Valverde Sintra Palácio de Seteais

The palace is an 18th-century building turned hotel, set in the town of Sintra. It is furnished throughout in styles drawn from the 18th and 19th centuries, with rooms carrying names such as Royal Suite, Signature Suite, Premium Room, Deluxe Room and Classic Room. The Royal Suite occupies the first floor of the historic wing and measures 50 square metres, furnished in Dona Maria style, with a French balcony, a living room, an open-plan office and a separate balcony looking onto the pool and gardens. Signature Suites sit on the first floor too, with views over the pool or the Sintra valley reaching to the Atlantic Ocean; some have hosted guests including Eça de Queiroz and Agatha Christie. Their bathrooms are marble, each with a separate tub and a walk-in shower. Premium, Deluxe and Classic rooms occupy the first and second floors, with garden or pool views and bathrooms fitted with a tub or shower. The grounds hold a swimming pool and gardens, a restaurant and bar serving Portuguese and international dishes, event spaces, and a spa. It is a compact stay, built for quiet rather than scale. From the terrace you can look out toward the valley and, on a clear line, the Atlantic beyond it.