4 Best Hotels in Sintra, the Estoril Coast, and the Setúbal Peninsula, Portugal

Just steps from the seafront, InterContinental Cascais-Estoril is a plush base for exploring both Estoril and neighboring Cascais. The hotel's cool contemporary design and luxurious facilities make it an ideal place to relax and recharge after a day's exploring, and with several excellent drinking and dining options on-site, you can easily make a night of it at the hotel. Rooms are light and airy, with expansive sea views, and the hotel has plenty of spacious areas for relaxing with a book and a drink. 

Housed in a beautifully restored 17th-century fort, the Pousada Cidadela Cascais is a real treat for lovers of art, architecture, literature, and history. The whitewashed building sits within its own artsy "neighborhood"—the Pestana Cidadela Art District—which comprises galleries, studios, reading rooms, bookstores, restaurants, and open-air art installations. The hotel itself is a work of art, with individually styled rooms showcasing colorful contemporary pieces against a cool neutral backdrop. The whole complex feels crisp, clean, and contemporary.

Originally a medieval fortress and later a monastery, this pousada makes full use of the colonnaded walkways of the old cloisters as an atmospheric setting for breakfasts with views of the nearby hills. There's little trace of monastic asceticism in the monks' former refectory, now a dependable restaurant that serves traditional Portuguese food and fine wines. It's part of the Pestana Pousadas de Portugal portfolio of tastefully refurbished historic buildings.

With a dreamy location overlooking the Arrábida Natural Park and out to sea, Villa Epicurea is a scenic spot to revive mind, body, and soul. The rustic-chic eco lodge offers home-cooked vegetarian meals (extra charge), wholesome breakfast feasts made to order, and spacious rooms and suites with large windows and terraces for soaking up the view. Guests can enjoy an infinity pool, yoga dome, terraced gardens with sun loungers, and a cozy communal area complete with honor bar (in case you need a break from all that clean living).