Solar Do Castelo Hotel

Great stay in a castelo

I loved this hotel. The building and decorations were a delightful combination of old and modern. Our room was larger than I expected in a European hotel. The complementary porto in the room was fun. The staff was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. They were a great help in helping us with our Portuguese pronunciation.

Traveler's tip

Ask your taxi driver to take you all the way to the entrance. They can make it up the narrow street!

Basking in the wonder of the Castle

Nestled adjacent to the Castelo de São Jorge on Lisbon’s highest hill, the Solar do Castelo provided intimacy coupled with a sense of antiquity. Staff were amazingly friendly and helpful. The atmosphere was very comfortable--peacocks in the courtyard, old tiles, European elegance, the gentle sound of water gurgling in a fountain. The rooms were comfortable and clean, though small for ’big’ Americans yet typical by European standards. As with many smaller, boutique hotels, the amenities are less than what some travelers may expect (e.g., no lotion, small trash receptacles) yet this is acceptable given both the atmosphere of the hotel and its proximity to the City Center. A lovely buffet breakfast was available each morning. An honor bar is accessible in the lobby daily. The hotel is strategically located and many wonderful sights abound throughout the area. The hotel is on a hill, accessed by taxi or walking, and shuttles and trams are available just downhill. Be sure to ask the hotel staff about the restaurant just down the hill that is in a tower overlooking the river--the view from a window seat is glorious, and they’ll get you a great seat! we also wanted to experience fado music ad the hotel booked us at the House of Linares (also just down the hill from the hotel and a very old Portugese home) fado restaurant.

Traveler's tip on getting the most out of your stay

Tipping is not expected in Lisbon, though restaurants may include in total bills. Pedestrian patterns on streets are often a bit chaotic, and English is less frequently understood by many. Do not go looking for the Welcome Center (noted on all maps). It is the Tourist Center to locals. Sintra is a nice local side trip. Pick up a Lisboa card from the Tourist Center as it provides access to the metro, trams, and museums and is cheaper!

Gracious, comfortable, quiet, charming location

Beautiful, gracious hotel where I slept well and the staff were very helpful. The neighborhood is very charming and it was nice to walk around the castle next door, and it’s convenient to the rest of the Alfama area (old cobblestone streets -- leave the spiked heels at home). Note: If you’re taking a cab here, get directions beforehand because the cab driver won’t know the street name. Also, I would not recommend driving within the walled city -- the roads are narrow, some are one-way, and parking, turning around, and backing up can be painful.