Six Senses Douro Valley

We visited during the Christmas holidays and wished we had one more day at the Six Senses. It's a fantastic hotel with excellent service. Our suite was very nice, the treatments were great, the gym was good for a hotel, etc. Highly recommend.

There was a time when the Douro Valley offered something truly rare: authenticity. It was a land of soulful vineyards, river-bound stories, and warm hospitality — accessible not just to elite tourists, but to Portuguese families like mine, who’ve sailed these waters for decades and called this valley a second home. I remember my first stay at Six Senses: a refined experience at €300–€400 a night, which, though high-end, felt justified. The service was exceptional, the setting magical, and the sense of place — intact. Those days, it seems, have long since sailed downriver. Now? Try north of €2,000 per night. For a hotel room. In Portugal. Yes, the amenities are excellent. Yes, the grounds are beautiful. But no, they are not two-thousand-euros-a-night beautiful. Not even close. What we’re witnessing is a sad transformation: the Douro being polished into a version of itself that caters exclusively to global wealth, while quietly — or not so quietly — pushing away the very people and culture that gave it soul. You’ll still find authentic quintas throughout the region: family-run, deeply rooted, and delightfully unpolished — offering wine, food, and true Portuguese warmth at a fraction of the price. But places like Six Senses are leading a different charge, slowly but surely converting the Douro into a new “Tuscany”, where ultra-luxury replaces local charm, and Portugal becomes a postcard for others to enjoy — while the locals are priced out of their own story. As the saying goes, “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” And at €2,000 a night, the value here feels more like a carefully curated illusion than anything genuinely Portuguese. I left with one certainty: next time, I’ll choose heart over hype — and stay where the Douro still speaks its native tongue.

Wow, what a wonderful hotel. We spent 3 days here celebrating our anniversary. It was a splurge for us (the prices are no joke), but well worth it. Highlights: the magnificent grounds (make sure to take a walk in the forest), the food (they've mastered the art of delicious, healthy food, with local ingredients, artfully prepared), the staff (so friendly and warm), and oh gosh the activities. We did a 3-hour hike, a 2-hour bike ride, a yoga class, a wine tasting, and a 30 minute couples foot massage (included with the Mr. and Mrs. Smith booking). Each was led by a knowledgable and personable guide who seemed to love what they were doing. If we had it to do over again we'd stay for 4/5 nights--there are enough activities here to keep you busy for a week, easily. And you still have plenty of time for relaxing in the room or the sauna. We also recommend going into the nearby town of Régua for a meal. The concierge recommended Aneto & Table, just 10 minutes away. The food was excellent, and it was nice to get off the grounds a bit and get a feel for the local town. This was our first Six Senses visit but we loved it so much that we want to try more.

I had high expectations and it exceeded all of them. Six Senses Douro Valley has spoiled us for all other hotels and resorts. Loved the property, the staff, our room, the wine tasting, the hike around the property (Pacheca is about 45-60 minutes away on foot and was well worth the effort), the food, location...I could go on and on. Just book it and know that you will love it, too.

After three days in Porto we drove here for peaceful few days. We were met on arrival with cool towels, port and herbal tea, and some mixed nuts. After an easy check in, we were taken to a patio and told to ring the bell as a gesture that we have arrived home. This was a personal touch along with the two very friendly rescue dogs (Foxy and Aqua) who roamed throughout the hotel and joined us for all meals. The reception staff went above in assisting us before arrival with reservations to a lovely family-run quinta for port and wine tasting and a river cruise. After a quick tour of the property, we were escorted to our beautiful, quiet suite which overlooked the Douro river. Fruits, chocolates, port and lots of water were waiting for us. Room controls and communication with reception/spa/restaurants were all done via touch screen. There is an open bathroom with separate toilet and shower, huge bottles of toiletries which smelled fantastic along with comfy robes and slippers. The major drawbacks with the bathroom area are there isn't enough counter space or somewhere to sit and apply makeup nor is there anywhere practical to hang your towels. The bed and pillows are so comfortable you almost don't want to get out. Dinner on our first night was very special and excellent. It was also my husband's birthday and a surprise cake was brought out at the end. A bottle of champagne was also waiting for us in our room. That was truly wonderful and a lovely gesture. Breakfast is so beautifully presented and mind-blowing. There are so many options from eggs, fruits, salads, yogurts, granolas, bread and pastries to choose that it just goes on and on. At the entrance there is a huge liquid buffet with different vinegars, kombucha and elixirs. Then at the host area you also have choices of fresh juices. The a la carte menu is exceptional with daily specials and the bacon is to die for. Took advantage of the sauna on all three days and it was not crowded. Only drawback was the indoor pool and various saunas were not unisex so swimsuits were required (which I had to purchase). We drove through the gorgeous Douro valley every day and in the mornings the valet brought our car (which they washed!) with bottles of water for the trip. The staff are all very friendly and extremely helpful. This was a perfect retreat before our drive to Lisbon!

MAGICAL!!!!! Get there as early as you can on day you arrive and leave as late as you can on day you depart !!! The most beautiful sumptuous breakfast will leave you full all day !! Check the schedule for different free and charged activities from pickle making to wine tasting to electric bikes and boat rides. Spa is amazing. Indoor pool almost as nice as outdoor pool. We didn’t want to leave! Pricey but worth it !