Lisbon

Charming Lisbon by Jess

In March, I enjoyed a long weekend in the charming city of Lisbon. After checking in, we headed out to explore and soon found ourselves at the Praca do Comercio. This beautiful waterfront square, lined with restaurants and traditional tram routes, is framed by elegant yellow arcaded buildings, and opens out onto the river. It offers a wonderful introduction to the city and is an ideal place to enjoy some food, drink or simply ‘people watch’. 

The next day, we strolled to Santa Luzia Viewpoint where you have extensive views over the Alfama district. Alfama is Lisbon’s oldest and most traditional neighbourhood which is known for its narrow, cobbled streets and rows upon rows of beautiful, colourful, tiled buildings.

We also visited the Lisbon Cathedral, conveniently located near one of my favourite breakfast spots from the trip, ‘Dear Breakfast’. The cathedral’s historic architecture makes it well worth stopping by as you explore the surrounding area.



Although we did not go inside Sao Jorge Castle, we admired it from one of the city’s many viewpoints where the hilltop position really stood out above Lisbon’s skyline. 

We spent the evening at ICON bar and rooftop, a rooftop venue known for its lively atmosphere and impressive views across the city. From our table we had a clear, stunning view of the Ponte 25 de Abril Bridge and the Sanctuary of Christ the King in the distance. We watched the sun go down whilst enjoying the drinks and light bites available on this rooftop.

On our final day we took a trip up to the romantic town of Sintra, visiting the Quinta De Regaleira, a UNESCO world heritage sight, and well deserved too! Just an hour away from the city, this fascinating estate was built in the late 1800s by the owner Antonio Augusto Carvalho Monterio, and reflects his fascination with symbolism. It is truly incredible to see, with secret tunnels, lush gardens as well as the renowned Initiation Well. 

Lisbon had a range of places to eat or have a drink, one of my favourites being ‘The Time Out market’, a vibrant food market with a shared dining experience. This food court has 26 different restaurants to choose from with 8 bars serving samples of different cuisines and iconic Portuguese dishes. You order from the individual stalls and then take your food to long communal tables in the centre, a perfect way to try a variety of dishes in one sitting! My favourite dish was the Pastel de nata which is a must in Lisbon. 

Top tips

• Although Lisbon’s many attractions appear close together on a map, bear in mind the walking distance is made longer by the climb! If you don’t want to walk up the many hills of Lisbon, there are a number of trams all around the city. Tram 28 is particularly popular and even considered an attraction itself as it passes many of Lisbon’s key sights. Tram 12 is an alternative which runs through the most scenic part without it being too busy. To navigate the trams, we used an app called Citymapper, which was very useful to get us from A to B.
• Lisbon has a fantastic food scene, and many of the most popular spots can get busy—especially at breakfast. If there are particular restaurants or cafes you would like to visit, it is well worth booking in advance. We were able to avoid queues at several places by reserving a table the day before, making the experience far more enjoyable.