Torel Palace Lisbon

One of Lisbon’s nicknames is Cidade das Sete Colinas — the City of Seven Hills — and Torel Palace shows you why. Situated on Colina Sant’Ana, the most centrally located of the city’s seven hills, the hotel provides sweeping views of the hustle and bustle below while treating guests to luxurious privacy and seclusion.

The location of the hotel, as well as the structures themselves, have a rich local history. The area is known as Campo Martires do Patria — “Square of the Martyrs of the Homeland” — which is named for eleven soldiers hanged after a failed coup against King John VI. The hotel was originally two separate private mansions, one built in 1902 and the other in 1904. A courtyard and a tranquil pool create continuity between the two, and provide an excellent place to relax and take in the city views.

The rooms are opulent yet cozy, with décor inspired by Portuguese royalty. Even the hotel’s standard rooms are well-lit by gorgeous chandeliers, and many rooms feature spacious balconies that showcase the views. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide plenty of gorgeous natural light and help explain one of Lisbon’s other nicknames, A Cidade da Luz: the City of Light. The hotel also offers apartment-style accommodations for longer stays, including one called the Villa Maria Leopoldina, named for the first Empress of Brazil.

Not to be missed is the Elevador do Lavra, which is just 100 meters from the hotel. Opened in 1884, the railway is the oldest funicular in the city and takes riders to one of the most expensive shopping streets in Europe, Avenida da Liberdade.