10 Best Lisbon Hotels With a View

Waking up to terracotta rooftops, the castle on its hill and the River Tagus sparkling below is one of Lisbon’s great pleasures. These are the best hotels in Lisbon with a view, from rooftop pools in Alfama to palace gardens above the river, plus some tips for booking the room that actually has it.

Quick answer: for the classic Alfama-and-river view, Memmo Alfama or Santiago de Alfama. For a rooftop with everything, Verride Palácio Santa Catarina or The Lumiares. For castle views on a budget, Hotel Mundial. For a grand stay, the Olissippo Lapa Palace. Always book a room type that says “river view” or “city view”; standard rooms often look onto a courtyard.

Which view do you want?

Lisbon is built on hills, so the view you get depends on which hill you sleep on. It’s worth deciding this before you pick a hotel.

• River and Alfama rooftops: from the slopes below the castle you look south and east over a jumble of red roofs and church towers to the wide Tagus. Best in the morning light.
• River and the bridge: from Santa Catarina and Lapa you look west along the river to the 25 de Abril bridge and the Cristo Rei statue. This is the sunset side of the city.
• The castle: from Príncipe Real, Bairro Alto and Martim Moniz you look across the valley of the Baixa to São Jorge Castle, which is floodlit at night.

Sunset is around 9pm in late June and around 5:15pm in December, so time your rooftop drink accordingly.

Alfama and the castle

1. Memmo Alfama

A small design hotel tucked into the lanes of Alfama, famous for its terrace with a plunge pool and wine bar looking out over the rooftops to the river. Sunset here is pure Lisbon. Stylish and adults-only (no under-16s). Check prices at Memmo Alfama

It’s a few minutes’ walk from the cathedral (Sé), so the Baixa is close by on foot, but the last stretch is steep and stepped. Taxis can’t pull up at the door, so travel light or ask the hotel how best to arrive.

2. Santiago de Alfama

A five-star boutique hotel in a restored 15th-century palace near the castle, with panoramic views from many rooms over Alfama and the Tagus. Elegant, quiet and a short stroll from Santa Luzia viewpoint. Check prices at Santiago de Alfama

Tram 28 passes close by, and you’re well placed for an early walk up to the castle before the crowds. Evenings are quiet once the day-trippers leave, with fado houses in the lanes below. See our Alfama guide.

Chiado, Bairro Alto and Santa Catarina

3. Verride Palácio Santa Catarina

A converted 18th-century palace with one of the best rooftops in the city: a 360° terrace with a pool and views of the river, the bridge and the old town. Many rooms look over the Tagus too. One for a special occasion. Check prices at Verride

It sits right beside the Santa Catarina viewpoint, a classic sunset spot looking towards the 25 de Abril bridge. The hotel is small, so it feels private. The nearest metro is Baixa-Chiado, about 10 minutes’ walk away. The Bica funicular below has been closed since 2025, so plan to walk or take a taxi up the hill.

4. Bairro Alto Hotel

A classic five-star on Praça Luís de Camões, between Chiado and Bairro Alto, with a rooftop terrace looking over the rooftops to the river. Perfect for evenings out. Check prices at Bairro Alto Hotel

The location is about as central as it gets: Baixa-Chiado metro is a couple of minutes away and tram 28 runs past the square. Bairro Alto’s bars are noisy late at night at weekends, so ask for a room facing away from the lanes if you’re a light sleeper.

5. The Lumiares

Apartment-style suites with kitchenettes in Bairro Alto, great for families and longer stays, plus the Lumi rooftop bar and restaurant with views of both the river and the castle. Check prices at The Lumiares

It’s about a three-minute walk from the São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint, one of the best views of the castle in Lisbon. The Glória funicular beside the viewpoint has been closed since the September 2025 accident, so you’ll walk up from Restauradores (steep, about 10 minutes) or take a taxi with luggage. Carris’s small electric 51E bus, launched in September 2025 to replace the funicular, loops from Restauradores up past the viewpoint, so check its current times.

6. Lisboa Pessoa Hotel

A newer four-star in Chiado inspired by the poet Fernando Pessoa, with a panoramic restaurant and some rooms with private terraces. Check prices at Lisboa Pessoa

The rooms with terraces sell out first, so book early if that’s why you’re choosing it. Chiado’s shops, cafes and theatres are on the doorstep. See Chiado and Bairro Alto.

Príncipe Real and Avenida

7. Memmo Príncipe Real

In Lisbon’s chicest neighbourhood, with a pool and lounge looking across the city to the castle. Lovely gardens and boutiques on the doorstep. Check prices at Memmo Príncipe Real

Príncipe Real is calmer than Bairro Alto but only 10 minutes’ walk from it, and the garden square with its huge cedar tree is a pleasant place for a morning coffee. The nearest metro, Rato, is about 10 minutes away on fairly level ground.

8. Tivoli Avenida Liberdade

A grand hotel on Lisbon’s smartest avenue, with a top-floor restaurant with panoramic views, a garden pool and, in the warmer months, the Sky Bar rooftop. Check prices at Tivoli Avenida Liberdade

Avenida metro station is right outside, so it’s easy to reach from the airport by metro with bags. The Sky Bar is popular with locals on summer evenings, so expect a queue at sunset at weekends.

Baixa and Mouraria

9. Hotel Mundial

A big, central four-star on Martim Moniz square, with a rooftop bar and restaurant looking straight at the castle. The best-value view on this list, and handy for the metro and tram 28. Check prices at Hotel Mundial

Martim Moniz metro (green line) is on the square, and tram 28 starts here, so you can board at the first stop and get a seat. The area is busy and a little rough around the edges, but it’s flat, which is rare in Lisbon, and Rossio is five minutes’ walk away. Booking sites list renovation work here from March 2026 to about 2028, affecting some rooms during the day, so read recent reviews and ask for a room away from the works.

Lapa

10. Olissippo Lapa Palace

A 19th-century palace in the embassy district, with hilltop gardens, indoor and outdoor pools and views over the Tagus. A peaceful, old-school luxury escape a little outside the centre. Check prices at Lapa Palace

Lapa is a residential area of quiet streets and grand houses, about 10 to 15 minutes by taxi from the Baixa. It suits travellers who want a garden and a pool to come back to after sightseeing, and it’s handy for Belém, a short taxi ride west.

Booking tips

• Pick the right room: book a room type that explicitly says “river view”, “castle view” or “city view”, and read the reviews for that room type.
• Higher floors usually have better views; ask in a message after booking.
• Check the hills: Alfama and Bairro Alto are steep and cobbled, so ask about car access if you have heavy luggage.
• Don’t count on the funiculars: the Glória, Bica and Lavra funiculars and the Santa Justa lift have been closed since September 2025. Check how you’ll get up the hill before you book.
• Rooftop pools are often small and can be busy at sunset in summer. Most are unheated, so they’re best from about June to September. For bigger pools, see Lisbon hotels with a pool.
• Not staying? Many of these rooftops are open to non-guests for a drink. Great for sunset. See Lisbon nightlife.
• Tourist tax: Lisbon charges €4 per person per night (up to seven nights), paid at the hotel. Young children are exempt.
• Book early for June: prices jump during the Santo António festivities in mid-June and at New Year, when view rooms go first.

FAQ

Which part of Lisbon has the best hotel views?

For red roofs and the river, stay on the slopes of Alfama below the castle. For sunsets over the 25 de Abril bridge, pick Santa Catarina or Lapa. For the floodlit castle at night, look at Príncipe Real, Bairro Alto or Martim Moniz.

Which hotel with a view is the best value?

Hotel Mundial on Martim Moniz square. Its rooftop bar looks straight at the castle, and rooms usually cost well below the boutique hotels in Alfama and Chiado.

Can non-guests go up to the hotel rooftops?

Often, yes. Rooftop bars such as the Sky Bar at the Tivoli and the Mundial’s rooftop bar welcome non-guests for a drink. Pools are usually for hotel guests only.

Do all rooms have the view?

No. Standard rooms often face a courtyard or the street, so book a room type that names the view and read the reviews for that room type.

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