BEAUTIFUL LISBON
The city of 7 hills, sat on the Tagus river charms all who visit. Confirmed a green list country for British travelers, more people than ever are thinking about a trip to Portugal. As one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Europe, Lisbon will no doubt be in the spotlight. As part of a big road trip around Portugal a few years back, we stopped in Lisbon more than once to experience a city buzzing with youthful optimism, yet still so traditionally Portuguese. We spent sun-filled days weaving through tile-adorned streets past crumbling historical buildings and along the Tagus river. Evenings were spent trying out traditional Portuguese dishes at family-run restaurants, cosying up in dark Fado bars and sat on the steps outside little drinking dens, throwing back glasses of vinho verde and toasting to the beautiful city. Here are ten things to do in Lisbon should you be visiting in the near future.
RIDE THE FAMOUS TRAM 28
The yellow tram is synonymous with Lisbon and one of the top tourist attractions in the city. The route takes you through some of the oldest parts of the city and stops off at all the typical tourist spots, so its great if you don’t have long in the city and want to see as much as possible. We jumped on one of the last services of the day and simply rode the tram for the entirety of the journey, heads out the window gawping at a dreamy city as the sun set.
EXPLORE BELEM
Belem holds a special place for us as this is the area we stayed in when in Lisbon. We were stopping in Lisbon as part of a big campervan road trip around Portugal, and so our van was our home for the duration. We parked up on the bank of the river Tagus in Belem, right next to the historical Torre de Belem and fell in love with the area. We would wake here every morning to sunshine and would stretch our legs walking along the river. Just across the train line was our favourite breakfast spot, Pasteis de Belem, where we would fuel up on orange juice and pasteis de nata’s whilst planning out what we wanted to do in the city that day. Reaching Belem from the city centre is easy, with one big path that runs along the river. It takes a quite a while to walk, so we hopped on the electric scooters that are dotted around the area (too much fun!) to get to the city centre and back. The Jerónimos Monastery and the Torre de Belem are must-visits and there are lots of lovely restaurants nearby to grab lunch.
WANDER LISBON BY FOOT
The best way to explore any city is to take off on foot and simply go for a wander. The streets of Lisbon are so colourful and you will find crumbling buildings decorated with traditional Portuguese tiles and quaint cobblestone alleyways around every corner. There are plenty of free walking tours to find around the city, where locals will walk you to Lisbon’s best spots whilst introducing you to the history of the city. When you’re done wandering the city streets, take a walk along the river Tagus where you’ll find scenes of boats bobbing by, lone fishermen propped up by the edge and a gorgeous view of the iconic 25 de Abril Bridge.
CHECK OUT THE ALFAMA DISTRICT
Alfama is one of Lisbon’s oldest and easily most charming districts. We wandered along the hilly cobbled streets, admiring the old buildings with their paint-peeling facades and washing hanging from the windows, taking in the views of a Lisbon gone back in time. This is the perfect area to explore for a taste of the old Lisbon. Climb up to Castele De Sao Jorge to see the best views across Lisbon and then lose yourself through the maze of alleyways and steep staircases, stopping for lunch at one of the traditional restaurants and to pop into little shops selling handmade goods.
TAKE A FERRY ACROSS THE TAGUS RIVER
Take a ferry across the Tagus to Almada to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and to check out Lisbon from a different viewpoint. Visiting Resaturante Ponto Final is a must. Traditional Portuguese food is served right on the water, with a perfect view of the 25 de Abril Bridge, boats bobbing past in the breeze. Book ahead to make sure you get a table as it can be a busy spot.
EXPLORE THE LX FACTORY
Lisbon’s cool art centre is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. Mooch around the artsy shops and market stalls whilst checking out the colourful street art before stopping at one of the epic brunch spots to fuel up. Visit on a Sunday for the flea market, where you can sift through the rails for some vintage gems and then find your way up to the rooftop bar to enjoy a cocktail in the sun.
MUNCH ON PASTEL DE NATA
You’d be foolish to leave Lisbon without trying these Portuguese egg custard tarts. Pasteis de Belem is home of the original pastel de nata and so trying one from there is an absolute must. Their secret recipe is recreated every day in the bakery inside using only traditional methods. Having camped up in Belem with our camper, we visited this place every morning for breakfast. There is always a big queue for takeaway, but if you head inside there will be plenty of free tables. They have lots of other options as well and it is safe to say Lisbon do pastries very well!
VISIT THE JERONIMOS MONASTERY
The gem of Belem, this UNESCO world heritage site is a dream to explore for those who are blown away by interesting architecture and for those who love history. It is one of the most popular things to do in Lisbon and so it can get busy. We recommend stopping at our favourite Pasteis de Belem just down the road to grab a pastel de nata and enjoy it waiting in the line for the monastery! After all, it is said the secret recipe of the pastel de nata originated in the kitchen of the monastery! The monastery is closed on Mondays so make sure to avoid that day. You’ll leave knowing the history of the monks who once roamed the monastery and some very pretty photographs.
TEST OUT THE NIGHTLIFE
Lisbon’s nightlife has much to offer. We were celebrating a 30th birthday whilst visiting the city and so we toasted to the birthday girl with many glasses of Portuguese Vinho Verde and Ginjinha whilst exploring what Lisbon’s nightlife had to offer. Nothing expresses Portuguese culture quite like Fado music and watching a live performance during your stay in the city is a non-negotiable. You’ll find the best performances in tiny, dark backstreets, where numbers of people inside are limited for a completely personal and hauntingly beautiful experience. After you’ve been successfully serenaded head to the Bairro Alto district to dance the night away at one of the many clubs. For a more relaxed vibe, find one of Lisbon’s many drinking dens and make the most of the warm evenings by sitting on the steps outside like the locals do with your choice of tipple and a plate or two of petiscos.
TAKE A DAY TRIP TO SINTRA
When planning our road trip around Portugal, Sintra was high up on the list of places we definitely wanted to see. Sintra is a fairytale village nestled within vibrant green hills and is an area that truly feels magical. It is easy to see why it is a UNESCO world heritage site. What’s more, Sintra can be reached in just half an hour from the centre of Lisbon! We would recommend a walk through Parque de Pena, full of the dreamiest plants and trees (and absolute heaven in the summer when its hot out), exploring the iconic and colourful Pena Palace and a walk along the walls of Moorish Castle as definite musts when you visit. Any extra’s will only add to the magic of exploring the area.
You’ll enter the city, tingling with the youthful buzz the city exudes and leave with the bittersweet thought that there is no where quite like Lisbon.
