Where to stay in Portugal

Our Guide on Where to Stay in Portugal

When it comes to accommodation in Portugal, you’ll find everything from a network of comfortable hotels called pousadas, many in historic buildings or places of natural beauty to luxury Algarve beach resorts. There are magnificent manor homes, simple guesthouses, and well-known international chains. An increasing number of hotel brands have been turning their attention to this country, especially in main urban destinations like Porto and Lisbon that have become so popular among travelers. They’re almost exclusively focused around four- and five-star properties, something that was hard to find just a couple of decades ago.

Upscale hotels now represent around three-quarters of lodging options in Portugal but in the more rural locations especially, it’s easy to find more budget-friendly accommodation. There are properties that have been run by the same family for generations, offering their own intriguing stories, authenticity, and service with a genuine smile. Unique stays such as a boutique B&B set in an old olive factory, cottages on wine estates, and apartments in restored farmhouses where guests can learn how to prepare Portuguese dishes with fresh ingredients are all possible too.

Whatever you’re dreaming of here is probably possible. There are stays along tranquil stretches of the Algarve where golden sands and rock formations rise from the sea, next to a lakeside vineyard with a view of a medieval hilltop village, or in a beautifully restored 19th-century building with exposed ancient stone walls set just below Lisbon’s Sao Jorge Castle.