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Hotel Palácio Estoril
Estoril, Portugal · Independent · Accessible Luxury
Ian Fleming stayed here in 1941 while shadowing double agent Duško Popov, drinking in Bar Estoril before the casino next door; the hotel later hosted filming for On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Fausto de Figueiredo opened the white palácio in 1930, and wartime neutrality turned it into a house for exiled Spanish, Italian, Bulgarian, French, and Romanian royals, the stretch nicknamed the Coast of Kings. A Royal Gallery of those stays opened in February 2011.
- Opened 1930
- Neighborhood: Santo António do Estoril
- Rooms from 194 sq ft (18 m²)
About Hotel Palácio Estoril
- Opened 30 August 1930 by Fausto de Figueiredo, who hired architect Henry Martinet to build a palácio combining spa, sport, and seaside society.
- In 1941 British naval intelligence officer Ian Fleming stayed here while watching Serbian double agent Duško Popov, a model for James Bond.
- Neutral Portugal made the hotel a wartime nest for Allied and Axis spies sharing the same bar, and a refuge for European royal families.
- The Royal Gallery, opened in February 2011, honours Spanish, Italian, French, Bulgarian, and Romanian royal families who stayed here.
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service was partly filmed at the hotel, including the pool; George Lazenby and Diana Rigg appear in the house guest list.
History
Hotel Palácio Estoril opened on 30 August 1930, built for entrepreneur Fausto de Figueiredo by architect Henry Martinet as the centrepiece of Estoril's new seaside resort. During the Second World War, Portugal's neutrality drew exiled European royal families (the Coast of Kings) and Allied and Axis intelligence officers to the same public rooms.
Ian Fleming stayed in 1941 while watching double agent Duško Popov. On Her Majesty's Secret Service was later partly filmed here. A Royal Gallery honouring royal guests opened in February 2011.
The setting
4-minute walk to Praia do Tamariz. 2 km from Estoril Palácio Golf Course.
Experiences
- Spy Catcher — Team-building activity on espionage history for groups of all sizes.
- Casino Royale-themed party — Glamorous evening with James Bond and Bond Girls, fun money gambling and experienced croupiers teaching Black Jack, Poker and Roulette.
Amenities
- Spa
- Indoor pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Pet-friendly
Open Hotel Palácio Estoril in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More hotels in Estoril
- Estoril Vintage Hotel — Independent · Core Luxury