Where to Stay in Portugal: My Best Picks

Last updated on April 5th, 2026 at 03:07 am

I don’t think we’ve ever stayed in a bad place in Portugal. Hotels and apartments have been comfortable, reasonably priced, and well located.

In Portugal, you can choose to stay in a palace such as the Palace Hotel do Bussaco located north of Coimbra and pictured above.

I haven’t stayed there, but if you have, please share your experience in the Comments section. The Palace Hotel do Bussaco is a 5-star hotel housed in the hunting palace of the last Portuguese kings. It looks extraordinary.

In this post, I provide general tips about accommodations in Portugal and then list hotels I recommend.

Recommended hotels are comfortable, well located, and usually family-run—perfect for art lovers, drivers, and travelers who value character over chain hotels.

---

---

Top Five Hotels at a Glance

Here are my five favorite recommended hotels in Portugal:

• Vincci Baixa in Lisbon
• Douro Apartments Rivertop in Porto
• Vila Gale Coimbra in Coimbra
• Monte da Fornalha in Estremoz
• Aparthotel Vila Luz in Luz in the Algarve

---

Choosing a Room

To Book or Not to Book?

I book almost all my hotels before I leave home so I know I have somewhere to stay in every location on my itinerary. Then, while traveling, I sometimes change bookings to follow a new route or in response to hearing about a cool location I hadn’t known about.

TIP: Stay flexible when you travel. You never know when you might meet someone who recommends a festival or event or exhibition. More than once, I’ve altered an itinerary to attend a special exhibition or visit a new attraction.

Choose a hotel booking site that allows you to book, change, or cancel hotel reservations if your itinerary changes. Most sites offer a no-cancellation option at a lower price.

I never choose the no-cancellation price unless I’m 100% sure I’ll be staying at the hotel. For example, I will select the no-cancellation price for hotels I’m staying at in the cities I fly into and depart from, because I know those locations won’t change.

But overall, stay flexible. I’ve learned that sticking to a rigid itinerary with no-cancellation accommodations can end up costing more money than you save.

Breakfasts

In addition to the usual fruits, cereals, and eggs, hotel breakfasts in Portugal pretty much always include the wonderfully creamy Portuguese egg tarts called Pastéis de Nata. Save money by picking up some tarts at a local bakery or going out to a café to enjoy a few with your morning coffee.

Pousadas

Consider spending a few nights at one of Portugal’s historical pousadas. Similar to the paradors in Spain, the Portuguese pousadas are government-run properties selected for their historical and artistic merit or their location in a beautiful landscape.

Some pousadas are converted castles or palaces. The pousada experience can be pricey but worthwhile and interesting. You can book pousadas on booking.com.

Below is a picture of the Pousada Castelo de Alvito in Portugal, a 15th-century castle in the village of Alvito east of Lisbon. I haven’t stayed there. Have you? Let me know in the Comments section!

Star Rating

I favor three- or four-star properties because I appreciate amenities such as elevators, air conditioning, parking, bathtubs, and in-room Wi-Fi.

I also like larger rooms. Check the square meters of the room. Anything under 15 square meters will be small, with a child-sized shower stall and barely enough room to wedge your suitcase against the wall.

Reviews – Should You Care?

Yes, I pay attention to reviews. If a property’s aggregate score is under 8.0 out of a possible 10, I usually pass. Sometimes the difference between a property with a 9.6 review and one with an 8.2 review is only a few euros, and yet the quality of the higher-rated property is worth the extra cost.

You have to take reviews with a grain of salt, however. Just because a property has a score of 9.8 doesn’t mean it’s five-star luxury. Check the star rating, keeping in mind that a 9.8 score for a two-star hotel is not the same as a 9.8 for a four-star, and proceed accordingly.

TIP: Read reviews on a few sites, such as booking.com and TripAdvisor. I take my time when booking accommodations in Portugal and elsewhere to make sure I’m getting the best value for my travel dollar.

For more tips on finding accommodations, read Six Steps to Making Awesome Accommodation Choices in Europe.

---

Accommodation Options by Region

To help you plan your travels in Portugal, here are my recommendations. For each destination, I describe properties I’ve stayed at and provide a map to help you choose additional properties.

Click the link to the hotel to make a reservation with booking.com.

Central and North Portugal

Bragança

Bragança is one of those Portuguese destinations that most travelers drive past on the way to somewhere else, which is a shame. The medieval citadel is one of the best preserved in Portugal, the town is genuinely untouristy, and the surrounding Montesinho Natural Park is spectacular.

If you’re driving between Porto and Spain, or exploring the Trás-os-Montes region, Bragança makes an excellent overnight stop.

I recommend Pousada de Bragança – Sao Bartolomeu. Unlike many Pousadas that are located in historical buildings, the Pousada de Bragança – Sao Bartolomeu is a modern building that includes a swimming pool and a panoramic view of the castle. Here’s the view from our balcony in the morning.

Porto

In Porto, we chose the Douro Apartments Rivertop and were thoroughly satisfied.

The gorgeously renovated studio apartment on the fourth floor of an old, narrow building overlooked a panoramic view of the Douro River.

A carafe of port was left for us on the table, and every morning, a basket filled with breakfast items, including my favorite pastéis de nata (custard tarts), was delivered to our door.

If you’re driving into Porto, do not try to drive to the office where you pick up the keys for the Douro Apartments Rivertop.

Park the car in the large car park on Rua do Infante d. Henrique (the main drag as you drive into lower Porto) and then walk. It’s not far. The car park is called Parque estacionamento SABA – Infante.

Have a look at the map below for additional accommodation suggestions in Porto. I recommend staying by the river.

You’ll have to walk uphill to reach some of the sites in Porto, but you’ll be close to the restaurants lining the riverside and just across the river from Gaia where you can go for a spot of port-tasting.

Coimbra

We stayed at the Vila Gale Coimbra, a modern property overlooking the Mondego River in Coimbra. The location was convenient for drivers and the rooms comfortable.

Here are other options in Coimbra.

Figueira da Foz

We splashed out for the Eurostars Oasis Plaza Hotel, a brand new modern hotel dubbed “The Titanic” by the locals. At least, that’s what the friends we visited in Figueira da Foz told us.

The rooms are spacious and the view over the Atlantic stunning. The location right across the street from one of the main beaches is excellent.

---

Algarve

Tavira

In Tavira, we stayed in the hills at a gorgeous country house called Herdade da Corte Lodging. The place is perfect for drivers because it’s 15 kilometers from Tavira.

The large room had rustic décor and a sloped, wooden ceiling. When we stayed, dinner was served, which was great, because there weren’t any restaurants nearby, and we didn’t have a car.

Here are more options in Tavira:

Luz

The Aparthotel Vila Luz was a great find just outside the village of Luz in the western Algarve.

The large suite included a terrace overlooking the ocean. We did our share of lazing by the pool and enjoying the buffet breakfast. The village of Luz was a scenic ten-minute walk along the top of the cliff.

Here are more options in Luz:

Alentejo

The Alentejo in central Portugal east of Lisbon is Portugal’s answer to Tuscany. Rolling hills, intriguing villages, acres of cork trees, and some incredible prehistoric history make this area worth several days of your time.

For more about the Alentejo, check out my post: Best Tips for Exploring the Algarve & Alentejo in Portugal

Évora

The 4-star Albergaria Do Calvario, just inside the city walls in Évora, was a worthwhile splurge. Housed in a 16th-century olive oil mill, the hotel featured bright, airy guest rooms and suites, decorated with local art. We loved this place!

Here are other options in Évora.

Estremoz

In all our travels, one of our favorite country hotels is the Monte da Fornalha, located a few kilometers outside Estremoz.

Surrounded by cork trees and cows, the rural property has simple rooms, fabulous breakfasts, and a tiled pool that, even on the hottest days in July, was refreshing enough to raise goosebumps.

If you’re in the Estremoz area, consider staying here for a few days to totally relax and soak up the Alentejo beauty.

---

Tours & Tickets in Portugal

Here are some options to explore through GetYourGuide. I’ve booked tours with them many times, and have had consistently good experiences.

---

Keep Exploring Portugal with Artsy Traveler

Here are more posts about Portugal:

• Favorite Regions in Portugal
• North & Central Portugal: So Much to See for the Artsy Traveler
• Visiting Portugal: My Best Tips for Enjoying an Artsy Trip