The 5 best hostels

This hostel occupies two old mansions facing Lisbon’s top viewpoint, the São Pedro de Alcântara garden, on the intersection of Chiado, Bairro Alto and Príncipe Real – undisputedly the best location in town. Here you will find dormitory style rooms and also four suites for more affluent guests.

Winner of The Times’ award for the ‘best boutique hostel in the world’, this hostel highly exceeds the expectations most people have of this type of lodging. The décor is upscale and makes the most of the character of the building where it is located. The hostel’s lounge area is where everything happens.

This hostel in Santa Catarina (owned by a well-established hotel group) is one of the world’s best, offering fabulous views and an elegant décor. It has a terrace overlooking the river and public spaces for guests to socialise while having a drink or playing a game of pool.

As far as a family and homely feel goes, this hostel is hard to beat – even the meals here are prepared by the owner’s mother. Housed in a building from the 1800s, it has large rooms with private balconies, a cosy living and dining room, and even an outdoor area where you can enjoy the sun.

This highly original and memorable hostel is housed inside the 19th-century Rossio train station, one of the city’s most iconic buildings. Occupying a renovated area of the station, it offers dormitory rooms and a winter garden. The hostel regularly hosts events and activities like DJ performances and movie nights.