travel – Liisa in Portugal

Boavista, Cedofeita and now in Bonfim neighbourhood

After living in Boavista (room) and Cedofeita (studio apartment), I spent the entire month of August 2026 in Finland, followed by two weeks in Boavista in the beginning of September. Initially, I had already paid the first rent and the agency fee for a studio apartment in Bonfim. However, an unexpected turn of events occurred when the landlord decided to rent the studio to the current tenant, who chose to extend his stay.

This sudden change left me in a challenging position as I needed to find alternative housing quickly. Therefore, I opted to rent a room in Bonfim, with the understanding that I would be moving in on September 1, 2026. To my dismay, the landlord later informed me that my move-in date was postponed, and the earliest I could move in was not until September 16, 2026. It seems that the landlord had realized that during this time of year, many tourists flock to Porto, making it more lucrative for them to rent the rooms on a nightly basis rather than to long-term tenants.

This experience highlighted the unpredictability of the rental market in Porto, where arrangements can change suddenly and unexpectedly. As a new resident, I learned that it is essential to remain adaptable and prepared for any shifts in plans, particularly during the busy tourist season.

If you are considering moving or looking for housing in Porto, you can access the English-language version of the housing platform directly at the official Uniplaces Website. This platform can provide helpful resources and options as you navigate the housing market in this vibrant city.ils

How It Works:
• Search and filter verified properties by price, features, and location.
• Submit a booking request online; landlords respond within 48 hours.
• Payment protection holds the first month’s rent safely until 24 hours after move-in

Purpose: An online marketplace for finding and booking medium-to-long-term student and professional housing (rooms, apartments, studios, and residences).

Language Options: The site is available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Simplified Chinese.

In this Portoalities site is also presented beautiful apartments in Porto. https://portoalities.com/en/where-to-stay-porto/

However, from Uniplaces pages you can find also more affordable housing.

In Bonfim till the end of the year 2026

I now live in Bonfim neighborhood, near the city center. I can walk to Rua de Santa Catarina and to the Bolhao Market

This is a shared apartment, six rooms, but at the moment not all the rooms are occupied. And two of the rooms have their own bathrooms so for the shared bathrooms there are not so many users. My room is on the shady side of the house, which was really good in September, which was more hot than usually.