Hotel recommendations for Lisbon (Baxia flat area) Coimbra and Porto (prefer river view)

We are researching hotels in Lisbon now for October. One of the ones we are looking at is Dom Carlos Library Hotel (there is a Park one too) which is under $200 if you don’t want the breakfast or free cancellation options.
So many choices it becomes overwhelming. I feel we have to choose soon as places are booking up.

We are looking for the later part of September. I have never had to plan a European trip so far in advance. Rather disappointed that Portugal is so crowded now even in the shoulder season. Even guide books at my local library have a waitlist! I do need a free cancellation policy for my hotels.

I understand, the hotel we wanted in Tomar was completely booked for the end of September. I was really surprised cause I didn’t think Tomar was that popular, more like a day trip kinda place.

After checking Rick’s book, and here, I make a list then check on booking.com. I then go to the hotel’s website look again, then to book. A long and lengthy process but necessary. On booking.com you can add a filter with price range.

Glad to recommend Be Poet Baixa Hotel. I needed flat area also. Received very high reviews on booking and I would ditto the high reviews. You do not say what month that you will be traveling but my vague memory is that cost was reasonable which included an excellent breakfast

I found a hotel in Lisbon - Dalma Old Town Suites. Appears to have good review, large rooms, pay at arrival and breakfast. Has anyone stayed here?
Still looking for Porto recommendations.

In Coimbra we stayed at hotel Mondego by one of the train stations. We liked the location. It was 158€ a night including breakfast.

In Porto we stayed at NH Porto Jardim and liked it. It was 233€ per night including breakfast We visited in September.

We stayed at the Hotel Oslo in Coimbra in 2019. Nothing fancy, but clean rooms and helpful staff. The best part is their rooftop bar. It looks across to the old part of the city on the hill. Beautiful views for an aperitif with the old buildings glowing in the reflected sunset or after dark with the lights twinkling.

I listed hotels for each of your 3 cities in my trip report from October, 2022:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/3-weeks-3-cities-solo-in-portugal

Lisbon/Baixa: the VIP Executive Eden ApartHotel on Restauradores Square is a public transit dream, steps from the metro and several bus stations. I had a room with a small kitchenette for about €155 / night, including full breakfast which you can take in the basement or a slightly less extensive version at the rooftop bar where you can cool off in the rooftop pool and watch the city go by below you.

Coimbra: a 2-3 minute walk from the regional train station, at the base of town and just across the busy road from the river, the Astoria Hotel is a "quirky" Art Nouveau/Art Deco building from the 1920s. I paid less than €100 per night for their Superior Room with 3 French Doors to a Juliet balcony with river view, including full breakfast. I just checked and they have availability for a random night in late September.

Porto: Hotel Memoria is across the street from the river, steps from the Ribeira district, but above your price range at €233 / night when I stayed.

Thanks all for the tips. Ended up booking NH Porto Jardim and Hotel Vitoria in Coimbra.

Hotel Vitoria is literally around the corner from Hotel Mondego where we stayed. We stayed at Hotel Vitoria way back in 1979. The photo is from September.

If you go to Café Santa Cruz beside the Santa Cruz church, it is cash only. The café is popular for the free nightly Fado performances (6pm and 10pm). If you take the university tour and don’t buy your tickets beforehand, the ticket office is in a building across the street from the Department of Architecture. Santa Cruz church is free to enter, but to see certain areas it was a couple Euros, cash only.

If you need to do laundry during that portion of your trip, there is a self service laundromat, Lavandaria da Baixa, about a three minutes walk from the hotel. We hadn’t planned on doing laundry, but it worked out well since it rained half of one day we were there.

Thanks for this good information. I really appreciate the people in this blog!

Loved our historic hotel in Coimbra, Quinta de las Lagrimas. also liked our Porto hotel, Infante de Sagres.
Both recommend by Maribel.

Renee, I had the opportunity to do my laundry at the one mentioned in Coimbra by Jaimee. My laundry came out SUPER clean because I mistakenly added my own laundry detergent sheet to the load before reading the huge sign saying everything is included. Had a good laugh about that.

BTW, while you do the laundry I invite you to pop into the cafe called Biquinha just a few doors down. A very sweet place with delicious cafe con liete and pastry sweets.