Where to stay in Lisbon – Best areas and hotels in Lisbon

Home | Viajes | Europa | Portugal | Lisboa | Where to stay in Lisbon – Best areas and hotels in Lisbon

Choosing a good area to stay in Lisbon is very important. Although you can explore this city on foot, having an accommodation in a good location is very convenient.

There are a lot of things to do in Lisbon, so I recommend choosing your accommodation very carefully so you can quickly get to any point in the city. Since Portugal is not an expensive country, you can find cheap hotels in Lisbon city center.

We have visited the city several times and we’ve always chosen different neighborhoods to stay in Lisbon, so I can give you a great guide to find the best accommodation in Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal.

In this article you will find:

• Best areas to stay in Lisbon, Portugal
• Lisbon neighborhoods to avoid
• Best hotels in Lisbon
• Cheap accommodations in Lisbon
• Map of the Lisbon neighborhoods where to stay

Best areas to stay in Lisbon, Portugal

Below, I’ll explain which are the best neighborhoods to stay in Lisbon. I advise you to choose your accommodation based on your tourist interests, the number of days you’re going to spend in the city, and your budget. Don’t rush into booking any of the cheap hotels in Lisbon, and make sure you stay in a safe neighborhood like the ones I recommend in this section.

In addition to describing what each area or neighborhood is like, I’m going to mention the hotels in Lisbon, Portugal that I recommend and tell you about my experience staying in them.

1. Baixa, the best area to stay in Lisbon

Baixa is the best neighborhood to stay in Lisbon because it’s right in the center, so you can get anywhere by walking.

In addition, this city is one of the few that boasts affordable hotels in Lisbon downtown.

1. Baixa, the best area to stay in Lisbon

If you stay here, you’ll be very close to Avenida da Liberdade, Praça dos Restauradores, Praça do Rossio, Praça da Figueira, Praça do Comercio, and the Santa Justa Elevator.

We got a great Lisbon city center hotel deal during our first visit to this city, and we stayed at the Lisbon Art Stay Apartments Baixa. We loved the hotel, and although we’ve since tried other accommodations, I think we’ll stay there the next time we go to Lisbon since it’s neat and cozy.

These are the hotels in Baixa, the best area to stay in Lisbon, that I recommend:

• Premium option: Hotel da Baixa
• Standard option: Lisbon Art Stay Apartments Baixa
• Low-cost option: Home Lisbon Hostel

2. Chiado, the best hotels in Lisbon city center

Chiado is another ideal place to look for accommodation in Lisbon since it’s also in the city center.

This neighborhood is the most traditional and bohemian in the city, and is between Baixa and Barrio Alto. It’s an area full of cafes, shops, and museums, which is why it’s connected to the intellectual life of Lisbon.

2. Chiado, the best hotels in Lisbon city center

Chiado, for me, is also one of the best neighborhoods to stay in Lisbon.

These are the best hotels in Lisbon Chiado:

• Premium option: Corpo Santo Lisbon Historical Hotel
• Standard option: Feels Like Home Bica Prime Suites
• Low-cost option: Lost Inn Lisbon Hostel

3. Alfama, a traditional neighborhood to stay in Lisbon

Alfama is a neighborhood that doesn’t have many hotels, but if you’re looking for vacation apartments in Lisbon, this is a good place to stay.

3. Alfama, a traditional neighborhood to stay in Lisbon

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Lisbon that still retains a Portuguese essence, Alfama may be a good choice. You can enjoy fado, a genre of Portuguese popular music, and visit the Feira da Ladra, the Fado Museum, and the Sé cathedral here. In addition, in this neighborhood, there are lookout points from which you get beautiful views of the city, especially at sunset.

These are the best tourist apartments in Lisbon, Alfama:

• Premium option: Lisbon Best Choice Apartments Alfama
• Standard option: Hotel Convento do Salvador
• Low-cost option: Alfama – Lisbon Lounge Suites

4. Barrio Alto, cheap accommodation in Lisbon

Barrio Alto is an option for where to sleep in Lisbon if you’re looking for nightlife. I don’t recommend it if you’re looking for a quiet area to stay in Lisbon. The nights are noisy here.

4. Barrio Alto, cheap accommodation in Lisbon

We’ve stayed in this area twice because one of our friends lived here. If you’re not too bothered by noise, it’s one of the best places to find cheap hotels in Lisbon.

In this neighborhood, in addition to nightlife, you’ll also find restaurants where you can taste authentic Portuguese food and two outlooks that I recommend, one in San Pedro de Alcantara and the other in Santa Catalina.

The best hotels in Barrio Alto, Lisbon are:

• Premium option: Friendly Hills Bairro Alto
• Medium budget: Inn Bairro Alto B&B
• Low-cost option: Host Bell Rooms & Suites

5. Principe Real, luxury hotels in Lisbon

Principe Real is the most exclusive and fashionable area to stay in Lisbon. If you decide to stay here, in addition to steep streets, you’ll find luxury shops, cool restaurants, cafes, and art galleries. You’ll also be close to the Principe Real garden.

5. Principe Real, luxury hotels in Lisbon

The downside of staying in this area of Lisbon is that after spending all day walking, you may need to use public transport to get to your hotel, although it is a good option if you’re looking for boutique hotels in Lisbon.

If you want to sleep in this area, these are the hotels that I recommend:

• Premium option: Memmo Principe Real
• Standard option: 1869 Principe Real
• Low-cost option: Casa Oliver Boutique B&B

6. Avenida da Liberdade, one of the best places to stay in Lisbon

Avenida da Liberdade is an excellent option for where to stay in Lisbon since it’s one of the most exclusive areas of the city; however, it’s also one of the most expensive ones. In fact, here you will find many luxury hotels in Lisbon.

6. Avenida da Liberdade, one of the best places to stay in Lisbon

The most exclusive shops in the city, haute cuisine restaurants, embassies, and consulates are grouped in this area. Also, there are numerous green spaces here, making it a perfect area for walking. This is, without a doubt, the best area to stay in Lisbon if you don’t care about the price of your accommodation.

The hotels in Lisbon city center that I recommend on Avenida da Liberdade are:

• Premium option: Maxime Hotel Lisbon
• Standard option: Rossio Garden Hotel
• Low-cost option: Liv’in Lisbon Hostel

7. Belem, the best place to stay around Lisbon

Belem is one of the most beautiful areas of Lisbon, but it’s also the furthest one from the center. It can be a good option to stay in Lisbon if you don’t mind using public transport to get downtown.

7. Belem, the best place to stay around Lisbon

This neighborhood is the most historic in the city, so if you stay here, you’ll be close to the Jeronimos Monastery and the Belem Tower, as well as the Pastéis de Belém Confectionery, which is where they make the original Belem pastries.

The hotels in Lisbon, Belém, that I recommend are:

• Premium option: Altis Belem Hotel & Spa
• Standard option: Palacio do Governador
• Low-cost option: Famous Crows Lisbon Suites

8. Park of the Nations, the coolest hotels in Lisbon

Park of Nations is the last area I recommend for looking for hotels in Lisbon. If you’re looking for a cool place to stay in Lisbon, this is a good option, although it’s far from the center.

8. Park of the Nations, the coolest hotels in Lisbon

Here, you can visit the Vasco da Gama Shopping Center, the FIL (Feira Internacional de Lisboa), and several buildings that are characterized by their modern architecture, which is very different from what is in the rest of the city. You can also go up to the funicular and get fantastic views. This area is also a very good option if you’re looking for hotels in Lisbon with parking.

The accommodations in Lisbon, in the Park of the Nations area, that I recommend are:

• Premium option: MYRIAD by SANA Hotels
• Standard option: VIP Executive Arts Hotel
• Low-cost option: Ibis Lisboa Parque das Nações Hotel

Lisbon Neighborhoods to avoid

Sometimes, if you’re traveling on a budget or didn’t plan your trip in advance, most of the hotels are full and you have to choose a different area than the one you want. This is something that has happened to us and probably to every traveler at some point.

In case this happens to you, I’ll tell you which Lisbon neighborhoods you should avoid because they are violent or have a high crime rate, although I have to say that, in general, Lisbon is a very safe city.

Mouraria

Although Lisbon is quite safe, the area by Martim Moniz Square, at the foot of São Jorge Castle, is usually quite deserted at night. This has given it a bad reputation among both locals and tourists.

I advise you to avoid staying in this area of Lisbon because you might arrive back at your hotel late at night, and it is not pleasant to walk around the area at night.

Anjos

The Anjos area is also quite deserted and poorly lit, so it can be quite dangerous at night. It is an area in Lisbon to avoid if you don’t want to run into trouble when you return to your hotel.

Best hotels in Lisbon

If you don’t care about the area where you stay because you’re looking for the best hotels in Lisbon and you’re not concerned about the price, in this section you will find the most luxurious accommodations in Lisbon.

These are the best hotels in Lisbon:

• Memmo Príncipe Real, one of the best hotels with pool in Lisbon
• Corpo Santo Lisbon Historical Hotel, 5-star hotel in Lisbon city center
• EPIC SANA Lisboa Hotel, the best hotel in Lisbon for couples
• The Lumiares Hotel & Spa, one of the best spa hotels in Lisbon
• Martinhal Lisbon Chiado, one of the best places to stay in Lisbon with family
• Eurostars Museum, one of the best luxury accommodation in Lisbon

Cheap accommodations in Lisbon

If you’re traveling on a budget, in this section you’ll find the best cheap accommodations in Lisbon. There are many nice options for where to stay in Lisbon on a budget, but please avoid the neighborhoods we’ve advised you to avoid.

These are the cheap hotels in Lisbon that are well located:

• Lisbon Destination Hostel, one of the best hostels in Lisbon
• Host Bell Rooms & Suites, best low-cost hostel in central Lisbon
• Hub New Lisbon Hostel, budget hotel in Lisbon
• Home Lisbon Hostel, nice and neat hotel in Lisbon
• Surf in Chiado, the best option for cheap accommodation in Lisbon
• Goodmorning Solo Traveler Hostel, one of the best cheap hostels in Lisbon
• Lost Inn Lisbon Hostel, another good option for where to stay in Lisbon for cheap

You may also be interested in our article on how to get cheap rates at hotels.

Map of the Lisbon neighborhoods to stay in

Now that you have all the information to find good hotels in Lisbon, you can check where the best tourist attractions are on the map of Lisbon below. On it, you can find the main tourist places to visit in Lisbon. I advise you to check which places interest you the most and to choose the best area to stay in Lisbon accordingly.

If you have any questions about where to stay in Lisbon, don’t hesitate to ask me and I will try to help you. Safe travels!