The Albatroz Hotel, Cascais

Live like the royal family who used to summer in Cascais with a stay at the Albatroz Hotel, the former palace of the Duke of Loulé. Originally built in 1873, this luxury boutique hotel stands on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. There's a beach on either side, just a minute's walk away, so take your pick of Ribeira de Cascais or Raina and take a dip. Walk to the Old Town and the 5th of October Square in five minutes, where you'll find shops, restaurants, and the square's one-of-a-kind wavy mosaic pavement. Lisbon is about 30 minutes away by car, and the fairy-tale castles of Sintra are just a 20-minute drive.

The hotel is currently made up of three buildings: the 1873 palace, a more modern wing, and an 18th-century palace set farther back from the sea with more period-style rooms. The rooms in the main building are bright, employing a mix of a nautical theme and Portuguese specialties like hand-painted blue tiles. Sea view options are favorites, but don't worry if you don't book one since you can enjoy views of the Atlantic from various places in the hotel. Suites can include cozy wood-lined library lounges, while bathrooms have rainfall showers and bathtubs, as well as bathrobes.

A main draw of the hotel, besides its history, is its cliffside location and the fantastic views that come with it. Relax on a sun lounger next to the pool overlooking the ocean, enjoy breakfast on the terrace with a side of sunshine and panoramic views, or watch the sunset from the bar and restaurant that offers local delicacies.