Portas da Sé Apartments

The apartment is right across from Lisbon Cathedral, making it very handy for visiting different sights. Our rooms were lovely, very clean, and well equipped for a family, with towels, mini shower essentials, an iron, washing machine, hair dryer, and more. It was our first time trying an air B&B, and the hosts were super lovely. Their service was 10/10. We could message them on WhatsApp whenever we needed information, including help planning our itinerary. Check-in and check-out were easy. We visited during the Easter bank holiday, when they were very short staffed, but they were still accommodating. One thing to know is that the area is steep and difficult for Ubers or cars to reach, so I'd suggest arranging Uber pickup around the cathedral instead. There are no lifts, only stairs. Lisbon itself has very steep inclines and declines, and involves lots of walking. We'd definitely stay here again.

The toilet in the apartment's bathroom isn't secured to the floor, and the room constantly smells of sewer gas because the fixtures are loose. It feels completely unsanitary. We complained to Paula, who manages the apartment, but she simply ignored us. Noise is very loud inside, and you can hear every word and footstep from the neighbors. The location and price aren't worth putting up with the smell and noise.

The manager responded quickly and checked on our wellbeing the next morning. They understood the situation, let us leave a day early, and refunded that night's charge. I appreciated that. Still, be careful here: we were robbed right at the front entrance. The sloping side street seems to make the area hard to control, and strange people with dogs hang around there and start fighting for no apparent reason.

The location worked really well for seeing the city, with a tram stop right nearby, and management communicated clearly about check-in. The apartment was comfortable and had a reasonable amount of equipment for a family stay. We knew before arriving that there was no lift or air conditioning. The stairs may be difficult with mobility problems or little kids, though we managed fine in the heat using the fans.