Where to stay in Lisbon?

Accommodation in Baixa: the heart of Lisbon

Baixa is a must-see area of Lisbon. Centrally located on the banks of the Tagus, it is home to several unmissable points of interest, including Praça do Comércio, the city symbol.

The neighborhood stretches from Praça do Comércio in the south to Praça da Figueira and do Rossio in the north. It’s not the most authentic place to stay, with its large squares, wide boulevards and grid-like streets. But it’s lively, with lots of bars, restaurants and shops. What’s more, Baixa is relatively flat, making it easy to get around on foot.

Baixa’s tourist attractions include:

• the pretty squares, Praça do Comércio, da Figueira and do Rossio
• the pedestrian street Rua Augusta and the Arch
• the Santa Justa lift, made of metal, that leads up to Bairro Alto, where you can enjoy the view
• a few museums, including ones dedicated to modern art, coins, design and fashion

From a purely practical perspective, this part of Lisbon provides quick access to Rossio station, where you can catch a train to the historic town of Sintra in the northwest. The number 15 tram route to Belém also begins in Baixa.

In terms of accommodation, there are plenty of hotels in Baixa to suit all budgets, as well as tourist rental flats. Baixa is central, easy to get to and lively, making it the most popular place to stay in Lisbon. It’s best to book as early as possible.

Chiado: a central place to stay in Lisbon

Ideally located by Baixa and Bairro Alto, Chiado is mainly known for its chic boutiques and many restaurants. In terms of accommodation, this area’s main asset is its location, which is fairly central.

Chiado, like neighbouring Bairro Alto, lies at the foot of the hill. As it is less steep, it is served by the metro on both the Blue and Green lines. You can get around easily on foot or by public transport. Cais do Sodre, the pier where you can take a ferry across the Tagus to Almada to see the Cristo Rei, is just a 10-minute walk south.

Chiado, mainly made up of narrow streets, is home to a few hotels but mostly tourist rentals. The area is known to be fairly quiet in the evenings and is a good place to stay in Lisbon. It has an authentic feel and is close to the lively neighborhoods of Barrio Alto and Baixa city centre.

Bairro Alto: staying in Lisbon's party district

Bairro Alto lies west of Baixa, on one of Lisbon’s hills. It is known for its nightlife, with many bars and restaurants. This area is the place to stay if you want to be at the heart of the party.

During the day, tourists mainly come to Bairro Alto to soak up the atmosphere. With its narrow, pedestrianised cobbled streets and colourful buildings, it’s the perfect place to stroll around and enjoy nice views of the city, from observation points such as Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. You can also take (or simply photograph) the emblematic Bica Funicular, which links the lower part of Bairro Alto to Cais do Sodre on the banks of the Tagus.

In terms of accommodation, you won’t find many hotels. There are a few to the east, bordering Baixa and Chiado, but the selection is limited (as in Alfama). You’re better looking for a tourist rental flat if you want to stay in Bairro Alto.

Bairro Alto is best suited to young couples who enjoy going out in the evening. Or friends on a party weekend in Lisbon. We don’t recommend staying here if you’re looking for a quiet city break, admiring the sights and exploring the city.

Staying in Alfama: the historic heart of Lisbon

Alfama lies east of Baixa, on one of the hills that makes up the city. It is the oldest neighborhood in Lisbon and is known, as such, as its historic heart.

Given its layout, with its steep streets and small, colourful houses, you’ll mainly find tourist rental accommodation here. There are a few hotels, but they tend to be more upmarket.

Alfama’s tourist attractions include:

• a few viewpoints, or "miradors" of the city. The most beautiful is, without a doubt, Portas do Sol
• São Jorge Castle, built in the 11th century, that overlooks the city
• Santa Maria Maior Cathedral, otherwise known as Sé
• the historic 1930s tram, including the city’s most famous line, number 28

Most of Alfama’s restaurants and bars are in the southern part of the neighborhood. You can enjoy a fado show, Portuguese music with a singer and string instruments, at several of these establishments. Fado is an unmissable experience, whether you decide to stay in this area or not.

Although Alfama is very touristy during the day, it is relatively calm in the evening. If you’re looking to stay in an authentic area close to all the main sights, Alfama is a good option.

Graça and Mouraria: two authentic neighborhoods

We’ve grouped together Graça and Mouraria, two neighbouring areas north of Alfama. They are quite similar to Alfama, although less touristy as they’re further away from the centre. Most accommodation lies in the maze of narrow streets, in more or less steep areas.

Graça offers some incredible panoramic views of the city, such as Miradouro da Graça or Senhora do Monte, the highest observation point in Lisbon. Whether you decide to stay in Graça or not, we recommend going there at least once to enjoy the beautiful views, whether on foot, by tram or tuk-tuk.

Located behind São Jorge Castle, on the outskirts of Intendente, Mouraria is easier to get to from the centre and a little less touristy. It was the first neighbourhood inhabited by the Moors after their conquest of Lisbon in the 12th century (hence its name).

As in Alfama, accommodation in these areas mainly consists of holiday rentals and a few high-end hotels.

Staying North of the city centre in Santo Antonio or Intendente

You’ll find a wide range of accommodation if you head slightly north from Lisbon city centre. You can get to the centre in just a few minutes on the Blue or Green metro lines. We recommend the following areas:

• Santo Antonio, north of Bairro Alto
• Intendente, north of Baixa

The first (Santo Antonio), in particular the lower part, Principe Real, is known for being chic and trendy. It is mainly residential and home to tourist rentals. If you head a little further north, towards Praça Marquês de Pombal, you’ll find lots of hotels to suit any budget. You can get from this square to Praça do Comercio in just a few minutes with the Blue line.

The second (Intendente) is located in the lower part of the city, spanning from Praça Martim Moniz to Praça Largo do Intendente, on either side of Avenida Almirante Reis. There are several restaurants along this avenue and around the large Martim Moniz square. They tend to be frequented by locals rather than tourists.

Depending on the location of your accommodation, you’ll still be quite close to the centre, which is a twenty-minute walk away or a short ride on the metro.

Where else can you stay in Lisbon?

In addition to the main areas mentioned above, you can stay in other neighborhoods further afield.

The downside is their distance from the centre. Not only do you lose out on the vibrant atmosphere of Lisbon (fewer bars and restaurants nearby in the evening), but you also spend more time travelling. Nonetheless, a few of these neighborhoods offer good alternatives for accommodation in Lisbon. We’ve selected 3 for you: Belém, Alcantara and Arroios.

Belém, one of the best-known areas in Lisbon, lies about 5km west of the city centre. Although it gets busy during the day, it is very quiet in the evening, meaning that you can enjoy the neighborhood’s emblematic landmarks without the crowds. The main tourist attractions include the famous tower on the banks of the Tagus and the Hieronymites Monastery. You can get to Belém by tram (line 15E), which is often packed with tourists during the day. In terms of accommodation, you’ll find a lot more tourist rentals than hotels.

Alcantara neighbours Belém and is closer to the city centre. You can get there by tram on line 15E or 18E from Cais do Sodré. The journey takes about twenty minutes and is less popular with tourists. Accommodation in Alcantara also consists mostly of holiday rentals. But you’ll find a few hotels, offering excellent value for money.

Then there is Arroios, located north of the centre of Lisbon, further up than Intendente. The Green metro line connects this area to the city centre in about 25 minutes. There are several hotels.

If you stay in these areas of Lisbon, you’ll have to travel to the centre most days. We don’t recommend this option when choosing accommodation, but it can be a good fallback solution.