The Best Pousadas in Portugal

Pousadas are Portugal’s historic hotels, set in castles, convents, palaces and monasteries across the country. Staying in one is a memorable way to experience Portuguese history. Here are some of the best pousadas, and tips for booking.

Quick answer: highlights include the castle pousada in Óbidos, the Convento de Tavira in the Algarve, the castle in Estremoz, the Palácio do Freixo in Porto and the citadel in Cascais. Book direct or through booking sites, and look for off-season deals.

Why stay in a pousada

Few hotels let you sleep inside a medieval castle or a monks’ cloister. Pousadas mix that history with modern comfort, and many sit in small towns you might otherwise drive past. They’re a good way to plan a road trip, hopping from one to the next across the Alentejo or the north.

What is a pousada?

The pousadas were created in the mid-20th century to provide comfortable lodging in historic buildings and beautiful regions. The network began in 1942, and the first pousada opened in Elvas in the Alentejo (it closed in 2012). The idea of putting pousadas inside historic monuments came later: Óbidos castle, opened in 1951, was the first. They were run by the state for decades. Since 2003 the Pestana Group has managed them, and today there are more than 30 across the mainland, Madeira and the Azores. They range from simple country inns to luxurious palace hotels, and some are in modern buildings chosen for their views rather than their history.

Some of the best

• Óbidos: rooms inside the castle walls. The pousada sits in the old castle and bishops’ palace at the top of the walled town. King Dinis gave the castle to Queen Isabel as a wedding present, and some rooms are in the Casa do Castelo next door. It has fewer than 20 rooms, so book early. Check prices. See Óbidos.
• Tavira: a former convent in the old town, with a pool. It was the 16th-century Convent of Nossa Senhora da Graça, built for Augustinian friars, with a Renaissance cloister. During the conversion, remains of a Moorish neighbourhood were found on the site. You can walk to the river and the old bridge. Check prices. See where to stay in Tavira.
• Estremoz: the medieval castle above the marble town, built by King Dinis for Queen Isabel in the 13th century. The keep tower rises above the pousada, and the views stretch across the Alentejo plains. There’s an outdoor pool. The town’s Saturday market is nearby. See Estremoz.
• Porto: the baroque Palácio do Freixo on the river. An 18th-century palace on the Douro, designed by Nicolau Nasoni, the architect of the Clérigos Tower, a short drive or riverside walk from the centre. It has a spa and indoor and outdoor pools. Check prices.
• Cascais: inside the citadel by the marina. The old fortress now holds the hotel, art studios and galleries, and you can walk to the beaches and the old town. Check prices.
• Évora: a former convent next to the Roman Temple. Rooms are in the monks’ old cells around a cloister, in the heart of the UNESCO-listed centre, between the temple and the cathedral. See where to stay in Évora.
• Guimarães: a monastery on the hill above town. Santa Marinha da Costa, a former Augustinian monastery founded in the 12th century, has tiled corridors and large gardens with wide views. See where to stay in Braga and Guimarães.
• Lisbon: a pousada in a historic building on Praça do Comércio. A city-centre base on the riverside square, walking distance from Baixa and Alfama. The building once housed government ministries, and there’s an indoor pool.

More Alentejo pousadas

The Alentejo has a cluster of pousadas that make an easy road trip with Estremoz and Évora:

• Arraiolos: a former convent just outside the town known for its hand-stitched carpets. See Arraiolos.
• Beja: a converted Franciscan convent in the city centre, with a pool and a restaurant in the old refectory. See Beja.
• Alvito: a small 15th-century castle in a quiet whitewashed village, opened as a pousada in 1993, with peacocks in the garden and a pool.
• Alcácer do Sal: a castle above the Sado river, on the way to the coast, with views over the river and rice fields.

Food at the pousadas

Pousada restaurants tend to cook the food of their region. In the Alentejo that means pork with clams (carne de porco à alentejana), bread soups and sheep’s cheese. In the Algarve, expect fish and seafood. In the north, look for roast kid and vinho verde. Many pousada restaurants are open to non-guests too, so you can book a meal even if you stay elsewhere.

A pousada road trip

For a four or five-night loop from Lisbon, try Évora, Arraiolos or Estremoz, then Alvito or Beja, and finish at Alcácer do Sal on the way back. In the north, pair Porto’s Palácio do Freixo with Guimarães. See Alentejo hotels for other options.

Tips

• Book early for summer and weekends, as many pousadas have few rooms.
• Driving: many are in small towns, so a road trip is ideal. See the best road trips.
• Dining: pousada restaurants often focus on regional cuisine.
• Compare prices: rates vary a lot by season. Winter and midweek stays are often much cheaper, and the official site sometimes has packages that include dinner.
• Check the room: rooms in historic buildings vary in size and view. Ask for one with a view if it matters to you.
• Don’t mix them up: a pousada de juventude is a youth hostel, run by a separate network.

FAQ

What is a pousada in Portugal?

A hotel in the Pousadas de Portugal network, usually in a castle, convent, palace or monastery. The network dates from 1942 and has been managed by the Pestana Group since 2003.

Are pousadas expensive?

Prices vary a lot. In 2026 the official site showed starting rates of about €100 a night at smaller Alentejo pousadas such as Alvito and Estremoz, and about twice that in Lisbon.

Can you eat at a pousada without staying there?

Yes, many pousada restaurants welcome non-guests, so it’s worth booking a table for a meal in a castle or cloister.

Is a pousada the same as a pousada de juventude?

No. A pousada de juventude is a budget youth hostel, open to all ages, in a different network from the historic pousadas.

More: the best luxury hotels in Portugal, castles in Portugal and unique places to stay in Portugal.

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