You won’t believe you’re checking into a Holiday Inn Express when you walk through the doors of the Príncipe Real property in Lisbon. We chose this hotel the way we choose every property on our itineraries: by experiencing the accommodation and services ourselves, checking the fit for our travelers, and asking whether it earns its place on a tour rather than just filling a room block. This one did, easily.
A Lobby Built for Gathering
The moment you step inside, the word “Express” starts to feel like a formality. This is a lobby with real presence: spacious, contemporary, and warm in that effortless way good design manages. It’s the kind of space where you’ll want to hang out (and the students are welcome to) rather than head straight for the elevator. That’s exactly why we like it for our Incantato Concert tour experiences. Between rehearsals, sightseeing, and free time, especially a high school tour needs somewhere easy for singers and chaperones to regroup – and where kids can hang out together, too.
Central Without the Chaos
The hotel sits in Príncipe Real, one of Lisbon’s most elegant residential neighborhoods, on a quiet street lined with the kind of traditional local shops that give a place its character rather than its crowds.
From here, Avenida da Liberdade, Chiado, and Bairro Alto are all within an easy walk, and Eduardo VII Park and the Amoreiras shopping center aren’t far either. For us, that’s the whole equation solved at once: a base close enough to everything on the itinerary but removed from the tourist crowds, so travelers can actually experience the neighborhood they’re staying in.
Rooms Built to be Shared
This is where the property really sets itself apart for medium to large tour groups.
All 184 rooms were renovated in 2025, and the freshness shows: crisp, modern interiors with air conditioning, desks, electric kettles, and yes, an ironing board in every room, a detail that matters before a concert just as much as a comfy mattress for a good night’s sleep.
The configurations flex well for how our groups actually travel, whether that’s twin rooms with genuine space between the beds or a triple option that pairs one larger bed with a pull-out sofa for families traveling together. Add walk-in showers and a well-equipped gym, and this property keeps working for you long after check-in.
A Breakfast Spread Worth Getting Up Early For
Breakfast runs daily from 7:00 to 10:30 and goes well beyond what you’d expect. Think freshly baked breads pulled straight from the oven, pastéis de nata, pão de deus, real fruit, fresh juices, and even pancakes served with local jams. There’s a nod to the familiar too, with eggs and bacon on offer for the traditionalists in the group, but our philosophy always holds: when you’re in Europe, eat like a local. Come dinnertime, the on-site 550º Restaurante Bar serves Mediterranean fare, including wood-fired oven dishes, a convenient option for lunch or dinner on your own.
The View From Up There
Some of the standard rooms here come with their own balcony, and guests on the higher floors are treated to sweeping views over the neighborhood. We’ll be doing everything we can to secure some of these coveted balcony rooms for our chaperones. And yes, all windows open so you can let in some fresh air.
Why We Love the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lisbon
This is officially a three-star property. In our experience, it performs like a four-star find, and for a tour built around active days exploring Portugal’s capital city and presenting concerts, that combination of comfort, location, and genuine warmth is exactly what we look for.
As always, we’ve been there, and all of our experiences are one-of-a-kind, as every performance tour or vacation should be.
