3 Best Hotels in Estremadura and the Ribatejo, Portugal

Sleep like royalty in this charming pousada, which occupies parts of the castle that Dom Dinis gave to his bride, Isabel, in 1282; the suites in three massive stone towers are especially evocative of ancient times, but all guests have access to terraces on the battlements. In the cozy Casa do Castelo annex, there's one room suitable for guests with reduced mobility. If these are all booked up, the Pousada Vila Óbidos, a short walk into town, has another 17 rooms around a courtyard, while the self-catering Casa Lidador has its own outdoor pool. The main pousada restaurant (€25) is also fit for a king: several tables have breathtaking views through elaborate Manueline (Portuguese late Gothic) windows. Try the house bacalhau or regional specialty frango na púcara (chicken, cooked in a clay pot) and then one of the desserts that feature the region's famous pear and apple varieties---pêra rocha or maçã de Alcobaça---cooked in wine or ginja.

This top-notch hotel, part of a sprawling luxury resort, is located 16 km (10 miles) west of Óbidos and includes a large spa and a dazzling array of amenities. Here you have easy access to miles of beach (via a flight of steps from June through August, and by shuttle bus the rest of the year) and special rates at the 18-hole seaside golf course and tennis academy. The luxurious indoor pool is surrounded by white columns reminiscent of a Roman bath. The hotel's Tempera restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine, while the more distinctive Emprata takes a creative approach to Portuguese dishes; if you tire of these, there are several other options.

"Eco-chic" is the phrase that best describes this award-winning hotel near the Óbidos Lagoon: here, wastewater is recycled, solar panels generate much of the power, and biting insects are kept at bay by amphibians in a pretty pond. Guest rooms are dotted around the landscaped grounds, half buried for insulation. Inside, earthy decoration—floors are concrete, premixed with chalk for a lovely, creamy effect—combines with contemporary design touches, as well as air-conditioning, plus a minibar, coffee machine, TV, and Wi-Fi. There's also an indoor fireplace for winter and a porch for long summer evenings—when reserving you can also request a fire pit for an extra €20 per day, though guests often gather around the common bonfire before dinner. Most vegetables and herbs served in the restaurant come from the hotel's own greenhouse. Borrow a book from one of the two mini-libraries, or make the most of the outdoor pool and bar, the small spa, and the free electric bikes.