In 2015, I visited Portugal’s capital: Lisbon. I had such a great time in Porto that I wanted to know more about the country. So, I hopped on a flight to Lisbon with a small bag and lots of expectations!
Take Your Time To Visit The Old And Modern Lisbon
Prepare your sneakers! While Lisbon is not excessively big, there is quite a lot to see and, more importantly, there are a lot of hills. My advice? Take your time, look around, the city is quite nice, with typical houses, a lot of colors, some really cool street art, and a pleasant waterside. And if you don’t feel like walking, you can use the yellow trams. Perfect to explore the historic neighborhoods, these are iconic and practical!
Lisbon’s City Center
You can start with the impressive and rich Praça do Comércio, a magnificent square with yellow buildings and a giant arch. This is one of the biggest squares in Europe! From there, continue to walk along the sea. You can sit down, listen to the waves and occasional buskers.
Or you can continue to walk along the water and enter the Time Out Market. I ate most of my meals there, because it felt safe and because there were a lot of choices. You might have seen that kind of market in your city. It gathers different kinds of cuisine (Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, etc.). Everyone can choose the dish of their choice and then meet their friends and eat at the same table.
The Belém Tower
A bit further, you’ll find two other famous monuments: the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument of the Discoveries), a really tall and beautifully sculpted stone monument; and the Belém Tower that you might have seen on postcards. The second one is truly a must-see. I didn’t visit it, but I was fascinated by the strong architecture built in the middle of the water.
The Old Town Of Alfama
Do not forget the old town of Alfama! This is a particularly nice part of Lisbon. I did a walking tour to get the most of it, but you can totally explore it on your own.
There, you can visit the Castle of São Jorge or simply enjoy some stunning views from the top of the city.
Taste Portuguese Specialties
One of the must-do in Lisbon is to taste the famous “Pasteis de nata“, this Portuguese egg custard tart pastry. I queued for quite some time (but not too much) at the Antiga Confeitaria de Belém to buy one. This pastry shop is right in the center and I was told that it is one of the best in Lisbon. Fun fact: did you know that the Pasteis de nata is also sometimes called “Pasteis de Belém“?
If you like custard tart, you’ll probably enjoy it. Personally, I was disappointed and actually didn’t like it. But most of the people I know do appreciate this specialty, so I recommend trying it.
I tried another specialty when I was in the capital. This one is a beverage called Ginjinha: it’s a liqueur made with sour cherry. Once again, I followed the locals recommendations and went to buy a small shot at the A Ginjinha bar. And once again, this is not really my thing…
At the Time Out Market, I tried the francesinha (literally Little French), another Portuguese specialty. Despite its name, this sandwich is originally from Porto. It is composed of layers of toasted bread and assorted hot meats over which sliced cheese is melted by a sauce made of tomato and beer. Because that’s obviously not fat enough, you usually add fries to the mix. You guessed it: that was a no for me too.
Honestly, I am a foody, but I did not find a lot of happiness in Portuguese food during this trip…
How Many Days To Visit Lisbon?
It really depends on what you plan on doing. If you want to see everything, I’d say maybe a week. But 3-4 days give you a feel of the city and of the country. Do not forget to relax.
The “must-do things” I mentioned are suggestions, you do you! For sure, you won’t be bored, there are a lot of cool things to do in the capital. In addition to the activities I listed, you can walk in Lisbon’s botanical garden, climb in the Santa Justa elevator, check out the republican guards, visit the Jerónimos Monastery, enjoy some of the museums, or just chill on the wharf.
Just one thing: it seemed to me that Lisbon was really expensive for a Portuguese city. It might have changed, but it is still one big European capital. Be sure to have the right budget before you arrive.
Not far from Lisbon, there is also Sintra, which I absolutely loved, but that is expensive as well.
To see more photos of Portugal, you can visit the gallery Portugal.
