Fortaleza do Guincho

With the crested Atlantic crashing against the sandy walls of this stately Moorish fort, Fortaleza do Guincho is one of Lisbon's grand and unique hotels though it looks more like a postcard from Essaoiria than Lisbon. Standing boldly above Guincho Beach's golden headland (5 minutes drive north of Cascais town-centre), where surfers head for some of the best waves in Europe, the isolated spot is a raw stretch of sunset-yellow sand, topped with nothing more than a few simple seafood shacks.

At the southern headland of the beach you'll see the spectacular Fortaleza do Guincho, which once stood as a 17th Century fortress, guarding the mouth of Lisbon's estuary. Now it's a home for well-trodden lovers looking for grand and historic isolation on the outskirts of Lisbon.

The 27 rooms are appropriately regal with silk cushions, high thread-count sheets and alcove balconies onto the ocean. If you open your windows, you can hear the majestic chorus of the crashing Atlantic 24 hours a day. The only snag, for some, is the isolation. But for others, that's the main attraction.