Last Updated on February 20, 2023
Our last weekend trip in Europe before my impending due date (June 1st!) was a trip to Lisbon. After our weekend in Faro, the south of Portugal, in December of last year, I had fallen in love with Portugal. Between the delicious food and kind people, I could not wait to make a return trip. We flew February 28th, which little did we know, was right before things went really south with coronavirus and travel would soon come to a complete halt within and outside of Europe– we even had to postpone our wedding in Boston in April due to a US-Europe travel ban imposed by President Trump on March 11th. Nevertheless, thinking of happier and less uncertain times, here are our top 10 for a trip to Lisbon post-corona.
Our top 10 for a trip to Lisbon, Portugal:
1. Eat Pasteis de Nata at Manteigaria
If you want to eat the best pasteis de nata, you must go to Manteigaria. For all who are not familiar with this Portuguese custard tart, you are in for a treat! Eat them hot, straight out of the oven with a dusting of cinnamon and sugar. In one word: heavenly.
2. Buy handmade ceramics at Cerâmicas na Linha
If you are like me, when you think of Portugal, you think of houses adorned with beautiful blue ‘azulejos’ or blue tiles. And if you are also like me, you want to bring back some of those beautiful ceramics home with you. This shop is an absolute must visit. You pay by the kilo for most, and they even have a section for ‘second chance items’ that have slight chips and are a real bargain (we got two coffee mugs from second chance for 1 EUR!!). I spent 20 EUR in total and took home six beautiful pieces. And trust me, if I had known about this gem, I would have brought an empty suitcase just for ceramics!
3. Eat at Time Out Market
You are probably already familiar with Time Out publishing group for their city dining and cultural reviews. The Time Out Market in Lisbon is an indoor food hall (as well as housing a more traditional market) with a collection of some of the best restaurants in Lisbon. Manteigaria even has a stall here, if you couldn’t get enough the first time around. I’d recommend making a lunch (or dinner) of one of the myriad of seafood options.
4. Walk around the Alfama District in Lisbon
Alfama is the city’s oldest district, and definitely the most picturesque. When I pictured Lisbon, what I had in my mind is exactly Alfama. A labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets, charming buildings and spectacular views along the Tagus river, this is one part of Lisbon you definitely don’t want to miss.
5. Walk (or Tram) to the highest point in all Lisbon
Lisbon. Is. Hilly. And I don’t say this with the slightest exaggeration – these hills are steep. While Uber is incredibly cheap in Lisbon (6 EUR from the airport!), I’d recommend walking or taking the tram to really discover the city. While in the Alfama district, we took the following walking route, ending at the highest point in all Lisbon: Castelo Sao Jorge to Miradouro de Santa Luzia to Miradouro das Portas do Sol to Miradouro da Graça, finally ending at Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. The entire route is 22 minutes walking (but completely uphill!)
6. Take the number 28 tram
Nothing is more iconic to Lisbon than the tram. One of my bucket list items for this trip was to take a tram ride. While JC had visited Lisbon before, he too had never taken the iconic tram. While in the main square, we saw people queueing up to take the famous number 28, and I was a bit deterred, as it seemed like an impossible feat to get a spot on the tram. However, on our way down from Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, we were able to comfortably fit ourselves on the 28 tram, picking it up at the Largo do Terreirinho tram stop.
7. Eat Açorda
We first discovered açorda, a portuguese dish made with bread and egg, with the consistency of baby food, when we visited Faro in December, and were immediately obsessed. Typically served with seafood, it is a must-eat in Portugal. Try it at Pap’Açorda located above the Time Out Market.
8. Take a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon
If you are in Lisbon for a weekend, definitely make time to visit Sintra, which is only 40 minutes away by train. Trains depart every hour on the hour from the Rossio station, where you can also buy your tickets. Two tickets cost 10 EUR roundtrip. Once you arrive to Sintra, the main visitor attraction is the Parque e Palácio Nacional da Pena. Be sure to hire a tuk tuk to drive you up there! It is a brutal climb otherwise – incredibly steep and not pedestrian friendly at all! The entrance fee to the gardens only, with which you can walk the entire castle grounds and admire the castle from outside is about 8 EUR a person. To get access to the interior of the castle as well, tickets run 14 EUR a person. We chose just to view the castle grounds. The palace is really spectacular with remarkable colors and architecture. A must-visit when in Sintra!
9. Eat more traditional Portuguese sweets
While in Sintra, we took the opportunity to try more traditional Portuguese desserts, such as travesseiros and queijadas at Piriquita. While my heart still belongs to pasteis de nata, especially at Manteigaria, it’s fun to try foods traditional to the country and city in which you are traveling.
10. Repeat number #1 with another Pasteis de Nata
Speaking of sweets, before you leave Lisbon, be sure to pick up another (or a few!) pasteis de natas at Manteigaria before leaving. And. if there is someone you really love back at home, maybe even bring them back a box.
Have more tips for Lisbon? Comment below!
Traveling to Portugal? Why not make a trip to Spain as well? Check out our posts on everything to do in Spain. Or make a trip to Faro and the Algarve in the south of Portugal. Read our post here on how to make the most of a weekend in Faro.
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