Sleeping in Airports

Sleeping in Porto Airport

sleeping in porto airport

If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at Porto airport, you might wonder if sleeping in the airport is possible. Our guide to sleeping in Porto airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.

We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.

Sleeping in Porto Airport

Locations & Seating

Porto Airport sleepers
Landside (Photo courtesy of Pignol / 26Aug2009)

Seating is sufficient for this airport, though most seats are made of metal and equipped with armrests, making a decent nap a little more challenging. Spread out on the floor, but bring an extra layer or travel mat to cushion the hard ground. By night, try your luck on the couches and soft seating in the closed cafes till morning.

Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:

  • Look for the lounges located near the boarding gates’ windows.
  • The upstairs level seems to have somewhat private sleep nooks because the lights are shut off for a few hours overnight.

Do you know a good location, airport tip or photos to add? Click here for our review form.

Rest Zones

Porto Airport offers unofficial rest areas equipped with lounge chairs near the windows at the boarding gates.

Hotels

porto airport hotelsIf you prefer the privacy and comfort of a hotel room, you have a few options. The Park Hotel Porto Aeroporto is located opposite the airport terminal. A few more hotels are within a 12-minute drive, and a few offer shuttle service for a fee. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations, or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Porto Airport.

Lounges

porto airport loungesPorto Airport has one lounge with no designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you want to relax in a comfortable seat for a few hours before your flight, check out the pay-to-use lounge details in our Porto Airport Guide.

More Airport Services & Facilities

For information about drinking water, 24-hour food & drink options, luggage storage, showers, mobile charging and WiFi, visit our Porto Airport Guide.

Airport Conditions

If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Temperature – Plan for cold temperatures, especially overnight, as air conditioning continues to run and fewer people are inside. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
  • Lighting – In several airport areas, overhead lights are dimmed for a few hours at night. Arrive prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
  • Noise – Daytime sleepers can expect to hear typical airport noise, like announcements, music playing overhead, and travellers and workers chatting. The airport quiets down by night, with far fewer travellers milling about. The cleaning crew may make some noise but seem to move through quickly. As a precaution, come prepared with earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.

Security & Safety

Airport staff are pretty tolerant of airport sleepers and overnight campers. At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Porto Airport. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s essential to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

  • Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
  • Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
  • Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Please don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who awoke without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
  • Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay sharp, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.

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Airport Photo Gallery

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