Experience the Charm of Lisbon
If you are visiting anywhere in Europe, Lisbon is easy to get to, but for me it was particularly easy. I was staying in Madrid for a week, and Lisbon is a quick flight away. Considering that Lisbon is a relatively small city, it has a lot to offer. It has its unique charm and surprises – such as hills and steps to be mindful of when looking for accommodations.
Accommodations
First things first, Lisbon gets very hot in the summer. When looking for a place to stay, I would highly recommend booking a place with an AC. Especially for us Americans! There are plenty of Airbnbs and hotels in the city, but make sure to check the amenities. I have not stayed at a hostel, but my travel companion did and had a lot of good things to say about Selina Secret Garden Hostel. We stopped by the hostel for lunch as our Airbnb was nearby, and it was lovely.
A lot of buildings in Lisbon are not equipped with an elevators, and will require you to go up and down the stairs. This was not an issue for us. If you follow me, you already know that I love my Booking.com app, and I was able to find a lovely loft near Pink Street and the main attractions. However, upon arrival, we quickly realized that the loft didn’t have an AC. The host provided fans that did not help much it in the summer heat. Having all the windows open, the loft was still hot at 10 PM at night. We also encountered a visitor – a roach – that likely entered the unit through one of the open windows.
This was the determining factor to book a hotel with an AC, which we did. It was a little further from the center of the city, however, a quick Uber ride away. Additionally, there was a tram stop right outside the hotel. Initially, the area felt questionable, but as we explored it more, we quickly realized it was safe.
Alfama
When booking an accommodation, I would caution you from booking in the Alfama neighborhood. The prices may appear more reasonable, but there is a reason why!
It is an absolutely lovely area to explore with a lot of history and character, however, not very practical to stay in. This neighborhood is famous for its hills and stairs, and you may find yourself going up and down the hill to the nearest store or a cafe. Combined with the heat, it may not provide the best experience. However, you should absolutely come explore it on your own time during your stay.
Pink Street
This is where the hustle and bustle happens, especially at night. This area is full of nice restaurants, cafes, shops, and bars. It can get loud and expensive to stay around this neighborhood, unless opting for a hostel.
However, the neighborhood west of Pink Street is a great option. It is walking distance from the city center but quiet and slightly less expensive. Pink Street area is very congested with tourists, and if you prefer staying at a more local neighborhood to experience the charm of Lisbon, then read on.
Local Neighborhoods
The area near the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum is very nice, serene, green, and offers a variety of local cafes, shops, and restaurants. It is further away from the city center but a quick Uber ride. There is also a metro and a bus line for those of you who prefer public transportation.
Another area to consider is the neighborhood north of Moorish Quarter. This is where we booked our second hotel with an AC. There aren’t as many cafes or restaurants in the area, but there are great options walking distance. Including nice view points just a short walk away.
Things to do in Lisbon
Free Walking Tour
I always take a free walking tour when I visit a new city. The tour guides do a decent job providing a nice overview of the city. You also get to see the parts of the city that you may have not considered on your own.
Lisbon wasn’t an exception, however, I must say that the tour lasted 3 hours (the longest I had been to so far!). It got very hot towards the end of the tour, right at the lunch time. If booking during summer time, this is your warning!
The concept of the free walking tour is that you decide how good the tour was and pay the tour guide based on your experience. I typically pay $20 when I am in Europe and somewhere between $5 – $15 when in Latin America. This is considering the cost of living.
I did see paid tours by cars or tuk tuks, which can be a good option to consider in the summer, particularly that Lisbon has hills to climb. You may find that the cost of these tours is affordable and much worth it.
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
Next, if you have appreciation for art and museums when visiting new places, then check out the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.
This was a #1 recommendation on our tour guide’s list and now it is on mine as well! It is only 10 euros and the experience is worth much more!
This beautiful museum is a gift from a world renowned businessman and philanthropist, Mr. Calouste Gulbenkian, who had one of the largest private art collections in the world. He was a prominent and self-made figure that I admire, especially more since he was of Armenian descent as well. He was a man of a lot of firsts and well respected in the higher circles. Quite an influential figure that I look up to and aspire to be!
I wish I had more time to explore both buildings of the museum. However, the museum’s jewelry collection, featuring masterpieces by René Lalique, captivated and blew me away. Gulbenkian Museum holds one of the best works by Lalique and when you see it in person it is unparalleled.
The nightlife in Lisbon is vibrant and has a lot to offer. It also attracts a lot of tourists. If this is something you appreciate, make sure to bar hop and walk down the pink street.
Venturing Out of Lisbon
There are a few activities outside of Lisbon that may pique your interest. Particularly, visiting the city of Sintra, and chilling at the beaches of Caxias.
Sintra
You may have read about the city of Sintra and its palaces online. It is hands down a must see when visiting Lisbon.
Getting There
Getting to Sintra is easy – catch an Uber ride or get on a train at the Rossio Train Station, located at the center of Lisbon. Check the train schedule if you plan on taking the train, and make sure to buy your ticket at the station.
If you prefer taking the train, remember that upon arrival you would need to catch a bus or Uber to travel between palaces. We took an Uber from Lisbon since it took us all the way to the furthest palace (Monserrate). The ride was affordable considering the distance traveled.
Climate
The climate in Sintra is cooler which makes it a nice summer getaway from a hot Lisbon. In fact, the city served as a summer destination for royalty and the wealthy, who built their villas and palaces to escape the summer heat. Now these palaces are open to public to visit and enjoy.
Park and Palace of Monserrate
This palace is the furthest from the center of Sintra, which may explain it being less crowded, as it’s somewhat isolated from the others.
This was by far my favorite palace to visit. It was once owned by a businessman and had an interesting and difficult history over the years. This palace is absolutely gorgeous and architecturally unique. I found it dreamy and captivating. The gardens were nice to take a stroll as well. I absolutely recommend visiting this palace.
Quinta da Regaleira
This gothic style palace is located close to the city center of Sintra and easy to get to. Hence, it was busy and crowded when we arrived. I recommend purchasing the entry tickets in advance to avoid lines and confusion. Tickets have a time stamp for entry which will make it easy to plan a trip without worrying if there are tickets available at the time of arrival.
Tip for Entry Tickets
If you don’t purchase in advance, there are still tickets available at the door or online, just make sure you have a good internet connection. Otherwise, tell the guard that you need to purchase tickets at the ticket office, and they would let you enter. We were able to secure tickets online when we arrived and enter the palace right away. The tickets for the time of our arrival were available, so we quickly grabbed those tickets and avoided the wait.
The palace covers a lot of grounds and has a nice view of the Moorish palace that is located on the top of the hill (see picture). The scenery is beautiful and relaxing.
This palace is also famous for its initiation well, which draws visitors every year. Be warned that the line can get very long. If you are willing to wait in line, it might be worth the experience. We decided to pass on the well and wonder around the palace instead.
Pena Palace
This palace belonged to the royal family and was built by three different kings over the years, which explains its unique architectural style. It’s a beautiful palace and popular destination of all tourists. Hence, it can get busy and crowded. I wish we had time to visit this palace, however, I was very happy with our experiences at Sintra.
If you only have time to visit two or three palaces, you can’t go wrong with any of them, from my experience. I certainly would recommend the Palace of Monserrate, but I might be biased. All of them have their unique appeal, history, and sights. It’d be hard to go wrong with any of them.
Beaches and Spas of Caxias
The last day of our trip, before heading to the airport, we took a quick trip to the beach in Caxias. Another easy Uber ride, some 30 min away from Lisbon, where you can rent a lounge at the beach, get drinks or food ordered while relaxing and taking a plunge in the warm water of the Tagus river.
On our last day in Lisbon, we focused on making it a relaxing experience. After a relaxing afternoon at the beach, we booked a massage at one of the spas that have a shower, and had dinner at one of the local restaurants. Wrapped our day by catching an Uber to the Lisbon airport and were off on our way back to Madrid.
Hope this gives some travel ideas and inspired you to plan a trip to Lisbon!