Throughout my time in Lisbon, there were many things that I wanted to see and do so I created a bucket list and set out to achieve as many possible throughout my stay.
Experiences
Surfing
One of my New Year's Resolutions was to learn how to surf. Although I'd had a surfing lesson in the Canary Islands several years ago, I hadn't been able to stand up and couldn't remember much at all. Since then, I'd learnt how to snowboard and taught myself the basics of skateboarding so I was hoping that I'd pick up surfing more easily this time around. The day after I arrived in Lisbon, I booked a surfing lesson for the afternoon and was picked up from the city and taken to Costa da Caparica (specifically to Praia do Castelo). Here is where I met two people who ended up becoming good friends in Lisbon. The surf instructor was extremely helpful and I managed to stand up early on, which had been my aim. I underestimated how tiring surfing would be, but the hard part wasn't actually the surfing, instead it was resisting all of the waves as you are trying to get further out to sea (I also have minimal arm strength as I mainly just go on runs, which didn't help). I loved being at the beach again though and this was one of my favourite memories of the trip.
Beach/Rooftop Pool I couldn't wait to spend my summer getting tanned and swimming in the sea so at every opportunity I got, I'd go to Cascais, Carcavelos, or Costa da Caparica with friends and soak up the sun. From Cais do Sodré (where I was staying), there were direct trains to the former two beaches for only 3€ return, but they were often busy and windy, whereas Costa da Caparica was harder to get to (and more expensive) but was a guaranteed good time. Alternatively, after a long day of work it was often easier to spend the evening in a rooftop pool overlooking the city; Sunset Destination Hostel was very close to me and always had a great atmosphere so I'd recommend visiting to meet new people and enjoy a few drinks by the pool.
Fado
Fado is a Portuguese music genre which is often quite melancholy and is native to Lisbon, so despite not being a big fan of the genre, I wanted to have the experience of seeing a live performance in Alfama. After my surfing lesson, I invited everyone I had met to join me and we watched a performance over dinner, which was surprisingly enjoyable. It is worth noting that many of the venues offering fado only allow you to listen to the music if you buy a substantial meal so be prepared to buy food too. Alfama is also well-known for its alleys and residents overlooking the alleys on their balconies so it's definitely worth visiting the area. I rode the iconic 28E yellow tram to Alfama which was an easy way to spot the sights too.
Vespa tour to Sintra Despite my motorbike accident, riding a moped had been on my Bucket List for years. Since watching the first episode of Gossip Girl many years ago, in which Serena mentions her experience of riding a Vespa in Italy, I have wanted to have that Mamma Mia moment abroad, however it has been much harder to achieve than I'd envisioned. I didn't want to ride any old moped, it had to be a Vespa or something with a similar vibe. My first opportunity was in Capri a couple of years ago, however I had forgotten my driving licence at the hotel so couldn't rent a Vespa, and during my travels in Greece and Barcelona my friends weren't keen to join me either. I thought that Lisbon would be the perfect opportunity as they offered a Vespa tour of Sintra, however after arranging it all, we turned up only to be rejected due to lack of sufficient experience. Luckily, I managed to ride one a few weeks later in Spain so all was not lost.
Snooker
After visiting Pavilhão Chinês for a drink, I wanted to play snooker with some friends as it was only 6€ a game and the bar was very cool. Unfortunately, I didn't have time in the end to do this but it's definitely worth visiting the bar either way if you have time - I'd especially recommend the 'Madeira' cocktail (despite it arriving with a Spanish flag).
Liveraria Bertrand I enjoy reading a lot, especially on the beach, and recently I'd been trying to read more books in Portuguese in order to improve this skill. Therefore, I'd hoped to buy a Portuguese classic from the oldest bookstore in the world, which is located in central Lisbon, however was slightly underwhelmed when visiting as the books were very expensive compared to in London and it wasn't unique at all.
Weekend trips
One of the things that I was most excited about was being able to explore areas of Portugal that I otherwise wouldn't have time for. I managed several getaways, including to Sintra, Setúbal, Porto, Peniche, and Mafra, all of which you can read about here.
Landmarks
Parque Eduardo VII
One thing that surprised me about Lisbon was the lack of green space, and this is coming from someone who lives in London (albeit, South London). Nonetheless, there are a handful of parks and Parque Eduardo VII is a nice one to walk through an offers a lovely view of the city and the river beyond. It leads down to Avenida da Liberdade, which is a wide boulevard known for being one of the most expensive shopping streets in Europe (and is also worth a visit).
Ponte 25 de Abril
This iconic landmark is reminiscent of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fran and is named after the Portuguese Revolution. For me, it always marked the turning point for my 5km runs whilst in Lisbon, but there are also a plethora of bars along the riverside by the bridge which are great for a night out.
Belém
If you walk along the riverside past the bridge, you eventually arrive at Belém. This is a calm area away from the city centre and has a lot to offer: the monument of discoveries is one of my favourite landmarks in Lisbon (despite what it represents), the Jerónimos Monastery is where the famous Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama's tomb lies, and the humble 'pastel de nata' originates from the Pastéis de Belém. I spent several afternoons in Belém and it is a really nice (and flat) walk from Lisbon.
Pink Street & Green Street
Pink Street has a fond place in my heart as my balcony overlooked this street and it is where we would sometimes watch the football during the Euros. It is a street near Cais do Sodré with many bars and terraces and often buskers, meaning that I could sometimes hear musicians while I worked remotely. I only visited Green Street once, however as its name suggests, it is essentially a street fully of plants and greenery and has many bars - I went during the daytime, which was slightly underwhelming, but it's apparently worth a visit in the evening..
Sé de Lisboa & Convento do Carmo Both the cathedral and the convent are centrally located and are worth visiting, especially the Convento do Carmo as the history behind it is very interesting and it is a visual representation of the aftermath of the famous Lisbon Earthquake of 1755.
Castelo de São Jorge
I had heard mixed reviews about this castle, with some insisting on visiting and others declaring it a waste of time. I was undecided on whether to visit or not, but I had an afternoon free after my plans got cancelled at the last minute and, with nothing better to do, I decided to visit. The castle itself wasn't bad, but my favourite thing was definitely the view it offered of the city and the abundance of peacocks with open feathers (which I had never seen until this point).
Praça do Comércio
This landmark was one of my favourite places in Lisbon and I passed through it almost daily so it brings back a lot of good memories. I loved this square and would often spend hours sitting on the riverside admiring the square and river as the sun set. We also watched the semi-finals of the Euros here, where England beat Denmark and the atmosphere was great. This is a must-see in Lisbon and is where some of Portugal's most relevant history happened!
The Riverside
Following on from the Praça do Comércio, the riverside is where we'd watch the sunset, party after the bars had closed, and go for walks and runs. I'm one of those people who gets a lot of peace and contentment from the sea, and the river had a similar affect on me in Lisbon. There is so much to do along the riverside and I found that time always flew by when I was by the river. There are two landmarks nearby too: Cais das Colunas, which are two white columns that I passed several times before realising their significance, and the Marinha Portuguesa, which is a bright blue state government office and is one of my favourite buildings in the city.
Chiado
Rua do Alecrim was the street that led from my apartment near Cais do Sodré to Chiado and Bairro Alto and it was my favourite street to walk down as you could always see the river at the bottom. Although I loved Cais do Sodré, Chiado is definitely where I spent the most time as all of my friends lived nearby and most of the monuments and restaurants can easily be reached from here. It is also a good base to explore the lively Rossio, the charming Principe Real, or the labyrinth that is Alfama.
Viewpoints
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
Initially, I added several viewpoints to my bucket list, however after about a week in Lisbon I realised that you naturally visit several just through walking around and exploring the different areas. There is no shortage of 'miradouros' (viewpoints) in Lisbon but if I had to choose my favourite, it would probably be 'Miradouro da Senhora do Monte', which I visited on my very first night in Lisbon and many times thereafter. It is located by a church and there is a bar nearby (and often buskers too). It's the perfect location to watch the sunset as you can see the whole city, including the river and the bridge and is worth the climb to reach there. Alternatively, 'Miradouro Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen' offers a great view of the city too.
Panorâmico de Monsanto
Before coming to Lisbon, I hadn't heard of this viewpoint, however it was quickly recommended to me and was one of the coolest places I visited throughout my stay. It's an abandoned building located on top of a mountain overlooking the city and has an abundance of artwork and graffiti throughout which was fascinating to explore. There's a top level which is sealed off to the public but apparently offers an incredible view if there is no security about. This was one of my favourite places in Lisbon and I'd very strongly recommend visiting.
Amoreiras 360º Panoramic View
Amoreiras is a shopping centre which is slightly out of the way but offers a great panoramic view of the city and was free to visit when I was in Portugal (usually it's 5€ so still worthwhile). We visited before going to Monsanto and although they both offered great views, the experiences are completely different. There were also some cool murals en route to the shopping centre if you walk along Avenida Conselheiro Fernando de Sousa.
Food and Drink
Being a Londoner, I couldn't wait to go to Portugal mainly for the fresher and tastier food, especially in regards to the fruit and meat. I mainly wanted to try all of the typical Portuguese foods that I miss when in London, such as 'pão com chouriço', but as this bucket list will make clear, I also love going out for brunch and find that trying new cafés is a great way to explore new areas too. That said, I've included my favourite restaurants and dessert spots here too so there is something for every occasion.
Dear Breakfast
One of the first brunch spots I tried was Dear Breakfast, which is located near Praça do Comércio. I went with a friend and not only did we love the food, but the service was impeccable and the atmosphere was great too. I'd recommend here if you want a chilled brunch with a nice view.
Zenith
This brunch spot was highly recommended to me by a friend in Lisbon and although the menu was varied and the service was excellent, I wasn't a massive fan of my usual 'Eggs Royale' (I think due to the avocado spread on the bread) and felt slightly queasy afterwards.
Flora e Fauna Although this café was slightly out of the way for me, I managed to have brunch here towards the end of my stay. It had an Aussie vibe and there were plants everywhere which was nice, however the pancakes were pretty average. It's worth visiting if you're near the area though.
The Mill
I brought my cousin here whilst she was visiting me in Lisbon and we managed to sit at a table facing the street, which was ideal for people-watching. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was very relaxed and I'd definitely recommend the pancakes here.
Copenhagen Coffee Lab This was an extremely popular café and as there was one located 2 minutes from my AirBnb, I managed to visit very early on. I had lunch here with a friend and ordered a sandwich, which was nice but quite oily, and the menu wasn't to my taste but I think the majority of people would enjoy it and it's a great place to work from.
Cotidiano
This place was a hidden gem; I hadn't heard anything about Cotidiano but went once with some friends before heading to the beach one weekend and enjoyed it so much and couldn't recommend it enough; I even came here for my last meal in Lisbon before heading to the Algarve.
Nicolau With its central location and varied menu, this brunch spot is always busy and has a young crowd. I came with a friend and we both ordered the eggs Benedict and coffee, which were good. That said, the orange juice deserves an honourable mention as I can be quite picky with orange juice but here it was insanely good and very fresh.
Ramiro
This restaurant specialises in seafood and was recommended to me by a local on a free walking tour. Following a friend's new job offer, we celebrated with a dinner here, where we had to physically open the crab with a hammer for the typical dish 'Sapateira'. The food was incredible and the service faultless, the only things to be aware of are that it this restaurant relatively pricey and is located in a slightly dodgy area.
Don Costini Don Costini was another hidden gem that I hadn't heard about before trying it and this was one of the most enjoyable meals I had in Lisbon - I'd strongly recommend the carbonara and cheesecake. It was good value for money and is right by Time Out Market so is easy to get to.
A Padaria Portuguesa
This coffee chain is popular around Lisbon and after being informed that the locals often frequent these bakeries, I decided to treat myself to a lunch here. I got one of the set lunch menus, which wasn't too expensive and resulted in a quick yet delicious lunch.
Time Out Market This popular food market is relatively pricey but was a 2 minute walk from my apartment and is perfect for a quick lunch, offering a variety of cuisines and options to suit your every need. Although I wasn't a fan of the croquettes as they were quite dry, the Asian food was delicious and apparently the cheesecake is commendable here too.
Manteigaria
When visiting Portugal, it's essential to try at least one 'pastel de nata'. There are typical custard tarts and the most famous ones are from a bakery called 'Pastéis de Belém', which are located in the nearby area of Belém. Although these are definitely worth trying, my favourite pasteis de nata are from a café called 'Manteigaria'. There a few of these located in Lisbon, however I actually went to the one in Porto and several locals have claimed these as the best pasteis de nata so trying them is a must!
A Brasileira When I think of southern Europeans, I always imagine them drinking an espresso on a terrace on a sunny afternoon and relaxing, which is exactly what I experienced in this central coffee shop. The coffee was good and there are often buskers on the square nearby, offering some live entertainment too.
Santini
This ice cream chain is popular in Portugal and was recommended by a Portuguese friend and although the ice cream was nice, I actually preferred the flavour of the ice creams at Amorino so would recommend there instead.
Lisbon Art Stay Both the Portuguese and the English drink a lot, so it was inevitable that I'd explore a lot of bars whilst in Lisbon; that said, almost every night we'd go to Bairro Alto and then just walk around until we found a place we liked the look of or just buy some beers to enjoy by the riverside. I found that many of the bars that were amazing one night would be quiet another night so rather than recommending them, I'd moreso suggest just heading to the riverside or Bairro Alto and seeing where looks atmospheric; since there are so many places right beside each other it's inevitable that you'll find something. Nonetheless, Lisbon Art Stay deserves a mention as it is centrally located with delicious drinks and great live music.
Comments