Lisbon, Portugal is one of my favorite cities. Not only does the city have an affordable and thriving food scene, it also features some incredible historical sites and attractions (it’s one of the oldest cities in the world!). It’s also one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen – with scenic, hilly viewpoints scattered throughout the city and alleyways lined with colorful and intricately-detailed tiled buildings. The weather is warm. The people are friendly. And the pasteis de natas (portuguese custard tarts) are creamy and absolutely to-die-for. What’s not to love? Planning a trip to Lisbon and don’t know where to start? Check out my Lisbon trip diary for a collection of my favorite moments from our trip to Lisbon.
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Belem
Visiting the Belem District, an UNESCO World Heritage site featuring the Belem Tower, the Jeronimos Monastery, and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos sculpture.
The Belem promenade is where several historical Portuguese ship voyages started, and the area is dedicated to all the explorers that helped establish Portugal as a superpower back in the 14th century. It’s a wonderful place to enjoy the sea breeze and while I was there, I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to go on my own expedition to sail the world!
It’s hard to believe how vast the reach of the Portuguese empire was…at one point, their reign covered what would be considered 70 separate sovereign states today. In front of the Padrão dos Descobrimentos sculpture is a mosaic map paved in the stone ground, where you can retrace historical Portuguese routes of discoveries.
TIP: Don’t bother going up the Belem Tower. The views aren’t the best in Lisbon (you can get better, for free nonetheless) and the queues can get crazy!
Belem is home to the famous pasteis de nata (portuguese custard tarts), which by the way, happens to be my absolute favorite dessert (at least, it is since I visited Portugal!). These golden tarts are flaky on the outside, rich and creamy on the side, and are particular good topped with a dash of cinnamon and powdered sugar. Seriously, you’ll want to have them multiple times a day, every day while you’re in Lisbon (I certainly did).
TIP: Pasteis de Belem is home to the original pasteis de nata (they’re good, but expect a long queue!). We tried a few natas while we were visiting Lisbon and I thought the best ones were from Fabrica de Nata.
Bairro Alto
Walking the hilly streets and admiring the beautifully Azulejo tiled buildings of Bairro Alto. The word ‘azulejo‘ means small polished stone. Oftentimes, the Azulejo tiles of Portugal are painted to tell a story (either about a historical event, religion, or culture). I couldn’t get enough of them. I loved all the intricate detailing of the tiles, the quirky color combinations, and the way they brightened up the street walls, park benches, and railway stations throughout the city.
Bairro Alto is also known to be Lisbon’s hopping nightlife district and home to the iconic Elevador da Bica. Bica is one of three funiculars in Lisbon (the other two are called Gloria and Lavra) – these funiculars were built as a lift to help locals and tourists get up the steep hills of Lisbon more easily.
I loved the bright yellow color of the funiculars and the city trams! Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to ride on a tram, but Tram 28 is known for providing an easy way to get a scenic (and affordable) tour of the city.
Sintra
Taking a short day trip to the neighboring region of Sintra. Sintra is what fairytales are made of, and I wish we could have spent more than a day exploring the area. Check out my dedicated blog post on Sintra to find out why this place is magical!
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Stylish Lodging
Staying at one of the most stylish, and conveniently located AirBnBs ever! Seriously, if you want to stay in an affordable but luxurious place while in Lisbon…you need to check this place out! It was located right in the heart of Bairro Alto which made it convenient for getting around and sightseeing. Everything in the apartment was clean and functional, and the hosts were super flexible and gracious (not only did they leave us a bottle of wine as a gift, they also offered us an early check-in, and dropped us off at the train station in the morning!).
LX Factory
Visiting LX Factory, an old manufacturing warehouse district that has now been converted to an eclectic collection of cafes, independent stores, and art galleries. There’s also a ton of interesting graffiti and sculptures in the area. We had a fun time wandering the area, snacking on tapas at 1300 Taberna (they have the best cheeseboard ever!), eating cheesecake at LXeeseCake, and touring the quirky Ler Devagar bookstore.
The Ler Devagar bookstore was once an old printing shop, but it’s now a bookstore/cafe/museum/concert venue. Here you can read a book, chat with friends, enjoy a cup of coffee and just watch the world go by. It’s considered by many to be one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world and I totally agree.
Rua August Arch
Savoring panoramic views at the top of the Rua August Arch. This grand white arch symbolizes the rebirth of Lisbon when a bizarre natural phenomenon occurred (earthquake + fire + tsunami) and destroyed much of the city. Despite it being located in one of Lisbon’s most popular tourist areas, there was surprisingly no queue to take the lift to the top of the arch.
Below the arch is the famous Praça do Comércio, a square featuring mosaic floors, cheery yellow facades, lined with restaurant patios. Next to the square is a waterfront pathway that runs parallel to the Tagus River – it’s a perfect place for a sunset stroll.
Time Out Market Lisbon
Having lunch at Mercado da Ribeira (also known as Time Out Market Lisbon). Time Out Market Lisbon is no ordinary food hall. It’s a modern dining concept in which you can sample a variety of plates ranging from local street snacks to world-famous Michelin star specialties. The food stalls line the walls of the court – once you’ve ordered, you can enjoy your food in the center area where it’s open-seating. Be prepared as the market can get quite crowded (particularly during lunch rush hour) – if you see an open seat, pounce on it!
We had some great seafood at Marisqueria Azul inside Timeout Market Lisbon. The fried calamari was perfectly crispy, and the steamed garlicky clams were fresh and delicious…perfect with a chilled glass of white wine!
We also shared the legendary sandwich from Miguel Castro e Silva, a mega-sandwich stuffed with juicy roast pork, slathered in cheese, covered in piri piri hot sauce. I don’t even want to know how many calories I consumed!
TIP: A few blocks away from the Time Out Market Lisbon is a street that’s hard to miss….that’s because it’s painted a bright hot pink! The street is Rua Nova do Carvalho – once known as Lisbon’s red light district, the area has now been ‘revitalized’ and is a popular place to go partying at night and enjoying a drink at one of the many bars that line the street. I literally jumped for joy when I saw it.
Alfama
Getting lost in the Alfama district, with it’s charming maze of cobblestone streets. Alfama is one of the oldest districts in Lisbon, and it was my favorite place to explore in the city. Despite being home to the famous Castelo de Sao Jorge, it still has an authentic lived-in feel to it with it’s hanging laundry, colorful doors, and peeled paint.
One of the best parts of the Alfama district are the numerous viewpoints (miradouros) that dot the area. My favorite viewpoint terrace was Miradouro de Santa Luzia with it’s bright blue tiled benches, draping purple bougainvillea, and panoramic views of the city. Other famous viewpoints include Miradouro Portas do Sol (where you can enjoy a nice coffee or cocktail on the terrace) and Miradouro de Santa Catarina.
Drinks at Park Bar
Hanging out with the cool kids at Park Bar, and enjoying a romantic sunset. Word of warning: Park Bar can be a bit difficult to find (it’s on the top floor of a random car park in Bairro Alto on Calçada do Combro!). We had a great time enjoying the views from the rooftop and tossing back a nice cold glass of caipirinhas (a cocktail made with cachaça, muddled lime, and sugar).
Cervejaria Ramiro
Enjoying one of my favorite dinner experiences ever at Cervejaria Ramiro. This no-frills seafood eatery is always packed with locals and tourists, and for good reason! They specialize in shellfish and beer, and their sapateira (stone crab with roe) is to-die-for!
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Have questions or need help planning a trip to Lisbon? Leave me a comment below!
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