Lisbon is officially one of my favourite cities in the world. I can’t believe it took me so long to go there and now, I’m planning my move having only been there for 3 days. It’s that cool! Here’s my quick travel guide for what to do if you’re visiting for a city break.
BELEM TOWER
Also known as the Tower of St Vincent, Belem Tower is definitely one of the most iconic and recognisable sites in Lisbon. We didn’t go in, because we didn’t have time but next time for sure!
JERONIMOS MONASTERY
Jeronimos Monastery is definitely one of the most spectacular religious sites I have visited. The former monastery is a stunning example of Gothic architecture in Lisbon, and by golly, it is transporting. The adjoining church is free to go into and equally spectacular in its beauty, but I promise you the monastery is well worth the ticket fee entry. Go early, especially if you go at the weekend; otherwise the queues for entry can get a bit daunting.
TRAM 28
Explore the Old Town – the Alfama District by tram. Yes, those yellow iconic trams from all the pictures and postcards of Lisbon run everyday Beware though, Tram 28 is basically only used by tourists because of all the landmarks it goes by. That means it’s a mission to get on one and they get super packed, so there is very limited seating and you’re likely to end up standing. A word of advice – if you’re aiming to get the tram, go early in the morning!
TUKTUK TOUR
Whilst getting the Tram 28 is a Lisbon bucketlist item, if you want to actually see and appreciate the sights, then I would recommend you do a tour of the city’s attractions by TukTuk. We had the most charming tuktuk driver who was super funny and a great photographer. You get the chance to learn about the sights like Se Cathedral and Portas de Sol and take them in with a bit more time than a fleeting glance on the tram.
FADO EVENING
Fado music is one of the traditional Portuguese musical genres, where you have a singer accompanied by the classical Portuguese guitar. It was my friend’s birthday, and this was her birthday wish – to go to a Fado evening. We went along to Maria de Mouraria – Casa de Fados, a place that definitely understood the assignment. The music is so hauntingly beautiful, it almost made me tear up.
PASTEIS DE BELEM
The birthplace of pasteis de nata (“the portuguese egg custard tart”). It’s an absolute must that you try a pasteis de nata if you visit Lisbon, and where better than where it all started. Don’t be put off by the queues, they move very quickly and I would recommend sitting down in the salon if you’re not in a hurry. It’s an experience to be there. If you don’t get the chance to visit Pasteis de Belem, never fear, there are some other great spots for pasteis including Manteigaria and Castro. We had determined to have pasteis everyday we were there and the final vote was favourite place was Pasteis de Belem, second Castro and third was Manteigaria. They’re all pretty delicious though!
TIMEOUT FOOD MARKET
TimeOut Market is a massive foodhall where you can eat yourself into a food coma, wake up and start all over again. It was a little overwhelming for me, seeing so many food options and knowing I had only one stomach to put it all in. I definitely had a spot of choice overload, but ended up extremely satisfied with my meal choices.
FEIRA DA LADRA (Flea Market”)
I love a good flea market and I had no idea that Lisbon was so good at them! In fact, I’m pretty sure this is probably one of the biggest flea markets in Europe; it goes on for ages. It’s located on Campo de Santa Clara in Alfama with so many treasures on offer just waiting for new homes. Loved it, but alas I was living that hand luggage only life!
WHERE TO EAT
There is so much good food on offer in Lisbon, and at very good value too. They don’t skimp on portion sizes and it’s generally not hard on the wallet either. Apart from TimeOut Food Market, try out Lisbon Tu e Eu and of course Maria de Mouraria – Casa de Fados for traditional Portuguese fare. For brunch, you can’t go wrong with Fauna and Flora or Dear Breakfast. And if you have the chance to get out of the city, head to Queimado’s beach club setup at Costa de Caparica for some delicious food by the waves.
WHERE TO STAY
We found a super cute place in Bairro Alto neighbourhood. It was superbly located for going out to bars and restaurants, seeing all the attractions, getting on Tram 28. You can’t go wrong staying in Bairro Alto, but then there’s also Alfama, Baixa and Belem.
HOW TO GET AROUND
Lisbon is super easy to get around with amazing public transport. We got a 3-day travelcard which allowed us to use the buses, trams, metro and trains. You can also walk around fairly easily but beware, it’s very hilly and cobblestone streets abound. So leave the heels at home, and bring your cute, comfy sandals to save yourself a trip to the podiatrist!
