29 Best Hotels in Northern Portugal, Portugal

Located 5 km (3 miles) east of Ponte de Lima, this hotel's rural setting enables travelers to revel in the lush Minho landscape from a base that's both luxurious and contemporary, yet also homey and full of local flavor. Guests can relax in the book and gin bar or appreciate the Portuguese cuisine served with flair in the restaurant. 

Lovely gardens bursting with flowers, a swimming pool with views of the valley, and facilities ranging from a sauna to tennis courts are standouts at this 18th-century manor house. The friendly German owners present guests with a glass of port on arrival. This is one of the rare hotels in the Douro Valley with facilities for children, including a playground. Make a reservation to eat in the homey dining room or, weather permitting, alfresco on the sprawling terrace—local produce is showcased in the three-course dinner (€35, or €45 with wine; children's fare for as little as €5).

For an unforgettable experience, stay as a guest of the Visconde Viamonte da Silveira in his 18th-century manor house on the edge of the historic city center. The Casa Dos Pombais is a typical Minho-style estate surrounded by a garden scented by orange trees. The house is chock-full of antiques—silver, crystal, and ceramics—but there's still a homey feel to it all: cast-iron stoves keep the place toasty in winter, and guests have the run of a kitchen.

The Manueline facade, stone-flagged reception, and massive staircase testify to the fact that this 16th-century former aristocratic abode in the center of Viana is the city's oldest extant house. In addition to the classically decorated rooms in the main building, which all have bathtubs, there are five modern apartments with walk-in showers. On site there's a bar and restaurant, where the generous buffet breakfast is also laid out, as well as a cozy library with a huge fireplace. Out back, a walled garden contains a small pool, with direct access from the upstairs suites.

The ruins of a 17th-century Franciscan monastery have been transformed into this remarkable hotel with massive walls surrounding extensive gardens and courtyards. The interior is a sober blend of ancient stone and modern simplicity, with public areas dotted with antiques and sacred art. The Franciscan monks would no doubt have frowned on the contemporary comforts of the elegant, well-equipped guest rooms and the sumptuous regional delicacies served in the Restaurante Cozinha do Convento, including recipes featuring alheira regional sausage and several bacalhau dishes. They might, however, have winked at the hotel's well-stocked wine cellar installed in their old water cistern.

This family-run establishment in the heart of Parque Nacional da Peneda–Gerês is one of the best-value lodging options in the area, and all of the family-style rooms have views of the town and the surrounding hills. Open fireplaces contribute to a cozy atmosphere in the lounge, the bar, and the restaurant, whose wood-fired oven is used to prepare home-cooked dishes. The staff can arrange guided hikes in the national park and around local villages or boat trips on the Caniçada reservoir.

Town houses from the 16th and 17th centuries were joined to create this stylish hotel in the heart of town. Each room is adorned with old maps and other items that call to mind the region's rich history, and double-glazed floor-to-ceiling windows overlook a busy square. The excellent restaurant, HOOL, has an à la carte menu with mainly traditional Portuguese fare (€36) but for better value, make a reservation to try one of the two very creative tasting menus (from €70 for 7 "moments"), with a wine pairing also available (from €60).

Conveniently located steps from the train station (and a 10-minute walk from the center), this streamlined hotel lets you revive yourself with a bracing dip in the indoor pool, a soak in the hot tub, or some time in the separate men's and women's saunas and steam baths. Afterward head to the bar and restaurant, which have panoramic views—as do a good number of the guest rooms. 

Many seasoned travelers to the country's northern reaches have made this charming hotel their top choice. Housed in a 19th-century building on a wooded hill 3 km (2 miles) outside Braga, it's named after the water-operated funicular that hoists the faithful up to the Bom Jesus do Monte sanctuary. All the high-ceilinged guest rooms have period furniture, and most have panoramic views. Guests have free access to the indoor pool, gym, and spa of the upscale Hotel do Templo a few steps away.

A stone's throw from the cathedral, this pleasant, well-appointed hotel is one of the city's best bargains. The decor throughout is simple rather than stylish, but there's nothing lacking in terms of basic comforts.

This family-run hotel has a great mix of historical charm and modern amenities, and its location on a quiet cobblestone street just around the corner from one of the city's main squares is hard to beat. With an imposing granite and white facade, the hotel has spacious and comfortable rooms that each have their own quirky design elements.

Once you get past the boxy exterior, this hotel has everything you need: spacious guest rooms with plenty of light shining through the wide windows, handsome common areas where guests actually linger, and a comfortable restaurant and bar. Request a room facing the valley and you'll enjoy views of the dramatic stepped terraces.

This plush resort—long the only five-star hotel in the North region—sits atop a hill, so most guest rooms have views of the nearby sandy beach. Dive into the heated saltwater pools, or opt for thalassotherapy and other treatments at the relaxing spa, which boasts a sauna, laconium, steam bath, ice cabin, and massaging shower. Or take advantage of nearby activities, from golf and tennis to horseback riding. The hotel has two restaurants, one of which offers outdoor dining.

Part of the fast-expanding Vila Galé chain, this hotel is housed in a former monastery that dates back to the 16th century, but has modern facilities, including two pools and a small spa. Suites and superior rooms are in former monks' cells, yet are surprisingly airy and comfortable. All standard rooms are in the modern wing, with a lighter color scheme, and some of them have balconies. The hotel's two restaurants serve reasonably priced traditional and international dishes, and there's a bar that organizes wine tastings.

One of the city's most stylish and luxurious lodgings, the Meliá Braga attracts business and leisure travelers with its contemporary style, ample facilities, and professional staff. El Olivo restaurant serves mainly Portuguese cuisine, and the bar often hosts live music. Light meals are served in the pool bar. The well-equipped spa offers various treatments; there are several exercise classes and a children's pool, to boot.

Located on a hilltop above the River Minho at Melgaço, 25 km (15 miles) east of Monção, this stylish river spa offers panoramic views and great value. Contemporary art dots public areas, while guest rooms are smart and comfortable, with many amenities. Suites have Mies van der Rohe "Barcelona" chairs and whirlpool baths. Unusual spa treatments feature alvarinho wine, while outdoor activities include rafting and mountain biking. In the Foral de Melgaço restaurant, simple design meets regional cuisine and a cellar brimming with local wines. The terrace is a lovely place to luxuriate in the views. 

Time fades away as you sit reading by the fire in the lounge, glass of port at your side, at this pousada in Alijó, 18 km (6 miles) northeast of Pinhão. Its restaurant has two terraces for sunlit lunches and star-filled suppers—try the river mackerel, when in season—and the outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts make the place feel like a resort. It is named for Joseph James Forrester—the scion of a Scottish family of port vintners. His 1848 map of the Rio Douro helped open the river to navigation, and he later became the first foreigner to be given the Portuguese title of baron. His life and work are reflected in the hotel's updated interiors.

On a hilltop to the west of the city center, this modern pousada offers comfortable guest rooms, all with balconies and terrific views of the Citadel. Local touches include soft furnishings featuring burel, a traditional wool product. The restaurant, G Pousada, has won international awards for its versions of local dishes; its tasting menu is excellent value at €75 (plus €25 for wine).

This modern hotel 20 km (12 miles) east of Amarante is in the dramatic Serra do Marão range, at an altitude of nearly 3,000 feet; the rugged terrain and stone exterior are matched by a rustic interior, with wood furniture, a large fireplace, and tile floors. Despite its size, the hotel (also known by its previous name of Pousada do Marao) has an outdoor pool and a spa (not included) with a whirlpool tub, sauna, and steam bath. Staff can help in arranging sightseeing tours and other activities such as hiking and biking. The panoramic restaurant serves such satisfying regional fare as caldeirada de cabrito (goat stew). Include a bottle of red wine from the excellent list and regional sweets to finish. Or opt for the three-course set menu (€25 including drinks).

In a breathtaking 12th-century monastery, this lovely lodging has details like colorful azulejo-tile panels in the public areas and guest rooms that used to be monks' cells. Don't worry—there is also a contemporary wing that will delight those with a more modern aesthetic. The stone-walled dining room serves regional dishes like rojões à minhota (marinated pork, simmered and served with pickled vegetables).

Perched on a wooded hill behind the Basílica de Santa Luzia, this 1920s-era mansion dazzles the eye. The gardens and terrace are a delight, as are the grand public rooms—especially in winter, when the fireplaces add crackling, romantic warmth to the lounges. Guest rooms are spacious and have glamorous marble baths. The restaurant serves regional and Continental cuisine and has sweeping views of both the countryside and the Atlantic.

About 5 km (3 miles) from Barcelos, this fine 18th-century manor house—known for its beamed ceilings and stone walls—retains its appealing features such as open fireplaces while adding modern touches. There's a large garden with a pool and a pretty baroque chapel.

Set above a picturesque bend in the Douro River, the Quinta do Ventozelo has rooms in lovely adapted agricultural buildings, including two balões—concrete vats once used to store wine; it also hosts winery visits and tastings of wines from the Gran Cruz company. For a special stay, there's the secluded Casa Romântica, while groups can book the riverside Casa do Rio, or the sprawling Casa Grande, with its private pool. The Cantina restaurant and wine bar, whose terrace affords a panoramic view of the valley, serves traditional fare and vegetarian options. The estate even has a small museum, telling its story and that of the region.

Perched on the north bank of the Douro, this Relais and Châteaux property is owned by the family that dominates Portugal's cork industry, but its wine-themed hotel is on an intimate scale; the elegant accommodations, lounge, and restaurant—where non-guests may also enjoy a home-cooked meal—are in the 18th-century manor house. Guided winery tours and tastings take place three or four times daily (from €24, for three reds and one port). You are also free to hike a 8-km (5-mile) marked trail that takes in a walled orchard and stones that from 1756 served to demarcate the Douro region (but drop into reception first).

Taking full advantage of its location on a hill high above the Rio Ave, this modern lodging's rooms all face the river and have their own balconies. The decor is sleek and modern, with rich colors adding a touch of luxury. A wide range of massages and other treatments are available in the well-equipped spa, and you can book outdoor activities like kayaking and diving in the lobby. The restaurant offers a good selection of national dishes and views of the Convento de Santa Clara.

This cutting-edge resort in and around a 19th-century mansion just 8 km (5 miles) from Lamego has helped the region brush up its image as a fashionable destination. Contemporary architecture is offset by traditional decorative motifs in subdued creams, grays, and browns. Outside, wooden decking around the pool enables you to revel in the spectacular hillside setting. Inside, the huge spa has a heated pool, two saunas, steam and ice baths, and 10 treatment rooms. The 24-hour gym has updated equipment and a packed timetable of fitness classes. There are two villas, each with a private pool, and nine rooms in a separate house sharing another.

Dating back to 1551, the wine estate Quinta da Pacheca was one of the first in the Douro to welcome overnight guests; in 2020 it became a fully fledged hotel, with rooms in the old mansion, in a larger new wing, and—for a truly unforgettable stay—in 10 cozy giant barrels. The estate has a chapel and a beautiful garden with trees that are centuries old. There are two outstanding restaurants. Non-guests can also make reservations to tour the cellars, where some of the grapes are still trodden the old-fashioned way, in a stone tank (note: if you book ahead, you can join in).

Neither Dom Carlos I nor the monarchy lived to see the 1910 inauguration of the grand hotel he commissioned on the site of the thermal springs at Vidago, but a top-to-toe refurbishment a century later made it once more fit for a king—and with a new spa wing designed by Pritzker-winning architect Álvaro Siza Vieira. Eye-popping original interiors have been lovingly restored, from the grand staircase to hand-painted wallpaper and stained-glass windows, while guest rooms are done in an updated classic style, in tasteful grays with splashes of red or burgundy. Some bathrooms have both stand-alone tubs and walk-in showers; all stock Molton Brown amenities. The hotel spa makes use of the iron-rich thermal waters—said to be effective in treating digestive and skin disorders—and guests may book up to two treatments without a medical appointment.

About 32 km (18 miles) east of Régua, this beautifully renovated and extended former port-wine warehouse has a perfect location on the northern bank of the Douro and unrivaled views of the valley. Almost all guest rooms have balconies or terraces looking out over the garden, the swimming pool, and the river. The breakfast room also has a river view, as does the large terrace of the sophisticated Rabelo restaurant, where fresh takes on regional cuisine are served.