The best hotels in Portugal

Portugal captivates visitors with its remarkable diversity, from azulejo-tiled city streets and terraced vineyards to dramatic Atlantic cliffs and sun-baked olive plains. This enchanting country has long been a favourite holiday destination for foodies and culture aficionados; it also has a lively music scene, as well a plethora of opportunities for outdoorsy adventurers on both land and water. From boutique boltholes and grand palatial hotels to restored rural quintas, the best places to stay in Portugal promise a warm welcome and a real sense of the country’s rich character.

Lisbon beckons culture enthusiasts with its world-class museums, fascinating architectural fusion, gourmet cuisine and buzzing late-night fado venues. Laid-back Porto is enchanting too, surrounded by vineyards, and promises beautiful riverside hotels and restaurants. Keen wine aficionados can immerse themselves in the magic of the Douro Valley, where tours and tastings at family-owned wineries abound, and there’s ample opportunity to hike and cycle in a striking natural setting.

Southern Portugal, on the other hand, is known for its golden beaches and pretty whitewashed towns. The Algarve is popular with good reason, and home to many of the best places to stay in Portugal. Expect sensational surfing, lovely seaside hotels and secluded eco-lodges hidden in the region’s picturesque interior. Adventurers will adore Madeira, with its craggy cliffs, hiking trails and colourful markets, or the dramatic Serra da Estrela, where glorious views reward eager explorers. There's a reason that travellers return to Portugal again and again!

The Best Places to Stay in Portugal

For a Charming B&B

• Casa Dell'Arte Club House is a family-run hotel with three spectacular suites, each showcasing the building's original features. As well as being an intimate, romantic choice for a trip to Lisbon, the house has an impressive art collection, including pieces from the acclaimed Büyükkuşoğlu Collection. Fabulous. 

For City Style 

• 3HB, a hip hotel designed by Paulo Lobo in Faro, is a masterpiece of teak and local limestone. Sleek, contemporary spaces are very indulgent, with nods to traditional Portuguese style and a minimalist feel. Dining options include excellent Portuguese and Italian fare, plus there is a superb rooftop pool and soothing spa. The city's first five-star hotel.
• Casa do Conto is a unique, six room design hotel in Porto's hip Cedofetia, just to the north of central Porto. This is a hotel for architects and lovers of contemporary design — its six rooms are all uniquely decorated; some of the walls and ceilings are engraved concrete, and the huge windows are just simple glass boxes. Trendy places to eat and drink abound, and great breakfasts are served each morning.
• Montecarmo12 was originally a heritage residence in Lisbon's Principe Real. Reimagined by famed architecture atelier Aires Mateus, this small hotel now offers minimalist, design-led interiors with white walls, clean lines and beautifully selected objects. Think Lioz limestone, oak floors, and soft linens, scented with fragrant rosemary. A hip, adults-only hotel. 

For Seaside Luxury

• Bela Vista Hotel & Spa is a stunning 1930s-built gem on Praia de Rocha in Portimão, on the Algarve. Expect playful, indulgent interiors in fresh blue, red and yellow tones, with nautical stripes and hand-painted tiles. The fine dining restaurant is fabulous, the spa sensational, and the feel is reminiscent of a timeless beach club.
• Estalagem da Ponta do Sol is a stunning clifftop hotel with white-on-white guest rooms set across four levels on Madeira's coastline. You'll love the astonishing views, design-led minimalism with sharp angles and clean lines, and dazzling infinity pool. Dine at the popular restaurant or wander into the village of Ponta do Sol below. One for dreamers and romantics. 

For Romance

• Casa Mae, situated on a leafy lane in Lagos, has white-on-white interiors with wooden floors, big windows and lots of light. There's an effortless fusion of classic and contemporary style, plus an exceptional eatery and great wine list. Chic and very romantic.
• Santa Clara 1728 offers just six vast, beautiful bedrooms atop one of Lisbon's seven famed hills. The Lisbon outpost of the acclaimed Silent Living group, this romantic hotel is bedecked in soothing natural tones, with huge pink-hued limestone bathtubs and wonderful rain showers. Generous breakfasts are a highlight, as is the weekly communal table dinner. 
• Quinta da Bouca D'Arques is a beautiful manor house overlooking Viana do Castelo. Boasting eight stylish apartments with exposed stone walls, wrought-iron bedsteads and crisp white linens, it's a marvellous spot for a retreat. Tranquil and idyllic, the quinta has become a favourite of heritage aficionados and romantics. 
• Casa Holstein Quinta Sao Sebastiao, set amidst lush formal gardens near Sintra, has an inviting swimming pool and 13 individually decorated guest rooms with pale wooden furnishings and carefully chosen antiques. The hotel's pistachio-painted façade is stunning. A boutique bolthole for couples. 
• Hotel das Amoreiras really is one for lovers. With just 19 guest rooms which combine classic elegance with modern touches, the hotel is a tranquil oasis in Lisbon's historic Jardim das Amoreiras. Kick start the day with delicious breakfasts, relax in the intimate bar, or rest in big bedrooms decorated in red, green and cream tones. A boutique favourite. 

For Families

•  Praia Verde Boutique Hotel is a chic, contemporary offering in the Algarve with whitewashed rooms and suites, a fresh, buzzy open-air restaurant and a large swimming pool. Small kitchenettes make this a great choice for families, as does the plethora of activities. Wonderful for all ages. 
• Armazém Luxury Housing was originally a warehouse in downtown Porto, close to the river and Sé do Porto, Porto’s cathedral. Now a collection of 13 self-contained apartments with simple decor allowing the building's original features  — including exposed stone walls, wood and beamed ceilings, and huge windows — to take centre stage. A chic and spacious warehouse conversion, well-suited to families and groups.
• Onyria Marinha Boutique Hotel has 72 guest rooms set amid expansive landscaped grounds near Guincho Beach in Cascais. Ideal for surfing, kite and windsurfing, it's a popular pick with active guests of all ages. The indulgent spa will delight adults, whilst little ones can play at the pool, playground and kids club. Interiors are modern with white lines and pale wooden furnishings.
• Martinhal Chiado in Lisbon has a reputation for being great fun. Think playful interiors with brightly upholstered furnishings, cosy bunk beds and a fun kids club: a perfect base for family holidays to Lisbon. Lively and friendly.   

For a Rural Escape

• Quinta da Colina sits amongst six hectares of olive, carob and orange trees. A traditional Algarve manor house with a B&B as well as a private cottage, house and apartment, it's a delight for couples, friends or families looking to soak up the magic of the classic Algarve.
• Companhia das Culturas is a collection of converted farm buildings with white-painted walls, antique furnishings and French doors opening onto verdant gardens. The four apartments are ideal for families, and guests share access to the saltwater pool, plus 40 hectares of grounds. Understated, authentic and very charming. 
• Quinta da Cancela is a 300-year old hotel and vineyard in Northern Portugal, now owned by the 6th generation of the same family. Atmospheric interiors feature beamed ceilings, exposed stonework, wonky walls and lovely antiques. Sink into the gorgeous granite pool, tuck into flavoursome cuisine cooked using locally grown produce, and taste the estate's own vines. Wonderful. 
• Casa de São Lourenco is a design-led dream in the Centro Region, with beautifully appointed guest rooms featuring pieces chosen by Portuguese designers. Set within a renovated 1940s building overlooking the impressive Serra da Estrela, this five-star hotel also offers an excellent restaurant and spa, as well as access to hiking and cycling trails. 

For Surfers

• Surfers Lodge Peniche, near the iconic Baleal Beach in Peniche, is a top spot for surfers. Unwind in sleek, spacious guest rooms with quirky art pieces after days out on the water. There's a refreshing swimming pool, chic bar and eatery, and glorious rooftop terrace with sea views. The hotel has its own surf academy and draws a hip, sociable crowd. Very cool.
• Muxima is a delightful eco retreat within striking distance of some of the best surfing beaches in the Algarve. There are just seven suites, all with generous proportions, a global theme and lovely terraces. You’re right on the edge of the nature reserve, and while you can’t see the beach from the terraces it’s a beautiful walk. Surfing and bodyboarding lessons are available at Aljezur beach.

For Heritage Grandeur

• Le Monumental Palace in Porto is deserving of its grand name. A wonderful Art Deco era building with a grand Gothic façade, the hotel sits right on Avenida dos Aliados, Porto’s magnificent main avenue. The 76 newly decorated rooms and suites, state-of-the-art Nuxe spa with a heated pool, and two excellent restaurants are fabulous. The stylish Monumental Cafe, a grand affair when it opened in the '30s, and the gastronomic Le Monument, will delight foodies with a sense of timeless style.
• Four Seasons Hotel Ritz is a glamorous grand dame of a hotel, with gorgeous guest rooms and suites promising dazzling city views and an immensely luxurious experience. A fabulous indoor pool and rooftop running track complement the most indulgent spa in the city. Close to St George's Castle and Lisbon's Eduardo VII Park.
• Six Senses Douro Valley promises gorgeous contemporary luxury with magnificent Douro Valley views. The nineteenth-century manor house has been thoughtfully restored to offer ultra-modern touches whilst retaining its timeless charm. Savour gourmet cuisine, unwind at the world-class spa and taste the best of the region’s wines. Cool, chic and very grown-up.

For an apartment or villa

• If you'd prefer a self-catering option, we suggest that you visit our online partner Booking.com.

Travel information

• Fly to Lisbon International Airport, or to Porto International Airport, the country's two main airports. Most hotels will be happy to arrange an airport pick-up in advance, and buses or trains connect the cities to destinations across the country, as well as to other European hubs. 
• Portugal is great for a road trip! Contact our online partner Rentalcars if you would like to hire a car.
• Visit during the summer months, with temperatures hovering around 23-28°C between June and early September across much of the country. Temperatures will be higher at the coast - in the Algarve in particular - and milder up in the mountains, where winters can be very cold. You'll find fewer crowds and great hotel deals outside the school holidays, or in spring and autumn. 

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