I have a thing for Portugal, there is something about this country that speaks to my soul. When I saw that from Paris, where I was staying for a couple of days, there’s such a cheap flight I wasn’t thinking longer than it takes to say “10euros”. This is exactly how much I’ve spent on the ticket. Despite thermal shock, it was a brilliant idea! Even the issue of the return ticket turned out to be trivial to solve: it was the cheapest to fly to London, and from there to Rzeszów, this is precisely what I did.
I mention this because when you are looking for flights to Portugal, it may be cheaper to make a small stop along the way – a day in London or Paris – than to fly directly to Poland. I’ve been there, have done that and do recommend <3
What you will find out in this post:
- how to get from Lisbon airport
- the best part of the city to stay + epic accomodation
- the best of the best places to see in Lisbon
- on budget food recommedation
- one day trip from Lisbon
TRANSFER FROM THE AIRPORT
Lisbon Airport is close to the city centre. There are several options to get there. I chose the one that was the easiest: the bus. Within 40 minutes, for 2 euros (1.65 euros when you buy from a vending machine), I was in the heart of Lisbon (final stop: Restauradores if you live in the center). The bus stop is right next to the Terminal 1 exit, you will easily find it.
If you are landing at Terminal 2, to get to Terminal 1 (or vice versa) you have to use the shuttle bas. It runs every 10 minutes and is free.
*To get to the center, you can also use the metro – the entrance is right behind the bus stop. Since you’ve go to change, I preferred to use the bus. Nevertheless, it is also a cheap option: the ticket costs 1.65 euros, but it will save you some time if you are in a hurry.
ACCOMODATION
AWESOME spot! A hostel in the heart of Bairro Alto, with a very homely atmosphere, an interesting interior (it even has a pool with … balls!) and a delicious breakfast <3 I highly recommend it and will definitely book my own stay there next time in Lisbon.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
As you know, I like to explore the city by walking the most – it was no different in Lisbon 🙂 I mention transport because I also decided to go on one-day trip from Lisbon and on the another day I was travelling by tram, just for fun. Public transport is extremely easy to understand and not expensive at all.
It is worth getting a Viva Viagem or Viva Viagem SRT card. The cost is 0,50 euro and thanks to it you can buy regular tickets for metro/tram/eleator cheaper. A ticket with the card costs 1,65 euro and it’s valid for 60min from the moment of validation. What is more, entitles you to changes (including changes to metro/tram/elevator) withinh one journey. Without the card, the ticket costs 3euros and does no allow to change.
1.See Lisbon from the sky!
Which means : catch all the viewpoints! Well, maybe not literally all of them – the whole Lisbon is like a huge view point, it was built on seven hills, what can be seen and … felt 😉 In fact, every corner can turn out to be an epic viewpoint! But what I did for you, it’s a list of the best of the best viewpoints in Lisbon, including my own propietary discovery!
Santa Luzia: probably the most, as I like to say, postcard-ready place in Lisbon! Blooming* bougainvilleas with an intense purple colour contrast with the blue azulejos on the wall of the Church of St.Luzia, next to which the viewpoint is located.
*bougainvilleas bloom almost all year round provided good conditions. However, if you dream about taking a photo of waterfalls of those purple flowers, be in Lisbon in summer – in full sun, bougainvilleas bloom like crazy!
Miraduoro das Portas do Sol
Just a few minutes from St.Luzia is my favourite viewpoint! Its name can be translated quite literally as the Gate of Sun. Indeed, that’s what this viewpoint is. The pastel buildings of the city, the Tagus River and the Castle of Saint George seem to be flooded with sunshine.
Miraduoro de Santa Justa: a stunning view of the cgarming Baixa district and the Carmelite Monastery, called the Church without a Roof. To get there, you can go from Largo do Chiado, the square by the Monastery or take the elevator (5,30euro). However,, if you go by foot to the viewpoint, the lower terrace is free, the upper one costs 1,50 euro (when I was there in December, it was closed).
What I do recommend? Go there by foot, from Largo Do Chiado, of course! You will see the Chiado district and save 5euros which I will tell you how to spend in the better way :d Sure, a ride in a 45-meter elevator is probably cool but… very touristy! Queues, queues, queues and crying kids :d However, just because such pseudo-attractions are not my cup of tea, it does not mean you are not gonna like it, decide for yourself <3
Miraduoro da Graca: the whole hill of Bairro Alto stretches out in fron of you, as well as the historic Mourari district and the 25th of April Bridge looms in the distance. It is so beautiful that the only thing you need to fully devote yourself to admiring this spectacular view is… a glass of wine! How conveniently served in cafes and bars nearby <3
Miraduoro Sao Pedro de Alcantara: a two terrace viewpoint that you must visit! I rarely say it but this place is truly unique! What is so special about it? I am not talking about the obvious part, which is the view (the castle of Saint George, Baixa or Miraduoro Senhora do Monte) but the atmosphere! There’s always something going on the upper terrace. It’s the perfect place for the coffee or glass of wine. Or to take a break from the hustle and bustle on the lower terrace, among the flowers in the rose garden. Be there in the afternoon for the sunset and from there you can explore Bairro Alto – the district that makes the blood in Lisbon veins run, it never sleeps!
My propietary discovery: seemingly, it’s nothing more than the starting point of the tram…. but how picturesquely located! In the photo, you will find the exact location!
2.Eat the best pasteis de nata in the golden heart of Lisbon!
This is Praca do Comercio. Golden because the sun seems to flood it, especially in the morning. Believe me, it’s worth getting up early to see it. I guarantee that there are not many better things to see, only the sunrise on Miraduoro das Portas do Sol can compete with it 🙂
I can see those risen eyebrows :d You are wondering, what on earth is so special about the piece of concrete which in summer turns into frying pan and in the winter it’s possessed by wind? Well, this place has quite a story! There used to be the royal palace! Unfortunately, in XVIII century a tough earthquake devastated Lisbon, palace included…. The place was rebuilt. This is how nowadays Praca do Comercio was created. Decades later, it wintnessed the assasination of king Carlos I, followed by the overthrowed of the monarchy.
Today, it is a place beloved by tourists and locals, where you come just to stare at the Tagus River, eat lunch or pasteis de nata – what is basically synonymous in Portugal :d And do waht I love the most: immerse in the atmopshere of Lisbon <3 Be sure to grab cofee, pasteis de nata and mucnh them on the banks of the river.
Address for the best pasteis de nata at the end of this post along with other gastro recommendations 🙂
3. Take a walk down Lisbon’s Red Lanterns Street!
Everyone has heard of Parisian red lanterns street but did you know that Lisbon has its own?
Today it’s called Pink Street and a completely different business flourish there :d It’s still full of life but thanks to the work of the city authorities, it is fueled by restaurants, bars, cafes and tourists. The latter began to visit Pink Street more willingly (I mean, more willingly than before :d ) because what also has been changed, it’s the safety there. Currently, it’s place with a completely different vibe, charming, captivating with colours! Even though Pink Street bars close as probably the last ones in Lisbon, its not because of houses of dubious repute but people who enjoy warm, cheerful niht life in the city.
The address in the description of the photo.
4.Be amazed by the architecture and lack of .. tourists!
On Praca do Municipio! I dunno why but for some reasons, this place seems to be forgotten by tourists. I’m not complaining at all but is da strange. Hence it’s another example of the fact that Lisbon knows how to play architecture game! The Town Hall, which is located there, looks particularly quiantly in December! It’s beautifully illuminated, certainly all the haters of Christmas can be blinded by the number of light bulbs :d In the competition “How many lamps can be crammed into one square?”, Lisbon would win without an effort :d
5. Get lost in Alfama!
That’s my favourite part of the city! I cannot count how many times I went back there to seem more and each time I discovered some alley that I had not seen before.
It’s where you can find the most spectacular viewpoints, Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol. It’s where the most important and famous Lisbon’s cathedral is located. It’s basically the heart of the city!
Se Cathedral, the Church of the Blessed Mary Virgin, is the oldest one in Lisbon. It’s construction began when the city was recaptured from the Moors by the first portuguese king, Afonso Henriques.
What I personally like the most about the Cathedral is not only its architecture but the way it’s built! Just on the turning! All of the trams riding there look like playing with fire, they are almost touching the bricks!
Speaking of the devil, the well known tram nr 28 is passing there! Yet one more reason to visit Alfama 😉
Just take comfortable shoes! Lisbon is a city on hills, cobbled, walking there is like doing decent training :d
6. DO NOT LEAVE Lisbon without it!
Tram nr 28! The historical moment on the blog cause I recommend doing something which is highly touristical :d However hackneyed it may seem, it’s like di Trevi in Rome – a kinf of must. Fact. Sometimes it involves sticking elbows in each other’s ribs :d Yes, it’s a very touristy thing but not without reason. Dodging between buildings, driving through streets so narrow that you can take someone’s laundry off the balcony, sudden accelerations and turns …. sounds a bit like the Knight Errant from Potter series. For me, the whole Lisbon has such a vibe: taken straight out of Rowling’s books <3 And a tram ride, even the most crowded one, is the quintessence of a stay in Lisbon!
The tram starts its route at Martim Moniz and makes a loop. You can jump off in the middle (it’s just a figure of speech, please, don’t jump off a moving tram!) and get off at Miraduro das Portas do Sol or go back to the starting point. A ticket purchased from the driver costs 3euros and usually you have to queue to get it but …. it’s worth it!
7. See the essence of Lisbon in one place!
When you think Lisbon, you see…
Torrre de Belem! I guessed, right? It makes sense ’cause this tower, which is on the UNESCO list, is indisputable symbol of Lisbon. What’s more, it’s located in the district that is extremely important for the whole country! BELEM. This is where two HISTORICAL things happened. I don’t know which one is more important! The first one: from the port of Belem, Vasco da Gama made sail to India. Second one: in the quiet alleys of Belem, the monks has invented the liquid gold – pasteis de belem!
Yes, it’s home of this Portuguese national treasure which yearly is sold in the number of 6 miliions! Just in Belem! The record has been made when in the place which is thought to be the one where it was invented, Unica Fabrica dos Pasteis de Belem, that is 55 thousands in one day! I’m surprised that those lil’ cakes do not function as currency in Portugal :d
Apart from consuming this Portuguese delicacy ( or queueing to buy it – yes, the factory is like Apple store on the newest Iphone release day) be sure to see the Jeronimos Monastery. Intricately made carvings, a huge monastery complex and this whiteness of the structure – a gem on the Lisbon’s map!
The ticket costs 10euros, 12euros if you also want to visit Archeological Museum.
Belem is a district worth spending at least a few hours! It’s full of adorable cafes, little squares with only a few tables and what I love the most about the place: an unique atmosphere. Maybe because Paris was still in my head, Belem reminded a lot of Montmartre. Yes, it’s juts like that : like in the movie.
How to get there? As easy as devouring another pasteis de belem is :d All you have to do is catch the tram nr 15 to Alges at Praca do Comercio. The journey takes 30min and what can you do when you have quite tight sighseeing schedule : from Belem go to…
8. The wild side of Portugal!
…. Cascais! This place is so utterly charming that you will read a separate entry about it. I will tell how to get there, precisely, what to see etc Here I will leave only a few pics from Cascais, to shine a light on what I mean by saying “wild side of Portugal”.
Budget food in Lisbon:
Lisbon can be expensive. But it doesn’t have to be 🙂 I really, really like food but I don’t like to pay exorbitant price for it. So I always try to find options that don’t hurt either my wallet, and my stomach :d
The first recommendation may surprise you a bit: it’s actually a supermarket! Pingo Doce, chain of supermarkets that also has a buffet in their stores. They serve not only pastries, sandwiches but also dinners. There are plenty of variations! And best of all, it’s all fresh , delicious … and cheap! I fell for combo of a roll with basil pesto, cherry tomatoes and burrata <3 For a ridicolous price 3/4 euros. You can eat in or, like I did, take it to go and have a lunch by the Tagus river or the nearby Rossio square.
Best pasteis de nata? Manteigaria! And you don’t break the piggy bank to try it : each cookie costs 1,20 euros and is served with freshly grounded cinammon to take your gastro experience to the next level! They are freshly made, in front of you, so you have this certainty that they are truly selling like hot cakes :d
Inconspicuous, little bakeries! Can’t be far from giving you the exact location :d However, what I want to give you is the inspiration to give those small places a chance. That’s how I found my own gem: on Rua do Loreto. Delicious pastries and outstanding coffee. I paid around 3 euros for an americana, pasteis de nata and almond cookie (in the size of my head). You could also order sandwiches which are freshly prepared by a charming old man – the owner of this cafe. Nevertheless, it wasn’t only the taste or the price which made me call this place a gem. It’s … yes, yes, the atmosphere! The place was full of locals, the onwer without even asking was preparing faves cafes or sandwiches, bringing to the table with a smile and having a quick word with everyone. I mean…. THIS IS PORTUGAL.
Let me know what point speaks to your soul the most! So, when are you going to Lisbon? :d
