Where to stay in Lisbon: the best neighbourhoods for first-time visitors

We Love F Tourists

We stayed a few nights at We Love F Tourists on our latest trip to Lisbon and would happily stay there again. It’s a friendly hostel that has a social atmosphere without being a raucous party place. It also has a great location for exploring.

The hostel is a few paces away from Figueira Square, and the only downside is that you have to walk up quite a lot of stairs to reach it. We didn’t mind that so much. Set in one of Baixa’s old townhouses, it has a very cool hangout space in the attic at the top.

We stayed in a private room, which was clean and comfortable, and you can book dorms as well. There isn’t an on-site bar, but the team run events like pub crawls and also arrange tours of the city and Sintra.

Yes! Lisbon Hostel

Perched just around the corner from the Rua Augusta Arch, Yes! Lisbon Hostel is one of the best overall hostels in Lisbon. It’s a bit bigger and livelier than We Love F Tourists, with a big lounge hangout area and a bar, but the rooms are plenty quiet enough for a night’s sleep.

This is a great place to meet other travellers, with lots of organised activities. The shared dinners hosted by the team are a fun way to try a bit of local food while getting to know people. You can also join walking tours, pub crawls, bingo nights, karaoke, Sintra visits and all sorts more.

Liberator Rossio

Hotel rooms around Rossio Square can be quite expensive, but Liberator Rossio is an affordable option. The rooms are cosy and compact, but many have gorgeous views over the plaza, and you’re right at the heart of downtown Lisbon.

The hotel sits on the north side of the square, right near the Dona Maria II National Theatre and a short walk to the metro station.

Liberator Rossio has a clean, modern feel. The rooms are fairly basic, but it offers great value for money in a premium location.

Browns Boutique Hotel

If you’re after something a bit more upmarket but still affordable, Browns Boutique Hotel is a classy pick that doesn’t charge sky-high prices.

It’s a mid-sized hotel without 32 rooms, and also features a chilled-out bistro café‑bar downstairs that’s popular with locals for quiet evening drinks. This is where the daily breakfast is served for guests too.

The rooms are spacious for the price and come with some fun, quirky touches. You might find a Roberts radio or a Marshall speaker by your bed, and some rooms even come with iMac workstations, making them a great pick for a remote work trip.

My Story Hotels Figueira

On my first ever visit to Lisbon I stayed at three different My Story Hotels over a few days, which you can read about in my review of My Story Hotels in Lisbon. My favourite of the three was My Story Hotels Figueira, set in an old tiled townhouse right on Figueira Square, about as central as it gets.

The rooms were spotless when I stayed, with a few nice touches. I had a a proper desk, a coffee machine, and even a little box of pastéis de nata waiting for me when I arrived. It’s a great spot if you want to be right in the middle of things but still have somewhere calm to come back to.

The hotel lobby is part of La Squadra, the on-site restaurant and café, which shifts depending on the time of day. In the morning it’s a laid-back breakfast buffet; by evening it’s buzzing, with chefs cooking in an open kitchen and happy hour cocktails at the bar (the Porto tónico was my favourite!).

I liked working there during the day as well. Good coffee, quiet corners and plenty of character.

Pestana Rua Augusta Lisboa

Pestana Rua Augusta sits right next to the iconic Rua Augusta Arch, bang in the middle of Baixa and a minute’s walk from Praça do Comércio and the riverfront. It’s the kind of place where you step outside straight into Lisbon’s busy pedestrian heart, but the rooms are well sound-proofed so you won’t be disturbed.

The rooms here are smart and modern, with comfy beds, USB ports, blackout curtains and some lovely touches of character. Each floor has its own plant theme, and some rooms have views of the castle. There’s a botanical and slightly minimalist feel to the decor.

Downstairs, there’s a cosy bar with a colourful tiled mural, and a restaurant where you can get breakfast or sit out on the terrace. We haven’t tried the dinner there, but it looks an amazing spot to wind down in the evenings.

This is Lisbon Hostel

This is Lisbon Hostel has a really cool location on the north side of Alfama, set in a restored 19th-century building right near São Jorge Castle. The hostel has a gorgeous rooftop terrace with views overlooking Lisbon’s rooftops.

It’s a small, intimate hostel with seven guest rooms and a community atmosphere. The only downside of the hillside location is you need to walk uphill a little to reach it (as you can’t get right to the door by public transport).

Having been recently refurbished and renovated, the hostel’s rooms and facilities are in great shape. The team hosts authentic experiences for guests, from Portuguese dinners and relaxed brunches to informal language lessons.

Inn Possible Lisbon Hostel

Conveniently nestled on the border of Alfama and Baixa, Inn Possible Lisbon Hostel has a great location for historical sightseeing and getting around the city. Five minutes’ walk in one direction takes you to São Jorge Castle, and in the other to Rossio Square.

It’s a friendly hostel with a social atmosphere and regular activities, plus there is a bright communal hangout space with big comfy sofas. The breakfast for an extra €2 will set you up perfectly for the day.

Solar Dos Mouros

If you’re after something a bit special in Alfama without paying luxury prices, Solar dos Mouros is a place that will stick in your memory.

Situated just around the corner uphill from Sé Cathedral, it’s a small boutique hotel with river views just as impressive as any of Alfama’s miradouros. You’ll probably take as many photos from the terrace and your window as you do when out on your walks.

The rooms each have a different vibe, some bold with colour, others more minimal, and all feeling like real thought has gone into them. No cookie-cutter design here. And while the location is right in the heart of Alfama, it’s in a quiet little pocket that stays peaceful at night.

Tings Lisbon

We wanted to include an accommodation recommendation close to the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte viewpoint in Graça, and Tings Lisbon is practically right on top of it.

Although Tings Lisbon is officially a one-star hotel, it has more the feel of a friendly guesthouse, with home-cooked breakfasts and beautiful city views. One star definitely doesn’t mean low quality here. The owners, Annette and Thomas, originally created Tings Kathmandu in Nepal, but moved the concept to Lisbon after post-pandemic challenges. Some evenings, you might catch them hosting mini music concerts or art exhibitions in the garden.

The hotel is set in a rebuilt protected townhouse with 16 charming and unique rooms. While it’s a little removed from the main downtown sights, it’s a great pick if you’re after a slower pace and some of the best views in the city.

Santiago de Alfama Boutique Hotel

If you’re in the mood to treat yourself, Santiago de Alfama is a proper boutique experience in a beautifully restored 15th-century building just below the castle, with the picture-perfect cobbled streets of Alfama right on the doorstep. When you walk outside you’re instantly in the middle of the neighbourhood’s life, but once you’re inside, it’s all calm and quiet.

Described as the “best boutique hotel in Lisbon” by Forbes Magazine, this place is a top shout for a romantic getaway or special celebration. The breakfast is especially good, prepared with fresh seasonal produce (and some incredible poached eggs!).

Pousada Alfama

Pousada Alfama sits right in the lively heart of the neighbourhood, just by the old medieval gates of Portas do Sol. From this elevated setting you can enjoy gorgeous river views in luxurious surroundings.

While the hotel is set in a historic building, the furnishings and facilities have a modern feel.

Independente Príncipe Real

While Independente Principe Real is named for the Principe Real neighbourhood, its location is right on the cusp of Bairro Alto, facing onto one of the neighbourhood’s cobbled sloping roads.

This is an art deco hotel-meets-hostel, with a boutique feel and excellent value for money. It occupies two renovated 19th-century palaces with the era’s classic tall windows and high ceilings inside. The rooms vary from budget dorms to private suites, with a choice of rooms in between, some featuring balconies with river views.

There’s also an in-house restaurant and bar with a matching art deco style where you can relax at the end of the day. Rise early here and you can walk a few paces for the city’s most breathtaking sunrise view at Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.

Bairro Alto Hostel

Although it’s called a hostel, Bairro Alto Hostel has more of a budget hotel vibe than a backpacker stay. There are no dormitories, just a choice of basic double and single rooms.

If you’re after a well-located base with decent facilities and you aren’t fussed about luxury, this place is excellent value. Like Independente Principe Real, it’s perched right next to Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, where you can also hop on the historic Glória Funicular down to Baixa.

Le Consulat

One of Lisbon’s most characterful and distinctive hotels, Le Consulat is set in the former Brazilian consulate building and is featured in the Michelin Guide. Each of its huge rooms is like a private art exhibition.

The hotel overlooks Luís de Camões Square, which is right on the border of Chiado and Bairro Alto, perfect for navigating the area.

You can choose from a range of rooms, apartments and suites, with the Consulaire and Ambassadeur suites at the top end coming with private kitchenettes and dining areas.

Montebelo Vista Alegre Lisboa Chiado Hotel

If you want to stay somewhere a little under the radar but seriously well put together, Montebelo Vista Alegre in Chiado might be your spot. Part of the historic Portuguese ceramics brand Vista Alegre, the hotel’s interiors are bathed in beautiful tilework and little design details that give a truly authentic Lisbon feel.

The hotel is right in the middle of Chiado, close to cafés, theatres, and those narrow side streets that always seem to lead somewhere interesting. Right across the road you can go for a coffee at Fábrica Coffee Roasters, one of our favourites on the Lisbon scene.

Overall, Montebelo Vista Alegre is polished without being flashy, and a good option if you want something elegant but a bit more personal than the big international names nearby.

Bairro Alto Hotel

Bairro Alto Hotel has a reputation as one of Lisbon’s best boutique stays for good reason. Sitting right on the edge of Luís de Camões Square, where Chiado and Bairro Alto meet, you’re basically at the crossroads of everything: cafés, plazas, viewpoints, trams, nightlife, you name it. It’s a busy location, but the hotel still feels calm and refined, with just the right amount of luxury.

We love the hotel’s rooftop bar, where locals come in for the views that stretch right out over the river. It’s not a budget option, but if you’re looking to splurge on a stay that’s both stylish and central, you can’t go wrong here.

Sunset Destination Hostel

Not many backpacker hostels come with a rooftop pool, but that’s exactly what you get at Sunset Destination Hostel. Not only that, but the rooftop also features a cocktail bar.

The hostel is set inside Cais do Sodré station, so you’re right on the doorstep of nightlife while being a quick train ride away from beaches along the coastline.

Sunset Destination Hostel has quite a party atmosphere, so it’s not the best choice if you want somewhere laidback, but ideal if you want to meet and socialise. There are lots of fun regular events, like pub crawls, organised tours and weekly communal BBQ nights.

The hostel also has an “urban jungle lounge” and a sustainable urban garden where fresh produce is grown.

Lost Inn Lisbon Hostel

Lost Inn Lisbon Hostel is another lively, sociable hostel in Cais do Sodré. The setting here is a bit more atmospheric and relaxed, in an 18th-century building with vaulted ceilings and époque tiles that give the place a heritage feel.

The building is two minutes’ walk from the nightlife epicentre of Pink Street, and you can join organised bar crawls every night. But at the same time, there are still places to wind down, with comfy couches and reading spaces in the hostel’s common spaces.

Selina Secret Garden Lisbon

We’re a big fan of the Selina hostels chain because of their focus on coworking. Midway on the road from Cais do Sodré up to the Estrela neighbourhood, Selina Secret Garden Lisbon has a funky coworking setup and a ton of other cool features.

Like other Selinas we’ve visited, it has an outdoor pool, as well as a rooftop hangout area with great views. There is a programme of wellness-focused events through the week, including yoga or dance classes and social nomad meetups.

It’s not just for backpackers, either – there’s a wide range of accommodation options from dormitories to family rooms. If you’re looking for somewhere to plug in and get some work done but also meet people and hang out, this could be your go-to.

Independente Bica

Standing one block back from Time Out Market in a classic Lisbon-style Pombaline building, Independente Bica is about as central as it gets in Cais do Sodré. The iconic Ascensor da Bica yellow funicular starts right by the hotel, hence the name.

Despite the lively surroundings, the hotel is well sound-proofed with double-glazed windows, so the party atmosphere nearby won’t disturb your sleep.

It’s a super convenient location with public transport just steps away, and the rooms and amenities feel like great value. The place has the vibe of a boutique hotel but with more affordable prices than many other spots in the neighbourhood.

Dare Lisbon River

Another reasonably priced boutique hotel right near Time Out Market is Dare Lisbon River. This place has a stylish, bright and modern feel, with rooms individually decorated.

Best of all – at the time of writing – there is a free wine policy in the afternoons and evenings! The breakfast is outstanding too, in continental style and made with fresh local produce, served until 11am for those lazy mornings.

Corpo Santo Lisbon Historical Hotel

If you’re looking for 5-star luxury in Lisbon, Corpo Santo Lisbon Historical Hotel ranks among the very best, in a building that incorporates a 14th-century Fernandina Wall and looks onto 17th-century noble houses.

The historic setting is balanced with sleek modern comforts, including an outstanding restaurant. Set just back from the river, you’re also close to Cais do Sodré’s restaurant and bar scene but in a quiet little pocket away from the noise.

Everything feels genuinely luxurious here, from the complimentary spa services to the amazing hotel breakfast, which is genuinely one of the best in the city.

Casa de Sao Mamede Hotel

Set in a renovated 18th-century building that was originally built for a magistrate, Casa de Sao Mamede Hotel has an old-Lisbon feel to it, with antique decor setting the tone throughout the interior, filled with period furniture, rugs and paintings.

Constructed just three years after the 1755 earthquake, it was one of the earliest to use the tremor-proof “birdcage” style. The hotel has 28 sizeable rooms which all have private bathrooms. A continental breakfast is served in a wood-panelled dining room, adding to that old-world feeling.

Botanical gardens and Estrela’s parks are a short walk from the hotel, as is Rato metro station. It’s a great option if you want to experience Lisbon with a bit of historic charm and you prefer character and authenticity over flash.

Hotel Principe Real

Hotel Principe Real is a small boutique hotel in a secluded location near the botanical gardens in Principe Real. Set on a characterfully steep Lisbon side street, it’s also right near a main tram line for a short ride into downtown, while the restaurants and bars of Principe Real are right nearby.

With only 18 large, individually decorated rooms, the hotel has a homely feel, with delicious freshly cooked breakfasts made to order every morning. The prices are much more reasonable than some of the more upmarket boutique hotels in the area, without compromising on comfort or quality.

This part of Principe Real is right near the hilltop, and you’re just a few minutes’ walk away from the stunning sunrise views at Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.

Montecarmo12

If you’re after somewhere with a touch of modern elegance and a bit more sophistication – perhaps for a romantic couple’s getaway – Montecarmo12 is our top pick in Príncipe Real. Just be prepared to pay a little extra for the experience.

The hotel is set in a historic building that has been restored and modernised by Aires Mateus, one of Portugal’s most renowned architects. With just 10 rooms, the hotel has a luxuriously exclusive feel.

The rooms are bright, white and clean with a minimalist design and majestic floor-to-ceiling windows. Some feature balconies with spectacular river views.

Jardim da Lapa by Shiadu

Located all the way over on the south side of Estrela, not far from the main port area of Lisbon, Jardim da Lapa is an oasis of tranquility that feels like you’re in the countryside even though you’re close to the city centre.

The highlight of the hotel is its beautiful gardens lined with lemon trees and featuring an outdoor swimming pool that is open all year round.

All rooms include work desks, so if you’re looking for somewhere to stay on a remote working visit to the city where you can escape the noise, this place is the perfect retreat.

Lisboa Central Hostel

Any hostel that hosts something called “Milkshake Monday” has my attention. Yes, at Lisboa Central Hostel, guests all get a free milkshake every Monday! And there’s also Lemonade Tuesday, when… yes, you get the picture.

Even if your stay doesn’t coincide with a Monday or Tuesday, this is a fantastic all-round hostel that is clean, well run and good value. It has a friendly, sociable and welcoming vibe with a mixture of travellers of all ages – just the place we like to stay.

The location is excellent for getting around, just a couple of minutes’ walk away from Marquês de Pombal Square where you can hop on public transport in any direction.

Lisbon Top Hostel

Lisbon Top Hostel is like a backpacker hostel combined with a guest house, situated right by Parque Eduardo VII. It has classic dormitories with cheap beds and good facilities, and also a choice of private rooms with en suite bathrooms.

While this place doesn’t have the social atmosphere of other hostels, it’s a really pleasant, comfortable base for exploring the city, with lots of space, as well as an excellent communal kitchen for self-catering. It also has a very nice sun terrace and quiet lounge area, perfect for relaxing with a book at the end of the day.

Turim Lisboa Hotel

Turim Lisboa Hotel is a 4-star hotel with mid-range prices in a great location on the edges of Saldanha. It’s a sizeable hotel with 56 rooms, and features a cute little rooftop swimming pool. You can expect a clean, modern vibe with friendly service.

The in-house restaurant serves classic Portuguese cuisine, and you’re also within a close walk from Saldanha’s array of international restaurants.

The hotel is also just around the corner from Museu Banksy, one of the city’s coolest art museums. Here you can see dozens of recreations of Banksy’s artwork in a series of video installations, graffiti, canvases, light projections and murals.

Luster Hotel

If you want to stay closer to the heart of Saldanha, Luster Hotel is an excellent value 4-star option right next to Praça Duque de Saldanha, the area’s central roundabout.

This hotel is a great choice for a business trip or workation, with more affordable rates than the area’s premium business hotels. Rooms come with proper work desks, and there’s a very decent spa and wellness centre with a sauna, steam room, and hot tub – plus indoor and outdoor pools that stay open year-round.

At the same time, the vibe of the hotel leans more boutique than business, which adds a bit of charm to your stay even if you’re mostly there to work.

EPIC SANA Marquês Hotel

EPIC SANA Marquês Hotel is one of Lisbon’s top 5-star hotels, which you will also find featured in our guide to hotels in Lisbon with rooftop pools. The views from the top of the building are up there with the city’s best miradouros, but without the crowds.

If you want to go all-out luxury for your Lisbon trip and you’re willing to shell out for it, you can’t go wrong here. There’s a full wellness centre with a spa, Turkish baths, a vitality pool, and treatment rooms if you really want to unwind. And if you’re not heading out for dinner, the hotel’s Japanese and Italian restaurants are genuinely impressive, not just filler options.

Lumen Hotel & The Lisbon Light Show

We love a hotel with a special theme or feature – and Lumen Hotel has one of Lisbon’s most alluring. Every day here you can experience a video-mapping show in the hotel’s unique “photosynthesis courtyard”.

This is another top-class hotel with a rooftop pool, but one that falls into the more affordable bracket, with deluxe rooms beginning at mid-range prices. The hotel has a modern, comfortable feel, with facilities including a fitness centre. It’s a great all-round option for a weekend break.