With a view of the Sé Cathedral and Tejo river from the balcony, this home will make seeing all of Lisbon's sights easier than you imagined. In the open-concept living-kitchen area, the glass doors leading out to this outside space also have the added benefit of bringing in copious amounts of natural light, which bounces pleasingly off the wooden floors and kitchen surfaces. As a result, we couldn't help but find the room bright and inviting. The design throughout is minimalist but effectively so — a special mention goes to the bathroom finished in light, honey tones. Once you're ready to explore, the surrounding medieval neighbourhood of Alfama will take you on a journey through Lisbon's pre-earthquake history, while nearby sights such as the Praça do Comércio — only eight minutes' walk — show you what came up after the destruction.

Home truths:
* The WiFi was quite patchy when we visited – this might not be the best option for those who want to work during their stay