We had an amazing stay at the Santa Catarina Apartment - I am filled with nostalgia just typing up this review! The team was great, answering all my queries within a reasonable time frame. Check-in and check-out was a breeze.

The apartment was exactly as depicted in the photos - a cute, cozy wooden hideaway on the top floor of one of the typical colourful houses in Bairro Alto.

The place felt incredibly spacious for what it was, and I loved the interior design. It really felt like a "home", which was exactly what I was looking for as this was my first time using AirBnB.

The location couldn't have been better - I really loved the funky Bairro Alto district, with its eclectic mix of bars, restaurants and independent stores, with something for every budget. The elegant Chiado district was an easy walk away, as was Principe Real, with its gorgeous green spaces and trendy boutiques.

Transport-wise the area is well serviced with buses and the metro line, and the famous no. 28 tram was just around the corner. We found the apartment to be a good base from which to discover the city, as we really visited a lot of areas in our five days in Lisbon.

You do need to be aware of the ceiling, which slopes downwards dramatically in some parts of the apartment: namely the sleeping pods, the bathroom and the fridge/washing machine area. If you are tall and/or clumsy, you might bump your head on the ceiling. I wasn't particularly bothered by this, but my 6'2'' boyfriend did bump his head on several occasions. The bathroom in particular has a "challenging" ceiling design, so tall people would have to kneel or crouch down in order to shower.

Overall though we both had an amazing time, in large part due to this gorgeous apartment, and would stay here again in a heartbeat.