5 Lisbon Hotels That Will Make Your Portugal Vacation Awesome

Planning a trip to Lisbon, Portugal? Where to stay in the city depends on what you need. Here are my picks for the top hotels in Lisbon as well as two great hotels near Lisbon in Sintra and Cascais.

One of my memorable trips from this year was to Lisbon, Portugal. From the delicious garlic shrimp to the gorgeous tiled architecture, I fell in love with this lesser traveled European city.

During my time in Portugal, I had the opportunity to stay at and tour three Lisbon hotels and two other hotels near Lisbon, in Sintra and Cascais. Each of these properties has something very special to offer guests. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly property or a romantic escape, one of these five hotels in Lisbon could be perfect for your trip.

luxury hotels in lisbon portugal — 5 of the best hotels in Lisbon, Portugal

Best Hotels in Lisbon

Are you looking for a perfect hotel for families, a luxurious hotel near shopping, or a quaint Airbnb near Alfama? Here are my picks for the top hotels in Lisbon.

Martinhal Lisbon Chiado

I was invited to Portugal by Martinhal Resorts and had the opportunity to stay at two of their properties during my trip. The Martinhal Lisbon Chiado has to be one of the top hotels in Lisbon for families. All of the Martinhal properties are created to welcome families and offer them a relaxing escape. From the amenities to the room design, kids are welcomed without making parents feel like they’re at a McDonalds play zone.

martinahal chiado hotel in lisbon — Martinhal Chiado is located in the popular area of Baixa-Chiado in Lisbon.

The Martinhal Lisbon Chiado is a unique hotel that offers studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom suites for families visiting Lisbon. The building used to be individual condo apartments, and now they’re hotel suites. I stayed in one of their studio suites that featured a double bed and bunk beds, perfect for a family. All of the apartments also feature a full kitchen that is perfect for traveling with kids and making your own meals.

martinhal chiado studio apartment — Studio suite in Martinhal Chiado is one of the top hotel in Lisbon for families.
© Kimberly Tate

martinhal chiado studio hotel kitchen — Full kitchen and living room space at Martinhal Chiado Lisboa has been designed to create a safe and welcoming space for kids and their parents. © Kimberly Tate

There is also a gorgeous, small restaurant in the hotel that is great for grabbing breakfast and light meals for lunch or an early dinner. A kids club is also on site for kids ages two to nine and is complimentary. There’s also a baby play creche area for parents to enjoy with their 6 to 23 month-old babies.

The other thing I loved about the Martinhal hotel in Lisbon was its location in the Baixa-Chiado neighborhood. It’s located in a central area between the main train station and the popular restaurant and night scene of Baixa.

I asked a few of my fellow travel writers about their favorite Lisbon hotels. Marta from Learning Escapes shared her own review of Martinhal:

“We spent 3 nights in Martinhal Chiado when the kids were 5 and 6 and I would recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Lisbon with children. The location is excellent for sightseeing, right in the heart of the city, the suites are spacious and fully equipped for a family stay and we have to give a special praise to the staff as well.

During our vacation, my son had to go into A&E for a (small) injury and the hotel dealt with it in a flash: they told us where to go, made phone-calls for us and got first aid sorted in no time. At a time of stress, I couldn’t have hoped for better support. With beautiful facilities and this type of welcome, I would go back to this hotel any day!”

Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa

If you’re dreaming of a luxurious city vacation with plans to enjoy a famous Lisbon rooftop bar, the Tivoli hotel in Lisbon is the perfect place for you to stay. This property is centrally located in Lisbon along one of the main avenues that run into the center of the city. A doorman will welcome you to the hotel as you enter from a tree-lined street that showcases high-end shops like, Prada and Dior.

tivoli avenida liberdade hotel in lisbon — Tivoli Avenida Liberdade is located along a treelined street filled with luxury shops.
© Kimberly Tate

There are a variety of rooms offered at the Tivoli including rooms with a city view and family rooms that have extra space and a sofabed. I stayed in one of the deluxe family rooms and was absolutely amazed at how spacious the room was. I LOVED my bed at the Tivoli, and they even offer a pillow menu in case you need just the right pillow to rest.

The bathroom was well-appointed and bright with all marble walls. I felt spoiled with the turn-down service each night and looked forward to slipping my feet in my slippers in the morning. Overall everything at the Tivoli was comfortable and I would have been happy spending a whole week there.

family room at tivoli avenida liberdade lisbon hotel — Spacious family room at the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade in Lisbon, Portugal.
© Kimberly Tate

bathroom at Tivoli hotel in lisbon — Wall to wall marble in the bathroom at the Tivoli.
© Kimberly Tate

Breakfast is included and you’ll find a lot of options including a yogurt bar and omelets. Regular rooms have breakfast in the lobby while suites are allowed to take breakfast upstairs in the Terraco restaurant next to the Sky Bar. Suite guests also have access to an executive lounge that offers snacks and beverages as well as a personal concierge who can help you with planning and reservations.

The rooftop Sky Bar will be a big draw for any couple traveling to Lisbon. It’s a large space that features a fabulous view along with music and drinks at night. It is a popular spot, so you have to be quick to grab a table or one of their fun seating areas.

sky-bar-tivoli-hotel-lisbon — Sky Bar is a popular rooftop bar on top of the Tivoli Hotel in Lisbon.
© Kimberly Tate

The Tivoli Avenida Liberdade also has an amazing on-site seafood restaurant, Cervejaria Liberdade. Tamara and I enjoyed a delicious crab dip and I could have eaten another serving of their garlic shrimp. And if you’re looking to take a dip, they have a lovely garden pool that is nicely secluded. The Tivoli also offers spa treatments at their on-site Anantara Spa.

The Avani Avenida Liberdade is a Tivoli partner hotel and has a 4-star rating. If the Tivoli is a bit out of your price point, check out the prices at the Avani. It’s next door to the Tivoli in the same great central location.

Avani hotel in lisbon — Avani is Lisbon hotel in the heart of the city along the Avenida Liberdade.
© Kimberly Tate

Prefer an Airbnb?

Sarah from The Wandering Rumpus shared about her Airbnb experience in Lisbon:

“Our family of 5 stayed one night (we extended our layover to explore Lisbon a bit) at the quirky AirBnB: Casa da Xana located in an old historic building of Alfama. The location was nice – close to Tram 28 and traditional Fado music at the corner restaurant. Also, we were able to walk to Monastery of São Vicente de Fora.

It included a full kitchen – which we always look for – and was cozy but with more than enough room for the five of us. My girls especially enjoyed the giant Portuguese mural in the living room, the glass brick walls and a giant Betty Boop statue in their room. My husband Brad and I loved the old building, the stone floors and the small balcony that overlooked the street below. We also appreciated that the hosts let us keep our luggage stored in the apartment until we had to leave for the airport late in the day.”

airbnb in lisbon near alfama — You can also find Airbnb in Lisbon, like this cute apartment near the Alfama district.
Photo credit: The Wandering Rumpus

Hotels Near Lisbon, Portugal

If you’re considering a day trip to Sintra or even a beach escape to Cascais, here are two more great hotels near Lisbon.

Martinhal Cascais

Cascais is a popular beach getaway about an hour west of Lisbon. Cascais itself is a bit of a tourist trap town, but if you’re looking for a resort getaway for your family outside of the city, Martinhal Cascais is a gem. The resort is part of the Martinhal brand which I mentioned above as being completely family-focused. They’ve created a charming and comfortable resort that caters to families without losing the luxury feel of a resort.

martinhal cascais lisbon hotel lobby — Martinhal Cascais Hotel Lobby.
© Kimberly Tate

martinhal cascais grounds view from room — Martinhal Cascais property room view.
© Kimberly Tate

martinhal cascais room — Martinhal Cascais King Bed Room.
© Kimberly Tate

The resort offers a lot of fabulous room types for families, including rooms that have bunk beds and stand-alone villas. I also loved the robes and slippers they have in the rooms, even kid-sized ones! I also really enjoyed their gorgeous pool and day spa area. They have bike rentals available on property, too.

Tivoli Palacio de Seteais

If you’re traveling without your kids and you’re looking for a romantic getaway outside of Lisbon, look at the Tivoli Palacio de Seteais. I had lunch there when I went to Sintra and the property is really something special. It’s an actual 18th-century palace and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even if it doesn’t work for you to stay at the hotel, definitely stop for a lunch visit.