Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and its biggest city. Over the centuries Lisbon, or in Portuguese Lisboa, has been called many names, "Alis Ubba" (calm bay) by the Phoenicians, Olissipo by the Greeks, Felicitas Julia by the Romans, "Ulixbuna" or "Ulixbona" by the Alans, the Vandals, the Suevi and the Visigoths, the village of Aschbouna, Al-Ushbuna or Al-Lishbuna by the Moors of North Africa and finally Lisboa by D. Afonso Henriques (the first king of Portugal) who expelled the Moors in 1147.
Nowadays, close to 4 million people call this part of the country their home, but Lisbon proper only has close to 500 thousand inhabitants so it is the perfect place for a weekend break.
Lisbon is spread across seven hills so expect a lot of steep streets generally paved with cobblestones so bring comfortable shoes, and perhaps your swimming suit as the ocean is not far away and you can always just get an uber and go for a swim after a long day of sightseeing. Not many other European cities offer both a bustling capital and an amazing coastline a short uber ride away.
Lisbon will offer you a glimpse of Portugal's different regional cuisines and will serve as a good stepping stone as you delve deeper into Portugal's rich history.
So where to go if you only have 1 weekend in this beautiful city? Read on to find out.
Day 1
09:00 am - Visit The São Jorge Castle Early In The Morning
The São Jorge castle sits atop one of the seven hills of Lisbon's historic centre. The castle dates to the 11th century but it has had many incarnations. What many people don't know is that the structure you can visit nowadays was actually built in the beginning the 20th century by the 'Estado Novo' the fascist dictatorship that ruled the country for the most part of the last century. The caste you see today used to look like the one depicted in this ancient painting of the city of Lisbon.
Due to the passage of time and the two massive earthquakes that struck Lisbon in 1530 and 1755 the castle was in need of some restoration works at the turn of the 20th century. This is exactly when Antonio De Oliveira Salazar (the fascist dictator at the time) decided to rebuild some of these castles as well as other similar structures across the country. The idea behind these restoration efforts was to glorify the fascist government and their achievements. In other words, they didn't care much for the original structures and changed much of the appearance of the old castle, so in other words, the 'Castelo de S. Jorge' we now have is a mere 80 years old.
10:00 am - Wander The Streets Of Alfama
Alfama is one of the most quaint neighbourhoods in Lisbon. This part of the city has remained unchanged for centuries. Alfama was built by the moors which is easy to understand when you try to navigate its winding, twisting, steep and narrow cobbled streets and alleyways. Alfama is still home to many people and although many tourists visit this part of the city there are countless opportunities for you to witness what the day to day life of its many inhabitants look like. From the young city dwellers who leave early in the morning to get to work and stop at one of the many coffee places for a quick coffee and a pastry to the grandmothers who walk their grandchildren to school and later on hang their clothes to dry outside of their windows to some local characters without forgetting the Fado. Fado is a traditional type of melancholic Portuguese folk music that you can enjoy in many places but is best enjoyed in a 'tasquinha' (tavern) or fado house in this neighbourhood. When in Alfama other than visiting the Fado museum and trying to spot some famous street art pieces scattered across the neighbourhood, don't forget that the Castelo de S. Jorge is also located within this neighbourhood as well as the Se de Lisboa.
11:30 am - Brave A Steep Hill To Reach The Sé Cathedral
The Sé de Lisboa is one of those iconic landmarks much cherished by the 'Lisboetas' (of inhabitants Lisbon). This church dates to the 12th century and it was built on top of the ruins of a mosque
by the first king of Portugal. This is one of the oldest buildings and surprisingly, it has survived several natural disasters, like the great earthquake of 1755. Throughout the centuries, the Cathedral has been renovated and rebuilt on various occasions.
12 o'clock - Lunch In Baixa
In the Baixa de Lisboa area where you currently find yourself, after exploring Alfama, it's now time for lunch. There are plenty of options here, some are obviously too touristy and you should stay away from these, especially the restaurants on Rua Augusta. I'll leave you with 3 of my favourite eateries in this part of the city:
A Licorista - for some superb food in a beautiful dining room;
João Do Grão - for very traditional codfish dishes;
Beira Gare - slightly more out of the way but this is the cheapest and perhaps the most authentic eatery of the three. Order a bifana (grilled pork sandwich with spices and mustard) and eat it at the counter with the locals.
01:30 pm - Check The Views From Carmo Convent
Like so many historic buildings in Lisbon, the Carmo Convent was almost completely destroyed by the 1755 earthquake and ensuing tsunami. The gothic convent's ruins shouldn't be missed as apart from being located in the hip Chiado district, tt the time of the earthquake, it was the largest church in Lisbon. Where the main altar used to be locate located now you have a small archaeological museum where you can appreciate some magnificent tombs, statues, pottery and tiles.
02:30 pm - Be Amazed At Praça Do Comércio
Praça do Comércio or Terreiro do Paço (both the same area) is a massive square down by the Tagus river. This square was built after the massive earthquake in 1755 that destroyed most of the city's historic buildings and obliterated the downtown area. Around the square, there are some decent options when it comes to grabbing a bite or sipping a beer. The different avenues leaving the square are the pedestrianised shopping heart of Lisbon. Here you'll find the usual brands like Zara, H&M and also a mix of typical Portuguese stores selling everything from buttons to codfish (although these are unaware breed as most of this area has been swamped with souvenir shops, trendy eateries, hip hairdressers and international cuisine options. From Praca do comércio you can easily reach Casa dos Bicos, a historical house built in the early 16th century in the Alfama neighbourhood which has a curious façade of spikes.
04:00 pm - Belém Tower
The Belém Tower is a UNESCO World Heritage site | © Fabiano Mesquita / Alamy Stock Photo
Belém Tower is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to its role in protecting Portugal’s coast during the Age of Discoveries and later. Portraying a combination of Gothic and Manueline architecture like the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower attracts visitors for its appearance as well as its role in history. Admission Fee: €6
05:30 pm - Jerónimos Monastery
The Jéronimos Monastery dates to the 16th century | © Classic Image / Alamy Stock Photo
When King Manuel I wanted to shout about Portugal’s colonial triumphs in 1501, he gave the go-ahead to build this monastery in fanciful Manueline style. Now part of a Unesco World Heritage site, the monastery is a visual feast, with intricately wrought stonework, plaited arches and twisted turrets in the cloisters and the cross rib-vaulted church where navigator Vasco da Gama lies buried. To beat the crowds and get more insight into the monastery’s history, join the Belém Walking Tour.
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08:00 pm - Order A Cocktail At A Miradouro
In a city built atop 7 hills, there will be as you can understand many viewpoints. Lisbon's viewpoints, called 'Miradouros' in Portuguese are not easy to get too in the sense that there will be a lot of walking on slippery cobblestone to be done (needless to say bring trainers). Miradouros are best enjoyed either early in the morning for some amazing snaps of the city of Lisbon or late in the afternoon for equally impressive views but this time accompanied by a cocktail. Most Miradouros have kiosk cafes or restaurants or if they don't one of these establishments won't be too far anyway. My all-time favourite Miradouros are the gorgeous Miradouro da Graça, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, and Miradouro de Santa Catarina.
09:30 pm - Call It A Day And Go To Sleep With Sharks At Lisbon Oceanarium
It's commonplace to hear that a country has the biggest this and the other or this restaurant has the best pizza in the world or chocolate cake slice, etc. Some of these statements may be completely false on occasion, but one thing is right, Lisbon has the biggest indoor Aquarium (Oceanarium) in Europe. Here you'll find all sorts of species of aquatic creatures, penguins, sharks, seals, jellyfish, sunfish, stingrays, otters, etc. There's also the opportunity for you to 'sleep' with sharks if you so wish to do so (there's a special for this available on the Oceanarium's website).
OR
09:30 pm - Explore Marvila AT Night, The Trendiest Nehboorhood In Lisbon Right Now
Marvila hasn't always been this cool. Up until a couple of years ago, it was just another rundown port area of the city of Lisbon. But as in many other cities across the world, rundown means cheaper rents, bigger venues with a lot of character and once the creative minds that usually set up shop in these places start to move in, then urban art flourishes and beautiful things happen.
Nowadays, it is considered by many as one of the trendiest areas of the city. Marvila is within an easy Uber ride from the city centre or you can rent an all-electric mopped, a scooter, or get a bus (approximately 20 minutes from Terreiro do Paço). In Marvila alongside some shops which have been in that area for years, warehouses that laid abandoned for years now have become workspaces, there is artisanal beer, art galleries, art exhibitions, gigs, and even a restaurant called The Place That Doesn't Exist (food here is pretty decent and they focus on Portuguese classics as well as some international cuisine staples).
Day 2
09:00 am - Get The Tram Number 28
Getting the tram no. 28 is probably the most famous tour in Lisbon for less than what you pay for a pack of chewing gum. Lisbon does have a metro system but since there are so many hills, there are also plenty of trams that take you to most parts in the historic centre. Tram no. 28 crisscrosses the city passing by many of old Lisbon’s top attractions. The tram departs usually leaves from Martim Moniz to Campo de Ourique and vice-versa at 15 minutes intervals. I'd strongly advise to either get to the tram stop early in the day or late in the afternoon to avoid queuing for too long (the first train departs at 5:40 on weekdays, 5:45 on Saturdays and 6:45 on Sundays and the last train departs at 21:15 on weekdays and 22:30 on weekends).
The Tram makes various stops along its route but the ones you should focus on are
Graça - Graca Church & the amazing Miradoura Da Graca
Lg. Portas Sol - Alfama's District best viewpoint
Sé - Santo António Church & Castelo de São Jorge
Chiado (Metro) - Lisbon’s arts quarter, adjacent to the hip Bairro Alto
Calhariz (Bica) - There are some amazing restaurants and bars around here
Estrela (Basílica) - Estrela Park & Basilica da Estrela
Campo Ourique (Prazeres) - Indoor and outdoor market & Cemiterio dos Prazeres
01:00 pm - Try Some Of The Best Seafood In Lisbon At O Ramiro
Purists will argue Ramiro is now too famous or that you can't have proper seafood in Lisbon - nonsense. Ramiro is a seafood Portuguese restaurant ('Marisqueira' in Portuguese). These institutions also exist in one form or another in other countries, but just to be clear - you'll mainly eat seafood and drink either beer or white wine (maybe some Vinho Verde, which is spPortuguesarkling wine). One thing to bear in mind is that although seafood in Portugal is common it's still somehow pricy (at least for Portuguese wallets). Ramiro became world-famous after Anthony Bourdain ('god rest his soul') decided to pay it a visit. Booking in advance is highly advisable and so is ordering some gooseneck barnacle or 'percebes' in Portuguese (pictured above). Percebes also exist in other parts of the world such as Spain, Ecuador, etc. but at least in Portugal they are of excellent quality and you won't have to rob a bank to have some.
02:30 pm - Go To The Beach At Praia de Carcavelos
Carcavelos is the closest beach to Lisbon, you can easily get there by taxi/Uber or by public transport. With the São Julião da Barra Fort dominating at one end, Carcavelos Beach is the largest expanse of sand on the Estoril coast and regularly hosts beach volleyball, football and surf competitions. This beach is home to many great surf schools and surf camps, here you can book lessons and hire surf equipment. Not far from the beach you'll also find plenty of amenities such as restaurants cocktail bars and shops so come prepared to spend your afternoon here.
09:00 pm - Go For Drinks And Food In Cais Do Sodre (Pink Street)
All good things must come to an end and the same is true if you're just in Lisbon for the weekend. But if you still have the time/energy for one last thing then that should be having food/drinks in one of the coolest nightlife areas in Lisbon, Cais do Sodre. Cais do Sodre is where you'll find the famous pink street. This area has been famous for one thing over the years, FUN! Portugal’s Pink Street in Lisbon is home to some of the best bars in the city and not far from this location you'll find plenty of great food options; given this will probably be your last night in one of Europe's greatest cities make it memorable by wining and dining like royalty!
PIN IT!
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