With a name derived from ancient Phoenician meaning “safe harbor,” Lisbon is that and many more adjectives. One of the oldest and best cities in Europe, it’s lively, friendly, tasty, hilly (cobblestoned too, so packing good walking shoes is highly recommended) and very often sunny. For those planning Portugal travel, we handpicked five of our favorite Lisbon hotels based on districts and design styles. Vamos lá!
InterContinental Lisbon
A classic luxury hotel in the heart of the city, InterContinental Lisbon sets visitors up right by the iconic Marquis de Pombal Square and Eduardo VII Park. For those traveling with younger ones, having the park across the street is especially handy—there’s open space to burn off energy and attractions to tour, including a greenhouse of tropical plants and ponds. The hotel is also kid-friendly, offering special VIP treatment just for them. For more sumptuous space and the biggest views, choose a larger suite with terrace on the higher floors.
The Vintage
Perch up in Príncipe Real, an affluent neighborhood of both beautiful 19th-century mansions and trendy shops, at The Vintage. The hotel’s name hints at the design vibe, as it’s expertly dressed in mid-century modern furnishings and décor, including velvet chaises and colored curtains that match the walls. Cocktail hour is celebrated here, with complimentary Portuguese gin and tonic kits in-room and a bevy of concoctions served upstairs at the open-air V Rooftop Bar where one can wind down after a day pounding the cobblestone or wind up for a night out.
The Lumiares Hotel & Spa
Style lovers looking to be in the heart of Lisbon’s boho party district, Bairro Alto, will find The Lumiares Hotel & Spa absolutely charming. The modern, apartment-style rooms feature pattern play and pops of color, along with fully equipped kitchens should one need to make their own emergency toast after a wine-soaked night on the town. There are more easy meals to be had at the pet-friendly Rebel Café on the ground floor or the Lumi Rooftop where Lisbon skyline and river views come with every order. To make getting around breezier, a tram line is opposite the hotel—taking at least one streetcar ride is also a tourist must-do.
Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa
Former home to the late Portuguese actress Beatriz Costa and located on Lisbon’s most iconic avenue, Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa is luxurious in all the ways. Outside, along Avenida da Liberdade, are designer stores—Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton and the like. Within the hotel are sumptuous rooms with gilded accents and glorious views. The views get even more show stopping up at SEEN Lisboa and Sky Bar by SEEN. Surrounded by lush foliage, the circular outdoor pool, open from June to September, makes simply sun-lounging feel like a scene out of a glamorous movie.
Verride Palacio Santa Catarina
For a supremely boutique stay and Targus River proximity, the chicest choice is Verride Palacio Santa Catarina perched between the Bica and Cais do Sodre districts. While there are only 18 rooms, there is one for nearly every kind of design sensibility; the Royal Suites offer Old World opulence, while the Salavisa Suite is eclectically modern. Up on the rooftop, there’s a pool for cooling off on hot days and Suba for fine dining with a view—that is if one still has room after visiting the nearby Time Out Market Lisboa with its more than 40 restaurants, bars and shops.
