Porto is famed for its port wine, magnificent Douro Valley, and the D. Luís I Bridge. As always, we wanted to be in the heart of the Ribeira do Porto, and found Descobertas Boutique Hotel to be in the perfect location – only a two minute walk from the bridge! As Descobertas Boutique Hotel is only 800 meters from Agenda dos Aliados, São Bento Train Station, and the Metro Station, it is extremely easy to access both the hotel and the city itself. How convenient!
We entered Descobertas Boutique Hotel and were surprised at how modern the interior was, despite being located in the Old District. Paying homage to the Portuguese navigators, Descobertas Boutique Hotel tries to combine the old with the new, the foundation with the modern. Each floor is beautifully themed and inspired by the places the Portuguese navigators discovered.
The Room.
With a TV turned on, welcoming me by name, I knew that we would have a comfortable stay at Descobertas Boutique Hotel. With a nice sitting area (made into an extra bed), cushy bed, desk, minibar, fridge, and reading corner, this room had everything we needed and more.
The gentle colors paired with the decor made for a beautiful room, and the electronic blackout curtains were a nice addition. 5FT Fun Fact: Descobertas Boutique Hotel has a “pillow menu,” where you can choose from hypoallergenic and anatomical pillows should you request.
The Facilities.
Breakfast is offered from 7:30am-10:30am in the Mezzanine Lounge. There are numerous options for breakfast, and I particularly liked the Portuguese espresso. From delicious pastries, to eggs, meats, and beans, to granola and on, there was something there for each person’s pallet. Descobertas Boutique Hotel also has free WiFi throughout the entire hotel, and a business center offering internet access as well.
Proximity to Restaurants.
Descobertas Boutique Hotel is extremely centrally located, and thus close to all restaurants. Being only a few minutes away from the Douro River, it is easy to find numerous restaurants to suit your needs.
Proximity to Key Sights.
If you’re of average health and up for walking, all of the main sights are within walking distance from the hotel. If you’re older or not up for walking a while, luckily the metro stop is around the corner! As noted earlier, be sure to check out the D. Luís I Bridge — take a walk over it to the other side of the river bed for a beautiful view of Porto and its colorful facades!
It is also worth checking out the Palacio da Bolsa, the Church of São Francisco, and, my personal favorite, Livraria Lello, an old bookstore with an incredibly elegant spiral staircase. This bookstore was built in 1906 and is said to be the spot where J.K. Rowling’s inspiration for Harry Potter came to life. Pretty crazy, right?
Porto is absolutely worth a visit if you’re planning to visit Portugal. It’s not an overwhelmingly big city, yet there’s an abundance of sights that are worth seeing. I highly recommend booking your stay at Descobertas Boutique Hotel, as their facilities and customer service will most definitely enhance your experience.
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