Portugal is one of the few destinations currently on the UK government’s Green list. So, we check out some of the hottest hotels set to open across the country this year, from a wellness retreat in the Douro Valley to a quirky boutique hotel in Lisbon…

W Algarve

Located just outside of Albufeira on the iconic cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, W Algarve is due to open in August 2021. The hotel will have 134 rooms and suites plus 83 residences, all ocean facing and boasting spacious balconies. For event and incentive groups, there are two ultra-modern meeting rooms, complemented by extensive outdoor facilities ideal for vibrant outdoor events or beachfront celebrations. Dining options include Market Kitchen, which serves regional cuisine, while Paper Moon adds tempting Italian dishes into the mix. There is also a state-of-the-art fitness centre ‘FIT’ and an ‘Away’ spa with seven treatment rooms, plus outdoor pools.

Mama Lisboa

Close to the famous Avenida da Liberdade, Mama Lisboa is arriving in the heart of Lisbon in November. Encapsulating a playful and edgy design, the hotel will house 130 bedrooms and a stunning rooftop open for guests to eat and drink whilst enjoying a bird’s-eye view of Lisbon and the Tagus. An all-day restaurant, with its interior patio and the brick oven pizzeria for locals to take away Mama’s famous pizzas, will also be available. It’s one of five new openings from the quirky Mama Shelter brand in 2021.

Hilton Porto Gaia

Due to open this summer, the 194-room Hilton Porto Gaia will be set amidst the area’s renowned and historic port wine cellars. Amenities include one restaurant, a lobby bar and a destination bar with panoramic views of Porto’s historic centre and the Douro River, as well as a 912sqm modern spa offering an indoor pool with dynamic water jets, sauna, Turkish bath, four treatment rooms and a gym, among other features. The hotel will also offer extensive event space, with a 356-seat auditorium and 1,688sqm of meeting space, including a 735sqm ballroom.

Palacio de Canavezes

Portugal’s Palácio de Canavezes, a former Palace hotel visited by the Portuguese Royal Family and renowned for its famous thermal waters, is being transformed into a hotel by Campbell Gray Hotels. The Palácio de Canavezes resort is located just 35 minutes by road from the centre of Porto and only 40 minutes from Porto Airport.

The hotel will offer 52 rooms and suites overlooking the River Tâmega on the edge of the Douro Valley, a restaurant and terrace with views of the surroundings. The spa offering includes a PureGray health clinic and wellness facility, an indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam room, while treatment rooms and a hammam are carved into the rock face onto which the resort is built.