If you fancy feeling like a prince or princess on your next trip to Porto, book yourself into an 18th century palace at the Palácio do Freixo. The hotel’s baroque architecture is stunning (not to mention Insta-worthy) and fronts onto the Douro, meaning it also affords stellar river views.
Inside the hotel’s main building (the former palace), a lounge area with a sky-high frescoed ceiling and gold detailing steals the show, and leads through to the classy Nasoni Bar and Palatium Restaurant, where you can try cuisine typical to northern Portugal.
A covered walkway then leads to the hotel rooms, which are contained in a less impressive building that once served as Porto’s mill. Despite its former industrial function, the dark corridors are given pops of interest with lavish furniture and the 87 rooms are spacious. Front-facing rooms have views over the river as well as the hotel’s outdoor terrace, infinity pool and jetty lined with sunlounges.
On the ground floor there is a spa area with a heated indoor pool, steam room, gym and sauna. Food can be ordered from the pool bar.
While the hotel has a prime location on the banks of the Douro River, it is outside Porto’s main tourist hub. So unless you’re up for a 45-minute walk along the river to the historical centre you’ll need to catch the hotel’s free shuttle bus, which departs every 30 minutes, or take a taxi. The Campanhã train and metro stations are 1.5 kilometres away.