Portugal
Lisbon
Lisbon is a great choice for a long weekend. Sitting on the banks of the River Tagus this sunny Portuguese city has lots to offer. Built on seven hills means that many of the cobbled old streets are steep so comfortable footwear is a must. But where there are hills, there are viewpoints and one of the best places for a panoramic view over the terracotta roofs is the Miradouro de Santa Luzia. Located in Alfama in the old town it has stunning views over the city and the River Tagus.
Getting Around
The cheapest way to get around Lisbon is to buy a Navegante Card. €7.00 will give you unlimited access on all forms of public transport for 24 hours. The only exception is if you want to travel to Sintra or Cascais in which case you should buy a 24 hour ticket at €11.00.
Neighbourhoods
Alfama
Lisbon has lots of different neighbourhoods to explore. At the heart of the city is Alfama. The historic old town has a village feel with its steep narrow streets. Trams can be seen going up and down the hills regularly and are a good way of getting around.
Castelo de Sao Jorge
The Castelo is a huge complex which has evolved over the years with some parts being added and some buildings disappearing. The earliest part of the Castle dates back to the Iron Age.
Guided tours are available twice a day in English and once a day in Portuguese. The tours last one hour.
Ticket prices
Adults age 26 - 64: €15.00
Young people age 13 to 25: €7.50
Children under 12: Free
Adults over 64: €12.50.
Bairro Alto
A popular area for tourists, by day it’s quirky and bohemian while at night the bars and restaurants make it one of the liveliest areas in Lisbon. People spill out of the bars to socialise in the streets while traditional Fado music can be heard in the restaurants.
Cais do Sodre
South of Bairro Alto is the district of Cais do Sodre. This is another area which has a buzzing nightlife but during the day it is also home to the Time Out Market where you can sample the best food and drink that Lisbon has to offer all under one large roof. As well as the market area where you can buy fresh produce the food hall also has multiple restaurants run by Lisbons top chefs.
Address: Mercado da Ribeira, Avenida 24 de Julho, 1200-479, Lisbon
Opening Hours: 10am - midnight every day
Average price for a meal: €15 per person
What to eat in Lisbon
As well as eating lots of pasteis de nata when we were in Lisbon, we also tried Portugal’s national dish bacalhau (salted cod) and Caldo Verde, soup with potato, kale and chorizo sausage.
Praca de Comercio
A short walk along the harbour from Cais do Sodre is the Praca de Comercio. This is one of two main squares in Lisbon, the other one being Rossio Square. At the north side of the Praca de Comercio is the Triumphal Arch. This is the gateway that links the port on the River Tagus with the city of Lisbon. This large square was once the site of the Royal Palace before it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1755. Today it is used for public events. In the middle of the square is a statue of King Jose I. The square is linked to Rossio Square by a wide pedestrianised street, Rua Augusta which is lined with shops, bars and restaurants and is a pleasant street to stroll along.
Belem
The district of Belem is located on the banks of the River Tagus and is where you can find several tourist highlights including the Jeronimos Monastry and Belem Tower.
Also in Belem is the legendary Pasteis de Belem. This is where you can buy Lisbons famous pastel de natas. You can, of course buy them all over Lisbon but here they have been making them using the original recipe since 1837.
Day Trips
Sintra
If you have time to take a day trip out of Lisbon I would definitely recommend visiting the village of Sintra.
There are several trains a day which run from Rossio station in central Lisbon to Sintra. The journey takes 40 minutes and return fare is €4.90.
What to do in Sintra
National Palace of Sintra
Home to royalty for over 800 years, the Palace is now a museum. The interior is authentic of the style of the palace and the tile room is impressive.
Opening Hours: 9.30am - 6.30pm daily
Admission fee: €13.00
Guided tours are available for an additional cost
Peña Palace
Sitting up in the hills and hidden behind the pine trees is Peña Palace. Of all of the castles and palaces that I have visited this is one of my favourites.
We took the No. 434 bus from Quinta dos Lagos stop which goes all the way up to the Palace. The style of the palace and the colours of the exterior walls make it look like something out of a fairytale.
It was built as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family up until 1910 when the monarchy was abolished. However the rooms inside the palace have been carefully preserved and guided tours are available. Give yourself plenty of time to get around. It can take up to 2 hours to see everything inside the palace and then some more to go round the gardens.
Admission to Palace and Gardens: €13.00
The last bus leaves Peña Palace at 7.50pm during the summer and 7.00pm the rest of the year.
Finally
Whether you want to explore the city or simply enjoy great food and drink and a buzzing nightlife, Lisbon has it all. We found it easy to get around and if you look around for restaurants that are in the less touristy areas you’ll find it great value for money.