The Palace of Bucaco
The Palace of Bucaco
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4.0
248 reviews
Excellent
130
Very good
71
Average
28
Poor
10
Terrible
9
Kalyn N
Coogee, Australia58 contributions
Sept 2014 • Couples
We were very excited to stay in a 5 star castle with the vast gardens and immense amount of history. The receptionist was very kind but that's where the niceties ended. We waited for 20 minutes down in the bar to be served and there were no staff in site. This hotel is meant to be 5 stars- the rooms were appalling and hadn't been updated in at least 30 years. The beds were hard, the pillows lumpy, and the walls paper thin. One of the worst nights sleep I've ever had. The next morning we went for a walk around the gardens- which were beautiful- but when we came back inside the man working the desk chased after us asking where we were going and if he could assist us not realising that we'd just spent the night here. Great to walk around the gardens but do not bother staying overnight.
Written 9 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pierre E
Vienna, VA113 contributions
Nov 2015
I have never had this much trouble figuring out what to say. I should start by saying, we were all glad we stayed here but we are pretty easy going travelers and have stayed in hostels as well as five stars. The building is beautiful and while every hotel we stayed in was nicer than this, we can say we stayed in a palace! We should have known when our tour guide in Lisbon said "Oh dear, that is not a real five star" (aside from the suspiciously low price) The rooms were TERRIBLE, they were very dated and ugly. (but clean) and the hall looked like it came straight out the the movie "the Shining". We had no hot water any of our two nights there. You had to go to the lobby to get WIFI (they told you this up front) which I found annoying. They did not have laundry services unless you had 48 hours which was pretty awful as we had counted on a 5 star having quick service. (We just washed our clothes in the bathtub with the cold water) The lobby and restaurant area were beautiful (The lobby was VERY TIRED) and we def felt like we were in a time warm from the 40s or 60s. Seems like some light inexpensive cosmetic work would make the place much nicer. If we had to stay in Luso again, there was evidently a much nicer restaurant a few min away and you can just go to Bussaco to have dinner or just pop in. ( I think they let you see it for a tiny fee) The breakfast was the best we had in the 14 days there and the clerk (who seemed to work 24 hrs a day) was a great concierge.
Written 27 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fleetfirst
Brisbane103 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
We spent two nights here after reading about it in the book "1000 Places to Go before you Die". It did not disappoint. We loved the peaceful setting surrounded by woodlands and the amazing buildings and gardens. We spent a few hours wandering around the tracks in woods exploring the religious relics. There was a bad storm last January and they are still cleaning up the hundreds of damaged trees but it is still possible to walk on most tracks. The site has a great history going back to the monks who cultivated the gardens over centuries with plants from the Portuguese colonies and being the site of a battle in 1810 where the Duke of Wellington assisted the Portuguese to beat Napoleon's forces. The buildings mostly date from the 19th century although there is a very old monastery to visit. We found the service polite but unobtrusive. We ate at the restaurant both nights and were very impressed with the quality and value. We also enjoyed the buffet breakfast on the balcony overlooking the formal gardens. The only black mark was that they still allow smoking on the balcony. We chose a "superior" room with access to a balcony that was good. In short - a place to stay before you die!
Written 23 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sender-ella
A Coruña1 contribution
Whether you are looking for luxury or even going it on the cheap, the Bussaço Palace and the Mata de Bussaço are a great option. A stay in the Hotel or dinner is not cheap, (although still worth the money), but a day visit to the forest/park (mata) is affordable to all and you can picnic in designated areas. The palace itself is a nice mix of history, architecture and mysterious charm. For nature lovers, avid walkers, green thumb gurus and children of every age the paths, stairways, lakes and sights of the park will "wow" one and all. The paths aren´t necesarily handicap accessible, but the garden around the castle is "more" accessible. I´ve lost count of the times I´ve visited (and I don´t exaclty live next door).
Written 24 April 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
uglug
Oakland, CA133 contributions
June 2018 • Couples
The most incredible place we have stayed. Living in a bit of a fairytale. Stunning castle outside and inside. Originally a monastery now a hotel in a castle. It makes you feel so special.
Great service and friendly staff particularly Vítor, maitre d’ , Paula at the front desk.
The food is top notch. We loved the 35 hr. Pork dish and the 63degree egg dish not to mention scrumptious chestnut soup. The dining room fit for Cinderella.
The grounds include formal gardens, forest and folies including chapels, monk huts, streams, fountains and panoramic views v. We spent a day exploring them.
We stayed 4 days and went out from there to various sites.
Caveats:
Do not let any of these keep you from going. Not important in the big picture. Quite a bit of deferred maintenance. WIFI ONLY in the bar (but what a “bar”). A bit spotty but who cares?
It is mainly a huge beautiful living room.
Tour buses come in the day but u can avoid them.
Prices E120 to E800 for Kings Suite. YOU CAN AFFORD IT. Price of Motel 6 in the US. Bit isolated- actually a good thing. Peace and quiet
In Short GO!
Great service and friendly staff particularly Vítor, maitre d’ , Paula at the front desk.
The food is top notch. We loved the 35 hr. Pork dish and the 63degree egg dish not to mention scrumptious chestnut soup. The dining room fit for Cinderella.
The grounds include formal gardens, forest and folies including chapels, monk huts, streams, fountains and panoramic views v. We spent a day exploring them.
We stayed 4 days and went out from there to various sites.
Caveats:
Do not let any of these keep you from going. Not important in the big picture. Quite a bit of deferred maintenance. WIFI ONLY in the bar (but what a “bar”). A bit spotty but who cares?
It is mainly a huge beautiful living room.
Tour buses come in the day but u can avoid them.
Prices E120 to E800 for Kings Suite. YOU CAN AFFORD IT. Price of Motel 6 in the US. Bit isolated- actually a good thing. Peace and quiet
In Short GO!
Written 4 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JohnnysGoodLifeTips
Plano, TX890 contributions
Apr 2018 • Family
Nice palace and great forest to take a hike
Unfortunately they don’t let you see the palace from the inside or eat in the resturant , which is a shame
There is coffee shop and souvenirs shop outside
Unfortunately they don’t let you see the palace from the inside or eat in the resturant , which is a shame
There is coffee shop and souvenirs shop outside
Written 5 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shimipor
Hod Hasharon, Israel43 contributions
Feb 2016 • Friends
So much was written about that Hotel. Mostly good things.
We, two couples spent one night at the hotel.
The hotel is located in a forest not far way from highways.
We enjoyed the time there: Atmosphere was unique and good. Service was great and meals were delicious.
Rooms were clean but small, tiny TV.
We definitely recommend on it.
We, two couples spent one night at the hotel.
The hotel is located in a forest not far way from highways.
We enjoyed the time there: Atmosphere was unique and good. Service was great and meals were delicious.
Rooms were clean but small, tiny TV.
We definitely recommend on it.
Written 11 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chip M
San Francisco, CA17 contributions
Oct 2015 • Friends
Staying in the Bussaco Palace is a legitimate "no where else in the world" experience. With its regal and old world vibe, you really do feel like royalty. The dining room, bar and grand lounge are incredible and take you away to a different era. For sleeping quarters, every room is unique and varies in size and amenities. Try and get one of the rooms overlooking the garden in the "Royal" section of the hotel. Also, build in some time to explore the grounds/national forest. Take a tour. It is really worth coming here.
Written 6 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mel M
Curitiba, PR2 contributions
Apr 2012 • Couples
A beautiful hotel in the middle of a beautiful park. It was sunny all the time so we spent a lot of time walking in the woods. Good service. Needs renewal.
Written 12 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CrosserFan
Cork, Ireland40 contributions
Aug 2019
We decided not to stay in the Palace of Bussaco, as the reviews weren't particularly good. We did drop into the hotel however to admire the Manueline architecture and the azulejos and we also took a walk in the gardens. The whole area is actually a little bit tired and our hotel in nearby Lusso was certainly the lowlight of our entire trip. However, at least we had the option of walking around the little town at night, choosing a restaurant and listening to some music at their outdoor festival. Although the forest of Bussaco is a beautiful shady place for families to gather in the summer, I would have preferred to spend an extra day in the lovely Serra Estrella region or in Coimbra or Tomar.
Written 9 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Olá, alguém sabe me dizer como chego ao hotel de transporte público saindo de Lisboa?
Written 6 August 2016
Alugar carro e melhor em lisboa
Written 11 June 2018
Would like to know if the palace if open daily for visitors.
Gostaria de saber se o palácio está aberto para visita diariamente.
Written 7 April 2015
The palace was turned into a hotel, so it is open daily. The best way to visit is either staying there or going for lunch or dinner. The restaurant is beautiful and overlooks the great gardens in the patio.
Written 9 April 2015
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