Lisbon has been on your Bucket List forever? Then the spring is the perfect time to finally implement the travel dream in reality! In mid -March last year we were in the Portugisian capital for a total of five days and saw and experienced an incredible amount during this time. In this article, we would like to share what is really worth it in Lisbon and what we can recommend from the heart.
In advance, however, a few organizational things that you should know before the trip:
Travel time, transport and the travel time: practical tips for a Lisbon trip:
1. In Lisbon you should definitely wear good footwear and at best also be very good on foot, because the city was built on seven hills. That means you almost always run uphill or downhill. And often on slippery head paving.
2. If you prefer to drive longer distances, our tip comes here: Uber is very cheap and widespread in Lisbon. We never had to wait longer than five minutes and usually only paid a few euros. Uber is also super practical for the trip from the airport to the city.
3. Please do not come up with the idea of taking a rental car for Lisbon instead. Traffic in the city center is sooo stressful and parked a thing of the impossibility. If you are planning a road trip, the car rental only starts after the Lisbon part and instead let yourself be rental at the airport with the Uber!
4. We can highly recommend spring with pleasantly mild temperatures as a travel time. We would rather avoid summer, as it gets very hot on the one hand and on the other hand there is much more going on.
5. And the travel time? In Lisbon there is an incredible amount to see and experience. If you don’t want to rush too much through the city and sometimes want to sit in the café in a very comfortable manner in the sun, we would definitely recommend four, better even five days.
Ten things you should do in Lisbon
1. Book a centrally located hotel
Preferably in Bairro Alto, Baixa, Chiado or in the oldest district of Lisbon’s Alfama. We were in two different hotels in Chiado and Bairro Alto during our stay and were very happy with both.
We had introduced the Palácio Ludovice Wine Experience Hotel separately, we can also highly recommend the patio do tijolo. A relaxed, small design hotel in a great location!
2. (Through the old town district))) just let up
Do not plan everything very quickly For me, is the most important tip on a Lisbon trip, because in the districts of Chiado, Bairro Ailto and Alfama there is so much nice to discover that you can simply walk and let yourself go without a large plan.
Regardless of whether you knew that Lisbon was one of the cities with the most beautiful street species worldwide?), Small boutiques, charming streets or detailed cafes, there is so much to see!
You will not find a Lisbon guide without the recommendation of a ride on the famous tram, at best with line 28 or one of the stand ropes. Honestly? Yes, the routes are certainly nice, but the tracks are so overcrowded that the journey is rather stressful instead of fun. Our recommendation: Better walk along the route along the route and watch the famous tram through the narrow streets on your trip.
3. Stroll across the area of the LX Factory
There are numerous concept stores, lots of gastronomy and small shops on a former factory area in the Alcântara district on around 20,000 square meters. A creative mini city with a lot of street art and a flea market that takes place every Sunday.
4. Many Pastéis de Nata eat
The water in my mouth runs together again when I only think of the delicious puff pastry pudding tarts … If you look for the best Pastéis de Nata in Lisbon, you can quickly end up with the famous Pastelaria de Belém bakery, which your very own pastéis de Offer Belém. And yes, the tarts there definitely taste better than in other pastry shops. But: The Pastéis de Nata come very close in the very popular Minteigaria, which has many branches in the city center.
Exciting: Even with the famous, very tourist pastry shops, you pay less than two euros for a Pastel de Nata. And the tarts are so cute that one thing is completely enough. Well, a few hours later it is time for the next …
5. Admire Lisbon from above
Always one of the highlights on a city trip: viewpoints. I could look at a city for hours and watch the colorful hustle and bustle from a bird’s eye view. Particularly popular: the platform of the Elevador de Santa Justa, an elevator that connects the districts of Baixa, Chiado and Bairro Alto.
The various viewpoints in the districts of Alfama and Graça offer the best view of the city. The highest viewpoint is the Miradouro Nossa Senhora do Monte, the viewpoint of Miradouro do Castelo de São Jorge is also very popular. We liked the view from the Miradouro da Graça best.
Good to Know: Beautiful, but much to overcrowded are the nearby viewpoints Miradouro de Santa Luzia and Miradouro Das Portas do Sol.
Incidentally, the Miradouro São Pedro de Alcântara, which is also very worth seeing, is located directly opposite the Palácio Ludovice Wine Experience Hotel in Bairro Alto.
6. Go brunch extensively
Is there anything nicer than sitting in a pretty café and watching the colorful hustle and bustle of a city with a really good coffee (and pancakes!)? We had introduced all of our café favorites to you in more detail in this article!
And since I don’t want to leave the topic of dinner out, there are briefly and crunchy three tips in different price categories: A modern interpretation of traditional, Portuguese dishes in a fantastically beautiful ambience offers the restaurant Federico (Rua do diário de notícias 150), you can do a really good pizza in the M’arrecreo pizzeria (Rua São Pedro de Alcântara 35,) only enjoy a few meters further. Delicious, healthy food with fresh seasonal ingredients you get very easily in one of the six branches of Honest Greens.
7. Drive to Cacilhas by ferry
It costs only a few euros to drive back and forth with the Cais do Sodré ferry to the other side of the Tejo to Cacilhas. On the approximately ten -minute drive there is a great view of the city and the famous Ponte 25 de Abril bridge. On the other hand, there are, among other things, the well-known Ponto Final restaurant and the Cristo-Rei statue. Otherwise, Cacilhas is not particularly worth seeing, but the short, uncomplicated journey itself is worthwhile for the view of Lisbon alone.
8. Shop ceramics
Anyone who loves ceramics will be very happy in Portugal. In Lisbon you can also shop for beautiful pieces at every corner at relatively very reasonable prices. A highlight is undoubtedly the popular Store Cerâmicas Na Linha (Rua Capelo 16), in which you can even buy ceramics at an affordable kilo price.
9. Along the harbor promenade
Lisbon hugs the shore of the Tejo and you can walk many kilometers along the river in the city. And of course there are numerous cafes and restaurants with a nice view of the water. Another tip: borrow a bike and cycle the seven kilometers from the quiosque da ribeira to the Torre de Belem.
10. A day trip to Comporta
A very special highlight of Lisbons: just a few kilometers from the city center you can spend a wonderful beach day. For example, the beaches of the Costa da Caparica or the beach of Carcavelos were recommended to us.
However, a place is particularly beautiful that is worth around 90 minutes drive for a day trip with an overnight stay: Comporta. What makes this place so special? The nature reserve has one of the most beautiful beaches that we have ever seen in Europe – and thanks to strict rules, there are only a few hotels and holiday homes, all of whom are dedicated to sustainable construction. In COMPORTA you only meet modern minimalism, a 60 -kilometer coastal strip, dune landscapes, countless storks and rice fields.
A few hotel tips if you want to stay a little longer: Spatia Comporta, Independent Comporta and Quinta da Comporta.
