Penha Longa Resort set in the lush forests of the Sintra Cascais Nature Reserve and just 10-minutes from the beaches of Cascais and Estoril. Spacious Signature Suites offer private balconies overlooking the property’s 27-hole golf course. A spa, heated infinity pool with views of the misty Sintra mountains, and 14th-century monastery are all onsite — and, when hunger hits — guests have seven restaurants from which to choose.

Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon represents the famous brand’s renowned, five-star hospitality with Two Keys in the very heart of the city. Interiors showcase a blend of Art Deco with Louis XVI-style flair, all underlined by an extensive collection of local artwork. Rooms are light, airy, and spacious, and the Presidential Suite offers views of St. George's Castle and the Basílica da Estrela. Culinary options include Cura, a Portuguese fine-dining experience with a MICHELIN Star.

For guests prioritizing serenity over sightseeing, laid-back luxury beckons at Sublime Lisboa, a 15-room boutique tucked into the upscale residential neighborhood of Amoreiras. The focus is undoubtably wellness in this design-forward, 20th-century townhouse, enhanced by in-room beauty services and verdant outdoor spaces. Complimentary high tea, a celebrated Italian restaurant, and personalized concierge service are more perks at this wonderful One Key spot, one of the best hotels in Lisbon.

One Hotels, the high-end division of the Spanish H10 chain, has managed to transform this 1533-vintage aristocratic home into something more than a restoration, thanks to the work of designer Jaime Beriestain, whose contemporary minimalist interiors are a delightful counterpoint to the palace’s ornate architecture. The One Palácio da Anunciada is impressive from top to bottom, and its expertly balanced style will appeal to traditionalists and design enthusiasts alike.

If you notice a certain repetition in naming, you’re not imagining things: the Pousadas de Portugal are a chain of sorts, created by the government as a way of showcasing the nation’s architectural history, but long since privatized. In Pousada de Lisboa, Praça do Comércio, the pousadas have something of an urban flagship: right here in Lisbon’s Palace Square, in a former government ministry building, you’ll find a hotel that’s worthy of its privileged position along the capital’s waterfront.

Santiago de Alfama is nestled in the labyrinthine streets of Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest district and the preferred base for travelers exploring ancient churches, fado music and picturesque St. George’s Castle. The restored 15th-century palace is now a coveted boutique hotel known for attentive service. Rooms are clean, bright and stylish, and The Santiago Suite offers exceptional views of the Tejo River. Within walking distance are five museums and Feira de Ladra, a biweekly street market.

In the cultural heart of town, steps from theaters, shopping and nightlife, sits Barrio Alto Hotel, an 18th-century building restored by Eduardo Souto de Moura, winner of the prestigious Pritzker Prize for architecture. Perched above Lisbon’s iconic Tram 28 route, guests here find themselves immersed in the intimate sounds of fado music and nearby tasca eateries, a blending of Portuguese elegance with bohemian chic.

Local firm Rebelo De Andrade spent seven years restoring the property inside and out, from a painstaking overhaul of the Beaux Arts facade to the extensive refurbishment of the interiors, now decorated almost exclusively with modern furnishings and lighting by the Dutch brand Moooi.Rooms are outfitted in bold primary colors with pops of white, gold, and orange; bathrooms with Bulgari products; and retro-inspired details from Smeg kettles to clawfoot tubs.

Oenophiles will appreciate Palácio Ludovice Wine Experience Hotel, where the guest experience is centered around Portugal's rich wine culture. Apart from the expected — wine tastings, vineyard tours and a well-stocked wine bar — the former palace’s original architecture and lavish interiors, which include a vertical garden in an airy atrium, make it another standout stay in the capital’s bustling center.

Located just off the glamorous Avenida da Liberdade, it’s sleek but cozy, its pale wood-lined interiors enlivened by lush greenery and warm lighting. Some rooms are located in a historic wing of the building, and others in a newer addition, but all feature parquet floors, mid-century modern décor, and retro-inspired details like Marshall speakers and Smeg mini-fridges stocked with locally produced snacks and drinks. On the ground floor is an airy Mediterranean restaurant and a chic library.

Like so many Portuguese hotels, Aethos Ericeira almost seems too extraordinary to be true. Its clifftop location, in the middle of a nature reserve overlooking the Atlantic and the legendary surf beaches of Ericeira, makes for spectacular views and splendid isolation. And the hotel itself is eminently worthy of its setting; the design, by the Spanish studio Astet and the Portuguese architect Luís Pedra Silva, is impressively stylish and thoroughly tailored to the locale.

There may be no country at the moment whose countryside is more packed with exquisite small hotels than that of Portugal. The inland province of Ribatejo, less than an hour’s drive up alongside the Tagus from Lisbon, is the setting for Salvaterra Country House & Spa, a hotel whose name admirably sums up the experience.