VISIT LISBON IN A WEEK: MEDITERRANEAN TRAVEL

VISIT LISBON IN A WEEK: MEDITERRANEAN TRAVEL

Lisbon

INTRODUCTION – VISIT LISBON IN A WEEK

Visit Lisbon in a Week: Several months ago, my girlfriend and I decided to take a short unplanned trip to Portugal after visiting some friends in Spain. Neither of us had been to Portugal before so we agreed to make Lisbon our next adventure. We were both pleasantly surprised and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.  It was the end of August so we were able to avoid the summer crowds while still being able to enjoy the beautiful summer weather. We spent a week exploring the city and left feeling like we had just scratched the surface and had barely begun to discover what it had to offer. We may not have been on the Mediterranean but being in Portugal comes awfully close. (Meanwhile, to find out more about the Mediterranean, check out our post on Mediterranean Travel for helpful tips and ideas.)

Terreiro do Paço
Terreiro do Paço

When we booked our rooms we wanted to be close to the central part of the city but because we were slow to plan we had to book two different places to cover our entire stay (a small hotel for the first few days and an Air BnB for the rest of the week). What started as a minor inconvenience turned into a good move since half the sites we wanted to see were close to the hotel and the other attractions were close to the Air BnB. More on that later. First, what are the best things to see and do in Lisbon? Before answering, let’s start with a little background information.

Visit Lisbon in a Week: Me at the Terreiro do Paço
The author at the Terreiro do Paço

BACKGROUND: VISIT LISBON IN A WEEK

The capital city of Portugal is Lisbon and it is also the largest city in Portugal (Click the following link to find out why Portugal is one of The 5 Best Places to Retire in Europe). Located on the west coast it opens onto the Atlantic and this fact alone is one of the central themes in the history and development of the city and the incredible part it played in the discovery of the New World. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, predating other modern European capitals such as London, Paris, and Rome.

The country’s rich history, stunning architecture, vibrant culture, and picturesque setting make it a popular destination for tourists from around the globe. Depending on what you want to see or experience, the choice of sites and attractions can be overwhelming. To help, I’ve put together a short list of several of the main attractions that a visitor should at least try to see when they come to this city.

Padrao dos Descobrimentos (The Monument of the Discoveries)
Padrao dos Descobrimentos (The Monument of the Discoveries)

WHAT ARE THE BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO?

uk Tuk
Tuk Tuk Taxi

The list below is in no particular order and by no means exhaustive. With sunscreen, a good pair of walking shoes, and a local tourist map, the attractions below should be relatively easy to find. Keep in mind that as a last resort, there is a fleet of tuk-tuk taxis throughout the city that, for a small fee, are ready to take you anywhere you want to go.

Parque das Nações:

For Expo 98 the city developed a brand new modern district called Parque das Nações and this stands in stark contrast to the historic charm of the older core of the city. From the Expo, we were able to walk along the waterfront walkways, and visit the Vasco da Gama Tower and the Vasco da Gama Bridge. We also visited the Oceanarium and the Portugal Pavilion. We were able to reach the Expo via a double-decker bus that leaves regularly from the Praca de Comercio.

Expo 98
Expo 98

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte:

If you want to see panoramic views of the city you will want to pack your most comfortable walking shoes. It’s quite a hike to the Miradouro but it has some of the best views. From there you can see most of the city, the Targus River and the Castle of São Jorge. It’s a popular spot to watch the sunset and soak in the city’s beauty. It was Just a short walk from our hotel but still quite a challenge to reach the top but absolutely worth it., like most places here, there was a hill to climb to reach the lookout points. However, the view was absolutely worth it.

Street Art Scene:

Like many European cities, it also has a vibrant street art scene. Just a few blocks from our hotel, we were able to visit the Bairro Alto and Mouraria neighborhoods. Here you can find beautiful murals, graffiti, and urban art. There are contributions from many local artists and the presentations are constantly changing,

Street Art
Street Art

The Culinary Scene:

One thing that you definitely want to explore is the incredible food selection. Even if you are not a foodie, you’ll enjoy the wide selection of pastries, desserts, and other snacks available at every street corner. One of the more famous local offerings are the custard tarts (pastéis de nata) which I can wholeheartedly agree with. However, this port city is also famous for its various fish dishes such as salted cod (bacalhau).

outdoor restaurants

Carmo Convent and Archaeological Museum:

One of the city’s darkest events was the earthquake of 1755 in which the city was flattened. It was reconstructed but there are reminders still to be found, one of which is the famous Carmo Convent. We visited the convent which has been turned into an open-air museum.

Carmo Convent
Carmo Convent

LX Factory:

The LX Factory is a must-see for those interested in urban art and seeing a trendier side of the city. This old factory was converted into a “village”  with various restaurants and shops and on weekends they have an open-air flea market.

Santa Justa Lift (Elevador de Santa Justa):

The Santa Justa Lift connects the lower street level with the upper level at Carmo Square. The lift is by no means breaking technology but when considering that it was built between 1900 and 1902 (and its design clearly reflects that period), it is worth checking out. You might want to time this visit correctly however because you’d be surprised how many people will line up to use this particular elevator.

Santa Justa Lift
Santa Justa Lift

Castelo de S. Jorge:

Saint George’s Castle (Castelo de Sao Jorge) is one of the main sites to visit in the city. It sits on top of a hill that overlooks the entire area and provides one of the best places to take pictures of the city. Like many places in this port city, this is quite a hike to reach. My recommendation on this one is if you are not sure if you are in good physical condition, take the bus. The view is beautiful, there is a museum to visit and peacocks are strolling around everywhere. There are also several vendors selling food and drinks in the castle so you won’t go thirsty or hungry.

View from Saint George's Castle,The Castelo de Sao Jorge
View from Saint George’s Castle, The Castelo de Sao Jorge

VISIT LISBON IN A WEEK – Odds and ends

Streetcar in Lisbon
Streetcar

As mentioned above, we tried to visit as many attractions as possible. However, around every corner, there seemed to be another statue, water fountain, church, plaque, park, museum, and more. You could literally choose any direction, start walking, and be guaranteed to find something to visit or see. Additionally, there are cafes and restaurants everywhere, so getting food and refreshments at any point of your journey was never a problem.

One of hundreds of Lisbon parks
One of hundreds of parks in the city

We tried to balance our excursion times with as much downtime as possible. What helped in this regard is the fact that we had booked two separate places for our stay. We spent a few days at a small hotel near the Praca Dom Pedro, which put us within striking distance of several attractions on our list: the Santa Justa Lift, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte scenic lookout, Bairro Alto with its street art scene, hundreds of restaurants, streetcars, and funiculars, several parks and the Praca de Comercio which is located directly on the water.

Street Musician in the Alfama district
Street Musician in the Alfama district

During the last half of the week, we stayed in a bed and breakfast in the Alfama district, situated on a hill overlooking the Tagus River. Alfama is one of the oldest and most picturesque neighborhoods, known for its narrow winding streets, historic architecture, and traditional atmosphere. The district also offers a range of cafes, restaurants, and taverns serving delicious Portuguese cuisine.

Attractions Outside the City Center

Our decision to book two centrally located places allowed us to take our time visiting the sites and enjoy the city. However, not everything is within the old city districts so for some attractions we needed to travel a little further. To explore some of these more out-of-the-way tourist sites, we opted for a double-decker bus tour, which offered a convenient “hop on/hop off” option throughout the city and its surroundings. For other sights, we chose to take one of the many ferries that travel along the harborfront. These water taxis make several stops at various scenic locations, including the Torre de Belem and the iconic statue Padrao dos Descobrimentos, dedicated to the maritime explorers who left their mark on this extraordinary city.

"Hop on/ Hop off" Double Decker Bus
“Hop on/ Hop off” Double Decker Bus

Final Thoughts – VISIT LISBON IN A WEEK

The city has so much history, so much life and so much to see that 1week went by extremely fast. For a city that is not directly on the Mediterranean, you would be hard-pressed to believe otherwise. We left Lisbon knowing that we would definitely be making another trip back there as soon as we could to pick up where we left off. There are hundreds of restaurants and outdoor cafes to visit, countless historical sites, statues, churches, and museums, and an entire city still waiting to be discovered.

Reg Auge

Reg holds an MBA, is a former Captain in the Canadian military and has worked as a consultant in industry for over 20 years. From his home in Spain, he has spent the last 10 years traveling throughout the Mediterranean, exploring the various countries and regions. He also regularly runs, windsurfs, and kite surfs, maintaining a healthy and active way of life. Captivated by this Mediterranean lifestyle, he began a Blog last year to inspire like-minded souls to learn about and discover this unique region for themselves.

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