Why we picked this hotel
A Casa Brava still feels like what it was before becoming a hotel: a family home. The century-old house, small number of rooms and hidden saltwater pool give the stay an intimacy that would be difficult to manufacture from scratch.
Hotel description
In the historic centre of Santarém, A Casa Brava hides a saltwater pool and quiet garden behind the walls of a century-old family house. The seven rooms and apartments draw on the Ribatejo through local materials, names and details, while the atmosphere stays relaxed and personal rather than polished or formal. Mornings can begin with breakfast delivered to your room before you walk out towards Santarém’s churches, viewpoints and old streets. Come back for an afternoon by the pool, then use the house as a base for wine tastings, horse experiences or trips on the Tagus. It works particularly well for travellers who want a small city stay with a real sense of the wider Ribatejo around it.
Hotel location
This is great
A century-old family house revived
The property brings more than 100 years of family history into a contemporary stay rooted firmly in the Ribatejo.
A saltwater pool hidden in the city
The garden’s outdoor saltwater pool feels surprisingly secluded for somewhere right in central Santarém.
Ribatejo runs through the design
Rooms and apartments draw their names and identity from the landscapes, traditions and people of the surrounding region.
Breakfast can come to you
Breakfast can be delivered directly to your room, making mornings here particularly easy and private.
The historic centre is outside the door
CNEMA is four minutes away on foot, while the Convent of Santa Clara is around eight minutes away.
There’s more to explore beyond the city
Boat trips, wine tastings, canoeing and equestrian experiences connect the stay with the wider Ribatejo.
Our take on the stay
Portas do Sol and many of Santarém’s historic churches are easily reached on foot, but I’d also use Casa Brava to see the Ribatejo beyond town: they work with local partners on boat trips, wine tastings, canoeing and equestrian experiences.
Curated by
Eliza
What guests loved
The peaceful garden and saltwater pool
The exceptionally comfortable rooms
The thoughtful, characterful interiors
The central Santarém location
The excellent breakfast
Best for
Historic centre • Couples • Pool days • Slow travel • Wine country • City breaks
Good to know
7 rooms and apartments
Check-in from 15:00
Check-out until 11:00
Room and apartment sizes approximately 15 m² to 50 m²
Seasonal outdoor saltwater pool
Selected apartments include private kitchens
Family-friendly; Lezírias sleeps up to 4
Pets are not allowed
Around 55 minutes by car from Lisbon Airport
Amenities
Free cots available for children
About the destination
Santarém
Santarém rises above the Tagus River in Portugal’s Ribatejo region, surrounded by vineyards, farmland, and wide-open countryside. Its historic centre mixes Gothic architecture, traditional cafés, and quiet streets, while the surrounding landscape offers a slower side of central Portugal. A Casa Brava is tucked into the heart of the city, making it easy to explore Santarém while staying closely connected to local life.
