Best Places to Stay in Portugal: Porto, Lisbon, and Lagos

If you’re planning a trip to Portugal, choosing the right place to stay can make all the difference – especially when it comes to saving your legs from all the hills in Porto and Lisbon! I’m sharing the best places to stay in Portugal in Porto, Lisbon, and Lagos—spots I’ve personally stayed at or seriously considered for my own travels. These recommendations are in central locations, so you’re close to all the sights, but tucked on quieter side streets for a peaceful vibe. Explore my top picks to make your stay in Portugal even better!

Porto Hotel Recommendations

Staying in the Old Town of Porto is my pick for the most convenient and atmospheric area to make your home base. The Old Town in Porto is compact and walkable, which makes it an ideal place to stay for a short visit. The Old Town is oozing with charm and stunning views around every corner. The neighborhood is packed with atmospheric narrow streets, colorful buildings, and riverside views that really show off Porto’s charm. If you want to soak up the city’s atmosphere while being close to all the action, the Old Town is the perfect place to stay!

Editory House Ribeira Porto Hotel

We stayed at the Editory House Ribeira Porto Hotel and loved the location. It is located a block away from the river and is walking distance to all the shops and sights of the old town. The building is charming on the outside, and beautifully decorated and modern on the inside. The rooms were clean and had a good layout, but sometimes the room had a faint musty smell in them. Maybe it is just because it is an older building close to the river.

Belomont52 Guest House

I also considered the highly rated Belomont52 Guest House, which is further from the river and closer to the old town, but also looks modern with beautiful decor.

If those gems are already booked up, check out these highly rated stays in the Old Town of Porto!

Lisbon Hotel Recommendations

If you are looking for the most centrally located neighborhoods to stay in Lisbon for a visitor, then Baixa and Chiado are my picks. Baixa and Chiado are right in the center of the action, close to all the main sights and restaurants. These neighborhoods also have great transportation connections if you are planning on doing day trips out to Sintra and Belem. While some like to stay in the Alfama for the charm of the old-fashioned lanes, for a quick trip like this I prefer to be in a more central location to maximize our sightseeing time.

For the most convenient neighborhood to be close to the airport, look for accommodations in the Parque das Nacoes area. This neighborhood is only 7 minutes from the Lisbon airport by Uber, but note that it is about 30 min away from the city center. This neighborhood is also well connected to the Lisboa Oriente train station. Overall, this is a convenient neighborhood if you’re looking for accommodations close to the airport before an early flight.

Tesouro da Baixa by Shiadu

We stayed at the Tesouro da Baixa by Shiadu in Baixa, which felt like staying in someone’s home (in a good way). The eclectic furniture in the room made it feel more lived in and less like a hotel. However, while some of the furnishings were vintage, I appreciated that the bathrooms were modern. There was a metro station close by, which was convenient. However, like most of Lisbon, this hotel is located uphill. We’re not averse to hills and usually prefer walking, but we did find ourselves using Uber to get back to this hotel more than we ever do because of the steady uphill climb on slippery cobblestone streets.

Casa do Barao

Casa do Barao is an elegant hotel in Chiado in a beautiful historic building. It is in a great central location in the middle of the city, but also has a lush private garden for a peaceful escape at the end of the day. We just missed out on booking this because I took too long to decide – don’t make my same mistake!

Dream Chiado Apartments

We also considered the Dream Chiado Apartments in Chiado for more space and a kitchenette. The location is fantastic and you get the privacy of being in an apartment.

Click here to find the best hotels in the Baixa/Chiado district!

Hotel Ibis Lisboa Parque das Nacoes

On our last night in Lisbon, we opted to stay in the Parque das Nacoes area to be closer to the airport since we had an early flight. The Hotel Ibis Lisboa Parque das Nacoes is a no frills budget hotel, but it is clean and walking distance to the train station. A good option for saving some money on lodging if you just need a clean place to sleep close to the airport before an early flight.

Lagos Hotel Recommendations

The best place to stay in Lagos, Portugal, is definitely the historic center. It has the charming cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and a relaxed vibe that you’re looking for on a beach vacation. The historic center is pretty compact, so you’ll be just a short walk from the beautiful beaches and the marina for boat tours. Staying in the center means you’re close to all the action but still tucked away in a peaceful, picturesque spot.

Many of these guesthouses only have a couple rooms. Summer in Lagos is very popular, so book early to make sure you can find a room in these gems!

B&B do Paco, Lagos

We stayed at the B&B do Paco, Lagos. It is a cute B&B in the center of the old town, but located on a quieter side street. It is only a short walk to the beach and the marina where the boat tours depart. However, the real gem of this place is the host. He was very welcoming and spent a long time explaining the area to us and made many recommendations about things to do and eat. One of his restaurant recommendations was the highlight of our trip. The room itself was clean and functional. It was fine for a one night stay. Note that there is no elevator, and the spiral stairs to the top floor are narrow. So don’t book the top floor if you have a large luggage!

Infante Guesthouse

The Infante Guesthouse is in the same area in the historic center of Lagos. The gem of this guesthouse is the rooftop terrace, with stunning views of the old town and the ocean.

Perola Azul

The Perola Azul is a studio apartment located above a cafe in the historic center of Lagos. It is one of the more spacious options, and with the added convenience of a kitchen. There is also a nice rooftop terrace with amazing views of the historic center and the ocean.

Your Vintage Townhouse Lagos

Your Vintage Townhouse Lagos is a cute one bedroom apartment with ktichen and rooftop patio close to the old town walls. Since it is slightly more removed from the heart of the historic center, it is great for those looking for a quieter stay. If you love vintage decor and appliances, then you will love staying in this darling apartment. Another plus is the host, a local, who goes above and beyond to welcome guests and provide insider tips.

Don’t forget to check out our complete Northern Spain and Portugal Itinerary for all the details on the best eats and best views you can’t miss on your trip!