Norte Guest House — Hotel in Lisbon

Norte Guest House is very conveniently located in downtown Lisbon, Portugal. This place is a no frills, simple hotel without anything approaching luxury, but the rooms, some with small private baths, do have hot water and showers.

There are no closets and my double bed left me with a sore back, but the pillows were comfortable and my room was cleaned every day and the bed made up.

My room had a window facing the street, but I had to keep it and the interior shutters closed because of the noise.

I had a small clean bath with shower and sufficient hot water, towels and toilet paper, plus shampoo and soap. Most of the bedrooms lack private en suite baths, so if you need one be sure to request it.

Otherwise there is a clean communal bath on each floor with toilets and showers.

The saving grace of my stay was the noisy but working air-conditioner that drowned out much of the street noises. A building across the street was being gutted for renovations. I was able to sleep well because of the air-conditioner creating a white sound that made it tolerable. My room had a small flat-screen television too high up on the wall above a desk, but it did not work.

The elevator is next to several tacky vending machines in the small lobby and it reliably works, but you may also walk up the stairs to your floor if you choose. There are four floors.

No breakfast is included or offered at the Norte Guest House, and there is no dining room. However, this place is substantially cheaper than most other hotels in this highy desirable area, and only three blocks from the popular Santa Justa elevator.

There is an excellent and reasonably-priced Indian restaurant directly next door called Ghandi Palace, where I ate two tasty dinners for under 10 Euros.

The front desk receptionists at the Norte Guest House are all pleasant, efficient and helpful. Most speak English. If you arrive early you may leave your baggage here until it is time to check-in at 2:00 PM. Likewise, you may safely leave your luggage behind the front desk for a few hours after check-out until it is time to go to the airport, bus or train station.

During my 6-night stay at the Norte Guest House in August 2019, there was a dumpster parked in the street directly in front of the hotel's main entrance.

There are many restaurants and cafés in the immediate area. The nearest Metro stop is the Green Line's Rossio Station, with elevator. Norte Guest House is also just a short half-block away from where you can board or get off the popular No. 28 Lisbon tram or streetcar.

I took the Metro all the way from the Lisbon airport to the Rossio station with one change from the Red line to the Green line in about 30 minutes.

Credit cards are accepted at Norte Guest House. There is daily maid service. On the first floor there is a simple lounge with a sofa and a flat-screen television and two windows with a street view.

This inexpensive no-frills hotel is a good place to stay, and it offers more privacy than a hostel. Because of its ideal location, I would definitely...

I recently stayed in Norte Guest House in Lisbon, and while its location is undeniably a highlight, the overall experience was utterly disappointing. The hotel is situated right in the heart of Lisbon, in a vibrant and desirable area, which is its only redeeming quality.

The lack of basic amenities was shocking for a hotel in such a prime location. There was no air conditioning in the rooms, making the stay unbearable during the warm Lisbon days. The absence of a mini fridge in the room was another major inconvenience, forcing guests to rely solely on overpriced vending machines at the entrance for any refreshments. This setup felt like a blatant attempt to squeeze extra money out of guests.

Even more frustrating was the issue with ventilation. Without air conditioning, I was forced to open the windows to get some airflow, but to my dismay, there were no window screens. As a result, insects and bugs constantly entered the room, making it impossible to relax or sleep comfortably. This lack of basic protection against pests turned an already uncomfortable stay into a nightmare, as I was constantly swatting away unwanted visitors.

The bathroom situation was equally appalling. There was no window, and there appeared to be no functioning ventilation system, so odors lingered, creating a deeply unpleasant environment. You can imagine how uncomfortable and off-putting this was, especially in a confined space.

To make matters worse, on the last night of our stay, the elevator was out of service, forcing us to use the stairs. As we climbed, we were horrified to see a live cockroach scuttling across the steps. It was clear that no pest control or fumigation had been done, which only added to the sense of neglect and poor maintenance throughout the property.

The hotel’s policies were equally aggravating. There seemed to be an endless list of 500 rules, each one seemingly designed to impose fines or additional charges at every turn. This created an overwhelming sense of being nickel-and-dimed, leaving a bitter taste of profiteering. Additionally, the wooden shutters and windows in the rooms were outdated and did little to block out noise or regulate temperature, further detracting from the comfort of the stay.

Overall, while the central location is a major plus, the lack of essential amenities, invasive insects due to the absence of window screens, a cockroach-infested stairwell, a poorly ventilated bathroom, excessive rules, and money-grabbing vibe make it impossible to recommend Norte Guest House. Travelers looking for comfort and value should look elsewhere in Lisbon.

P.S. The hotel seems to operate solely on imposing penalties and burdening guests with responsibilities while overcharging at every opportunity. Meanwhile, the establishment takes zero accountability for its glaring shortcomings, from broken elevators to pest infestations and...

September 26th we checked in to the hotel but it wasn’t easy and encountered hassle getting into our room as there was nobody in th lobby. The hotel is open only from 11am to 7pm which we are not advised about the operating hours. We arrived after 9pm and got stucked outside for so long, while waiting for someone to get in We were advised to go to an office that is 4 blocks from the hotel to get our key. We weren’t advise or told of any procedure and we just wanted to bring that inconvenience to the management.

On September 27th , while on Bed , I smell something different and to my surprise a cockroach is crawling beside me and into my stuff… I got so bothered by it and took a video and pictures. We informed the front desk about that experience and we were requesting for another room but she said the hotel is full. She only give us the email address which is not even the emaill address of the mananger. We Emailed before checking out and again when we arrived back to Canada but no even single sorry or reply received. I don't usually make reviews because I also work in Hospitality Industry so I know how it affects the business but this one was the worst stay ever. Portugal is my 54th country and I loved everything about it specially the unique culture except my horrible stay here.

Just a quick reminder to everyone to check in before 7pm or else you will have difficulty checking in. Agoda didn't inform us about the check in rules nor the hotel emailed us about it.

P.S. Also while trying to figure how to check in another lady came to the lobby looking for the reception. She also have complain about cockroach in their room. Btw our room is 103, just beware guys in case you stayed here...