When we originally planned our trip, we had two days in Lisbon. It was merely what I like to call a ‘bonus stop’ on the way to Croatia— but never the main destination. Unexpectedly, some flights were cancelled, others delayed and plans were changed. Suddenly we found ourselves with six whole days in Lisbon. Begrudgingly we looked for things to fill our time, thinking it would be a fun but merely okay trip— but boy were we wrong.
Lisbon should be one of your top destinations in Europe. I went to Lisbon thinking we had too much time there and left wishing we had more. While you won’t find iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Tower Bridge in London, Lisbon is easily one of the most beautiful, wonderful cities I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. Filled with picturesque buildings, quaint side streets, and lovely people, Lisbon is absolutely charming. If you take one thing away from this blog post, it’s that you need to visit Lisbon, Portugal.
WHERE TO STAY
Lisbon is one of the most affordable cities I have ever visited, and I’m talking real affordable. Like $60 USD a night for an Airbnb Plus affordable. I’m talking cheap food, cheap accommodation, cheap ubers— you honestly can’t beat it. Plus, almost everywhere is walkable, and everywhere that isn’t walkable is easily accessible by (again) super affordable public transportation. We stayed in the Alfama district and everything worth seeing was within walking distance. The neighborhood is a maze of gorgeous architecture and charming side streets, each more picturesque than the last. In addition to Airbnbs & Hostels that I stayed in, I also crowd sourced from my instagram community to find accommodation for groups of all sizes & budgets! Without further adieu, my accommodation recommendations:
- ANA’S COLOURFUL APARTMENT (AIRBNB)
- Centrally located in the Intendente neighborhood of the Alfama district, this beautiful and newly renovated apartment has everything you need for a lovely stay in Lisbon. It’s on the ground floor so its accessible for people with disabilities and the front windows have a street level view of the charming neighborhood. It’s about a mile from most tourist destination and around a five minute walk from the nearest grocery store (hi Lidl). The bed was comfy, the shower pressure was great and there was plenty of space for two people, really what more could you ask for.
- SUNSHINE APARTMENT (AIRBNB)
- This Airbnb is perfect for larger groups of people and is only a 5-10 min walk from the city center. My friends who stayed here loved it!
- QUAINT FLAT (AIRBNB)
- This adorable apartment is actually an Airbnb Plus so you can live your life in luxury while you travel. It’s located in the Santos neighborhood and is close to the water and very close to the main train station in Lisbon.
- AMBIENTE HOSTEL
- This Hostel is perfect for solo travelers looking to save a bit of cash while still staying in Lisbon! It’s centrally located, beautifully decorated, and very comfortable!
WHERE TO EAT
Now if you know me, you know I don’t go out to eat that often when traveling to save all of the money. BUT I do like to #treatmyself a few times per country to get the full experience. So, in addition to finding my nearest grocery store ( hi again Lidl) I also try to go out once for breakfast, once for lunch, and once for dinner.
Breakfast & Brunch
Quase Cafe
Lunch
Time Out Market
Dinner
Organi Chiado
Dessert
Did you even go to Portugal if you didn’t try their famous Pastel de Natas at least once? The answer is no, no you didn’t. These pastries are some of the best in the world— and I would consider myself a dessert expert. You can get them in pretty much every bakery around the city (and you should). If you enjoy delicious pastries, then these are a must have!
TRANSPORTATION
Walk
I always recommend walking if you can when visiting a new city. Sure, its the slowest form of transportation, but you’re on holiday! Take your time and explore! I usually follow this rule of thumb: if it’s less than a mile away— walk!
Metro/ Train
The metro and trains in Lisboa are very easy to navigate and very affordable. Tickets can be purchased at the station and cost €1.50 for a one way ticket and €6.40 for a 24 hour unlimited metro travel pass. This also applies for the trams so if you’re looking to do a big day of sightseeing, I would recommend the latter.
Trams
If you’ve looked up Lisbon on the internet, its likely you’ve seen a picture of a yellow tram crawling up and down the steep hills of the city. While the older style of yellow trams are still quite prevalent, there are also newer and more modern yellow ones zooming along the streets. The trams are a quick and convenient way to get from one place to another within the city whilst still seeing the sights.
Uber/ Taxi
The Ubers & Taxis throughout Lisboa were abundant and affordable. We took one to and from the airport and on trips throughout the city after dark.
THINGS TO DO
Visit the Praça do Comércio
The Praça de Comércio is one of those must see tourist locations in Lisbon. Similar to the Plaza San Marco in Venice, Italy—it is usually filled to the brim with tourists but because we visited right after Portugal had reopened to tourists after COVID, it was relatively empty. The bright buildings and breathtaking architecture make it worth a visit! From the Praça de Comercio, stroll along the waterfront promenade in either direction for a beautiful view of the city.
Sail the River Tagus
While I said Lisbon is a very walkable city, some tourist destinations are a little too far to be walked to. So when you can’t walk— sail! Some locations are better viewed from the water anyways. Take my advice and book yourself a sunset tour on a sailboat— I promise you won’t regret it. We started at the Monument of the Discoveries and sailed down to view the Santuario de Cristo Reà and the Praça de Comércio from the water while sipping Portugese wine and learning about the beautiful city of Lisboa.
We ended by sailing by the Belém Tower as the last rays of sunlight sparkled on the water. As we sailed back into the harbor, our guides brought us freshly baked mini pastel de natas— a delicious Portugese pastry— and bid us adieu. In the span of 3 hours we were able to see more of Lisbon’s monuments than many people see in a whole day.
Explore the Beautiful Streets of Lisboa
It feels like the entire city of Lisbon is one giant piece of art, every building is beautiful in its own unique way. Take a leisurely walk through the city and explore all of the gorgeous architecture and climb up the lovely rolling hills.
Spend a Day Surfing
Much to my dismay, we didn’t have enough time in Lisbon to go surfing— but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t! I would recommend taking a surf lesson from a local surf shop or on Airbnb (like this one, or this one).
While I wouldn’t advise surfing the massive waves of Nazare, there are waves of all sizes along the coast line for surfers of all levels. We even saw people surfing at the Praia de Carcavelos beach which is just a short train ride from Lisbon!
The water off of Portugal is a consistent temperature all year so regardless of the month you visit, the surf’s up!
Spend a Day at the Beach
Easily accessible by train, the Praia de Carcavelos is one of Lisbon’s most popular beaches— and for good reason! The water is calm and clear and there were plenty of shops and vendors strolling the beach! If you’re interested in surfing, local shops do lessons when there’s a good swell!
DAY TRIPS
Sintra
No trip to Lisbon is complete without an excursion for a day or two to the stunning microclimate of Sintra. Lush forests and breathtaking castles fill the countryside. One of Portugal’s early kings wanted to have the forests surrounding his castle be like one big botanical garden so he had plant species from all around the world imported. As a result, there are thousands of species of plants and animals in the dense forests.Â
Many people who visit Sintra only visit the iconic Pena castles, but Sintra has so much more to offer. We booked a jeep tour of Sintra and sped around the countryside seeing stunning beaches and beautiful castles. I would recommend spending more than a day in Sintra, but if you’re crunched for time then this is the way to go.
Cascáis
If you’re looking for a stunning beach side town that’s a short train ride away from the Lisbon city center, look no further than Cascais. It’s only a forty minute non-stop train ride from the Cais do Sodre station in Lisbon and boy is it worth it. Complete with lovely restaurants, a plethora of beaches, and plenty of shops— Cascais is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of Lisbon.
Azeitao
Kayaking at the Parque Natural da Arrabida
If you’re looking for one of the best days of your life, spend it at the Parque Natural da Arribada. Only an hour south of the city by car— this is a must see on your visit to Lisbon. We booked a kayak tour through Airbnb and I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences Airbnb has to offer. If you’re looking to kayak and snorkel in crystal clear water with one of the best guides in Portugal click here.
As the sun rose, I was in an Uber speeding across town to get to the airport in time for my next flight. I would be sad to leave Portugal, sad to leave it’s delicious food, sad to leave it’s beautiful beaches, and excited to return again someday. Take my advice, visit Portugal, it’s worth the trip.