The downside to Lisbon's famously sunny weather is the need to ensure your hotel has a swimming pool, especially in the heat of July and August. Somewhere you can dive into after walking the cobbled streets and climbing some of Lisbon's seven hills. Even better, settle down by the pool with a fresh, chilled Portuguese wine and enjoy the sounds and sights (as many pools are on the roof) of this ancient capital.
From a sense of place to a sense of tranquility, other pools magically appear in oasis-like hotels as you step into the birdsong and away from the crowds. Here, an expanse of blue glitters under a waterfall of pink bougainvillea or in a lush garden among palm and jacaranda trees. From a rooftop dip with a view and soaking in underground spas to swimming in green courtyards, here's our pick of the best hotels in Lisbon with a pool.
How we assess
Each hotel on this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, usually hosted free of charge. They stay at least one night, test at least one meal and try other experiences the hotel may have to offer.
A list of the best hotels in Lisbon with a swimming pool
This grand palace, built in 1904 by a cocoa baron, located near the banks of the Tagus River overlooking the 25 April Suspension Bridge, is classified as a National Monument. Inside, expect opulent interiors complete with gleaming marble columns, polished parquet and gilded frescoed ceilings, as well as a Turkish spa, classically styled suites (French-style furnishings, heavy curtains, marble bathrooms), an atmospheric bar and an elegant Portuguese restaurant . Outside, the swimming pool has been converted from the original garden lake and surrounded by flora and subtropical trees.
* The best hotels in Lisbon
Palácio Príncipe Real is located in the heart of one of Lisbon's most beautiful neighborhoods, where faded palaces mingle with bustling restaurants and concept stores overlooking palm tree-filled parks. The look of the 19th-century pink palace is classic Portuguese (think blue and white tiles and Moorish stucco) combined with uplifting colours, Drummonds bathtubs, locally sourced candles, crisp cotton and Dyson hairdryers. There are 28 bedrooms, many wonderfully large with freestanding bathtubs, and a small spa with two treatment rooms. The heated swimming pool is located in the garden, surrounded by jacaranda and lemon trees.
* An insider's guide to Lisbon
Hotels with pools in Lisbon don't often offer this view - unless they're on a rooftop in the center. But the swimming pool of these two turn-of-the-century mansions, hidden on one of Lisbon's seven hills, sits on a paved terrace and offers a panoramic view of the red-roofed capital and the Tagus River beyond. The property has the feel of a home rather than a hotel, with beautiful plastered ceilings, beds lined with the softest linen with warm woven rugs underfoot, glossy white shutters and balconies covered in local, brightly colored tiles. Cave 23 does seriously good modern Portuguese food, and the small but beautiful bar serves a wide range of cocktails and wines.
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An imposing 19th-century palace converted into a luxury hotel, located on a hill in chic Lapa, one of Lisbon's chicest neighborhoods. The interior is warm and inviting with a fairytale light feel, hand-painted ceilings, Murano glass chandeliers, fresh flowers, polished antiques and stone floors. Restaurante Lapa serves excellent Italian cuisine, and there is a poolside restaurant, Le Pavillion, for juices and snacks during the day. The spa has an indoor pool, gym, steam room, sauna and treatment rooms using Elemis products, as well as a heated outdoor pool set in green gardens with a fountain and views of the Tagus River beyond.
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On Lisbon's main boulevard, the 48 rooms and suites of this charming boutique hotel overlook the capital's characteristic red roofs. The interior behind the beautifully preserved 19th-century facade brings together the very best art, porcelain, fabrics and marble from across the country, creating a national showcase. There is a gym on the first floor, complete with treadmill and balcony to relax in afterwards, and a small spa. There are a number of sitting rooms with a wide range of books to browse and a small movie room, as well as the all important heated pool on the roof terrace with sun loungers.
* The best hotels in the center of Lisbon
Housed in a beautifully restored palace in the heart of Lisbon, The One Palácio da Anunciada has been beautifully restored with meticulous attention to detail. The bright palatial interiors feature original marble floors, stone staircases and ornate painted and gilded ceilings, rich in stucco work. It has 83 rooms, an excellent spa (with an indoor plunge pool), three different dining rooms, a wine bar and a cocktail lounge. A huge, open courtyard with a central fountain and a centuries-old dragon tree is the focal point of the hotel and is where breakfast is served in the summer. It is overlooked by a long pool high above on another level.
* The best luxury hotels in Lisbon
A landmark in Lisbon, the Tivoli Lisboa was built in 1933 and completely redesigned in the 1950s by acclaimed architect Pardal Monteiro. Today it offers 285 rooms, an Anantara spa, an Executive Lounge and one of the city's best rooftop bars, the Sky Bar. The interior has been completely renovated with a lot of national culture woven into the fabric, including famous resident Beatriz Costa, an actress from Portugal's golden age of cinema, who lived here for 30 years and who has a suite named after her, complete with period furnishings . The warm pool, hidden in a garden with centuries-old botanical trees, feels like a jungle paradise.
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Centrally located, Epic Sana offers 311 dazzlingly modern bedrooms and a huge spa with an indoor pool, sauna, Turkish bath and well-equipped fitness center. There is an airy, cool atmosphere in the Onyx Bar on the ground floor, which opens onto a terrace, and in the UpScale Bar on the roof terrace, which is adjacent to the heated swimming pool. For romantic Lisbon hotels with a rooftop pool, this is a great opportunity if you dream of watching the sun set over the Tagus River from the comfort of a cabana. The rooms are seductively sleek with white leather-clad wardrobes, Bluetooth sound systems, 300 thread count cotton sheets, elegant green piping and Nespresso coffee machines.
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The roof, small pool and Suba Restaurant of this elegant 18th-century palace offer unparalleled 360-degree views of the Lisbon skyline and the Tagus River beyond. It is spread over two different districts from the top of the hilltop Santa Catarina, famous for its views over Lisbon's red roofs and the Atlantic Ocean. While the facade faces the ocean, the rest of the building slopes steeply down into the narrow, cobbled streets of the Bica district, where yellow trams rattle up and down and small bars date back centuries. Aiming to provide a service unparalleled to date in the capital, with butlers for the Royal suites and excellent staff, the experience is a personal one indeed.
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The Four Seasons is perhaps one of the most alluring spa hotels in Lisbon, with a swimming pool as its focal point. The property was built in 1959 by the dictator Salazar to prove that Lisbon could offer luxury as well as any other European capital, and more than half a century later it is still leading the way with its inimitable service and impressive facilities (including a running roof on the roof). track). Products include Sodashi, Swiss Perfection and ESPA, in addition to local skincare product Benamôr, whose Jacaranda line is used when the trees outside the hotel are in bloom. All but ten rooms have a private terrace with views over Lisbon, and several good dining options offer something for everyone.
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Located just off Lisbon's main thoroughfare, this design-oriented hotel features 40 rooms, a restaurant, a bar and a sizable swimming pool. The latter is covered with black tiles from the eighties and surrounded by a vertical garden with lush greenery between the sunbeds, chairs and tables. The garden around the pool is inspired by the Lisbon Botanical Garden and aims to bring the outside in. There is vertical planting, designed by Michael Hellgren. Many rooms are on the small side, but have everything you need; some have a large terrace overlooking the pool and courtyard. There are four suites offering more spacious accommodation.
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This 42-room hotel is located in the Kasbah-like streets of Moorish Alfama. From the sleek terrace, with a sunken swimming pool, you have some of the best views in the city of the characteristic church towers and red roofs of Alfama, behind which the wide Tagus River flows. The 12th-century cathedral with two bell towers is at the end of the road and Lisbon's fortified Castelo do São Jorge is just above you. The interior combines a range of textures, from the thick, exposed, centuries-old stone walls at the entrance to the modern micro-cement walls in the bathrooms. The breakfast buffet is an example of Portuguese cuisine and offers typical cakes and pastries such as pasteis de nata. The Wine Bar has a short menu of regional dishes, from Portuguese ham croquettes to a fillet steak sandwich.
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This attractive 18th-century palace exudes authentic Lisbon, with its rich interior details, flowery courtyards and literary past as home to the Maia family, immortalized in Eça de Queiroz's 19th-century classic Os Maias. Away from the busy, main tourist areas, it is a hidden gem offering good value for money. There is a small, heated outdoor pool in the shade of a huge palm tree; a small oasis of peace in the city, with far-reaching views over the Tagus River.
