Most people come to Lisbon for at least three days, so it’s worth staying close to the city center, where there’s plenty to see and no reason to waste time getting around. We’ve put together a list of four-star hotels that keep you near Lisbon’s main sights. We focused on two areas: Baixa, Lisbon’s downtown core, and Avenida, which is also considered part of the city center and is close to many must-see attractions, but tends to be quieter. We’ve also added a few options in Alfama, the city’s oldest quarter and one of Lisbon’s most distinctive neighborhoods.
Quick Navigation
List of four 4-Star Hotels in Baixa
Baixa is the flat, central heart of downtown Lisbon, centered around Commerce Square and the famous Rua Augusta Arch. For first-time visitors to Lisbon, this is the preferred area to stay. Everything is close by, and if you want to explore Lisbon’s other neighborhoods—or even head outside the city—doing so from central Baixa is simply easier. Here are a few four-star hotels in prime Baixa locations:
Check out our guide on where to stay in Lisbon…
1. Eurostars Lisboa Baixa
This hotel has a fantastic location. The street it sits on is a classic Baixa street, with mosaic-pattern sidewalks and building facades covered in colorful tiles. Beyond that, it’s simply a very comfortable place to stay, with everything close at hand. The rooms are fairly spacious, the design is lovely, and everything is impeccably clean.
The hotel is on a street parallel to Rua Augusta, the city’s main pedestrian avenue, just 20 meters away. From there, you can walk down to Commerce Square (200 meters) or up to Rossio Square (350 meters), so you’re right in the middle of Baixa. If location is your priority, this is the place—and the rooms are very comfortable and inviting as well.
To check availability and prices at Eurostars Lisboa Baixa, click here…
2. Pestana Rua Augusta Lisboa
A classic hotel on Commerce Square, right next to the Rua Augusta Arch, perhaps Lisbon’s most iconic landmark. The Portuguese Pestana chain is known for weaving elements of Portuguese culture into its hotels. The charming lobby and mirror-lined bar follow that same spirit, feeling like a natural extension of the famous square outside. Set right in the middle of Lisbon, the hotel makes it easy to reach Baixa’s points of interest as well as the city’s other neighborhoods.
The rooms are very comfortable and decorated in a botanical style, blending wooden furniture with plant-inspired wall prints that give them a bright, clean look. Service is polished, as you’d expect from Pestana, and staying in a historic building with a beautiful facade and stunning windows adds another layer to the Lisbon experience.
To check room availability and prices at Pestana Rua Augusta Lisboa, click here…
3. My Story Hotel Figueira
This hotel is set on central Figueira Square, at the upper end of Baixa near Avenida. In and around the square, you’ll find public transportation options to just about anywhere. It’s also within walking distance of many sights, including the Santa Justa Lift, Rossio Square, Rua Augusta, and more. The area is packed with restaurants, shops, and nightlife. Like the other buildings around Figueira Square, this historic building is clad in colorful tiles, while the hotel’s interior design is fully modern.
The rooms aren’t large, but they’re very comfortable and functional. We especially liked the beautifully designed restaurant dining room, and the breakfasts are excellent. This is a great fit for couples who want to spend their days exploring the city and return to a clean, pleasant room at night.
To check availability and prices at My Story Hotel Figueira in Baixa, click here…
4. Lisboa Pessoa Hotel
This is a wonderful hotel in Chiado, on the edge of Bairro Alto, where the city begins to climb. It’s just a short walk from the ruins of Carmo Convent, one of Lisbon’s must-see sights. The streets of Chiado and Bairro Alto are narrow, with colorful facades and paved sidewalks, and Lisboa Pessoa Hotel gives you the real feeling of staying in one of the city’s lively central neighborhoods—just with all the comforts of a hotel. The rooms aren’t large, but the ultra-central location more than makes up for it.
This hotel is especially well suited to young couples and food lovers who want to explore by day and head out at night to the surrounding streets filled with bars and restaurants. The staff is welcoming and helpful. There’s also a wonderful rooftop restaurant, made even better by the way the tables are arranged for romantic meals with a sense of privacy and a beautiful view. In short, this is top-tier city hotel with a winning location.
To check room availability and prices at Lisboa Pessoa Hotel, click here…
Click here to search for hotels across Lisbon…
List of four 4-Star Hotels on Avenida
From Rua Augusta and Rossio Square, you continue uphill toward Avenida. As you move along Avenida da Liberdade, the atmosphere becomes quieter, and at the far end you reach Eduardo VII Park. That means Avenida can roughly be divided in two: hotels near Rossio are in a very lively, central area, while those farther uphill toward Eduardo VII Park are still central and close to everything, but noticeably quieter. Either way, every part of Avenida is close to Lisbon’s busy center—Baixa, Bairro Alto, and Alfama.
We’ve prepared a bit of information on several four-star hotels along Avenida da Liberdade for a great, easygoing stay in Portugal’s capital.
For more information about Avenida in Lisbon, click here…
1. BessaHotel Liberdade
This hotel sits at the beginning of Avenida, already in a quieter area but still just 100 meters from Restauradores Square, which connects to central Rossio Square. In other words, it’s a very central location from which you can reach many places in central Lisbon on foot, with easy access to public transportation for the rest of the city and beyond.
For many visitors, this will be an ideal base for a stay in Lisbon. Since the hotel is at the lower end of Avenida, the setting is calmer, yet it remains close to the busy center of Baixa and Bairro Alto. The hotel offers large rooms with modern, functional design, plus an indoor pool and a pleasant lobby.
To check room availability and prices at BessaHotel Liberdade, click here…
Check out our guide on where to stay in Lisbon…
2. Internacional Design Hotel
A classic city hotel right on central Rossio Square, set in a charming building that lights up every night and can be seen from the square itself. The hotel is very clean and the location feels almost unreal. Its concept is that each of its four floors has a different design style, and the rooms reflect that.
It’s a great choice for travelers who want to return in the evening after a day of exploring Lisbon or the surrounding area, freshen up, and then head out again for a good dinner or a night out. The rooms are a good size, highly functional, and the staff is kind and dedicated. Thanks to the location, everything is close by—whether on foot or by public transportation.
To check availability and prices at Internacional Design Hotel, click here…
3. NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade
This is a large hotel in a modern building. It sits in the middle of Avenida, with dozens of restaurants, cafés, and shops lining the boulevard below. At the same time, because it’s a little farther uphill, the area is much quieter. The hotel is especially well suited to couples—particularly older couples—but also to families looking for a calmer area and more spacious rooms.
The standout feature here is the rooftop bar with views over Lisbon. Chances are that if you go up once around sunset for an aperitif, you’ll want to do the same every night of your stay. The service is excellent, and the panoramic view makes the whole experience feel even more special.
To check availability and prices at NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade, click here…
4. Vincci Liberdade
This relatively new hotel of the Vincci chain is tucked away on a quiet side street farther up Avenida. Housed in a charming building, it offers an especially peaceful stay while still being right next to Avenida and its metro station, which can take you wherever you need to go. The rooms are functional, reasonably sized, and very clean.
There’s also a small pool and several pleasant public spaces. It’s a great option for both families and couples who want to return each evening to a quiet but still central area. The location also makes it easy to start the day with a walk in Eduardo VII Park, along Avenida itself, or in the nearby botanical garden.
To check availability and prices at Vincci Liberdade, click here…
For the full guide to Lisbon, click here…
For the full guide to accommodations in Lisbon, click here…
Click here to search for hotels in all of Lisbon’s neighborhoods…
List of two 4-Star Hotels in Alfama
Alfama is the oldest quarter in central Lisbon. It’s the heart and soul of the city, with old houses painted in slightly weathered pastel shades, steep lanes climbed by yellow trams, and longtime residents who still give the neighborhood its character. Staying here is best suited to travelers returning to Lisbon for a second visit or more, drawn back by a love of Portuguese culture, tradition, and the rare sense of calm that comes with it. Alfama is also home to some of the city’s best fado clubs, and its hills offer wonderful views over the city and the river. Even though it sits on a hill, Alfama is still central, and the trams make it easy to reach from Baixa and Commerce Square.
We’ve selected two hotels known for the distinctly Alfama atmosphere they offer:
Check out our guide on where to stay in Lisbon…
1. Pousada Alfama
This hotel is near Alfama’s famous viewpoint, Miradouro de Santa Luzia. You can reach both the viewpoint and the hotel by tram from just behind the Rua Augusta Arch. So while the hotel is uphill, getting there is quite easy, especially since the tram stops right in front. Pousadas are hotels set in historic buildings in Portugal, and this one is managed by Pestana, so everything is carefully maintained.
The rooms are medium-sized, and some have river views. The hotel blends old and new, though the rooms themselves are fully modern, bright, and clean. São Jorge Castle is about 200 meters away, and the whole surrounding area is very pleasant. This hotel suits couples of all ages and anyone wanting to experience the real Lisbon, especially with fado music in the evening.
To check room availability and prices at Pousada Alfama, click here…
2. Vincci Alfama
This hotel is hidden among the alleyways of Alfama, and that’s part of its charm. From Alfama’s sometimes slightly worn streets, you cross the threshold into a spotless, light-filled hotel that feels polished in every sense. It isn’t large, but it’s a gem in the heart of the neighborhood. You can get here on the tram that runs along the nearby street Escolas Gerais and continues to the Rua Augusta Arch. The rooms are spacious and come with all the comforts you need.
The hotel is especially well suited to couples, but also to families with teenagers who want to experience the real Lisbon, feel as though they’re living among locals, and spend their evenings listening to soulful fado songs. We especially liked the location—close to the tram and the main street, yet still tucked away within Alfama’s wonderful lanes. It’s definitely worth staying here if you don’t mind a bit of public transportation, because Alfama is truly a major part of central Lisbon.
To check room availability and prices at Vincci Alfama, click here…
Our Tips for Choosing a Hotel in Lisbon
Hotel location – One of the most important things to remember when visiting Lisbon is that it’s a city built on steep hills. There is a public transportation system with elevators, funiculars, and escalators that helps overcome them. Still, especially on a first trip to Lisbon, it’s best to stay in flatter, more central areas like Baixa and Avenida mentioned above.
Hotel category – In Portugal, there is a noticeable difference between hotel categories based on the number of stars. That difference is mainly reflected in the level of luxury and facilities, and is less about service standards or the overall quality of the stay. As in other large cities, Lisbon has a wide range of hotels at different price points and levels right in the heart of the tourist areas. Most four-star hotels in Lisbon are in older buildings that have been renovated into city hotels with a high level of service, but without especially large public spaces. Then again, most people come to Lisbon for an active trip rather than to spend their days at the hotel. That’s why the facilities matter less than staying in a central location and making the most of the city.
Supply and demand – As Portugal’s largest and most important city, Lisbon draws visitors all year long. It has also become a very sought-after destination in recent years, so there isn’t really an off-season here—Lisbon is appealing year-round. That said, the height of summer, in July and August, is the most expensive time to visit because it coincides with the European vacation season. In winter, you may be able to find better deals, and it’s worth knowing that while Lisbon can be rainy and chilly, it is much less so than Porto in the north. That makes winter a good opportunity to experience a European capital at more comfortable prices and in weather that is far milder than in the capitals of northern and western Europe.
Lisbon as a base for day trips – If you’re planning to travel by car outside Lisbon to Cascais, Sintra, Óbidos, or even Évora—all of them popular day-trip destinations from Lisbon—staying right in the city center would be a mistake, since getting in and out is difficult and most hotels don’t offer parking. If you’re planning to do those trips by public transportation, though, then staying in central Lisbon is very worthwhile, especially in Baixa or Chiado, where it’s particularly easy to reach Sintra and Cascais, along with other nearby destinations.
