Small Boutique hotels in PORTUGAL

Lisbon is a capital city and thriving port yet has the laid-back atmosphere and laissez-faire attitude of a village in the summer holidays. A morning amble around its old lanes and cobbled streets is enough to justify an afternoon of people-watching from the comfort of a café terrace. Although, at a leisurely pace, there are still plenty of reasons to explore.

Overlooking the entire city is the Castle of São Jorge, an ancient stronghold that has its origins in the 2nd century BC. Below is Alfama, the oldest district of the city, where the Medieval cathedral Santa Maria Maior de Lisboa and the majestic Monastery of São Vicente de Fora are located.

Baixa is the modern city centre: rebuilt on a grid-system after much of the old town was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, this elegant district is home to the stately Rossio (Pedro IV Square) and the broad Avenida da Liberdade, famed for its exclusive shops, chic restaurants and small luxury hotels.

Chiado is the avant-garde area of quirky cafes, art galleries, trendy boutiques and bookshops while Bairro Alto is renowned for its clubs and bars. Some of the fine museums worth visiting include the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian and the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, plus the extraordinary 16th century Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Belem.