Butterfly's Cocoon

There’s something soothing about this apartment in central Porto. The soft powder-blue walls with a scattering of butterflies in the living room create a cocoon of calm to return to after pounding the historic pavements of Porto’s old town.

White cornicing, like icing on a cake, adds a touch of tradition too. The sleek kitchen is a lesson in minimalism, but the cupboards hide all the appliances and utensils you need for an easy stay.

Though you might not need to lift a spatula as the area is brimming with family-run restaurants, cafés, bakeries and (of course) wine bars serving the local port. A twenty-minute walk sees you to the banks of the Douro River, where the old wine merchants still ply their trade, and your host is happy to organise food tours, sightseeing and transfers as optional extras.

Home truths:
*Your host can provide up to two cots for free upon request *Though there isn't a dedicated desk here, the dining table doubles up as a laptop-friendly workspace There's covered parking available in the adjacent building *While the double sofa bed in the living room sleeps two, we think it would be better suited to just one additional guest *The entrance to this home is shared with the building's other residents *This home is in a central spot, so noise is to be expected *If you're travelling by plane, Porto is the nearest airport – it's a twenty-minute drive from this home