global hotel chain,

I also had a bit more confidence in its management and standards,

and I really liked the room interior from the photos I saw.

All in all, I genuinely feel like I made the perfect hotel choice for this trip! :)

2. Porto's Gem: Mercure Porto Centro Aliados – A Hotel with an Unbeatable Location

Room Condition and Breakfast

I don't have a photo of the hotel entrance, but it's actually quite modest.

The city center of Porto, it turns out,

is a charmingly old city with very few new buildings.

This hotel, too, had a somewhat dated exterior,

but once you step inside, there's absolutely no hint of it being an old building.

The photo above gives you a peek at the lobby.

There's a spacious table area, and further inside, you'll find

the breakfast area.

Oh, I must say, I captured this shot quite well, didn't I?

Behind the lobby's check-in desk, there's

a cozy bar area like this.

You'd occasionally see guests enjoying a beer there.

Now, how about we check out the room's condition?

I stayed in the Classic Double Room with a Garden View.

Walking past the slightly dimmer hotel hallway and stepping into the room,

you're greeted by a bright, clean room with a large window.

I also absolutely loved that it had hardwood floors.

Hate carpets!

Right as you step inside, you're greeted by a closet, a safe, and a mini-fridge.

Next to that is the bathroom.

A spacious double bed and a surprisingly generous-sized table!

Sometimes, the tables in hotel rooms...

...are so tiny you wonder if they even count as a table, right?

Now, this table is already quite spacious on its own,

and if you look closely, the bottom part even extends a bit!

The blue-toned interior really captured my heart.

And as you draw back those lovely curtains,

Being a garden view room, you can see what seems like the hotel's garden...?

And there it is: a small but precious swimming pool.

While us Koreans often find ourselves too busy exploring Europe to make time for a swim,

the Europeans were certainly soaking up the sun and splashing around!

Even if you don't jump in, the lovely harmony of lush green and the sparkling pool outside the window was really appealing to me, hehe.

Looking closely now, those parasols are quite charming :)

There are power outlets on both sides of the bed, each with its own nightstand.

Isn't that more crucial than you might think?

Hotels that only put them on one side, take note!

The bathroom, while not huge, was impeccably clean.

The fixed amenities in the shower cubicle

were an all-in-one product,

and it turned out to be a NUXE product, famous for their body oils? I was so impressed!

Behind the sink, there's a separate toilet cubicle with its own door.

Clean and neat, isn't it?

On my recent travels, I've often skipped hotel breakfasts,

but this time in Portugal, I decided to give it a try after a long while.

The breakfast spread was pretty standard European style,

featuring bread, ham, a bit of fruit, and some yogurt.

There wasn't a huge variety, and the taste wasn't exactly... groundbreaking.

Aside from a few stir-fried veggies, there weren't many 'cooked' dishes – mostly familiar tastes, you know?

It was enough to get by, but honestly,

this breakfast was the kind you could easily skip without missing much.

You'd be better off heading to Bolhão Market for a delicious sandwich instead!

And a fun detail – you can see the pool right in front of the breakfast area, hehe.

Despite its simplicity, I still managed to snap some pretty photos, didn't I?

Oh, and there were actually quite a few dessert breads and pastries.

I'm not much of a sweets person, so I didn't get any myself,

but it was curious how there were more dessert options than savory breakfast breads!

So, the breakfast was a bit 'meh' but!

Mercure Porto Centro Aliados

was a hotel that left both my husband and I thoroughly satisfied.

To sum up the pros and cons:

✔️Pros

Excellent location

Top-notch cleanliness

Charming interior design

Spacious room at a great price for its central location

✔️Cons

No wine opener (gasp!)

A somewhat simple breakfast

Seriously, the cons are hilarious, haha!

I've traveled quite a bit, but this was my first time encountering a hotel without a wine opener...

When I couldn't find one in the room, I went to the lobby to ask if I could borrow one,

but they firmly said no and told me to bring the bottle down if I wanted it opened.

So, back up to the room I went, grabbed the bottle, and then back down to the lobby for the grand opening. Phew!

I've been on many trips,

but this was truly the first hotel I've seen that doesn't provide a wine opener, haha!

It's not a deal-breaker, of course,

but we were definitely caught off guard as we were looking forward to some wine.

Just something to keep in mind, you know...

Hotel prices naturally vary by season,

but for mid-March, roughly two months from now, the price

searches show it's approximately ~$135 to ~$150, including tax.

*Clicking on each site name will take you to the detailed page.

​3. Porto Hotel Recommendation List

Before booking Mercure Centro Aliados,

I had several other hotels on my shortlist.

I'll introduce those hotels I was considering.

Compare them with me :)

​

📌Eurostars Aliados

This was the one I truly pondered over until the very last moment.

It's a 5-star hotel with great reviews and an excellent location.

Depending on the room type, you can enjoy beautiful views of Porto City Hall.

Not only are the rooms neat, but the building itself

didn't seem like an old structure at all.

The price is a bit higher than Mercure.

>View Eurostars Aliados Details<

📌Se Catedral Hotel Porto, Tapestry Collection By Hilton​

​

This is a Hilton property, and I seriously considered it because the hotel is just so charming and cute.

It also has great reviews.

Its location is a bit closer to the river than the city center.

Even looking at it again, the interior is adorable.

The breakfast, based on photos, even looks better than Mercure's...

>View Se Catedral Hotel Details<

📌PortoBay Teatro

This place underwent a major renovation in '21,

so I was sure it would be impeccably clean.

Looking now, the price has gone up, but the reviews are great,

and I loved its warm, inviting interior.

>View PortoBay Teatro Details<

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