Lisbon, Portugal
Padrão dos Descobrimentos, Lisbon
© David Wade, 2018
Overview
I travelled to Lisbon twice in one year for work purposes. It is such a beautiful city with plenty of historic and cultural sites but I only managed to get around a few. There is still so much left for me to see, however below are my key recommendations and reviews.
On arrival
Getting to the city from the airport is simple in Lisbon. The site is linked through the capital’s robust metro system. The station is well sign posted inside the terminal building with ticket machines available in multiple languages including English.
accommodation
For my two trips I stayed in three different hotels of varying budgets and accessibility. The city is spread out and as a first time visitor it was hard to know which area is best to stay in. From the below I would say that the first place I stayed, Hotel White Lisboa, had the best location and easiest to access the main city.
Hotel White Lisboa, Saldanha
Situated right by the Saldanha metro station, this hotel is decked out in theme with its name - very white. A minimalist and clean colour scheme, the rooms are large enough with a comfy bed. There is a rooftop pool, which due to the time of year I didn’t make use of. The main selling point is the location and accessibility, especially being on the same metro line as the airport.
Dom Pedro Lisboa, Campolide
This hotel is from the bygone era of business travel. With faded Versace-like interiors, conference rooms and several bars the vibe is very much of retro glamour. I was lucky to get one of the rooms on one of the top floors which had great views overlooking Lisbon. Located about 11 minutes walk to the nearest metro station, but surrounded by some impressive parks and monuments.
Ramada by Wyndham, Olaias
A simple and generic hotel, this is another place that has excellent accessibility both to the airport and the main city through being situated right by the metro line. There isn’t much else to say about this place except that it was great for a working trip and had everything you could need.
Rossio Square, Lisbon
© David Wade, 2018
Tram 28, Lisbon
© David Wade, 2018
Miradouro de Santa Luiza, Lisbon
© David Wade, 2018
unmissable
Ride on Tram 28
This is easily one of the most popular things to do in Lisbon, and the queues to board are notorious in the city. The historic transport route takes in the hilly terrain of Alfama, Lisbon Cathedral and the main square, before carrying on to Campo Ourique. I was stood up the whole way during my trip which meant there wasn’t a lot of opportunity to see much of the scenery, however on a quiet day you would get to take in lots of beautiful parts of the city.
Top tip: Board the tram as early in the morning as you possibly can, and avoid the weekends
Miradouro de Santa Luiza
Taking in one of the most spectacular views of Lisbon, this historic vista contains a terrace and small garden with beautiful blue and white tiles. Being a viewpoint means it’s located up some pretty steep hills, however is worth the trek for some picture perfect shots.
Top tip: Head here for sunset
Praça do Comércio
One of the most iconic spots in Lisbon, the Praça do Comércio is set in a public square located on the waterfront. It is cited as the grandest of all Lisbon’s plazas and contains the notable yellow Pombaline architecture, with the majestic Arco da Rua Augusta as the focal point.
Top tip: Climb the Arco da Rua Augusta to the viewpoint for a view over the Tagus River
Walk around
This may seem like an obvious one, however I found the best of Lisbon was found wandering through the streets taking in the architecture, artistic tiling and winding, hilly streets. Make sure you make time to explore the streets of the city, especially in Alfama.
Top tip: Lisbon has a wealth of incredible street art, research walking street art tours for the best local spots
Miradouro da Sentora do Monte
For me this was the best view point in the city. I headed there at sunset for incredible views of the city as dusk rolled in. Taking in the main areas of the city including Ponte 25 de Abril and the city of Almada
Top tip: Ensure you leave enough time to get here if you’re planning to walk as the climb up can be quite steep in parts
Signature Eats
No trip to Lisbon is complete without a visit to the popular Time Out Market. There are plenty of food and drink options available, I would recommend Croqueteria which served delicious croquettes in a variety of flavours
Home of the best Pastel de nata in Lisbon, and therefore (probably) the world. The Portuguese custard tarts, which are a national dish, have been served here since 1837 with the place continuing to be a pilgrimage for visitors and locals alike. Eat in or take away, there will be a queue but it will be worth it.
Pastéis de Belém, Lisbon
© David Wade, 2018
Street art, Lisbon
© David Wade, 2018
Top Tips
I only got to spend a short amount of time exploring Lisbon, and therefore I would suggest that a weekend break would not be enough. To really enjoy and explore properly a few days should be the minimum
Ensure that you try out a variety of transport methods, the metro, tram, bus and on foot are all great ways to see the city - so mix it up
Now a hugely popular tourist destination, investigate when low season is to ensure that you can make the most of your time
Visit some of the museums to immerse yourself in the history and culture of the city
Whilst I didn’t get a chance to visit, LxFactory comes highly recommended
Summary
A couple of short trips were not enough for me to explore this incredible city. There are many reasons why you see Lisbon on the list of places not to miss. I would love to go back again at some point