Cloister & Azulejos

Centuries of history are embedded in this Bairro Alto apartment – hand-painted azulejo tiles line the dining room walls, and ancient arched ceilings arch overhead in the living room, giving the place a sense of place that few city apartments can match. Step outside and you're in a walled 17th-century convent garden, a rare pocket of calm in central Lisbon. Chiado and Príncipe Real are within easy walking distance, Alfama's medieval alleys are a twenty-four-minute walk, and São Jorge Castle – with its sweeping panoramic views – is fifteen minutes on foot.

Home truths:
* At full occupancy, two guests will sleep on the sofa bed in the living area. The single bed is in an open area outside the main bedroom.
* Once inside the building, you'll need to climb three flights of stairs to reach the apartment – the lift brings you to the building level, but not directly to the front door. Worth bearing in mind if you're travelling with young children, pushchairs, or heavy luggage.
* The apartment is a duplex, so you'll move between two floors during your stay – the main bedroom sits on the upper level, reached via an internal stone staircase.
* Wi-fi can be patchy in the bedrooms – if you need a reliable connection for video calls or remote work, plan to work from the living area on the lower floor or bring a mobile hotspot.
* A free car parking space is provided inside the building. That said, you won't need to drive here – a metro station and bus stops are nearby, or you can walk to the major neighbourhoods.