This Is Lisbon Hostel
The reality of hostels in Lisbon is as different as it is surprising when compared to other European cities and capitals. First of all, this is a relatively new industry, which means you can find incredible hostels at equally amazing prices throughout the city. And the This is Lisbon Hostelis one of them.
Most Lisbon hostels are new — recently renovated, that is. The refurbishment of old buildings and apartments is the order of the day, transforming them for one of the fastest-growing industries in Portugal in recent years: tourism.
But even more important than the resources I've seen invested in these places is the passion that hostel owners pour into ensuring their guests feel even better than they would in a 5-star hotel. Warmth, spontaneity, and friendliness are qualities you'll find as a matter of course in Lisbon's hostels.
About a couple of months ago, Tania, the friendly girl behind this hostel — This is Lisbon Hostel — invited me to come visit, experience it firsthand, and spend a night there. When I mentioned that I don't do these things without my family, she came up with an even more fun invitation: they were about to open an apartment for future guests right across from the hostel, and she was inviting us to stay there. It was very hard to say no, so I got my family ready and we arranged to stay there on Friday, November 18th.
Location & Price
The place is right in the heart of Lisbon's historic old town. In fact, it's barely a 5-minute walk from my house — minutes that felt like half an hour as my wife, my baby, and I walked there in a downpour. The place is a little tricky to find, but the website's directions and the hotel staff can sort that out easily. Please do read the instructions carefully if you want to arrive without any hassle — or just take a taxi.
Near the hostel there are several places to visit. Starting with one of the most important: the Castle of São Jorge. In fact, the hostel is on a small street that branches off from the "costa do castelo" (the castle's slope), the very hill that surrounds this incredible historic monument.
The mission of this hostel — and it's a guiding principle that guests take away with them — was to create a place where you could be close to everything, while still being able to relax: "have a drink, write a postcard, or share experiences while taking in the views of Lisbon from the terrace," without necessarily being in the noisy city center.
The people who stay here range from 20 to 70 years old, and as Tania rightly points out, they are more "travelers" than "tourists." And rightly so — generally speaking, hostel guests are people who want to broaden their horizons, meet new people, and share their experiences. In the case of This is Lisbon Hostel, they also want to learn about historic Lisbon, its customs and traditions.
Prices, depending on the season, are anything but outrageous — quite the opposite. As I write this review I'm looking at prices for Christmas and New Year's, and I'm finding great deals starting at around €15 for shared rooms and about €25 for private rooms.
For a hostel with views like this one — even from the shared rooms — there's really only one thing to say: sleep here! Sleep here!
But I should say even more, because my stay at this hostel was a family trip, and for greater privacy I wasn't invited to sleep in the hostel itself, but in one of the newly renovated apartments right across from it. And I was nothing short of delighted. A fantastic place, beautifully decorated and very well equipped. If you have the chance and you're coming with family, ask for the apartment — stay here, and you'll have all the benefits of the hostel with the privacy of a private apartment in Lisbon!
Design & History
This Is Lisbon Hostel opened in August 2010 — so it's just barely a year old.
Tania and her husband, the owners, spent 6 months searching for the ideal location and another 6 months renovating the space, which they say they chose mainly for its views. A lengthy renovation for a place that was in quite a state at the time.
The hotel is a traditional Portuguese house: large, with high ceilings, full of character and a strong feminine touch — and while it's a very welcoming home, it also has a fantastic contemporary flair.
Red tones and wood dominate the house, and the various designs and posters throughout the hostel are fantastic. The inspiration comes from iconic figures of the city like Fernando Pessoa, and from some of Lisbon's defining characteristics: the miradouros (viewpoints), the Tagus river, sardines (a constant source of inspiration for Lisboetas), saudade, and azulejos.
Rooms
The hostel can accommodate up to 38 guests in summer and around 30 in winter (in winter they opt for more private rooms).
If you're staying in a shared room, we recommend the "miradouro" room, as from there you not only have access to the wonderful terrace, but also to the hostel's fantastic views.
The 
private rooms are cozy and full of thoughtful details that make them perfect for long-established couples, newly formed ones, groups of friends, or families. The rooms are well set up for winter and, above all, have excellent heating.
The This Is Lisbon Hostel Apartment
The bedroom in the apartment where we stayed was spacious, with an IKEA MALM bed (my favorite) and a standard mattress. One of the few drawbacks we found was that there seems to be a drain nearby and you can hear water running through it — not great if you drank a lot of water the night before!
They also left us a basket of toys for the little ones and set up a lovely small crib for our baby, which was fantastic. We were also able to bring our daughter's dinner and handled our parental duties feeding our little one without any trouble. There were also things to keep the easily bored entertained, like card games and board games.
The apartment has two bedrooms, which could work well for a couple with two children or for two couples. One large room and one small one, a bathroom, and a comfortable living-dining area. The apartment was very nicely decorated and at the same time quite simple — just the way I like it.
Fun
As I've noted throughout this review, the hostel is a fun place thanks to its staff and the travelers staying there. Just having the chance to connect with others makes it a special place. But if you don't feel like talking to anyone, you can also pick up one of the books at the hostel entrance, use the internet room, or take advantage of the free Wi-Fi. Or simply head out to the terrace and enjoy the Lisbon version of dolce far niente. For those who enjoy a bit of home comfort, you can also do your laundry at the hostel's laundry facilities for a small fee.
Surroundings
You can reach central Lisbon on foot in just a few minutes, though the walk back to the hostel won't be quite as quick — it's nestled on one of the city's highest hills (right by the Castle), and public transport in this area is limited. That's probably one of the hostel's biggest drawbacks. But it's nothing that €4–5 can't fix with one of Lisbon's affordable taxis from the city center. Or, at worst, a 20-minute uphill walk — and the hill is quite steep. From the hostel you can reach Baixa, the Rossio Metro station, and the Sé Cathedral in 10 minutes. Also, the legendary Tram 28 passes just a few meters away, and if you happen to be in the area on a Tuesday or Saturday, you can walk to the Feira da Ladra flea market in 5 minutes.
Online Reviews: cleanliness, attention, service, and breakfast
A year is enough time to rack up plenty of reviews — as we can see on Booking, the hostel has a score of 90/100 with around 95 reviews.
There's a lot of positive talk about the staff. I have to say that personally I was very well looked after by Dani, the girl who prepares the Friday dinners, and the rest of the hotel staff. Also worth highlighting is the cleanliness of the place and the heating — it was really comfortable inside the hostel!
By the way, on Friday evenings there's a dinner for guests staying at the hostel. The dinner is prepared by Dani, a wonderful girl who cooks Portuguese food with great flavor. The best part of the experience was perhaps being able to share that time with fellow travelers and the hostel staff.
I found the breakfast to be fairly average. On the plus side, you can make your own eggs without any trouble. They include the basics: bread, juices, coffee, etc. But perhaps it's too much to ask for premium food given how affordable the hostel is. I think the breakfast is fair enough, but I'd suggest that food lovers head out afterward for a truly authentic breakfast at a Portuguese pastelaria.
Conclusion
This is a friendly, great-atmosphere, affordable, and highly functional hostel. Ideal for a good rest after a long day pounding the streets of Lisbon. A place to meet open-minded, adventurous souls. A special spot to hold dear to your heart. A place to return to and dream about — a cold beer at the end of a summer day, or a warm glass of wine on a damp winter night.
Pros
- Great price
- Stunning views
- Warm, welcoming atmosphere
- Several nearby attractions
- Free Wi-Fi service
- Affordable laundry facilities on-site
Cons
- Despite being centrally located, getting to the hostel is quite a challenge — whether by public transport or on foot — though the situation may improve thanks to an elevator that is set to be put into service
- In the apartment they arranged for us, we could hear water running through a nearby drain — perhaps the only downside we found in the apartment.
- Pay close attention when making your way to the place — plan ahead so you don't get lost
(If after reading this review you're convinced this is the hostel where you want to stay, I recommend booking through this link.)
