The best 5-star hotels in Lisbon

Sheraton has for 40 years been gaining a reputation as one of the world's best luxury hotels. The 91-metre tall giant hides within its walls one of the most effective staffs you will ever find (they even have a medical department). Its 369 rooms will make you want to move in. We don't even mean the ten executive suites, whose generous areas make them larger than many Lisbon apartments; the standard rooms are breathtaking enough in its style and luxury features, such as Bang & Olufsen LCD screens, marble bathrooms and delightful beds by Sheraton's exclusive brand, Sweet Sleeper.

Elegant and low-key, it is one of Lisbon's most charming constructions. But the best thing about the Bairro Alto Hotel might be its location, right in the heart of Lisbon (if such a thing may be said to exist), at the Luís de Camões square, where Bairro Alto, Chiado, Cais do Sodré and Príncipe Real all come together: the perfect starting point for hitting every side of the city. In the vicinities you will find baroque churches, historic cafes, restaurants and shops; there is plenty to do for a day of strolling around. But it's at night, especially during the weekends, that the area really comes to life.

This may not be the most convenient place to get to know the historic districts, but everything else is all around you: a mall, bakeries, restaurants, bars, open-air cafes and, first and foremost, the Oceanarium and the Knowledge Pavillion – Ciência Viva, two mandatory stops in any alternate tour of Lisbon. You're also a 10-minute ride away from the airport, which will come handy if you have to take a red-eye flight. The district lacks the history or the romance of the city centre, but it has something you won't find almost anywhere else in Lisbon: the Tagus by your doorstep. Myriad SANA takes the most advantage of this: the hotel is literally on top of the water, so there can be no better view of the river.

Don't know where to stay in Lisbon? Browse Time Out's list of the best hotels in Lisbon – whether you're looking for a swanky waterside pad or a cheap, cheerful place to rest your head, you'll find something to suit.