Two years ago, I visited Lisbon, capital city of Portugal, with my mother and sister. Since then, Lisbon has been one of my favourite cities in Europe. I really loved the friendly people, the sea, the music everywhere, the nostalgic cable cars and the permanent feeling that I had travelled back in time. I really recommend Lisbon to everyone and really hope that I will be able to go back soon myself! Enjoy reading and get inspired!
... and off course it didn't take long until we sat down in the first café and tasted one of the famous "pastéis de nata" - little cream tarts. Yummy!
In the old town, the old, nostalgic cable cars are everywhere. I really enjoyed the rides - not only because Lisbon is quite hilly and walking quite exhausting! :-)
We found a wonderful restaurant called "Chapito a mesa" (Costa do Castelo 7). It immediately became one of my favourite restaurants in town. During the day, it is also a school for circus artists. Isn't that view amazing?
We explored Lisbon mostly by foot and discovered all kind of fantastic things.
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| Elevador de Santa Justa |
We walked up to the Castelo district, from where you have a fantastic view.
One of my favourite spots in Lisbon was the waterfront along the Tejo river and next to the bridge 25 de Abril. This bridge looks really similar to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco! The walk along the river was amazing as we could enjoy the sun, observing a sailing regatta on the river, eating ice cream and visiting the Torre de Belem, one of Lisbon's most famous landmarks.
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| Torre de Belem |
Another highlight of my trip was the visit of the Belem-neighborhood. Isn't it pretty?
During summer, life in Lisbon seems to be outside in the streets.
Another highlight of the trip was our visit in Sintra - a town northwest from Lisbon. It's on the UNESCO world heritage-list and very impressive! You can easily reach it by train and should at least have half a day to explore it. You can visit a lot of summer residences of former kings, stroll through the narrow streets and go souvenir shopping. My personal highlights were the Pena-palace on top of a hill as well as the Castelo dos Mouros which is surrounded by a big wall that reminded my of the big wall of China. If you walk on this wall and see the surrounding landscape you will surely be as fascinated as I was!
Our timing for Lisbon was perfect, as at our very last evening in Lisbon, the final of the UEFA European Championship took place. As I had lost a bet (some weeks before, I had claimed that Portugal won't reach the finals), I was obliged to wear a soccer shirt with Ronaldo's name on it. Well... I can tell you that I have never made friends faster and more easily than during this evening! :-)
Shortly before the soccer game, we did a Tuktuk-ride with our driver Maria. She showed us a lot of fantastic places that we would never have discovered without her.
We were back in town when the game started. Lisbon was in a crazy mood and you can imagine that the party was huge when Portugal finally won the final!
The next day we had to say goodbye to Lisbon, a city that we all really liked. I'm pretty sure that it wasn't the last time I have been there!
Planning a trip to Lisbon? Here are my tips...
Where to stay
We found a wonderful appartment on AirB'n'B which was located near Castelo de Sao Jorge. This was perfect. Make sure you look for a hotel / appartment in the old town (Castelo or Baixa).
How to get around
- You can easily walk or taking the metro, the cable cars are very crowded. You can buy a "Viva Viagem"-card at the airport or at every metro station and you can fill it with the amount of many you want (works like a badge). The metro is very good, on time and clean. It costs approx. 1,50 from the airport to the old town.
- We also did a Hop on - Hop off tour by bus (Yellow tour). This was really worth it, the ticket is valid 24h and you see all the important things - also things that we would have skipped normally (e.g. the Belem-neighborhood). This would have been a pitty!
- Coffee! In a lot of countries I don't like the coffee. But Lisbon seemed to be coffee-heaven! Don't order a cappuccino (it seems to be an insult) but a Bica (Espresso), a meia de leite (small milk coffee) or a galao (big milk coffee). And make sure you eat a typical pastél de nata (cream tart)!
- Ginjinha: A licquor that is very typical for Lisbon and in which I fell in love after the first sip. A cherry licquor that you drink out of a little chocolate cup (which you are allowed to eat afterwards! :-) ). Wonderful!
- Chapito a mesa: Costa do Castelo 7. One of my favourite restaurants in Lisbon. During the day, it is also a school for circus artists. Very colorful interior, friendly staff, yummy food and a great view over the famous red bridge of Lisbon. In the evening there is often live music.
- Café A Brasileiro: Rua Garret 120. The oldest café in town, founded in 1905. Dark, narrow, old - cool!
- A lot of not so touristy restaurants and bars with live Fado-music you can find in the Alfama-neighborhood.
- Castelo de Sao Jorge: A castle on a hill (Castelo neighborhood). The entry is really worth it, because from up there you have a fantastic view over the town. Additionally, there are a lot of very cute cafés and shops up there!
- Elevador Bica: Probably the most famous route of the old, nostalgic cable cars. Ideal for taking pictures of the cable cars.
- Belem neighborhood: A wonderful neighborhood that had been a little fishing village and from where the sailors started their adventures. Nowadays you can take a walk along river Tejo, enjoying a "bica" in one of the cafés, observing the crowd and eating a delicious Pastel de nata. There are also a lot of cool shops, interesting museums and restaurants.
- Alfama neighborhood: The oldest part of Lisbon, along the river Tejo. There are not so many tourists here and it's THE place to feel the heart of Lisbon. A lot of small, old taverns and cafés, narrow alleys, wonderful for strolling around. Don't miss it!
- Cable car No. 28: The best line if you want to take a nostalgic (and touristic) tram ride. Up and down the hills. It's good fun!
- Mercado da Riberia: Lisbon's markethall is worth a visit! Here you find everything you need - fresh vegetables and fruits, fish, meat - but also very cool cafés and little shops. I loved it!
- Miradouro de nossa senhora do monte: A wonderful viewpoint from where you see the red bridge, the Tejo river and the city. Amazing!
- Explore the city by Tuktuk: Another great way to discover Lisbon is by Tuktuk. It costs about 50 euros for one hour and you can see Lisbon from another perspective. We were very lucky with our driver Maria who gave us a lot of interesting informations and showed us places that we would never have discovered ourselves!
- Bridge 25 de Abril and the waterfront: You cannot miss this bridge - as it looks very similar to the one in San Francisco. It connects Lisbon with one of the outside neighborhoods of the town. You can walk along the river Tejo, it's a very beautiful walk and the view is great. There are a lot of foodstands there where you will find yummy things to eat and drink. One of my favourite spots in Lisbon! Also along the waterfront: Torre de belem, Lisbon's landmark.
- Visit Sintra - you should really invest half a day to visit Sintra, a town in the northwest of Lisbon. It's on the UNESCO world heritage - list and very impressive! You can see a lot of summer residences of former kings. The highlights: The Pena-palace on top of a hill as well as the Castelo dos Mouros which is surrounded by a big wall that reminded my of the big wall of China. If you walk on this wall and see the surrounding landscape you will surely be as fascinated as I was! You can imagine that Sintra is quite touristic, that's why you should go there as early as possible. Don't forget to bring your wind jacket, it's quite windy up there in the hills! From Lisbon, take the train (e.g. from Rosario train station, a ticket is 5 Euro), later bus 434 to the palaces and castles.
- Lisbon is a great place for going out and partying all night. A lot of nice restaurants, cool clubs, rooftop terraces - what do you wish more? We found nightlife in the old town (Bairro Alto) where everyone seems to be out in the streets. But also on the waterfront you will find some big clubs.
- My favourite place: The Park Restaurant and Bar, on the rooftop of a garage. Very difficult to find as there are no signs at all and you have to enter via parking lot. But the view from up there is breathtaking and the jungle-like style of the bar is amazing. My place to be in Lisbon! Adress: Calçada do Combro, 58 Bairro Alto.
- Another great place: The Farmacia. An old pharmacy with great atmosphere, big garden and a great view. Wonderful to sit outside and enjoy! Adress: Rua Marechal Saldanha 1