Among the many things I loved about Lisbon, serenity and calmness of the people really impressed me. I do not know whether this is due to the fact that I lived in the busiest and most crowded cities in the world during the past decade!
Lisbon is located on the coast of Portugal, it has average 300 sunny days and it is definitely one of the most interesting European capitals!
USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT PORTUGAL:
- Language: Portuguese – English is well spoken everywhere
- Visa: No need visa for EU citizens. Please check the rules for your passport
- Capital: Lisbon. Population: 552,700 people
- Currency: Euro
- Getting to Lisbon from the airport: 15-20 minutes by taxi, and it should cost less than 20 euros
- Time Zone: UTC/GMT +1
- Country Code: +351
- Emergency number: 112
- Population: 10,264,797 people
Where to stay in Lisbon?
For my experience, I would suggest to stay in Barrio Alto area or near Praça do Comércio. My favorite hotels in Lisbon are:
- LX Boutique: cozy boutique hotel newly designed, perfectly located
- InterContinental Lisbon: Luxury hotel with a beautiful city view
- Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon: Luxury hotel with a fantastic city view
Where to eat in Lisbon?
I have to admit that generally in Lisbon the food is really delicious, especially seafood, and also Portuguese wines are very good – white more than red in my opinion! You have to try the most popular dishes “bacalhau” (salted cod fish) and “sardinhas grelhadas” (grilled sardines), and also local cheese!
Go to Pastéis de Bélem, a bakery in town, and try the most famous local dessert: Pastel de Nata, a egg tart pastry. Be ready to queue for a while as apparently it is the best place in Lisbon!
The best places to eat in Lisbon for dinner:
- AKLA @ InterContinental: Portuguese food in a fancy restaurant
- Bica do Sapato (waterfront): cool place for dinner and drinks, local food
- Varanda @ Four Seasons Hotel: very fancy meal, exquisite food
The best places to eat in Lisbon for lunch:
- TimeOut Market: great place for lunch, where you can try so many different kind of food and tasting wines. Highly recommended!
-
Ministerium: in Praća do Comércio, you can have a great Portuguese meal with local wines. The outdoor tables are perfect to enjoy the sun!
10 BEST THINGS TO SEE IN LISBON
#1. Torre de Belém
Belém Tower or Tower of St. Vincent was built in the early 16th century, in the civil parish of Santa Maria de Belém. Because of its significant role played in the Portuguese maritime discoveries, it has been recognized a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To get to Belém from central Lisbon you need to take tram 15 or get a taxi. By walk is way too far!
#2. Berardo Museum and Belem Cultural Center
If you like to see a very impressive art collection, I would highly recommend to visit the Berardo Museum! You really cannot miss it, I loved it immensely!
The museum is located in Belém area, and it is open from 10am till 7pm. Normal ticket price is 5 euros, free on Saturdays!
In this collection you can see around 70 artistic tendencies with more than 900 works. The precise narrative path from one room to another demonstrates the strong musicological and didactic nature of the Berardo Collection.
#3. Santa Maria de Belem Cathedral
Also known as Jerónimos Monastery, it is one of the most decorative churches in Portugal and a must-see in Lisbon! It is necessary to buy a ticket to go inside, which costs 7 euros. The Cathedral is open from 10am till 6pm (in winter it closes at 5pm).
#4. Jardim do Ultramar
Perfect place for a nice walk on your way to Belém. I really liked these gardens as they are very clean and full of orange and lemon trees, with little fountains here and there! Lovely!
#5. Praça do Comércio
Most famous square in Lisbon, ideal for outdoor lunch and drinks while enjoying a fantastic sunny day! My restaurant recommendation is Ministerium, where you can enjoy delicious Portuguese food like “Bacalhau” and drinking great local wines.
#6. Barrio Alto
Most popular are in Lisbon, Barrio Alto offers everything you need: great hotels, cool bars and restaurants, shopping streets and so on. If you are not staying in this area, go to have a walk around to see the most iconic Portuguese buildings, like Teatro da Trinidade.
#7. Famous “Tram 28”
Tram 28 is the longest route in Lisbon and it is very popular as a tourist attraction because it passes through most of Lisbon areas. I personally did not do it, but many people normally enjoy it!
Tickets can be purchased from the machine or from the driver. A single ticket costs 2.90 euros. The Tram28 departs every 11 minute from Praça do Martim Moniz (north of Baixa).
#8. Cais do Sodre
If you would like to have some fun at night, Cais do Sodre is definitely the place to go. You can find lots of cool bars!
#9. “25 de Abril” Bridge
#10. Alfama Old Town
Alfama is the oldest part of the city. The most recognizable building is the Church of Santa Engrácia. Another great place to visit in this area is the Fado Museum, entirely dedicated to Portuguese traditional music.
Another very popular place to visit in Lisbon is Castelo de São Jorge (St. George’s Castle) located above Baixa district.
Very prominent is also the Sé (Romanesque Cathedral).
Hope this post will be helpful for your trip to Lisbon.
And you… Are you lusting for the sublime?
Always,
Carlotta