Where to Stay in Lisbon, Portugal – Best Hotels & Areas
If you’re planning a trip to the Portuguese capital, you are likely wondering where to stay in Lisbon. We will help you decide – this article will bring hotel recommendations as well as area descriptions so that you can easily pick the place that suits your needs the best.
Lisbon has been extremely popular among tourists in the last decade.
Millions come to visit every year, and that also means that the city has taken some steps to improve the infrastructure – several new hotels have been built, and there are tourism offices in all parts of the city.
In other words, Lisbon is very tourist-friendly. As you probably know, it is also full of historic and cultural attractions. But we still have to stress the importance of finding a good place to stay since that will either make or break the trip. Ideally, you want to stay in a central location with the main attractions nearby.
Our top hotel recommendation for all travelers is Bairro Alto Hotel – it is simply the best choice when looking at factors such as location, quality, and service.
With that said, Lisbon has many options. If you want to get additional recommendations, and if you want to know more about Lisbon’s best areas, continue reading below.
We have looked at all the most popular hotels in Lisbon, and you will find our top five recommendations below.
There is a bit for everyone: We have decided to recommend one luxury hotel, two nice central hotels near the top attractions, one apartment hotel with more privacy, and one affordable hotel for travelers who need to save a bit of money.
You will get one of the best hotel experiences in Lisbon by staying with Bairro Alto Hotel. As the name suggests, the hotel is located in one of Lisbon’s most exciting areas – Bairro Alto. This is the cultural neighborhood of the city centre, and there are many things to do. The highlight is probably the nightlife which is amazing in this area. There are many charming bars and some great places to grab a bite of food, too.
So the location is on point. But what about the hotel itself?
It is located in a historic building from the 18th century and has a variety of different rooms to choose from. Bairro Alto Hotel has everything from single rooms to larger suites. In total, there are 88 rooms.
The rooms are beautiful and decorated with a nice touch. The furniture is highly comfortable, and the views are amazing. What Bairro Alto Hotel is best known for is its service. The staff is incredibly friendly and willing to help with everything. Every visitor gets treated like a VIP.
There is a terrace on the roof, reserved only for people staying at the hotel. The view is marvelous from the terrace, so be sure to enjoy it. If you decide to stay at Bairro Alto Hotel, remember to eat at the restaurant. They serve some of the best food in Lisbon.
We will just add one more benefit of picking this Lisbon hotel – other hotels in the Bairro Alto area often struggle with keeping the noise out. This is not a problem with this hotel, so you can expect a comfortable stay despite being in one of the most active parts of the city.
Another highly popular hotel in Lisbon is Corpo Santo. It’s a historical hotel located downtown, near the metro Baixa-Chiado. This location doesn’t get much better. First of all, you are near most of the central monuments and venues of interest. On top of that, there are such good transportation options in the area that you can get around the city very easily.
Corpo Santo Lisbon is a 5-star hotel with great facilities. Rooms are large and comfortable. The beds are amazing here, and bathrooms are properly sized – unlike other hotels in Lisbon that are known for small bathrooms.
If you need anything, there’s always help to get in the reception, and the staff is fluent in four languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French.
The hotel is known for its amazing breakfast buffet. So if you want to stay in a place where you can properly fill up the stomach before going sightseeing, this is the place to be.
As one of the best-rated hotels in the city, there’s no doubt that everything will be in order at Corpo Santo. We consider it the best hotel in Lisbon for tourists who want to sightsee a lot. It’s right in the middle of the city, so after an amazing night of sleep, you can head out to any of the places in Lisbon you intend to see. It’s expensive, but you won’t regret it. Staying here will give you the best possible means to make your Lisbon trip an unforgettable one.
Central hotel in Lisbon, ideal for shopping – book here
Is shopping one of the main reasons that you’re going to Lisbon?
In that case, consider staying with PortoBay Liberdade. It is situated on a side street of the famous avenue, Avenida da Liberdade, where many of Lisbon’s top fashion stores are located. There are also many nice restaurants and theatres nearby, not to forget the Eduardo VII Park, so it’s a highly comfortable area.
The hotel has 5-stars – one of the few boutique hotels that actually have rooms for luxury facilities.
While PortoBay has beautiful rooms, great food, and nice service, one of the highlights is that it also has an indoor pool. Private parking is also an option, so if you’re arriving in Lisbon by car, this hotel is a great choice.
We primarily recommend PortoBay Liberdade for tourists who are interested in shopping and entertainment rather than pure sightseeing. If you do want to go sightseeing, just follow Avenida da Liberdade to the south and you’re downtown in just a few minutes. Marques de Pombal metro station is also very near, so getting around is no issue.
Do you fancy staying in an apartment rather than just having a hotel room? That’s a realistic option too, and it’s becoming more popular all around the world. Lisbon now has several apartment hotels, where a building is run like a hotel, but where you have additional facilities available.
Having an apartment can be beneficial if you want to cook, clean your clothes, or simply have a bit of extra space.
Flora Chiado is one of the best-rated apartment hotels in Lisbon. With options ranging from studio apartments to two-bedroom duplexes, it actually suits the needs of most travelers. The only thing to be aware of is that the selection of apartments is smaller than the selection of rooms that regular hotels have – so you should be booking early.
All the apartments at Flora Chiado have a fridge, oven, microwave oven, coffee machine, air conditioning, and wi-fi. Of course, that is on top of having a bedroom and a bed. So overall, you get a bit more for your money.
Located downtown in the Chiado district, you will be close to Lisbon’s best attractions. Unlike most Airbnbs there is a full staff to help you if you need service – that is the main difference between staying at an apartment hotel and booking a private apartment.
At last, we want to recommend a more affordable hotel. While Hotel Convento do Salvador is not exactly a cheap hotel, it is more affordable than average, and that is good enough for most. When staying here, you get to be in a unique location, you get a nice spacious room, and that obviously gives value for the money.
Outside of the travel season, you can typically find prices under 100€ per night. In the peak of the summer, prices might be a bit higher, but even then it’s just slightly above 120€ on average.
The hotel is located in Alfama – Lisbon’s historic and traditional district. It’s a great deal since the rooms are surprisingly spacious, and many of the rooms actually have a panorama view out over the Tejo river. Furthermore, the lobby and common areas are decorated with original art from some of the best local painters.
If you don’t want to be right in the hustle-and-bustle downtown of Lisbon, but rather in a traditional and authentic area, we recommend staying in Alfama. And as it happens, the affordable Hotel Convento do Salvador is actually the best option!
You will also have one major attraction close – or rather, passing by. The famous tram number 28 passes through multiple times per day, and you can get on it at a nearby stop. If you need a more modern method of transportation, the nearest metro and train station will be Santa Apolonia, about 700 meters east.
If you want to look at more hotels yourself, and you want to make sure you find one in a nice area, we recommend you to select one of the neighborhoods listed below. These are also essential areas to visit during your trip to Lisbon, so you might want to note them down and make sure you pass through them while you’re visiting.
Baixa/Rossio (Downtown)
Baixa and Rossio are two very central neighborhoods in the deep centre of Lisbon. This is where the majority of the city’s classic landmarks are found. On top of that, there are nice restaurants, great stores, and flexible transportation options in Baixa and Rossio.
You can basically consider it to be downtown. It is the place to be if you want to see the heart of Lisbon, and you can get some awesome photos here. Be sure to check out the main attractions such as the Brasileira café and the Bertrand bookstore. The massive square, Praça do Comércio, works as a meeting place for everyone in the city. There is no shortage of hotels in the downtown area of Lisbon, so it is easy to find a good place to stay. Corpo Santo Lisbon is one of the most popular hotels downtown.
Bairro Alto
Bairro Alto, located immediately west of Rossio and just northwest of Baixa, is probably the most unique and intense area of Lisbon. It’s the Bohemian neighborhood of the city, the place where classic churches and schools meet the crazy nightlife and quirky cafés.
The architecture in Bairro Alto is also impressive. The buildings are traditional, and the steep hills give awesome views. Many streets are coated with cobblestones. It is no surprise that Bairro Alto has been the neighborhood of many artists. If you want to see Lisbon from its funky side, stop by Bairro Alto at day and see all the street art and the cool shops. But don’t leave when the sun goes down – Bairro Alto has an awesome nightlife where locals and tourists both are present in large numbers.
As for hotels in Bairro Alto, there are a few nice options. Unfortunately, since the area is so popular, prices are high and it is often necessary to book a few weeks in advance. As an alternative, you can just stay near Bairro Alto and stop by multiple times during your trip.
As recommended earlier, if you want to be in this particular area, then simply pick the luxurious Bairro Alto Hotel!
Avenida da Liberdade
Avenida da Liberdade is the main avenue of Lisbon. It leads from the massive Marques de Pombal monument from the north to the Rossio train station in the south.
The great thing about Avenida is that it is surrounded by many well-known fashion stores, banks, restaurants, and cinemas. The avenue also has several hotels, so it is easy to find a place to stay in the area. It is well decorated – there are many trees and you definitely get the sense that the avenue is very well maintained.
If you want to stay in a central area with nice surroundings and fantastic shopping opportunities, a hotel on or near Avenida da Liberdade is well worth considering.
Alfama is the most traditional and authentic area of Lisbon.
When people think of Lisbon (and of southern Portugal), the settings in Alfama is typically what they envision. This is where you’ll find many local cafés and pastry shops. It’s also where you will find bars and venues for fado music. And of course, the architecture is very traditional.
Surprisingly, it’s an affordable area. There are many holiday apartments, small hotels, and some hostels in Alfama.
The issue is that there isn’t much public transport coming in and out. The streets are very curvy and narrow. Although the famous tram number 28 passes through, it is always crowded, and there are no metro stations in Alfama, so you likely have to walk in and out. But it’s highly worth it because you get to explore one of Lisbon’s most charming areas, and for several years Alfama has been a favorite among many cultural tourists.
Alcântara is located west of the city centre. It will require a bit more transport to go back and forth between accommodation and attractions if you choose to stay here, but there are massive benefits as well.
First of all, Alcântara is a very authentic neighborhood, and the ratio of locals to tourists will be way higher than in other areas of the city.
It was once home to a very active port and many factories. But in modern years, these old facilities have turned into unique markets, restaurants, cafés, bakeries, shops, and most importantly – bars and clubs. Alcântara has become a fantastic neighborhood for nightlife, so if you want to party in Lisbon, it is a very popular area to stay in.
Luz + Campo Grande
If you are coming to Lisbon to watch football, you might elect to stay near one of the two major clubs rather than staying in the city centre.
Benfica’s home stadium, Estádio da Luz, is located in the northwest. It’s in the area of Luz and in the specific neighborhood of Carnide. Estádio da Luz is obviously where you go if you want to watch a Benfica match, but it is also open for tours, and there is a large Benfica shop at the location. The awesome shopping mall Colombo is right next to the stadium, so if you want to stay in this part of Lisbon, you have close access to Benfica and you can do some serious shopping!
Sporting’s home stadium, Estádio José Alvalade, is located in the area of Campo Grande. The stadium has a small mall in its interior, and Lisbon University is just south of the stadium, so there is plenty of young people around. Not a whole lot of tourist attractions in the area, though. But if you’re coming to watch Sporting, it makes sense to stay here.
You will have a limited number of hotels to choose from in these areas, but there are a few options.
Thanks to Lisbon’s great metro stations, you don’t have to stay near the stadiums, since underground trains can take you to them in minutes, even if you’re coming from the city centre. The station of Benfica is called Colégio Militar/Luz, while the station of Sporting is called Campo Grande.
To learn more about the possibility of traveling for football and staying near one of the stadiums, read our guide to a Lisbon football trip.
Areas in Lisbon to avoid
Lisbon is generally a safe city, but just like anywhere else, there are some areas that are best to avoid.
Intendente, Chelas, and Casal Ventoso are the areas that you should avoid. These are the areas where crimes happen the most, and they don’t have many attractions for tourists, so it’s best to simply stay away. You might see some cheap accommodation, especially in the Intendente area, and particularly on Airbnb, but we recommend that you simply look away from it.
Martim Moniz is the dodgiest area in the city centre. During the day, the neighborhood is reasonably safe, but at night it can feel a bit unsafe.
Some parks in Lisbon, such as Monsanto and Parque Eduardo VII, are completely fine to visit during the day, but best to avoid at night if you are alone or with other tourists. If you have Portuguese friends, you can probably hang out in these parks during the dark hours and be fine – but it’s good to have someone with you who knows the area if it’s dark.
Something else to know ahead of your trip: If you are staying anywhere in the centre of Lisbon, there will be people in the streets asking if you want to buy drugs. This especially happens if you are a young man or woman (20s, 30s). Immediately say no when you’re asked, and there will not be any issues. But if you start engaging in a conversation, asking about what they sell, these people will not let go, and they might even follow you around for a while – many tourists have experienced this. So if someone comes to you and asks if you want to buy drugs, say no immediately and keep on doing what you were doing before. This happens very frequently in the bad areas, but it also happens in the regular tourist areas at night, so just be aware of it.
The emergency number is 112 if you need it. Calls to this number are free of charge and will work regardless of which phone/data provider you have.
Why you shouldn’t stay in an Airbnb in Lisbon
Airbnbs are popular in most parts of the world, and this is understandable. It is incredibly nice to have a full apartment available. It gives more freedom and it gives access to more facilities. Staying in an apartment can also give a more authentic feeling, as some tourists get a more local experience this way.
Yet in Lisbon, we do not recommend staying in an Airbnb.
The reason is that the property market is very competitive, and over the last decade it has been hard for locals to find affordable apartments to live in. Many landlords have facilitated their properties for tourists rather than for locals since it is more profitable to lend out to short-term tourists. The consequence is that there are much fewer regular apartments to choose from when locals have to find long-term homes. The prices have also gone through the roof.
So the locals are reasonably frustrated with Airbnb and with the fact that so many regular apartments in Lisbon are now intended for tourists. The best thing to do, therefore, is to stay in a facility that is more suited for tourism – that would be a hotel or a hostel. And thankfully, there are a lot of awesome hotels in Lisbon, so that is the way forward.
Cheapest accommodation options
If you don’t want to pay for a hotel room – which can be a bit expensive during the high tourist season – there are some alternative options.
Lisbon also has many hostels, some of which are good. Hostels are typically half as cheap as hotels, if not more. You also get to meet more people, especially other travelers, and that can make the trip more fun. Of course, not everyone likes hostels, but if you’re young and social it’s a great option.
Many locals in Lisbon also host people on Couchsurfing. This is usually completely free – people do it for the experience. So if you want to stay with a stranger and talk about your experiences from traveling, this can also be the way to go. A lot of people love Couchsurfing after trying it, so it’s worth a thought!
Getting around the city
Lisbon has a highly functioning metro that covers most parts of the city.
For that reason, the exact location of where you are staying in Lisbon might not be ultra-important – it still matters, but due to the metro system, you can be flexible when picking your area of accommodation.
The metro is cheap and can take you around the city in no time. As for the areas that are not covered by metro, you can either take a tram, a bus or a taxi. If you want to visit Belém, the historical district a few kilometers west of Lisbon, tram or train is the way to go.
Some of the main metro stops are Baixa/Chiado, Marques de Pombal, Alameda, Saldanhã, and São Sebastião. These stops have more than one metro line passing by.
The main train stations in Lisbon are Santa Apolonia, Oriente, Sete Rios, Cais do Sodré and Rossio. So if you’re going to another city or town, maybe as a day trip or perhaps as your journey continues to another Portuguese destination, you might want to be staying near one of these stations.
But in general, you can rest assured that no matter where you stay in Lisbon, it will be easy enough to get around. Still, it is nice to be in a comfortable area with lots of attractions right next to you!
Conclusion
Visiting Lisbon is an amazing experience. With world-class attractions, good weather and positive vibes, we can easily place Lisbon alongside the very best destinations in Europe.
As always, it is important to find a good place to stay. We hope that this guide on where to stay in Lisbon has been useful. At the very least, you now have some recommendations you can consider, and you know which areas to visit and which areas to avoid.
If you want to look for more hotels yourself, we recommend doing it on Booking.com since they have an amazing selection and a convenient platform.
This article was written by Jacob Jensen. He primarily covers European and South American destinations for Scope Trip while also working as the main editor for the site.
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