5 Best Hotels in Viseu, Coimbra and Central Portugal

Near some of the city's prettiest parks, this elegant town house is a little removed from the hustle and bustle. The guest rooms are small but interestingly decorated, some with antique beds. As you linger over the complimentary breakfast buffet, your friendly hosts can help organize activities in the region, including walks in Serra da Estrela and Serra do Caramulo.

Once Viseu's leading lodging, the Grão Vasco is still a good choice and a great value; plus, its location near a wooded park but just steps from the main square combines the convenience of the city and the quiet of the country. Many guest rooms have balconies that look out on an oval pool in the garden (there's one indoors as well). The restaurant serves a wide variety of principally Portuguese dishes.

Built right into the town walls and dating to the 16th century, this stone-walled edifice exudes historic charm. The rooms in the older part of the building are the most atmospheric, with high ceilings and towering windows with views of the town. You can also enjoy the hotel's delightful garden with its 18th-century chapel, accessed via a catwalk across the top of the old town gate.

One of the latest additions to the Pestana hotel group's string of historic pousadas, this handsome neoclassical building dates back to 1793 when it served as the town's hospital. The large, tastefully decorated rooms retain rich architectural details like high ceilings and huge windows. Suites have spacious living areas and huge bathrooms. There's a slick restaurant on the ground floor, and a lovely internal courtyard with a trendy cocktail bar. 

At this working winery, about 18 km (10 miles) southeast of Viseu, you can reserve either modern apartments or antiques-filled rooms in a 19th-century manor house. The historic main building has a stone-clad sitting room outfitted with chandeliers and a fireplace. The friendly owners will happily arrange tastings of the wines produced on-site. This area is famous for its birdlife: partridges, hoopoes, and red kites are just a few of the species you might spot here.