Lawrences Hotel

The hotel is conveniently located very close to the town center and many attractions and railway station within walking distance. It is very clean and well maintained. The breakfast is included and was great.

The staff gave us the worst room at the beginning even though we had booked superior room. Upon protest they have us a slightly better room without the valley view. The listing had shown pictures of rooms with valley view. The hotel wasn't fully booked.

Staff, excellent!

Everything. One of the most beautiful and unique Hotels we ever stayed with the nicest staff possible. Location was priceless.

That we could not stay longer!

Quaint and cozy. Loved the fireplace and sitting rooms.

Limited parking, but we were lucky enough to get a spot

The staff was very kind, the room was comfortable with a cute little balcony with views of the trees. This is in a great location for walking around the old town to explore shops and and restaurants. We grabbed a taxi to Pena Palace and ending up walking back into Sintra after we visited the Moorish Castle. It was a nice walk through the forested area and we enjoyed the quiet and peace. The breakfast had so many options and was very welcomed before our day of exploring.

This is not the fault of Lawrences Hotel, more of a cautionary tale - we arrived in Sintra after renting a car at the Lisbon airport after a very long travel day. Driving a rental car in a new country is always a bit of a shock but Sintra (and Lisbon) were on another level. The hotel did have a parking spot, but we should have asked for directions to the spot before arriving, as there was no where to park or pull off to check-in to your room. I jumped out of the car to get that information and check in but my husband had to continue driving. Sintra's road is long one-way loop and it took my husband 45 minutes to return to where I was, waiting to help direct him to the parking spot. I think it's safe to say that if we had to do it again, we'd probably travel by bus or some other means to get in and out of Sintra. It's extremely popular, for good reason, but traffic & pedestrians was overwhelming in early October - I couldn't imagine what it's like to drive there in the high season. Again, this is not the fault of the hotel - it's awesome they have parking available.

Feels like a beautiful museum inside and nice views outside. Comfortable bed and good breakfast. Located on the edge of town closer to the palaces and also easy to get to restaurants.

Requires maintenance: bathroom faucet is leaking, there is a bit of mold on the windows. Room could be cleaner: curtains were dusty and so was the balcony.Finally, it seems like the renovation that has been done in the bathroom, e.g. the showerhead, used the cheapest available fixtures with no regard to the character of the hotel.With the high price we expected things to be in better shape.

The staff was very friendly and accommodating. They made my trip to Sintra.

It was difficult to get cars close to be able to see the Palaces, especially with the road that did not allow Ubers to drive through.

The Suite had a very old cute vibe, with little corners and windows over a garden. The bathroom was very spacious. The breakfast was good, the restaurant shared the view of the room. Parking access seems a bit weird, but after turns and twists in those narrow Sintra streets, you arrive just under the hotel. The location is perfect to stay near all of the city historical center has to offer.

Loved the history and location. Service was excellent. Amanda made our stay special.

Located between the restaurants of Sintra's pleasant historic center and the grand mansions and palaces Sintra is known for, Lawrence's Hotel was an excellence base from which to explore the area... if you can make it away from the comforts this hotel offers! Lawrence's claims to be the oldest hotel anywhere in Portugal or Spain, dating back to the 1750s. In its tranquil setting in sublime Sintra, it has rightly been host to figures such as Lord Byron (where he began writing Childe Harold's Pilgrimage) and Eça de Queiroz. The cozy hominess of its rooms and public spaces are perfect for curling-up with a book and a nice glass of port. The creaky wood floors, tiles, and antique furniture are enough to make one feel at home in another era... but updated where essential! The fixtures in our suite's bathroom, and the water pressure, were ample, and there were many outlets to charge those devices that, hopefully amidst the scenery of Sintra, at which you will scarcely care to glance. Just as special as the comforts of the hotel are its people: rarely have we ever been made to feel so welcome! From Amanda's enthusiastic greeting at the front desk, to the volunteered assistance up the stairs with our bags by the staff from the kitchen, to the delightful breakfast buffet serving the freshest fruit and some of the best pastries in Portugal (if that's possible), and a packed breakfast for our all-to-early departure, our only regret was that we could not stay longer.

A visit to Lawrence's is best for those without a car: they can arrange transportation, and a car is hardly needed to see the sights around town. Parking is available (in a 500-year-old historic building no less, when the free street parking is taken), but as with any driving in the historic center of town, streets are steep and narrow, and maneuvering can be a bit tricky, plus a pass is necessary to drive on the hotel's street (which must be obtained before arrival, so ask). We look forward to our next chance to stay with them!

Hotel has tons of history and is a lovely property in a great location.

Hotel was understaffed, with front desk staff who couldn't think of a restaurant to recommend besides the hotel's own (which was closed). They didn't have our reservation, which we had pre-booked, and made us wait while they figured it out. The breakfast started at 7:30 am -- when we came down at 8 am, nobody was there. They explained that there weren't a lot of people staying at the hotel so they had only one person cooking and serving. The hotel staff also didn't tell us that the town is closed to cars on Saturdays so we couldn't get a cab to the airport.

The location was great!

I appreciate that the hotel aims to preserve its historic character and old-style charm, however, there’s a difference between maintaining history and simply letting things age without care.Unfortunately, the property felt more neglected than nostalgic. There’s no harm in refreshing the space while still keeping its heritage intact. Instead, it felt tired and worn, which took away from the overall experience.For the price, I expected much better upkeep, it’s a 5 star hotel and one of the most expensive in that area. A bit of maintenance and thoughtful updates wouldn’t take away from the character — it would actually enhance it. … and the lack of proper hospitality. The staff seemed untrained and disinterested. The man at reception didn’t even offer to help with my 25kg luggage, despite the fact that I had to carry it down a few stairs. It was a small but telling moment that summed up the lack of attention to guests and there were numerous moments like this throughout our stay. As it stands, it just didn’t feel worth the money.

The location was central to the main square and handy for walking to all the castles and palaces. We had a lovely collection with 4 poster bed and small balcony. The hotel’s sitting areas are cozy.

The desk staff were not especially knowledgeable or helpful for recommendations or guidance about visiting sights.

If you love staying somewhere with history, character and real charm, this hotel will suit you. If you prefer modern resorts with shiny new bathrooms, don't pick Lawrences Hotel. We booked a suite as we needed working/desk space and were given the Lord Byron Suite, it is an absolutely beautiful bedroom, separate lounge area, french doors and balcony with a view over the garden/woods and town at the other end, photos are added. Large clean bathroom with everything you need, lovely comfortable bed and crisp linen. An easy 5 minute walk to the main centre of Sintra with plenty of restaurants (further to the railway station end). While we were there, some paths (e.g. from the Pena Palace to the Moorish Castle) were closed or inaccessible due to storm damage so check carefully with the tourist office that this has all been resolved. We found the public bus up the hill really convenient and reasonable, and if you are fit for doing up and down hills, the walking is fantastic.

The hotel restaurant hours were limited, so we ended up eating out, which was fine as there are plenty of restaurants nearby. Damp weather meant that we did get mosquitoes in the room and insect spray was hard to come by in Sintra, so this would be a great addition to the rooms.

Great location but it is an older hotel that has been modernised so as long as you accept this you will enjoy your stay.Staff were very friendly and helpful. Car parking a big bonus.

Staff were excellent .Old fashioned comfortable hotel.

Cooked breakfast same every day and kept in warmers that weren’t always on!

Fascinating old property with lovely dining room

Room furniture / bathroom updates would be nice. Or at least some carpets in rooms

It is a historic, iconic hotel; the oldest established hotel on the Iberian Peninsula. It was restored in the 1990s but retains a lot of its 18th century character and quirkiness. We stayed in January and it was quiet with just a few guests. The staff were helpful and accommodating and the spa treatments we had were good value. Parking in Sintra is now highly restricted in the old town accessed by locals and hotel residents using a QR code / camera system which is a little hit and miss. Lawrence's has 3 free spaces just outside the hotel plus a payable garage close by. We were put in the Lord Byron Suite which was a nice touch. The public areas are tastefully decorated with many traditional features. To be clear, it's not a modern luxury hotel. It's a piece of history.

Nothing. We would stay again.

Great staff, and fabulous location - walking distance to Sintra (historic old town) and all the sights we wanted to see. Old colonial style hotel with many antique pieces (furniture/artwork/etc).

Its a very old hotel so some parts could do with a little modernization, but overall - a good experience.

The historic building and furnishings were beautiful and inviting. The staff were very attentive and friendly. They were also able to provide information about the town and area that is not easily found because most of the staff live nearby but also have been working for the hotel for decades. The room was magical, with a balcony overlooking the ravine and at least 2 castles. The experience was surreal.

I didn’t like the fact that we could not stay forever at this beautiful hotel.