Before we decided to move to Lisbon, Antonio and I came here year after year. This was not a decision we came to lightly, and we spent a lot of time in Lisbon before finally deciding to become expats in Portugal. Throughout that time we could only stay 3 months at a time because of the way the Schengen visa is set up. This meant we could not rent an apartment in Lisbon, so we ended up staying at tons of AirBnBs. Lately, tons of friends and people are asking me for recommendations on where to stay in Lisbon when they come to visit, so I decided to put it in a post so I can stop writing the same info for everyone.
This is a list of my favorite Airbnb rentals in Lisbon. I did not include the crappy rentals, only the ones that I enjoyed. I will be writing a more thorough review of each one later, but for now, this will give you a brief idea of why I liked each of these AirBnBs in Lisbon.
***The Airbnb links below are affiliate links so in some cases I will earn a commission if you book. I left plenty of places I disliked out, these were wonderful places to stay in Lisbon.
The Best Airbnb Rentals in Lisbon Portugal
Casa Amarela (Estrela Neighborhood)
We loved this Airbnb rental in Lisbon’s Estrela neighborhood because it felt like a hidden treasure in the city. From the outside, it looked like any other apartment, but the flat was located in the center courtyard of a city block. The apartment was quite big. It has 2 bedrooms, a great kitchen, a full living room with a super comfy couch, and a great dining room. The apartment also had three balconies and one was large enough for us to sit and enjoy a meal or glass of wine at the end of the day. This would be a lovely place for a honeymoon stay.
Modern Apartment in Central Lisbon (Amoreiras/Rato Neighborhood)
We loved this apartment because it was in a brand new building and everything worked perfectly. It was smaller than Casa Amarela (only one bedroom), but it was seriously comfortable and had a large balcony. It was very close to the Amoreiras shopping center and a few minutes to Rato which made it very easy to explore the city. If you want to stay in an apartment where the bathroom, heating, and all amenities always work, this would be a great choice.
This was by far, the largest AirBnB in Lisbon that we stayed at. It had a gorgeous view of the river Tejo and was in the heart of the Alfama. This was not AirBnB Ikea special. The furniture was absolutely gorgeous. The place had a soul. We stayed there during a particularly hot summer and the place was not air-conditioned, so consider asking the host if he has picked one up recently. But, if you’re going in the Spring or Fall, you will have an amazing time here. This is a great option if you have children (because of the size), or if you are working during your trip and need space for a little quiet time.
Panoramic Downtown Flat (Principe Real)
This Airbnb apartment in Principe Real was not the most amazing we stayed at. This was more of that Ikea-Special type, but it was sparkling clean, had everything we needed, AND was in one of the most coveted neighborhoods in the city. It also had a fantastic balcony where we toasted to the city on a nightly basis. There was also a great view of Christo Rei and a desk to work at – which for us is always a plus.
Charming Flat with Amazing View (Castelo) – my favorite overall
Saving the best for last. Nuno’s service was better than any other host we had in Lisbon. Nuno picked us up at the airport, put us in a taxi, and gave the driver all instructions needed (Castelo is a restricted neighborhood to cars of non-residents – so this can be complicated for taxis and AirBnBs). Nuno was our first host and not only did he explain the city to us, he even took us out to a rooftop party AND to a local restaurant in the neighborhood where we had the best feijoada. The apartment was sparkling clean, everything was new and comfortable, and there was a fantastic outside area (the largest out of all the apartments we stayed at) where we spent many afternoons. If this flat is not available, Nuno has a few other properties, so check out his profile. You will have a fantastic experience with him. I guarantee!
Have any questions about visiting or moving to Portugal? Have other questions about AirBnB? Leave it in the comments.
***I was not paid by Airbnb for this and did not include plenty of places I didn’t like, but I am including my Airbnb discount code so that you can save on your first stay and so I can get a credit. I’d be thrilled if you used it.
This seems like it was a wonderful experience. I will have to add Portugal to my travel bucket list. Also, I have yet to stay in an Airbnb and the more positive stories I here, the more I want to consider renting one. Thanks.
This is a must see on my bucket list of travel destinations. Thank you for all of the goo information
Portugal will be a great addition to your travel list. And you definitely should stay at Airbnbs, they’re wonderful experiences (for the most part). Don’t forget to use my code to get an Airnbn credit https://www.airbnb.com/c/cvalbuena?currency=EUR
It really is. I came once and I was hooked. Wishing you an amazing Lisbon Visit.
Nuno’s apartment sounds very nice. I would like to rent it when we get back to Lisbon in February 2019. Do you have the information that I can use to connect with Nuno? And, is your discount still available? Thank you so much for the great information you have provided. We really appreciate it!
Best thing is to message Nuno directly through Airbnb to see if that one is available. He has I think two others as well. And yes, the code is available. Just click through to here and sign up for Airbnb. As long as you haven’t used it before, you will get the credit to your account: https://www.airbnb.com/c/cvalbuena?currency=EUR
Have an amazing time in Lisbon…and don’t hesitate to ask me any q’s:)