Ok I'm just gonna say it.... Lisbon, Portugal might be my new favorite city of all time. If it's not already on your travel list, ADD IT RIGHT NOW AND TRUST ME. Luke and I fell so in love with the lifestyle, beautiful buildings, aesthetic cafés, rooftop bars, and historical landmarks all around the city. Below I'm sharing all of our recommendations to help you fall in love with Lisboa as well :) You can also watch our Lisbon VLOG here!
When To Visit
• The best time to visit Lisbon is April - October; although it can get busier during the summer months. We were there end of February + beginning of March and actually lucked out with really great weather and not too much rain! Thankfully the weather is pretty great year round in Lisbon, but because of all the wonderful outdoor dining, rooftops, and walking around everywhere; I would suggest April - October if you can.
Getting Around
• The best way to get around Lisbon is by walking, but if you go to any attractions further out; Ubers are actually very affordable in Lisbon! We paid on average $4.50 per uber ride; which ended up being cheaper for us than bus tickets, since we would need 2 bus tickets. HOWEVER, if you are visiting for a quick trip and plan to see all of the major attractions at once, you may want to invest in the Lisboa Card. It is $23/day for free transportation (bus, metro, tram), and gives you access to all the major museums & attractions in Lisbon. You can purchase a Lisboa card HERE.
I personally think walking around the city is the best way to explore & stumble across cute cafés + shops, BUT be prepared. It is alllll hills in Lisbon. It's a really great workout actually ;)
Things to do / see:
• Arco da Rua Augusta / Comércio Square: This beautiful arch was built following the 1755 earthquake, to symbolize the reconstruction of the city. It's located in Comércio Square, right by the water, and there is a ton of shopping nearby! It's a must see.
• Visit LX Factory: LX Factory is a super hipster + artsy spot in Lisbon; filled with a TON of different restaurants, shops, and bars. You will definitely want to walk around & spend some time here, and maybe even grab some grub or drinks! There is even a super cute flower truck (pictured below), and the infamous Ler Devagar library! The books are all in Portuguese, but it's 3 stories and SUPER cool to walk through.
• Belém Tower: The Belém Tower / Torre de Belém is a beautiful tower sitting on the Tagus River. It was built in the 1500's as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers. You can buy a ticket to go inside the tower, but we just admired it's beauty from the outside. If you purchase the Lisboa Pass, it is included in your pass :) After you check out the Belém Tower, I would recommend getting a bird scooter and riding along the river for a bit! You will pass by the Monument to the Discoveries, as well as the MAAT Museum! You can even keep going and ride to the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge.
• Jerónimos Monastery: The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is absolutely breathtaking,. and a must visit in Lisbon! It took around 100 years to build, and the details are just immaculate. The Church of Santa Maria is also inside the Monastery, which is so beautiful in itself. Definitely get there at opening if you can, as the line can get pretty long throughout the day!
• Walk on the infamous "Pink Street": The pink street (Rua Nova do Carvalho) should definitely be on your list, and it is super fun & cute to see! BUT just remember that most photos on Instagram are edited. We actually went super early one morning to get a photo, and it had trash ALLL over it. They clean it up daily, but not until 9 or 10 am. So don't go before that or you will be disappointed. LOL
The street actually used to be in Lisbon's "Red Light District" and it was full of gambling, drinking, prostitutes, criminals, and more. As an attempt to revamp the area, they painted the street PINK back in 2013 and it now is one of the top spots for nightlife!
• Spend time by the water: I highly recommend just spending some time walking along the Tagus River and enjoying the atmosphere! There are so many amazing restaurants and bars, and the atmosphere just feels so vibrant!
• Go to a fútbol game: GOAAAALLLLLL!!!! Luke and I went to a Sporting fútbol game one night at José Alvalade Stadium and it was SUCH a blast! The fans are so rowdy, and the atmosphere is incredible! I would definitely recommend going to a game if there is one while you're visiting!
• Ride Tram 28: Tram 28 is the most famous Tram in Lisbon, because of it's route around the city! It passes through the popular tourist districts of Alfama, Baixa, Estrela, and Graca. Since we were in Lisbon for a full month & had time to walk around and really explore all the parts of Lisbon, we never rode Tram 28. But if you're doing a quick visit I would definitely say this is a great way to see a ton of the city! It's also just very iconic :)
• Lisbon Food Tour (Airbnb Experience): We did this Airbnb Experience Food Tour our 1st night in Lisbon, and it was awesome! Not only did we meet some amazing people, but we got to see different parts of the city & try so much delicious food + wine! Like trust me when I say you get SO much food. Definitely worth the $62 we paid (per person)! Samuel, the tour guide, was so knowledgeable & an amazing guide! If you do the experience tell him Blaire & Luke sent ya & say hi :)
WHERE TO EAT IN LISBON
Brunch Cafés:
• Heim Cafe: This was my FAVORITE brunch spot in Lisbon! The atmosphere was so cute, the latte's were DELICIOUS (I got caramel & Luke got vanilla), and the food was unreal! They also have outside seating if the weather is nice!
• Dear Breakfast: There are a few Dear Breakfast locations around the city, but my favorite is the Bica location (Rua das Gaivotas 17). The aesthetic is 10/10, and the food + drinks are also delicious! I got the açaí smoothie one day while working from the cafe and it was quite possibly the best smoothie I've ever had. You can also make a reservation on their website.
• Café Janis: Another very cute, aesthetic café in Lisbon (get used to it) is Café Janis! Filled with greenery and good vibes, this is a great spot any time of day! We went for brunch one day, and also went for a drink one night! The cucumber margarita was absolutely delicious!
• BATZ: We worked from Batz one day, and it was another great spot!! I ordered a nutella crepe and added strawberries, then later got one of their smoothies! Both were very tasty and I would 100% recommend! They also have a big outdoor seating area.
• Honest Greens: This café is located in more of the corporate working part of Lisbon, but it is HUGE and super cute. I started working around 9 am, and by 12 pm it was PACKED with people on their lunch break. The lunch actually looked SO good, but I only got breakfast there. I got a blue & red smoothie bowl, and I still think about it to this day.
Lunch / Dinner Spots:
• Java Lisboa: Java was my favorite dinner spot in Lisbon! The food was amazing, but the vibes & views were SO INCREDIBLE. It's located at the top of a hotel, with panoramic views of the city. We made a reservation right before the sunset, so that we were able to soak in the views! I would definitely recommend the calamari for an appetizer, and the ribs for dinner were *chefs kiss*
• Time Out Market: Time Out Market is a really trendy, super cool, food hall with over 30 restaurants! They have everything from classic Portuguese dishes to Asian cuisine, and even gourmet Donuts & Pasteis De Nata! You will absolutely want to visit Time Out Market for lunch or dinner!
• LX Factory: I mentioned LX Factory above in my "Things To Do" section, but I'm also adding it to my food section because it is filled with so many bars & restaurants! LX Factory was previously an industrial site / factory, that they have now redone to make it artsy, hipster, and a super poppin' part of Lisbon.
• Ponto Final: This is a MUST when visiting Lisbon!!! Ponto Final was actually featured on a TV show called "Somebody Feed Phil" and it is a no brainer as to why. It is located across the river in Almada, so you will actually take a ferry to get there! You can purchase your ferry ticket at the station, and it is about €3/person round trip. You will eat right on the water, have the most delicious seafood, and get a beautiful view of Lisbon! We went for lunch, but I've heard it's beautiful at night time as well to see the city all lit up. You can call to make a reservation (recommended) but we got there right at 12:30 pm when they opened and didn't have an issue.
• Hidden Chinese Restaurant: So our tour guide on our Airbnb Experience Food Tour told us about the Hidden Chinese Restaurants in Lisbon, so we decided to go with our friends we actually met on our food tour! I don't remember the exact reasoning behind why the Chinese Restaurants used to be illegal, but they have kept the tradition alive, as they are "hidden" and don't look like restaurants. You have to know where they are, ring the doorbell, and then you will basically enter someones apartment to eat dinner. It was a really cool experience and the food was delicious (and very cheap)!! We went to the one located at Rua Marques de Ponte de Lima 34. You will see a blue door, and you will ring the apartment that has a mark next to it. That is for the restaurant :) They will buzz you in, and you will head upstairs. I recommend going around 7:30 or 8:00 before it gets super busy.
Places for a Drink:
• Park Bar: Park Bar is a must if you want some epic views, DELICIOUS Sangria, and good vibes!! It is a rooftop bar located in the Barrio Alto neighborhood, which is a great part of town for amazing food & drinks. Get the sangria & just trust me.
• Rossio Gastrobar: Rossio Gastrobar is another great rooftop bar located on top of the Atlis Avenida Hotel. You will find more amazing views of the city, and the inside is actually super cute as well! So even if it's raining or not great weather, this is still an incredible spot to grab a drink.
• Machimbombo: Oh my gawd, PINK!! This bar is so fun & cute, and it's pink EVERYWHERE. It is located across the street from Park Bar, so I would recommend doing both of these stops together.
• Monkey Mash: If you want super cool vibes & innovative drinks, definitely hit up Monkey Mash! It is a bit pricier of cocktails, but definitely worth it for the experience. You can make a reservation here.
• Social B: This was Luke's favorite bar we went to, as it is more of a speakeasy vibe. I usually get nervous when there's not a menu / it's more of a mixology bar, but the bartender actually listened to what I liked & didn't like and made me the perfect cocktail! There is a loft area in the back filled with vintage furniture, which is where we sat. Definitely would recommend Social B to mix it up a bit from the "cute" vibes.
Pasteis de Nata:
We tried a few different Pastéis de Nata on our trip, but our two favorites were Manteigaria and Fabrica da Nata! There are a few locations, so you can just search it in your phone map! Everyone told us the best was at Pastéis de Belem, which is where the Pastéis de Nata originated.. but it actually wasn't our favorite! Still delicious, but we liked the others better. You will want to eat as much Pastéis de Nata on your trip though; so just try it anywhere & everywhere, and you can decide for yourself which is the best ;)
Best Views of the City / Lookout Points
• There are so many beautiful lookout spots in Lisbon and you can find most of them on your google map under "Miradoura" which means "viewpoint." Our 3 favorites were Miradouro das Portas do Sol, Miradourao da Senhora do Monte, and Miradouro Sao Pedro de Alcantara. I would highly recommend visiting some of these at sunset, or even sunrise if you're up for the challenge. SO worth it!!!
Where to Stay
We booked an airbnb for our stay in Lisbon, and absolutely LOVED the location & the apartment. It was located between the neighborhoods of Príncipe Real, Bairro Alto, & Chiado; so everything was very close by! I have linked our airbnb here. I would absolutely recommend staying in this area on your visit. It is very safe, you will get a very "local" feel, and everything you need is walking distance (or a very short uber ride if going further out).
Overall Lisbon is a very safe city, so you really can't go wrong with where you stay. But I personally wouldn't recommend staying in the Baixa neighborhood. While it is very centrally located, it is all touristy & there are only hotels (meaning locals don't live here). This is also the one area that pickpocketing is known to happen more, because it is so touristy & busy.
I have included a map below circling where I personally would recommend you stay in Lisbon!
I hope you fall in love with the city of Lisbon like we did! Feel free to DM or email me any questions, & be sure to tag me in your photos if you do anything from our itinerary so I can see them!! @freshprinceofbuhlaire
Xo,
Blaire
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