Lisbon is beautiful. It 100% makes my top 10 cities, along with it’s little sister Porto. Myself and Josh visited in April 2018 for five days and we loved every minute. This was probably very much helped by the extra sunny spring weather we were greeted with and all of the Pasteis de Nata consumed. Seriously though, Lisbon has so much to offer, there is so much to see and if you were contemplating going, then contemplate no more. I thought I would cobble together my favourite bits and things you should do on a first time to the Portuguese Capital. Think of a city adorned in gorgeous azulejos, cobbled streets, quaint balconies and fabulous food and you have Lisbon. 

Bear with me, I didn’t know where best to include this little ramble, so the start will do. I wanted to share with you something that our walking tour guide shared with us on our first day. If you haven’t got a thing with words/languages like me then scroll down to the pictures and stuff. In my opinion some of the most beautiful words are those with no English equivalent. Saudade, for example is a word of Portugese origin, meaning: the love that remains, after someone is gone. It’s the recollection of feelings, experiences, places or events that once brought excitement, pleasure or  wellbeing, which instead now triggers the senses and makes one live again. It denotes a deep, nostalgic/mlancholic longing. Beautiful ey? In a nutshell, I think saudade perfectly encapsulates Lisbon. 

Anyhow, without further ado, here’s a few ideas to help you plan a trip to Lisbon… 

PLAN A TRIP TO LISBON – AirBnB Recommendation: 

I have posted photos previously over on Instagram, of the gorgeous little apartment we stayed in and I have had many messages asking for the details. We stayed in this AirBnb. Pedro and Claudia’s place was wonderful and we absolutely loved staying there. The apartment has everything you need and the addition of an adorable little balcony swung it for us. PSA, this apartment is at the top of a super steep hill (lay down for 10 minutes at the top kind of hill) in the Mouraria neighbourhood – a five minute walk from Rossio Square. 

This pretty terrific view was enough to make me want to stay forever! 

PLAN A TRIP TO LISBON – Brunch Recommendation: 

The Brunch Cafe, Rua da Alfandega 120, Lisbon 1100-016

What an absolute gem of a place. We actually stopped by here twice for breakfast whilst we were in the city. The food is awesome, the pancake stack was a particular favourite of mine, the staff are super friendly and this little spot is perfectly located. Grab a table outside if you’re lucky and watch the world go by. 

WHAT TO SEE & DO IN LISBON:

Praça do Comércio

One of the cities most emblematic squares, Praça do Comércio is the largest plaza located on the banks of the Tagus river. Praça do Comércio, traditionally known as Terreiro do Paço, was the home of the Royal Ribeira Palace until it was destroyed by the earthquake of 1755. The square you see today is lined by fabulous architecture on three sides. Enter through the impressive Arco Triunfal da Rua Augusta, a wonderful thoroughfare to Rossio Square. Not only is this plaza great for restaurants and shopping but it is also a major transport hub, with many tour buses and trams departing from here. We first stopped by here at the end of our free walking tour with Sandemans New Europe.  FYI, I would highly recommend their walking tours!

 Miradouro das Portas do Sol

I am all about finding the view points and have been known to walk Josh miles across  various cities for sunset. Portas do Sol is very popular with tourists. You’ll see them in droves arriving in tour groups off of cruise shops. This shot was not taken from that viewpoint, it’s actually an entrance to public toilets on the steps just behind. I know right, wasted as toilets. But, stop by anyway, grab a photo and appreciate the views overlooking the gorgeous Alfama district and the spectacular Sao Vincente de Fora.

Trams & Sé de Lisboa

Wander the winding cobbled streets and watch out for the trams – they are a popular mode of transport in Lisbon, with four of the five tram routes being serviced by the traditional “remodelado” trams. This photo was taken from behind the ancient Sé – Lisbon’s ancient cathedral. We didn’t ride Tram 28, as advised in many Lisbon related guides, because quite frankly I value my personal space. Meandering around in the sunshine, discovering all the city had to offer on foot was very much our preference. 

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

As the second view point mentioned in this post. I can tell you there are plenty of viewpoints or Miradouras to take in the views over Lisbons seven hills. The higher the better if you ask me and Miradouro da Senhora do Monte did not dissapoint with this rather splendid view over the city’s blanket of orange rooftops to the castle and out towards the Tagus River. If you look closely, (yes I know I am blocking the view a tad)  you will spot the Christ the King Statue in the distance. We walked up here twice (it’s flippin’ steep) as we came back for sunset – definitely worth it! 

Torre de Belém

The easiest way to get to Belém is to hop on the train from from Cais do Sodré, the trains are super regular and only take 9 minutes. Belém Tower is an iconic building, surrounded by water in the Tagus River. Boasting all the historical meaning to Portugal, this monument is not just to be seen from the outside. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to go in as the queues were mega ridiculous. Although, I am told the perspective from the terrace is pretty impressive. Needless to say, get there early to avoid the queues as there is a limited number of people allowed in.   

Eat all the Pastéis de Belém

The infamous Portuguese custard tart. A culinary art. A small piece of heaven. Yes Josh and I did have a ‘let’s see if we can eat 10 pasteis de nata before the end of our trip’ competition going on. Spoiler we excelled ourselves. Anyway whilst in Belém join the queue and grab a box of the ‘original’ recipe custard tarts. Although, you will know if you have read this post, that I very much favour Pastéis de Nata from Manteigaria. Though you will need to head to Timeout Market or Bairro Alto, for those little pies of goodness. 

Cascais

We have become partial to extending our city breaks from a couple of days to 4-5 where possible. I am so glad we did when we visited Lisbon. Not only did it mean that we got to really experience the city, but we also got to take advantage of the stunning coastline. The quaint town of Cascais is home to some of Portugal’s most gorgeous beaches, beautifully colourful architecture and cute little places to shop.  We loved spending the day here and just relaxing on the beach. You will not regret hopping on the train. I mean it will set you back no more than 2€ one way and the train journey alone is pretty wonderful. Oh and if you have time head for Boca do Inferno. 

Ginjinha

We were big fans of this delightful Portuegese liqueur. Such big fans in fact, that we bought a bottle home. Ginjinha or Ginja  is made from infusing ginja berries (sour cherries) in alcohol and sugar. It’s commonly served in a shot glass with a cherry in. The A Ginjinha bar, also known as Ginjinha Espinheira bar was located at the bottom of the hill very close to our AirBnb and was the best spot for sampling this rather moorish drink. Apologies for the horrendous couple photo, it was the best of a very average bunch!

Rooftop Drinks at Park Bar 

Quite an accurate bio for me would be ‘always seeking out a good rooftop bar’. Park Bar did not disappoint. Warning though, it is a bit of a pain to get to, but worth it all the same. You have to find the entrance to the parking garage, walk through to find the elevator (or for the fitness fanatics out there take the stairs) to the top floor. The views are marvellous, the atmosphere is awesome and the drinks are more than reasonable. We arrived early and it was still super busy, but there was more than enough standing room. NB: If I remember rightly we attempted to go back on the Monday evening but it was closed. Check opening times before you go! 

I hope you enjoyed my little guide to Lisbon. Have you ever been? If you are looking for further inspiration for other European city breaks then check out my posts on Porto & Valencia.