Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
Make it up to this fantastic mountain hideaway and you won't want to leave. Everything about the place is just so right, from its panoramic setting to the…
Must-see hotels in The Beiras
The Beiras
Marialva's cobbled centre provides the memorable setting for this luxurious set-up, one of central Portugal's stand-out hotels. In fact, much of the…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
Live like nobility at this glorious 18th-century mansion, the pick of the town centre accommodation. The manor house has been in the same family for…
The Beiras
Set in a characterful blue house in the old part of town, this excellent hostel is a laid-back, sociable place with excellent facilities for backpackers…
Viseu
This superbly refashioned pousada set in a monumental 19th-century hospital is a top luxury option. The original three floors, all with ridiculously high…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
A fabulous rural retreat, this contemporary four-star is set on verdant farmland 6km west of Gouveia. The 10-room hotel, a good-looking mix of exposed…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
Close to Seia's services but feeling a million miles away, this cluster of traditional granite cottages sits in a secluded hamlet above town. The six…
Coimbra
Occupying an elegant town house overlooking Coimbra's old cathedral, this fabulous hostel sits in the heart of the historic centre. Rooms, spread over…
Aveiro
One of a trio of solid Rossio accommodation options, this hostel has an inclusive laid-back vibe and stylish, colourful decor, with family heirlooms,…
Coimbra
Coimbra's sole five-star hotel is charmingly ensconced in the romantic Jardim Quinta das Lágrimas on the west bank of the Mondego. Choose between classic,…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
Run by the superhospitable Elsa, this charming guesthouse is set in a typical mountain stone house. Its four attractive rooms – two doubles and two larger…
Coimbra
Housed in a white 1920s villa, complete with garden and columned portico, The Luggage is a hostel in name only. At the time of research its dorms were…
Viseu
Right in the heart of old Viseu, this handsome boutique hotel is owned by an antique dealer, so the charming 18th-century building is full of period…
The Beiras
The best-value stay in town. Friendly staff extend a warm welcome at this modest hotel in a quiet backstreet behind the cathedral. Rooms come with big,…
Coimbra
Handily located for the bus station, yet still accessible to the historic centre on foot, this modern boutique-style hostel impresses across the board. It…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
The pick of Covilhã's accommodation, this revamped mansion coolly blends contemporary design with creaking wood floors and old timber beams. Each guest…
Aveiro
More a boutique guesthouse than a traditional B&B, this cracking place has got the lot: a convenient central location, welcoming staff and nine modern…
Viseu
Occupying a tall town house overlooking Praça Dom Duarte, this new hostel – it opened in the summer of 2018 – squeezes in four dorms, sleeping from four…
The Beiras
A lovely boutique hotel, only a few blocks back from the beach. Its interiors are stylish, from the ground-floor lounge bar to the carpeted guest rooms…
The Beiras
The best budget option in the historic centre, the friendly Santos offers value for money with spotless, light-filled rooms. Its labyrinthine interior…
The Beiras
Originally a royal hunting lodge, this Gothic-Manueline palace in the Buçaco forest is a delightfully ostentatious place to stay. Common areas are…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
Run by hospitable Dutch owners on a 17th-century quinta (country estate), this laid-back set-up has various options: terraced tent sites, private rooms or…
The Beiras
Switch off from the outside world at this fantastic riverside retreat. About 8km outside Guarda, it has pitches and ready-fixed bell and safari tents, as…
Viseu
Tiptoe away from civilisation for a night at the sublime Casa da Ínsua. This 18th-century manor and winery has been lovingly converted into a five-star…
Viseu
This friendly, central hotel enjoys a remarkable location, in a renovated mansion built into the city walls. Its public areas are elegant with high…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
A beautifully restored granite house, this rustic bolthole makes a lovely base for exploring Linhares and beyond. Both of its two rooms have heating, and…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
In São Romão, 4km from Seia, this is a gorgeous retreat, complete with walled garden and outdoor pool. The central manor house, dating to the 19th-century…
The Beiras
This hip hotel brings a dash of contemporary design to Monsanto's granite-grey centre. Occupying a renovated mansion, it has 10 spacious rooms, each a…
Aveiro
Seemingly larger inside than out, this hotel is a stylish bolthole. Long corridors, floored with mosaic tiles and lined with poems and paintings, lead to…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
Penhas’ popular mountaintop hostel has a communal kitchen, giant stone fireplaces and a games room featuring billiards and table tennis. The deluxe…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
At this lovely shaded spot on the Mondego, you can wade, picnic or simply relax by the river’s tranquil headwaters. Hikers can also explore the…
Viseu
This amazingly located, utterly tranquil spot sits at the end of a very rutted – walk if you value your vehicle – 1.6km dirt road 20km southeast of Viseu…
Coimbra
In a town house overlooking Praça da República, this friendly lodging makes an excellent base. Its rooms are smallish but immaculately laid out with blond…
Coimbra
In a lovely old-town location, this snug guesthouse squeezes tons of charm into a small space. Interiors boast dark wood floors, ceramic tiles and…
Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela
This gorgeous ensemble of rustic cottages surrounds an immaculately kept hillside farm-garden in the centre of town. Rooms feature exposed stone walls,…
Aveiro
An upmarket annex of the nearby Aveiro Rossio Hostel, this coolly renovated yellow house has compact but stylish rooms, created with an eye for colour and…
Coimbra
With attractive rooms and a prime location near the action, the friendly family-run Vitóriais a great choice. Its light-filled rooms are clean and unfussy…
The Beiras
This friendly four-star, one of the only modern buildings in the old town, sits on the site of a former cavalry barracks near the north bastion. Big and…
The Beiras
The best place to stay in Penedono is this recently-opened four-star. Sitting in the shadow of the castle, it has good-sized rooms sporting a linear,…
Coimbra
Right on the old town's 'back-breaking' stairs, this friendly, homely place makes a good central base. It's a bright, second-floor apartment with four…
