Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal, neighbouring Spain in Europe. Lisbon is well known for its beautifully coloured houses, narrow streets, thriving nightlife, boutique shopping, and custard tarts. Lisbon may be smaller than other European cities but it packs character and is budget-friendly, with many things to do within the city and many great day trips from the city.
With so many different neighbourhoods and hotels to choose from, finding the right place to stay in Lisbon can be an overwhelming task. Having visited Lisbon many times, I am very familiar with Lisbon’s best and safest areas to stay in and rounded up my favourites for every budget below!
Top 10 Things To Do In Lisbon
Lisbon has lots of things to see and do. These are my top 10 things to see and do during your stay in Lisbon.
- Visit the Torre de Belém.
- Ride on Lisbon’s historic Tram 28, which works its way up and down the narrow cobbled streets of the Alfama district.
- Take a trip to the Alfama district, the oldest district in the city, with winding streets, alleyways, and top attractions.
- Take a day trip to Sintra. Sintra is located half an hour by car from the centre of Lisbon, but it’s well worth the trip. A UNESCO world heritage site, the town has colourful houses, Quinta de Regeleira, Palace of Pena, and Castelo dos Mouros.
- Visit St George’s Castle. Standing high above the streets of the old district, the castle was built by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago.
- Discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Monastery of Jerónimos.
- Wander around the district of Bairro Alto and old Alfama.
- Visit some of Lisbon’s museums – MAAT (Art, Architecture, and Technology Museum), National Museum of Contemporary Art, History of Art at Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, National Azulejo Museum, or many more.
- Try one of Lisbon’s famous custard tarts.
- Relax at one of Lisbon’s Parks – Monsanto Park, Parque Eduardo VII, Jardim da Estrela, or Jardim do Torel.
Overview Of Lisbon Neighbourhoods
Lisbon has a wide variety of neighbourhoods with each one offering a unique experience, from the traditional neighbourhoods of Alfama and Baixa to the modern neighbourhoods Parque das Nacoes and Marquess of Pombal Square.
Baixa is considered the downtown Lisbon neighbourhood with many of the top tourist landmarks, restaurants, and shopping. Bairro Alto is known for it’s thriving and bustling nightlife scene. Alfama is the historic centre of Lisbon with narrow cobbled streets and alleyways.
Depending on your preferred location and budget, you can find something in Lisbon to suit your requirements, from boutique hotels to luxury chain brands.
A little bit of research (or this guide!) will help you in finding quality accommodation for your perfect trip!
Trendiest Area Of Lisbon: Bairro Alto
One of the liveliest neighbourhoods in the city is Bairro Alto, which is thriving during the evening with bars and nightlife. People have street parties during the evening, meaning it is not a quiet place to stay in Lisbon.
If you enjoy nightlife and a quirky neighbourhood Bairro Alto is the neighbourhood for you, with unique shops, and street art.
Pros & Cons Of Staying In Bairro Alto
PROS
- Located on a hill
- Bohemian Quarter
- Has many boutiques, bars, restaurants and houses covered with graffiti
- Quiet during the day, street parties at night
- Ideal for those who want close access to nightlife
CONS
- Not for those who want a quiet nights sleep
- Not the first place for families
Luxury Hotels In Bairro Alto
Mid-Range Hotels In Bairro Alto
Budget Hotels In Bairro Alto
Historic Center Of Lisbon: Alfama
Alfama is the oldest and historic district in Lisbon, with narrow cobbled streets, tightly packed together houses, and steps to walk around. This area is impossible for cars due to the small narrow streets, and hill.
Tram 28 travels through this neighbourhood and can be used as transportation along with the free elevators to make it easier to climb up the hills. This area has a large number of restaurants, shops, and bars to enjoy.
This district includes St George’s castle, Sao Vicente da Fora Monastery, National Pantheon, 12th-century Romanesque cathedral and ruins, Santa Luzia, Portas do Sol viewpoint, and the Museum of Decorative Arts.
Pros & Cons Of Staying In Alfama
PROS
- Lisbon’s oldest quarter
- Great views of the city
- Has a village feel
- Tram for transportation
CONS
- Steep and winding streets
- Can be noisy and houses are close together
- Limited public transport – impossible for cars
Luxury Hotels In Alfama
Mid-Range Hotels In Alfama
Budget Hotels In Alfama
Deemed The Fancy Area of Lisbon: Avenida de Liberdade
Avenida de Liberdade is one of the main avenues in the city. This wide avenue is home to boutique hotels, world-renowned fashion stores, 5-star hotels, and easy transportation links.
The top end of Avenida da Liberdade is more business orientated, with larger companies, and big banks. This area has a large number of hotels, though they tend to be the bigger chained hotels rather than boutique hotels.
Avenida da Liberdade is home to many attractions including the 18th century Palacio Foz, Casa do Alentejo, Parque Eduardo VII, and Elevador da Gloria.
Pros & Cons Of Staying In Avenida de Liberdade
PROS
- Home to Portugal’s most expensive real estate
- Close to the cities main attractions
- Home to embassies and consulates
- Location of Parque Eduardo VII
- Good public transportation and walking neighbourhood
CONS
- Street performers in the evening and night
- Chain hotels
Luxury Hotels In Avenida de Liber Avenida de Liberdade
Mid-Range Hotels In Avenida de Liberdade
- Valverde Hotel
- Fontecruz Lisboa, Autograph Collection
- Inspira Santa Marta Hotel & Spa
- BessaHotel Liberdade
- PortoBay Marquês
Budget Hotels In Avenida de Liberdade
- TURIM Restauradores Hotel
- Rossio Garden Hotel
- Holiday Inn Express Lisboa – Av. Liberdade
- room007 Select Liberdade
Culture and History In Lisbon: Belém
Belém is a district outside of Lisbon, which was once the location of Lisbon’s shipyards and docks. Belem is different from other areas of Lisbon as it is filled with parks, plazas, and open green spaces.
This is a great neighbourhood to stay in if you want to stay a little outside of the city, away from the busy city centre, while also having easy access to the centre by public transportation.
Belem also has a number of tourist attractions including the Belem Tower (Torre de Belem), Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, and Padrão dos Descobrimentos (momument).
Pros & Cons Of Staying In Belém
PROS
- Museums, art galleries, and attractions
- Historic suburb west of the city centre
- Close to UNESCO sites
CONS
- A 10-minute train ride to the centre
Luxury Hotels In Belém
Mid-Range Hotels In Belém
Budget Hotels In Belém
The Tourist Center In Lisbon: Baixa
Baixa has undergone a revival in recent years with new hotels, restaurants, museums, and shops opening up and the competition of the royal square (Praça do Comércio).
Baixa is one of the main and central neighbourhoods in Lisbon, which makes it a convenient place to stay when walking around the city, in addition to easy links to public transformation. This area is touristy and lively 24 hours a day, with busy streets and car using the main roads all night long.
This area is home to the MUDE fashion and design museum, Rua Augusta archway, Lisbon Story Centre, Rossio Square, and the Santa Justa elevator.
Pros & Cons Of Staying In Baixa
PROS
- Central neighbourhood
- Great public transportation links
- Great shops, restaurants, and museums
- Can walk to places
CONS
- Very touristy
- Busy 24-hours a day
Luxury Hotels In Baixa
- Corpo Santo Lisbon Historical Hotel
- Hotel da Baixa
- Hotel Avenida Palace
- Pousada de Lisboa
- Internacional Design Hotel
Mid-Range Hotels In Baixa
Budget Hotels In Baixa
Best Hotels In Lisbon Wrap-Up
We hope this guide will help you plan your stay at some of the best hotels in Lisbon next time you visit! It is a beautiful city with lots of character, colourful buildings, history, and experiences. We have lots of Lisbon guides and articles that you can browse to plan your trip to this beautiful city.
- Complete 3 Day Itinerary To Lisbon Portugal
- 10 Most Unique Bookstores In Lisbon
- 11 Best Bars In Lisbon For After Work Drinks
- 8 Of Lisbon’s Best Co-Working Cafes
- 10 Must See Places In Belem, Lisbon
We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Lisbon and stay at some of these great hotels. If you have any questions about the destination or have your own travel tips to share please leave these in the comments below.
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We Are Travel Girls Junior Editor Anny Wooldridge of AnnysAdventures.com
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Ashleigh Fay says
ahhh this just makes me want to go here even more!!
Sarah says
Portugal has been on my list for a while, this definitely bumps it closer to the top!