
Living in Porto is a great choice if you're looking to live in a dynamic, safe place, with plenty of jobs, great access and transport, as well as combining the energy of urban life with the tranquillity of the beaches and nature just a stone's throw from home.
If this is exactly what you're looking for, as well as a brand new house, then look no further. Porto, like many growing cities, often has ongoing development projects that include the construction of new homes. These projects include apartment buildings, condominiums, or residential complexes. Let's take a closer look at the best areas to live in Porto and the new property developments in Porto for sale in 2024.
The best neighbourhoods in Porto

Porto is a diverse city with different neighbourhoods offering various amenities and lifestyles. New homes can be found in the city centre, providing easy access to amenities like shops, restaurants, and public transportation. Alternatively, you might find new developments in the outskirts of the city, offering a quieter lifestyle with more space. The Union of the parishes of Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau and Vitória is the group of neighbourhoods that make up the historic centre of Porto, and are amongst the best places to live in Porto. Let's find out more about each of them.
Cedofeita
This is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city and, consequently, an area that attracts many tourists due to its many historical and cultural points of interest.
In this neighbourhood you can easily reach downtown Porto on foot, which is great for walking enthusiasts. But not only that, if you're not a big fan of walking, you also have a wide choice of public transport to get you where you need to go.
Getting around by car is also a good option if you decide to buy a house in Cedofeita, as it's just a few minutes from the Covelo exit (A4) and Campo Alegre (Via de Cintura Interna). However, as nothing is perfect, as it's a very central area it's very difficult to find free parking. In spite of this, many new housing developments have underground parking included in the price.
Santo Ildefonso
The Santo Ildefonso neighbourhood has a unique atmosphere that reflects Porto's cultural and architectural heritage. Its centuries-old buildings and colourful façades will not go unnoticed by anyone.
Here you'll find the famous Church of Santo Ildefonso, which is an unmistakable visual reference for those who live in and visit this area. Living in this old part of the city, you can easily and quickly get to places like São Bento train station and Avenida dos Aliados.
Sé
This is where the city of Porto was born. This neighbourhood, located around the majestic Sé Cathedral, is the perfect combination of traditional and modern. To live in Sé is to enjoy its historic streets and alleys during the day and enjoy the sunset on the banks of the Douro at night. It's embracing the authenticity and tradition that make Porto so special.
Miragaia
For lovers of the river, Miragaia is the perfect neighbourhood, as it has breathtaking views and, in addition, despite being an area very close to the historic centre, it is one of the quietest to live in. The slopes of its beautiful landscape and the houses attached to each other allow for a typically Portuguese way of living.
São Nicolau
A neighbourhood where the architectural beauty represents Porto's personality. The characteristic tiles and colourful façades of the buildings add to the picturesque atmosphere. In São Nicolau you'll find a variety of gastronomic options to suit all tastes, as well as being able to enjoy the sunset on the quay, a spectacle of the colours of dusk over the water.
Vitoria
Living in this neighbourhood means you have the convenience of reaching one of Porto's and the country's main landmarks, the Clérigos Tower, in less than 5 minutes on foot. This is therefore a privileged place to live, as you can easily explore the main points of the city, taking advantage of its strategic location.
Being part of the Vitória community means being integrated into an environment of great cultural vitality, where you won't be short of festivals and all kinds of events that provide excellent opportunities to socialise and celebrate the diversity of the neighbourhood.
- New homes and developments for sale in the centre of Porto
- New homes and developments for sale in Porto district
Is Porto a safe city?

Porto is generally considered a safe city for residents and visitors alike. Crime rates are low and residents typically feel secure going about their daily lives, whether it's commuting, socialising, or enjoying leisure activities. What's more, the more touristy areas are especially well patrolled, which reinforces the feeling of safety at any time of day.
Porto's safety is also influenced by its robust public safety measures, including an active police presence and effective emergency response systems. Additionally, the city's focus on urban development and infrastructure improvements has contributed to enhancing safety and overall quality of life for its residents.
The streets are also adequately lit and in some areas there are surveillance cameras. All these factors, combined with a culture of mutual respect, contribute to Porto's reputation as a safe and welcoming city for both residents and tourists.
A city in constant real estate development

According to data from idealista's most recent price report, the average price of a square metre in the municipality of Porto reached an all-time high in January 2024, reaching €3,494, which represents a monthly variation of + 1.2% and an annual variation of + 6.7%.
In the union of parishes in the historic centre (Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau and Vitória), the price of the square metre reached €4,054, which also means a monthly variation of + 1.2% and + 4.2% annual variation.
These figures show that the centre of Porto is a very attractive and dynamic area for the property market, but also for tourism, culture and quality of life.
Advantages of living near the centre of Porto

Living in the centre of Porto will offer you a huge variety of advantages. Despite the traffic and tourist pressure, we believe that, at the end of the day, the balance of positive points will weigh much more heavily.
- Quality of life: Safety, hospitality and gastronomy, among many other factors, contribute to an excellent quality of life for Porto residents.
- Efficient public transport network: In the centre of Porto you have access to transport such as the metro, buses, trams and trains. On top of all this, you're also very close to Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, which makes it easy to travel to both national and international destinations.
- Education network: If you're a university student, in the city centre you'll find a vast and excellent higher education network, with renowned universities such as the University of Porto. If you have young children, you'll also find plenty of public and private primary schools.
- Safety: As we mentioned above, safety is one of the city's strong points.
- Property development: Another point we've highlighted and which cannot be emphasised enough. In the centre of Porto you have the chance to invest in valuable and profitable properties, whether for residential purposes or as an investment in the rental market.
- Lush landscapes: In this city there's no shortage of landscapes that look like real film sets, such as the Douro river, the Ribeira pier or the Cathedral.
New homes and developments in Portugal
There are various types of new developments in Porto, ranging from modern apartment complexes to traditional townhouses and luxury villas. Research different options to find the type of property that best suits your needs and preferences, starting with our selection of new homes for sale in Porto.