What we did on our journey to Lisbon, Portugal
We’ve returned from our journey to Portugal and have a number of reminiscence playing cards stuffed with photographs of Lisbon. We actually loved our time exploring this under-rated European nation.
We spent 2 days in Lisbon earlier than making our method north to Porto, the place we joined a Douro river cruise.
Initially, once we realized our river cruise itinerary started in Lisbon, not Porto, we had been just a little confused. On the floor, it made extra sense to have company arrive on the Porto airport, as a substitute of taking a full day to drive from Lisbon to Porto (extra on that later – Google the city of Coimbra).
As quickly as our taxi left the Lisbon Worldwide Airport we realized why two nights in Lisbon was included in our itinerary. What an incredible metropolis!
As soon as we began exploring, we had been truly upset we solely had 2 days in Lisbon. There may be a lot to see and do; we might have simply spent per week there.
Merely put – Lisbon exceeded our expectations.
Under are a few of our photographs and memorable moments from our temporary time this fascinating metropolis.
Rooftop Views from our Lisbon Resort
We stayed on the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa, an opulent resort positioned on the long-lasting Avenida Liberdade within the coronary heart of Lisbon. The picture above was captured from the resort’s swanky rooftop bar.
How nice are these rooftop views of Lisbon?!
On the left, in case you look within the distance, you possibly can see the Sao Jorge Citadel perched on the hill. Within the far distance, the Tagus River. The inexperienced patch is the tall timber that line Avenida Liberdade.
Extra wonderful views from the rooftop bar of our resort, the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa. It’s one of the fashionable rooftop bars to take panoramic photographs of Lisbon.
Belem Tower
That is Belém Tower, also called the Tower of St Vincent. This stunning fortified tower, together with close by Jerónimos Monastery, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Website.
Belém Tower is arguably an important vacationer attraction in Lisbon. We didn’t truly go inside this sixteenth century tower however we had been in a position to marvel at its distinctive Manueline structure.
No children on this journey, which implies we even have time to take just a few selfies collectively.
Navy Museum & Jerónimos Monastery
After Belém Tower we visited the close by Navy Museum. We had been confused when our tour bus dropped us in entrance of this Gothic trying Cathedral. That is truly the house of Lisbon’s fashionable maritime museum. It’s fairly a formidable constructing to be home a set of maritime artifacts.
The Portuguese are very pleased with their maritime historical past and achievements.
The Portuguese Empire was one of many largest and longest-lived empires in world historical past, current for nearly six centuries. The displays within the museum embrace historic work, archaeological gadgets and a number of other fashions of ships utilized in Portugal for the reason that fifteenth century. This museum has over 17,000 gadgets!
The doorway to the Navy Museum is to left of the picture, below the 2 Gothic spires.
On the different finish, to the proper, is the Jerónimos Monastery (picture under), a UNESCO World Heritage Website.
Panoramic views and Miradouros
Lisbon is constructed on seven hills. There are many alternatives to get above town to seize panoramic photographs of Lisbon.
The Portuguese name these lookout factors miradouros. We captured the above and under photographs of Lisbon from Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte (listed below are a few different fashionable miradouros in Lisbon).
São Jorge Citadel (aka St. George Citadel), pictured under, is a Moorish fortress that sits on prime of the Alfama hilltop, overlooking Lisbon’s historic metropolis heart. It’s one in every of Lisbon’s hottest vacationer sights.
Though we didn’t have sufficient time to discover the within of this fortified citadel, we had been in a position to admire it from just a few totally different miradouros round Lisbon (and our resort’s rooftop bar).
Insanely Stunning Structure
Our necks and toes damage after our full day exploring and snapping photographs of Lisbon’s unbelievable structure. My watch mentioned we did on 27,000 steps that day.
The outdated cobblestone streets of Lisbon are loaded with distinctive and vibrant structure that dates again centuries. We had a vacationer map that highlighted the favored sights in Lisbon but it surely didn’t matter.
Each nook reveals a brand new architectural treasure. We love wander the streets of outdated Lisbon.
The bustling Rua Augusta and its magnificent triumphal arch within the distance.
Portuguese Pavement
The sidewalks and pedestrian streets in Lisbon are extraordinary. Within the above picture, the intricate wave sample within the pavement provides an optical phantasm. We felt just like the waves had been shifting as we walked round this fountain in Rossio Sq.. It was truly just a little dizzying.
The standard sidewalks in Lisbon, and most of Portugal for that matter, are achieved in mosaic type with small flat items of stone.
The under picture was captured within the fashionable Avenida Liberdade neighborhood.
Alfama – Lisbon’s oldest district
Alfama is is the oldest district of Lisbon, sprawling down the hills that join São Jorge Citadel and the Tagus River. Through the instances of Moorsish rule, this medieval neighborhood was an upper-class residential space. Because the many years and centuries handed, it turned dwelling to fishermen and the working class.
Alfama is the one a part of Lisbon to outlive the nice 1755 earthquake, so it retains a few of its outdated world appeal. Right this moment, this historic district is known for its labyrinth of slender medieval streets, small squares and quaint cafes and eating places.
Our Lisbon metropolis tour information knowledgeable us that Alfama is dwelling to Europe’s narrowest road – Rua da Judiaria.
Should you have a look at the picture under, that slender hole between the 2 buildings is definitely a road. It’s a preferred attraction, so you must wait your flip as a result of it’s too tight to move beside one other individual.
Vibrant streamers cling above the slender streets of Alfama.
Above and under photographs of Lisbon – views of the outdated structure in Alfama.
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Santa Justa Raise
Above is a photograph of the Santa Justa Raise, additionally known as Carmo Raise. It’s an fascinating elevator, or raise, positioned within the district of Santa Justa. Initially, this nineteenth century raise was constructed to move folks up the steep hill from the Baixa district to Largo do Carmo, however now it’s primarily a vacationer attraction.
We didn’t have sufficient time to go to the statement deck on the prime of the raise, however we’re instructed the panoramic views of are wonderful. This is among the finest spots to seize photographs of Lisbon.
Monuments and Statues
As we explored the streets of Lisbon, it turned clear that the Portuguese are very pleased with their historical past. It appears like there’s a monument or statue on each nook. It reminded us of Buenos Aires in Argentina.
The above picture is the Monument to the Restorers, positioned in Restauradores Sq.. Under is the Statue of King José I in Praça do Comércio (Commerce Sq.).
Pastel de Nata
You may’t go to Portugal with out sampling its well-known pasty – Pastel de Nata (also called Pastel de Belém). It’s an egg tart pastry that has a custard texture. It’s tastes just like Crème brûlée.
Again within the 18th century, Catholic monks and nuns at Jerónimos Monastery started promoting these pastries to usher in some cash for the church. On the time, monasteries used massive portions of egg-whites for starching garments, corresponding to nuns’ habits. The leftover egg yolks had been used to make muffins and pastries, ensuing within the creation of pastel de nata.
After the monastery was closed, the recipe for pastel de nata was offered to the unique homeowners of Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém in 1837. This enterprise remains to be open as we speak.
Technically, you possibly can solely get the actual pastel de nata at Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém.
Our tour bus drove previous this authentic location and there was 100+ folks ready in line to buy these celebrated custard tarts.
You don’t have to attend in that lengthy line to pattern the products. Now you can discover these scrumptious tarts in nearly each cafe in Lisbon. Everybody should strive pastel de nata not less than as soon as of their life. However be forewarned, they’re extremely addictive!
Canned Sardines?
We had been amazed at how fashionable canned sardines are in Portugal. There are retail shops devoted completely to canned sardines. Significantly! The above picture was captured inside a retailer that’s appropriately known as The Improbable World Of Portuguese Sardines Retailer.
Outside Cafes and Eating places
Like most European cities, there are a number of pedestrian solely streets which can be lined with outside eating places and outlets. It’s one of many issues we love about Europe.
On our first night, we wandered down Avidenda Liberdade and stumbled upon an space close to Restauradores Sq. that has a cluster of eating places with outside patios. See above picture.
The eating places on this neighborhood seem to focus on vacationers. A lot of the menus had been in 8 totally different languages, which makes it simple for guests to know. Should you have a look at the picture under, to the left of Nicole, you possibly can see one in every of these massive menus.
We loved our meal open air and had a enjoyable night folks watching. It’s a preferred space.
We loved consuming tapas and consuming wine on the outside patios. Cheese and honey? Scrumptious.
Rows of outside eating places on pedestrianized Rua Augusta. Discover the detailed stone sidewalk.
We visited Lisbon in late Could, which is when you can begin to see the purple jacaranda timber in blossom. Most of the streets in downtown Lisbon have jacaranda timber that shade the outside patios. Within the above picture you possibly can the purple flowers beginning to bloom.
Residents watch the soccer sport and socialize open air on Avenida Liberdade. Discover the sidewalk.
Lisbon’s notorious Trams and Funiculars
After we revealed that we’d be visiting Lisbon, the most typical suggestion we acquired was to experience the notorious Tram 28.
This tram connects Martim Moniz with Campo Ourique, passing by means of the favored vacationer districts of Graca, Alfama, Baixa and Estrela. Due to this, there are sometimes lengthy queues to board the tram and it may be fairly crowded and uncomfortable (we witnessed just a few trams that had been overflowing with folks).
We didn’t find yourself taking this tram as a result of we joined an organized metropolis tour within the morning and determined to stroll across the metropolis within the afternoon. If we had one other day in Lisbon we doubtless would have taken a experience on the tram, even when just for the picture opp.
Right here’s an in depth put up about find out how to stroll the route of the Tram 28 Lisbon.
You may’t go to Lisbon with out capturing one in every of its yellow or crimson trams (or each!).
The most well-liked vacationer photographs of Lisbon are of its iconic trams and streetcars.
Tuk Tuks and Auto Rickshaws
We’re used to seeing tuk tuks and auto rickshwas in Asian nations like Thailand and India, so we had been just a little stunned to see so lots of them in Lisbon.
Nonetheless, in contrast to Asia, this mode of transportation shouldn’t be low-cost in Lisbon. These tuk tuks are primarily utilized by vacationers as a result of they can journey up and down the slender cobblestone roads fairly simply, in contrast to tour buses or bigger automobiles.
We tried to catch a a technique tuk tuk experience again to our resort however the driver was not . He mentioned that tuk tuk drivers favor to take guests on a metropolis tour as a substitute.
Should you favor to drive your self, take into account renting a automobile in Lisbon.
The above picture of Lisbon – rows of tuk tuks, cobblestone road, open sq., vibrant outdated structure and a big statue celebrating a victory.
It’s a steep method up the funicular tracks!
There’s a number of graffiti and road artwork in Lisbon. Some is properly achieved. This road, not a lot.
Random journey expertise
We love random experiences once we journey. On our first night time in Lisbon, whereas having fun with wine and tapas at an outside patio, we observed a buzz within the air. One thing huge was occurring, however we didn’t know what.
Workers on the eating places pulled out their telephones and began taking photographs of properly dressed folks as they walked previous the row of eating places. Apparently, an necessary awards present was occurring about 100 meters up the street on the Coliseu dos Recreios.
We arrived simply in time for the crimson carpet ceremony.
We’re instructed that is the Portuguese equal of the Golden Globe awards in North America. The paparazzi was out in full drive that night. In fact, we needed to take part. We snapped just a few photographs of celebrities, nevertheless, now we have no clue who any of those persons are.
Go away us a remark under in case you acknowledge any of those celebrities. We’re instructed a number of them are cleaning soap opera stars. Is that this true?
The situation of the crimson carpet felt just a little misplaced. It was on a slender road immediately in entrance of eating places and outlets. The graffiti on the partitions added an fascinating backdrop to the glamour pictures.
Vacationer sights and Issues to Do in Lisbon
We managed to see rather a lot throughout our temporary go to to Lisbon. To recap, listed below are a few of the prime vacationer sights in Lisbon:
- Belém Tower
- Jerónimos Monastery & Navy Musuem (aka Maritime Museum)
- São Jorge Citadel
- Wander the slender streets of Alfama
- Panoramic views at Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte
- Trip the Tram 28 Lisbon line
- Go to Praça do Comércio (Commerce Sq.) and Rua Augusta Arch
- Stroll below the timber on Avenida Liberdade
- Commentary deck of Santa Justa Raise
- Admire town’s structure, tiles and Portuguese pavement
- Go to Restauradores Sq. and Rossio Sq.
- Eat pastel de nata at an outside cafe
- Trip the funiculars in Gloria, Bica and/or Lavra
- Admire the Church of Santa Engrácia and Lisbon Cathedral
Have you ever visited Lisbon? What did you suppose?
If not, is Lisbon in your journey want checklist?
Go away us a remark under.