Continuing our roadtrip to Portugal (read here for our first days in the southern part), we arrived in Lisbon... "Refreshing" our knowledge, we remembered all those great explorers and the discoveries of the 15th century. Magellan, Vasco da Gama, Diaz, Cabral, etc. started from here and with their overseas explorations they changed the course of human history... Get ready! The journey to the oldest city in Western Europe begins!
Travel
The public transport network is excellent and takes you everywhere. When you arrive in Lisbon, you will buy at a metro stop the Viva Viagem Card which is used on the metro, buses, trams and even ferries! Each journey costs 1.20 euros while the daily pass for unlimited use of public transport is only 6 euros. The metro stops operating at 1 am. From there, download the Uber app on your phone to get anywhere easily and cheaply.
How can you not get lost?
As you will see below, we have made a plan for you which we followed as well. All you need is to have Google maps and data installed on your mobile phone (within the European Union, your company's plan applies without extra charges). Every time you want to go to your next destination, you will simply put in the application where you want to go and it will give you all the options either walking or by means of transport. Also, in many parts of the city, mainly on the coastal roads, you will come across many skates! By downloading the application Lime you can use them to get around in some places. In general, keep in mind that Lisbon is built between seven hills and some neighborhoods are not convenient for buses. So you will need to walk a lot and have comfortable shoes with you!
What to see
1or day
– Start your day with Restauradores Square and tried Portugal's national dessert, Pastéis de Nata (custard tart with puff pastry or phyllo) at Cream FactoryThe monument you will see in the square is dedicated to the victory of the Portuguese against the Spanish in 1668.
– Make a stop at Rossio Square, where you will try a shot of the famous Ginjinha cherry liqueur at the bar Ah Ginjinha, which has been operating since 1840 with the same recipe. The square also houses the Confeitaria Nacional the city's most famous pastry shop, operating since 1829.
– Continue to the neoclassical district of Baixa and through the beautiful street Rua Augusta you will reach the homonymous arch and the Praca do Comercio Square. This area was built on the ruins of the devastating earthquake of 1755, which was followed by a fire and a tsunami. The earthquake is estimated to have been 8.7 on the Richter scale!
– Work until Commerce. The former commercial square by the sea with the statue of King João I and the Rua Augusta arch. The buildings of the square are built in the shape of P, house public services and overlook the Tagus River.
– Walking alongside the river, you will find the Cais Do Sobre station near pink street or R. Nova do Carvalho street which was once the most infamous area of Lisbon. Here were all the brothels that sailors visited due to the proximity of the port. Today you will see a beautiful street with cafes and restaurants. It is one of the most Instagrammable places in Lisbon!
– A few meters further down you will see the Market yes Ribeira (Time out), which has housed the city's traditional market since 1892. It was renovated a few years ago and is worth trying flavors and cuisines from all over the world in award-winning restaurants with reasonable prices.
– Your next stop is LxFactory. An abandoned industrial area was transformed a few years ago into a creative, cultural and gastronomic space with renovated factory buildings. This is now the city's new hipster hangout. The space will fascinate you, while the retro and vintage shops are so stylish that they will make you want to change the decoration of your home!
– Then you will head to the historic area Belem. Belem is full of museums! Do some research before you go to see what you like to visit. Whatever you do, it's worth crossing the two large green squares that you'll encounter after Belem station.
– You won't want to miss out on buying Pastéis de Nata from Pastéis de Belem, which is rumored to make the best in Portugal, using the same recipe since 1837! We who have tried them, however, cannot help but agree! Especially if you taste them hot, as soon as they are prepared, they are excellent! Tip: You will see a lot of people waiting outside the shop. Don't be put off. The service is fast. However, you can wait at 2or queue to sit inside the shop and enjoy Pastéis accompanied by a coffee.
– Head to the magnificent monastery of Saint Hieronymus, which belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It was built at this point so that sailors could pray before departing on their journeys. The construction of the monastery, which belonged to the Hieronymite monks, began in 1501 and was completed in 1601. It is a sample of Medieval architecture with Arabic influences and in its wings it hosts an archaeological and naval museum. You get a ticket on the spot and it costs 10 euros.
– The Portuguese pioneered the Age of Discovery with great explorers such as Magellan, Vasco Da Gama, Diaz, Cabral and others. In front of the square with the Wind Rose (wind vane) is the imposing Monument of the DiscoveriesIt is 56 meters high, depicts 32 Portuguese explorers and is designed in the shape of a caravel.
– The fortification follows Belem Tower Built in 1515 and named after a chapel dedicated to Saint Mary of Bethlehem, it is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and was built to protect Lisbon from invasions via the Tagus.
– In the afternoon you will go to the neighborhood of Alfama for a walk and a meal. The Alfama district looks like it came out of a painting. Here you will find some of the oldest houses in Lisbon as the area survived the earthquake of 1755. Its highlights are:
a) His castle Saint George (Castelo de Sao Jorge). Its history is lost at the end of the 6th century BC with Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs having left their cultural traces. It has a 360◦ view and 18 towers that are still preserved. (ticket 8.5 euros)
b) The viewpoint Santa Luzia viewpoint. A spot with a stunning view of the Tagus, especially at sunset and sunrise. The church with the ajulejos and the bougainvillea that are located in this small square make it a favorite place for travelers and residents of Lisbon.
You will go to the Alfama district without a plan. You will walk through its narrow streets, observe the locals, get lost and listen to Fado music in the various tiny restaurants and bars.
Fado, which in Portuguese means fate or destiny, is the name of a genre of music that developed in Portugal in the 18th century.the century. Its roots, however, are quite old. The music is melancholic and is related to the Portuguese word saudade, one of the most difficult words to translate: it is a kind of longing but also a mixture of nostalgia, sadness, pain, happiness and love. The lyrics of this type of music often talk about the sea, about love or about the life of the poor. You will surely have come across it in collections of Café del Mar.
2nd day
– Start your day with the historic Tram Gloria ElevatorThe historic cable car has been operating since 1885 and has been designated a national monument. After a few minutes it reaches the garden of San Pedro de Alcantara with the wonderful view (metro card valid).
– Walked around his neighborhood Neighborhood Alto with buildings in the Baroque style. It is the artistic neighborhood of Lisbon with cafes, bars and small boutiques. During the day it may seem quiet but at night it fills with people! Enjoy the view at the bohemian cafe "Lost In". It is difficult to find but worth your attention.
– Your next stop is the one half-destroyed by the 1755 earthquake Carmo Monastery. It is a monument of the 14th century and now operates as an archaeological museum. The roof was not saved. The arches, however, remained intact and make the monument extremely impressive! The sanctuary preserves sarcophagi of the kings and historical relics of Portugal (ticket 4 €).
– Behind the temple is the elevator. Santa Justa Elevator. It was built in the late 19th century to connect the Baixa district with Bairro Alto. It was designed by Raoul Mesnier, who based his work on the techniques of Gustave Eiffel. At 45 meters high, it is another viewpoint over the city.
– Continue your wandering in the picturesque district of Neighborhood AltoIn Luis de Camões Square you will also taste excellent Pastéis de Nata, at Buttermilk. Locals in the know prefer these to Pasteis de Belem! We found them just as good…
– Head towards Bica de Duarte Belo Street, which is perhaps the most photographed street in the city! With tram 28 passing through there, the street is a favorite Instagram spot for all travelers!
– In Santa Catarina Viewpoint You will admire the view of the Tagus River and drink cocktails at the stylish Rooftop at the top of a 5-story parking lot with a nice view of Lisbon.
– If you want to get a taste of traditional Portuguese music without spending a fortune, the Tasca do Chico in Bairro Alto is a must. After 7pm and for just €2, you can enjoy a beer accompanied by traditional music.
– Something that impressed us about the architecture of the houses in Lisbon are the decorative tiles on the exterior walls! They are called Azulejos and were brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors. They are everywhere and they are a sight to behold!
Food – entertainment
– In addition to what we wrote above about the Alfama and Bairro Alto districts (where you will find countless places to drink and eat), you will definitely stop for food in Market yes Ribeira (Time out).
– In Lisbon, too, there is a renowned chef, the Jose Avillez, which has created a "neighborhood" of different styles of restaurants in order to appeal to all tastes and budgets. All of its restaurants They are award-winning and will definitely satisfy you.
– For a drink, you can also go to Martim Moniz which is the old Moorish quarter (Mouraria). The square is bustling with life, full of small bars and cafes and people dancing to Latin rhythms. There is the Topo Rooftop Bar with a stunning view of the city and the castle of Agios Georgios, where you will try espumante, the Portuguese sparkling wine.
– The Portuguese love him cod in all its forms. Try as many as you can! A traditional local delicacy (street food) is Pastel de Bacalhau, which is breaded fried cod with a cheese filling.
– In the Alfama district, we discovered the best pizza in Lisbon at Primo Basílico, where an Italian woman brought the recipes from her country to Portugal.
Where to stay?
Despite the fact that Portugal is considered an economical country in terms of its daily life, accommodation is unfortunately another matter. There are economical accommodations but most of them have problems due to the age of the buildings in the city center. We chose this one and we didn't regret it.
In our next article you will read about a day trip worth taking from Lisbon to the magnificent Sintra!
