Alfama
Holiday homes in Alfama, Lisbon
The oldest quarter in the city: tiled staircases, fado houses, river light between the rooftops. It's also the steepest neighbourhood we operate in, and that's worth knowing before you book.
What it's actually like to stay here
Alfama survived the 1755 earthquake because its street plan is a maze of stairs cut into a hillside, not a grid, which is exactly what makes it beautiful and exactly what makes it hard work with luggage. The lanes are calçada paving and actual staircases in places; a wheeled suitcase is a real inconvenience here, more so if it's raining and the stone gets slick.
There's no metro station inside Alfama. Santa Apolónia on the Blue line and Martim Moniz on the Green line are the nearest, both requiring a walk and a climb to reach the homes. Tram 28 runs through the neighbourhood and stops at the Sé and at Portas do Sol; downhill from the Sé to Baixa is 8 to 12 minutes on foot. Santa Apolónia also doubles as the mainline station for trains north, useful if your trip includes Porto or Coimbra.
What's within walking distance
Miradouro das Portas do Sol and Miradouro de Santa Luzia, the neighbourhood's two viewpoints, are both a short walk from the Sé. The National Pantheon sits nearby, and Feira da Ladra, Lisbon's flea market, sets up at Campo de Santa Clara on Tuesdays and Saturdays if your dates line up with one.
Who it suits, and who it doesn't
Good for guests who want the most atmospheric part of Lisbon and don't mind stairs, both on the street and inside; none of our three homes here has a lift. Good too for anyone happy without a car: parking is street or paid nearby only, and most guests don't need one.
Less good for anyone travelling with a lot of luggage, limited mobility, or small children who'll need carrying up the hill more than once. The thing guests are sometimes surprised by on arrival: there's no simple metro ride in or out. Getting to the airport means a taxi, or a walk down to Santa Apolónia or up to Martim Moniz first, which is the same climb you'd be avoiding by taking a taxi in the first place.
If you're visiting on 12 to 13 June, know that Santo António turns the whole neighbourhood into an all-night street party: wonderful if that's what you came for, disruptive if you wanted an early night.
The three homes here
Alfama Cathedral View is the largest, four bedrooms sleeping 8 with a balcony looking toward the Sé. No lift.
Corvos is a one-bedroom home for up to 4, with river and rooftop views from its balcony. No lift.
Bicos 34 is a studio for up to 3, right beside the Sé and Casa dos Bicos. No lift, and the smallest of the three, but the most central.
What to expect on arrival
Check-in is after 15:00 and check-out before 11:00, with self check-in available at most homes. Entry is by pin pad, with a unique code generated for your stay. Every home carries a smoke alarm, a carbon monoxide alarm, a fire extinguisher, a kitchen fire blanket and a first aid kit, as standard across all our properties.
The only thing you'll pay locally is the municipal tourist tax, €4 per guest per night in Lisbon, capped at seven consecutive nights; guests under 13 are exempt. Everything else is settled in your booking. Alfama Cathedral View is the one to book for a group of 6 to 8; Corvos and Bicos 34 suit a couple or a small family better, given the stairs and the smaller footprint of both.
Booking an Alfama home
Booking direct on this site is the lowest price for the same apartment, with no booking fee added at checkout. The only thing collected on arrival is the Lisbon city tourist tax. Our team is on WhatsApp 24/7 if you have questions before you book. If you're staying a month or more rather than a few nights, see our monthly rentals page for homes better suited to longer stays.
Questions about staying in Alfama
Is Alfama hard to get around with luggage?
Yes, more than most of Lisbon. The lanes are staircases and calçada paving, hard going with wheeled cases and slippery when wet. None of our three homes has a lift.
Which metro station serves Alfama?
There's no metro inside Alfama. Santa Apolónia (Blue) and Martim Moniz (Green) are nearest, both a walk and a climb away. Tram 28 stops at the Sé and Portas do Sol.
Is Alfama noisy?
Generally quieter than Bairro Alto or Cais do Sodré, but Santo António (12 to 13 June) is an all-night street party across the neighbourhood.
Can I park a car in Alfama?
Only street or paid parking nearby; none of our Alfama homes has a private garage. Most guests find they don't need a car here.
What are the best viewpoints in Alfama?
Miradouro das Portas do Sol and Miradouro de Santa Luzia, both a short walk from the Sé, are the two main viewpoints over the rooftops and river.
How do I get to the airport from Alfama?
There's no direct metro from Alfama, so most guests take a taxi or Uber, roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Reaching Alameda or Santa Apolónia for a metro connection means the same climb and stairs you'd face getting home.
Is there a market in Alfama?
Feira da Ladra, Lisbon's flea market, sets up at Campo de Santa Clara on Tuesdays and Saturdays, near the National Pantheon.