By Danielle Lockwood.
Out of the many times that I have visited Europe I have always overlooked Lisbon. Do NOT make the same mistake. This gorgeous coastal capital of Portugal is not to be missed. This was our second leg of our Europe trip and just a three hour train ride from Porto. This is where we celebrated my 30th birthday and let me tell you, this is where you can do it right! As I mentioned in my last post, Lisbon has everything; culture, history, stunning sites, incredible restaurants and nightlife. There are so many different ways you can spend your time here and with only a few days in the city, we jam packed as much in as humanly possible. Keep reading for our guide to Lisbon, Portugal!
Best Restaurants and Bars in Lisbon
Lisbon is a city that is perfect for anyone on a budget. Out of most of the European capital cities we’ve visited, we found this one to be the cheapest. Lisbon restaurants are absolutely incredible. We ate like kings here, dining at five star restaurants that are the cost equivalent to what an average restaurant would be in Los Angeles. They have so many different options for all different budgets, there really is no way to go wrong here. The most important part of our guide to Lisbon: the best eats!
Bistro 100 Maneiras
This very chic restaurant had some of the best cocktails of our trip. We came to Bistro 100 Maneiras for pre-dinner drinks and unfortunately had dinner reservations elsewhere. Although we were unable to experience the food, I have heard that the dining is as exquisite as the cocktails. The decor of the bar is very eclectic and fun with books attached to the ceiling, knives in the wall, and a menu that comes in a box. Each cocktail has a different story behind it, each story is written out in the menu book. It was such a fun spot to stop at before dinner and a must see if you are in Lisbon!
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Bairro do Avilez
My fiancé Brady heard about this restaurant before our trip and wanted to have a pre-birthday dinner here. Bairro do Avilez was started by celebrity chef, José Avillez, known in Lisbon for his incredible restaurants. This lively spot was the perfect place to spend the night. We were here for hours, trying what felt like everything on the menu. The service was great and the food was delicious! We were in the Pateo part of the restaurant that serves the best meat and fish.
Prado
Out of all the Lisbon restaurants we tried, this one was my absolute favorite of the trip. We celebrated my 30th birthday here and closed the place down (not surprising considering we do this everywhere we go). Every single dish we tasted at Prado was delectable. The wine was incredible, even the spreads for the bread basket were life changing. Brady and I still talk about the whipped Iberico pork fat with garlic and bay leaf spread. You can’t go wrong with any of their dishes. The restaurant itself is beautiful with greenery hanging from the ceiling. The service was impeccable and they treated us like royalty. Just a note on these restaurants, they are popular spots so make sure to make a reservation!
Eight the Health Lounge
Eight the Health Lounge is a tasty sandwich and juice shop where we had an incredible lunch. They have delicious smoothies and a cute atmosphere which makes it the perfect spot for breakfast or lunch. We split a salad and sandwich which was the perfect amount of food to keep us going for a day of site seeing.
Pastéis de Belém
Pastéis des nata is a famous pastry in Portugal. They are delicious, custard filled tarts sprinkled with cinnamon that can be found everywhere in the country. The original bakery that produced these, Pastéis de Belém, started in 1837. If you are doing a trip to Belém, make sure you stop here for the pastéis de nata. It was the yummiest of the trip!
Where to Stay in Lisbon
Eurostars Museum
We only stayed in one hotel while we were here because we were only in Lisbon for a few days, but I want to give a huge shoutout to our hotel for making us feel so special. Our original hotel, the Eurostars Das Letras actually flooded and they sent us to the Eurostars Musem and gave us a huge upgrade! We were given a beautiful room with a massive balcony that overlooked the water. We spent most of our time on this balcony drinking the champagne that the hotel surprised us with every night of our stay. The service was incredible and the hotel was centrally located and very walkable. Most importantly, their espresso martinis were to die for.
What to Do in Lisbon
Take a Day Trip to Sintra
For as long as I can remember I’ve had photos of the stunning castles of Sintra saved to my travel board on my Pinterest page. Little did I know just how spectacular it would be in person! Sintra is where Portuguese royalty would vacation back in the day. It is found in the foothills of Portugal’s Sintra Mountains just an hour train ride away from the center of Lisbon. Pastel colored and medieval castles line the hills of this stunning (and very windy) area. If you go to Lisbon I can’t stress enough that this MUST be on your list!
When you arrive you feel as though you have been transported into a whimsical fairytale. As it is a very popular spot it can get quite crowded so it is best to arrive first thing in the morning. Once you arrive at the train station in Sintra you can either take the 434 bus or a tuktuk up to the top. The 434 bus connects to all of the main sites in Sintra. I strongly advise on the tuktuk as it is more fun! I would discourage walking to Pena Palace as it is VERY steep and will take you forever. You would much rather spend your time at the castles than walking up the hills.
+Pena Palace
This is the most famous palace in Sintra. It looks like something out of Disneyland with intricate tiles, bright colors and whimsical architecture. Each room is more lavish than the last with stunning views of Lisbon from every terrace. We spent most of the day here in awe. We were so in awe that we actually ran out of time to see the rest of the castles! Make sure to explore every side of this castle as there is so much to see. Reward yourself with a drink on the terrace overlooking the jaw dropping view.
+Quinta Da Regaleira
We may have spent a bit too much time at Pena Palace but luckily we were able to fit this one in as well. This stunning gothic castle is another must see in Sintra. The castle has enchanting gardens, secret passages and hidden tunnels that run throughout. Every part of this castle is jaw dropping and the gardens are filled with mystic religious symbols. We walked here from Pena Palace and decided to take the 434 bus back down to the center of town once we were done. This castle felt a lot less crowded than Pena Palace so I would suggest visiting it second if you arrive early in the morning.
Take a Day Trip to Belém
Belém is a an awesome district in Lisbon with many different tourist attractions. After having many issues figuring out the bus service from the center of town, we decided on a tuktuk with a lovely couple from New Zealand who also couldn’t figure out the public transportation. To our credit, the bus had actually been delayed and we were tired of waiting. This was a blessing in disguise because tuktuks will always be the most fun form of travel and a great way to see the city. After about a 20 minute ride, were dropped off at the Jerónimos Monastery, a stunning monastery with the most ornate architecture. After roaming around the monastery we walked over to Pastéis de Belém, mentioned above, for some incredible pastéis de nata.
+Belém Tower
When you think of Portugal, you probably think of the iconic tower that sits in the water. (This was another landmark I had saved on my travel Pinterest board). Belém Tower is one of the most famous landmarks of Lisbon, it is a Manueline style tower that sits in the middle of the Tagus River. Manueline architecture is a Portuguese gothic style of architecture that makes up a lot of Lisbon’s famous landmarks such as the aforementioned Jerónimos Monastery. Make sure to stop to get a pastéis de nata and walk over to Belém Tower for a picnic in the park. It’s a beautiful site and luckily when we went it was later in the day so there weren’t many crowds.
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcantara at Sunset
This is a beautiful viewpoint in the center of Lisbon where you can picnic and watch the sunset. These terraces offer panoramic views of all of Lisbon. Bring some wine and a picnic and enjoy the view! When we were there they were preparing for the Feast of Saint Anthony Festival so there was live music, food stands and 1 euro sangria! Did I mention how cheap Lisbon is??
The Feast of Saint Anthony Festival
The night of my 30th birthday happened to be the biggest annual festival of Lisbon. The day leading up to it we saw people walking around with sardine hats and green wigs. Needless to say we were very confused. What we learned is that traditionally, men offer a basil plant to their loved ones on this day (hence the green wigs). Sardines are the traditional food that you can smell cooking in food stands throughout the city. The oldest quarters of the town fill with thousands of drunk people dancing to local performers while downing sangria and sardines. I assumed everyone was out to celebrate the death of my 20s, however this is a huge celebration for Lisbon that happens every year. To quote the great rapper Ludacris, “the party don’t stop til 8 in the mornin”…but really, it doesn’t end until sunrise. A word to the wise if you attend this festival: be ready for absolute chaos. The narrow, cobblestone streets crowd with thousands of people and if you are able to remain aware of your belongings you can have a great time. We ended our night in a gay bar dancing to Abba’s “Dancing Queen” as one does. Needless to say, Lisbon nightlife is a great time.
Go Check Out Some Live Music Venues
When Brady and I were trying to escape from some of the Feast of Saint Anthony chaos we ran into a bar with live music. It was such a great time and we were able to meet some locals. We befriended the musician who had just finished his set and met his girlfriend. They were a very trendy, awesome Portuguese couple in their early 30s and we spent most of the night exchanging stories with them. The beauty of travel is meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. When you’re traveling, try to keep an open mind and make conversation with strangers. In my experience it always leads to a great time and an experience you may not have had if you were looking down at your phone. Locals in any place will always have the best advice on where to go, what to do and what to eat!
Lisbon was an incredible experience. The sites, the culture, the dining, it was everything one could hope for in a European city. I strongly recommend that you add this to your list! Stay tuned for our next post on The Southern Coast of Portugal!
Have you been to Lisbon and have additional places you’d love to add? We are always looking for suggestions for our next trips! Comment below!
Xx,
Danielle and Simone
WHAT WE PACKED
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