Hotels and places to stay in Portugal

FaceTraveler lists 540 places to stay in Portugal, spread between Lisbon District, Porto District and, to a lesser extent, Setúbal District. Lisbon and Porto account for almost all of them and are linked by train, so you can combine them in one trip.

Where to stay in Portugal

Lisbon, in Lisbon District. It lies at the mouth of the Tagus. The Baixa, rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, is the centre and the most practical area if you want to get around on foot and by metro. Alfama, the oldest district, suits you if you want to be among narrow streets and viewpoints; bear in mind the hills if you have luggage. Belém, to the west, has the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery.

Porto, in Porto District. It lies on the right bank of the Douro, near where it meets the Atlantic, and its historic centre has been a World Heritage Site since 1996. The Ribeira, beside the river, is the most visited area. The port wine lodges are opposite, in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Setúbal District. South of Lisbon District, with an Atlantic coastline. We have few places here; they suit you if you are travelling by car and want to combine Lisbon with the coast.

Getting around

Lisbon Airport (Humberto Delgado) is about 7 km from the centre and has a stop on the red line of the metro. Porto Airport (Francisco Sá Carneiro) is about 12 km north of the city and has a metro station, Aeroporto.

Between the two cities, CP’s Alfa Pendular train is the fastest option. Porto has the largest metro network in Portugal, and Lisbon combines metro and suburban trains.

When to go

Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate: the average is around 9 °C in January and 23 °C in August. In Porto, winter temperatures usually range between 5 and 14 °C. Spring and autumn are good times to walk around both cities.

Types of accommodation in Portugal

• 166 guesthouses, the largest group, and 46 hostels, if you want to keep costs down or are happy to share a room.
• 164 4-star hotels and 79 5-star hotels.
• 53 3-star hotels and 25 2-star hotels.

There are also 7 other places to stay.