8 Best Hotels in Estremadura and the Ribatejo, Portugal

"Get connected with nature" is the slogan of this innovative hotel, set amid olive groves in the Parque Natural Serras de Aire de Candeeiros. Its recipe of hiking, biking, and do-it-yourself gourmet cuisine has won prizes and international attention. There's a small spa (open mid-October through mid-April) and a pool out back, where hammocks and a nightly bonfire add to the laid-back mood. The restaurant serves light lunches, while for dinner there's a choice of shared plates (€28 for three) made from seasonal ingredients—or you can sign up for a cooking workshop (€42) overseen by a chef. A stylish sister hotel 200 yards away, The Nest, has another 8 rooms and 2 apartments at slightly lower rates, but no restaurant.

Nestled in a nature reserve on the outskirts of Fátima, this stylish resort-style lodging has cottages inspired by local architecture of the 19th and early 20th centuries—though their solar panels and open-plan interiors are completely up-to-date. The breakfast buffet is varied, and you can also order ahead for dinner (a lighter version of regional cuisine) or just snack on tasty local cheeses and hams. Spa treatments are offered in a grotto, and there's a magnesium pool with a pretty kiosk that serves cocktails and snacks in summer.

To get away from it all, head 15 km (10 miles) north of Leiria to this grand hotel by a thermal spa that was once frequented by medieval monarchs, from which you can make forays into its 60 acres of leafy grounds and the surrounding countryside. The 1920s building houses some very stylish suites, with plenty of amenities, but the rooms in the new wing are also large and plush, and all have balconies. Guests can use the large outdoor pool, but note that the modern spa, next to the old hot springs (which are currently out of bounds), is not included in the room rate, though various packages are available. The Paços da Rainha restaurant (€19) serves gourmet Mediterranean cuisine with an emphasis on local ingredients, while the Real Bar has snacks and drinks from late morning until after midnight.

Two minutes from the beach, this design hotel has a glass-covered pool on the rooftop with views of the ocean and the surrounding city. The poolside terrace is also a great place to sunbathe, enjoy a cocktail, or watch the sunset. Almost all the spacious and cheerfully furnished guest rooms have balconies, and some have sea views.

This renowned luxury hotel overlooks the ocean, and around half of the rooms have beautiful stone terraces with eye-popping views, as do the three outdoor pools, one of which is saltwater and one, complete with slides, reserved for kids. With a white facade and green-tile roof, the hotel has retained a traditional Portuguese feel—think clay-potted geraniums hanging from the windows—but now has all modern conveniences. There's also a spa with a pool, sauna, steam bath, and gym.

Great for golfers but also anyone who loves waking up to a view, this hotel features spacious rooms with balconies (some of them huge) that overlook the links and the long beach at Praia da Consolação. The hotel is on a sandy stretch famed for the health-giving properties of its waters, which are attributed to the local rock. Facilities include a 9-hole golf course set amid dunes, an outdoor pool set in a lovely big garden, and a gym and spa with indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room.

About 1 km (½ mile) from the center of Nazaré, in the hilltop village of Pederneira, this design hotel—its white facade offset by a turquoise-blue outdoor pool and emerald-green lawns—affords fantastic views. The carpeted guest rooms are done in a bright, modern style; all but a couple have sea views, and most have balconies. Guests staying in the fully equipped apartments in the annex have full access to hotel facilities, including free breakfast. The Mar Aberto Wine Bar Restaurant puts an emphasis on matching local seafood with regional wines.

Housed in a long-empty wing of Alcobaça's Cistercian monastery, this hotel opened in 2022 following a seven-year makeover---projected by Pritzker laureate Eduardo Souto Mouro to the last detail and preserving the original austere aesthetic---and combines a monastic atmosphere with the necessary comforts. Guest rooms are mostly in high-ceilinged former monks' cells (some with a view of the neighboring cloister), while the spa is where the ovens and bell foundry used to be. The hotel restaurant also draws on tradition, transforming locally sourced fare such as pork, apples, and cherries.