Ever wondered how you could explore a city in such a limited time? Here I will be sharing what I got up to in my short stay in the city of Lisbon.
Where to stay: H10 Duque de Loulé
This boutique hotel was in the perfect location, only a 5-minute walk to Marquês de Pombal Square. The central location is great for accessing different areas of the city and catching the metro. The hotel itself is decorated with a Portuguese influence and has a rooftop bar with amazing views of the entire city. I highly recommend staying here however it can be a bit on the pricey side. For more information click here.
Places to explore:
Ramble around the streets of the Bairro Alto
The old streets of Lisbon are narrow and steep, but beautiful. You can wonder down a road and suddenly be at the top or the bottom of a big hill without even knowing. It’s a great way to explore the city by foot and you never know what shops or cafes you will stumble across. I came across a tiny café called ‘Naked’ selling homemade all-natural ice lollies, it was the perfect treat to cool down in the hot sun. I highly recommend visiting as it’s a great up and coming café in the city. If you have more time, I’d also recommend exploring the Botanical Gardens of Lisbon opposite the café. I didn’t get around to going, but I it’s a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Catch a game at the Benfica stadium - Estádio da Luz
The football stadium is spectacular, and the atmosphere is incredible. It’s one of those stadiums that even if you aren’t a football fan, it’s still an amazing place to go. It was a once in a lifetime experience for me. The stadium is next to the Colombo shopping mall so just take the blue Metro line to Colégio Militar/Luz.
Ride the colourful trams
It’s a typical tourist attraction, but riding the old-style trams around the city is such a thrilling experience. You weave in and around the narrow roads, seeing all the top spots from the comfort of the tram. I took tram line 12 as it’s the shortest route and does a loop of the Alfama district, showing off the incredible castle on the way. Catch the tram from Praça da Figueira. A more popular (and busy) choice is tram line 28 which covers the majority of Lisbon and is a great way to see the city. They are very popular, so I’d recommend starting or finishing the day with this to avoid long queues.
A single ticket purchased onboard the tram costs €3.00. A better option is to purchase the 24-hour public transport ticket, which includes the metro and all tram/bus services. This ticket costs €6.40 but can only be purchased from the metro stations.
Go shopping at the Colombo Shopping Mall
Why not shop in the famous mall of Lisbon? You will be able to find all of your favourite brands and more. The food court is perfect for catching a bite to eat and trying some traditional Portuguese food. To get there, simply catch the Metro by taking the blue line to Colégio Militar/Luz.
Visit the Praça do Comerçio
This area is home to magnificent statue of Dom Jose I. You will also be able to spot the famous bridge – 25 de Abril, and the statue of Jesus (Cristo Rei) in the distance. This spot is great for a variety of restaurants and bars to try out. If you like beer check out the beer museum here too.
Take a picture with Column of Pedro IV
The famous statue was built in 1874 and is of the King Pedro IV. It’s located in the Baixa neighbourhood in Rossio square. There are lots of cafes around the square especially the famous Nicola café. It’s the perfect place to try Portuguese cakes called ‘bolos’ and drink a very small cup of coffee. There is so much more than the classic Pastel de nata to try, I love mille feuille, bola de berlim, queijada and palmier to name a few. Majority of Portuguese cakes are filled with a delicious sweet yellow custard like the pastel de nata.
Explore the coastline at Cascais
Lisbon is very close to the coast so a great way to soak up the sun is to head to Cascais and watch the big waves. Explore the cliffs at Boca do Inferno, you’ll be amazed with the rock formations and is the perfect place for fishing.
Visit the Museu Nacional do Azulejo
Across Lisbon, the city is decorated with tiles called Azulejos. If you fancy learning more about the history of the tiles and its significance to Portuguese culture head to the Museu Nacional do Azulejo. Find out about the latest exhibitions here.
Places to eat & drink:
Naked café – The perfect place for natural ice cream and sorbets, necessary to cool down on a hot day.
Beiju Tapiocaria – This restaurant is home to burgers. I ate the Portuguese burger with a Sumol, a popular Portuguese soft drink. Sumol comes in many flavour but my favourite has to be pineapple.
Limão Rooftop Bar – Share a bottle of wine or enjoy a few cocktails while admiring the view of the city while the sun sets. It’s not a very big bar so I’d recommend booking a table if possible.
Pastelaria Marquês de Pombal – Perfect to grab a bite to eat for breakfast or brunch from a wide range of delicious Portuguese cakes. It’s also a great place to get your coffee fix.
Manteigaria – An alternative to the popular Pastéis de Belém which I find overrated and crowded is to try the fresh pastel de nata at Manteigaria. It’s located near the Baixa-Chiado metro station. If you do fancy visiting Pastéis de Belém, a top tip to avoid the queues is to head inside to the restaurant to try the famous cakes.
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