TRAVEL GUIDE: 5 DAYS IN LISBON
- Nicole
- Feb 9, 2016
- 11 min read
As the capital of Portugal, Lisbon is a land of hills with a whole city built on top of them - a little bit like the Seven Hills of Rome. This historic destination has only been gaining popularity amongst international travellers over the past few years due to the overcast caused by their neighbour, Spain. We couldn't wait to explore this gem of a city, it bursts at the seam with food, culture, history and entertainment.
There are multiple neighborhoods in Lisbon, here is a quick rundown and what you can expect to find in each of them.
Baixa: The business district which leads to the commercial area of Rua Augusta.
Chiado: A luxury neighborhood if you will, filled with designer shops and pricey restaurants.
Barrio Alto: Also known as the Upper City, here you'll find the majority of Lisbon's nightlife and trendy shops. Beware, there an excessive amount of hills in this area.
Alfama: The Medieval part of Lisbon filled with Moorish influence.
Belem: A well known suburb of the city where you can find multiple monuments, including the Tower of Belem.
Marques de Pombal: Known as the Champ Elysee of Lisbon, this area is filled with art, classy shops and boutique hotels.
Where did we stay
Hidden amongst a residential area of Lisbon, this hotel is a 19th century restored Palace, also known as one of the best in the city and has been dubbed a National Monument. It was built in 1904 for the Marquis of Valle Flor and his three daughters. Unfortunately, the Marquis passed away in 1932 and the building soon began to deteriorate. It was eventually bought in 1992 and completely restored and expanded into a beautiful 5 star hotel. One of the best in Lisbon in fact.
I was especially excited to stay in a hotel like this, being the paranormal enthusiast that I am, I secretly hoped it was haunted. Unfortunately, we did NOT experience anything out of the ordinary, but it was a beautiful palace nonetheless. Upon walking in, you're greeted by the doorman and you walk into the lobby with two huge staircases on both sides of the room with a hallway underneath leading you to reception.
We quickly attempted to check in but instead hit our first roadblock; we had been given the wrong room. Instead of a King size bed, we had been given two twin beds and with no additional rooms to spare, we were stuck. The staff suggested that the issue could be fixed by joining both beds and adding a thinner mattress on top to rid the problem of the crack, they assured us we wouldn't even be able to tell the difference. We agreed to try it out and waited at the bar as they took our bags and made us comfortable with a few glasses of wine. About an hour later, we were told our room was ready and were led down to the expanded area of the hotel. It was a pleasant, cozy room - the bed looked like it would do but boy were we wrong. The first night we barely slept because of how uncomfortable the mattress was so the next morning we asked to speak with the Manager of the hotel. She advised us that all the rooms were currently booked but that she could upgrade us to a suite the following day which we agreed to. The following afternoon, our belongings were then taken to the top floor of the main Palace, to one of the royal suites.
What did we do and where did we eat?
Day 1: Since we arrived mid-afternoon, we were a bit tired and wanted to settle in, relax, wash up before stepping out for a late dinner.
Food We went down to reception and asked for a few recommendations as to where we could go for a great Portuguese dinner; they recommended Las Docas De Santo Amaro. It was a good sized boardwalk filled with restaurants and bars overlooking the ocean and docked boats. The receptionist specifically recommended we head to 5 Oceanos, a great little seafood place. The boardwalk was quiet when we arrived around 9PM, most people had already had dinner and the late night crowd wasn't out just yet. The restaurant was one of the choicest of the bunch with a modern feel to it. We opted to sit on the patio overlooking for water and ordered a variety of lobster, shrimps and oysters. As we were leaving, the crowd had definitely picked up at a handful of the tourist filled bars, if you're into that scene, we definitely recommend heading over for a little fun. Overall it was a great dinner and good start to our Lisbon experience.
Highlight of the day
This might sound cheesy but - it was an ordeal getting to Lisbon due to cancelled flights, 3 layovers and 1 night at an airport hotel - just arriving at the gorgeous hotel was the highlight of our day.
Day 2: We were ready for a little adventure on day two.
Food Breakfast: Every morning, we headed down to the main dining hall of the hotel for breakfast which was included in our package. It was buffet style with the freshest fruit juices, breads, cheeses, meats and of course and all kinds of eggs. Quite a charming aristocratic setup and feel.
Lunch: We hit up O Barbas, a Lisbon beach bar with a great local personality (with a fetish for soccer-futbol) overlooking the Costa de Caparica. Not the fanciest place to eat but definitely worth it if you're looking for fresh seafood in large portions. We chowed down on the biggest plate of paella we've ever had.
Dinner: We stepped it up a few notches for a night on the town and made reservations at one of Jose Avillez's restaurants; Cantinho Do Avillez located in Chiado. We had heard so much about this great Portuguese Chef and his famous restaurants across the country, including Belcanto, his Michelin Star prize. It was quite a laid back experience, it was the equivalent of a hipster atmosphere with really good food. We highly recommend the "Bolo de Chocolate" for dessert, it's like Ferrero Rocher but better. It was Michael's favourite restaurant in Lisbon.
Activities
Costa de Caparica: Although we didn't get a chance to visit other beaches, we do recommend Costa de Caparica if you can appreciate the beauty of the Altantic ocean and its deep blue hues. The little coastal town is also quite charming and great for a walk amongst its narrow streets and alleys.
Rossio Square: We always like heading out for dinner about an hour early to either grab a few drinks at a bar or see what the city has to offer. This night was no different - we had heard about Rossio Square, an area located in the middle of Downtown Lisbon surrounded by cafes and restaurants alike. It's a romantic area, perfect for a nightly stroll but beware, there are plenty of panhandlers and hustlers in the area.
Hilight of the day
The dinner was really good. It made us fall in love with Lisbon right away. We felt at home, welcomed and at ease knowing that this trip would be to our liking. Cantinho Do Avillez is an amazing experience all around.
Day 3: We already felt like locals.
Food
Lunch: Don Castellana's looked like a unique restaurant to eat at with its purple furniture and gold accents not to mention the positive reviews online. We asked our cab driver to drop us off a couple hours before our reservations so we could explore the streets of Lisbon which worked out well on that beautiful sunny day. The food was exquisite, especially their "Pumpkin Raviolli" - we were surprised with how quiet it was that afternoon. It should have been packed based on the quality of the place.
Drinks and Apps: We made a pit stop at Cruzes Credo after a long day of sightseeing. They had some of the best cocktails in Lisbon; ask for the one with pineapple. To munch on, we ordered a plate of dips and cheeses to hold us over until dinner. We received a delicious combination of hummus, olive puree, avocado and aged cheeses with jam and a side of olives.
Dinner: Mini Bar; we had very high hopes for this restaurant. After an amazing experience at Cantinho do Avillez, we were expecting something even better from Mini Bar. We really liked the concept and décor of the restaurant, you had the option of ordering a la carte from the menu of tapas or you could opt for "The Show" which is surprise tasting menu. Being the adventurous foodies we are, we both chose "The Show" but unfortunately our server completely misheard our order. She only punched in one order of "The Show" and only one appetizer for Michael. We didn't catch on until I had received my 3rd or 4th plate when Michael had only received one. We called over our server and asked when his food would be arriving only for her to tell us that she had mixed up the order. The rest of the night at Mini Bar went downhill from there. On the plus side, the food was good but expensive. What a pity.
Activities
Cathedral Se: Although we arrived a little too late to go inside this great Cathedral, we were still able to admire its architectural beauty from the outside. It is quite imposing.
Mirador De Santa Lucia: For one of the best views of Medieval Lisbon and the Ocean, head to Mirador De Santa Lucia. It was a sight for sore eyes indeed. It is located in Alfama midway to Sao Jorge Castle from the Great Cathedral.
Rua August: If you feel like being a tourist, head to Rua August. It's one big pedestrian only street filled with plenty of cafes, restaurants and boutique shops located near downtown Lisbon. We really enjoyed this part of Baixa because we found the most delicious Gelato parlour; Amorino.
Santa Justa Elevator: For a 360 degree view of Lisbon, make sure you head over to the Santa Justa Elevator. Best part - it's FREE.
Sao Jorge Castle: If you're into history then you absolutely must visit the Castle of Sao Jorge. It's a pretty large Royal & Historical property overlooking all of Lisbon and you get free range to explore it all. From dining halls to stables and guard towers, there's a lot to see if you're willing to do some uphill walking and climbing. (you can hire a rickshaw like cart if you don't feel like walking)
Highlight of the day Walking from the bottom of the Alfama hill next to the Great Cathedral to the very top where the gorgeous Sao Jorge Castle is located was not only great exercise but filled with amazing views of Lisbon, picture perfect moments, time to just talk to each other as well as run into the ever friendly locals. One of our best walks for sure on this trip.
Day 4: A day of relaxation and beautification
Food Lunch: We opted to stay in the hotel for lunch, order some room service and head down to their award winning spa for some pampering. Quite a relaxing afternoon indeed.
Dinner: Supposedly one of the best restaurants in Lisbon caught our attention. We made reservations at Tagide, known for its contemporary Portuguese food and for having one of the best views in the city. We made our way to the neighbourhood of Chiado and entered the restaurant. We were pleasantly greeted and led upstairs to a classy dinner setting filled with couples. We were given one of the best tables, right beside the balcony which made it easy to snap a few photos. The food was supreme and the wine pairing we selected made the experience all the more better. If you're looking for an upscale dining experience, then we highly recommended this restaurant. (the restaurant also has a Michelin recommendation, albeit not quite a star yet)
Drinks: After dinner we hoped on over to one of our favourite drink spots of our trip. Known, as PARK - it's a trendy, well-hidden roof top bar that most will have a hard time finding. If you ask us, finding the place made the experience all the more better, almost more exclusive. You have to make your way through a parking lot on the main floor, you'll see a door with an elevator behind it. Once you're inside, hit the top button and you'll arrive at your destination. PARK was packed - lots of different kinds of people were enjoying the night and lounging away. Some were dressed in suits and ties, others in t-shirts and jeans. Nonetheless, the experience was great, the décor & vibe were original and view of Lisbon was even better.
Activities
Shopping: We spent the early evening making our way through the shops of Chiado, on a hunt for a few cigars and delicious port wines. Remember to bring comfy walking shoes (there's hills everywhere) as most streets are cobblestone and an umbrella because you never know.
Spa: Always recommended to spend a morning, afternoon or full day at the Spa in each new location. Spend that time to relax, reflect and heal any of your ailments. The Spa also featured an indoor pool, jacuzzi and sauna which made the afternoon a blissful one.
Highlight of the day
With Michael's passion, contacts and past experiences with nightlife, we have the chance to see many different concepts, lounges, nightclubs, concerts and so forth but PARK was a first for both of us and it was amazing to see Michael getting his head around the concept - highlighting how great of a concept it is along with the reasons why. The crowd was amazing, the vibe better and the music fantastic. As he always says, if you don't know where to go, go where it's busy because if it's busy, there's something good happening there. Best lounge/bar in Lisbon for sure.
Day 5: We got lost but it was really worth it
Food
Lunch: After getting lost for a few hours in this great area of Lisbon, we were extremely hungry and picked the first place we saw; Grapes & Bites - proving that getting "lost" is always a good thing. It's a restaurant with a hostel above it, small, cute but big on food and wine (see their entire wall of ports). We recommend ordering a cheese and charcuterie plate and ask for the Chocolate flavoured Port wine.
Drinks: On our last night before dinner, we chose to head out for drinks. We found a lounge called "Cinco" after reading about it in one of our many travel magazines. The bartender was extremely knowledgeable, he was more of a Mixologist (an award winning one at that) who took his craft seriously and made us some of the best cocktails we had while visiting Lisbon. It's a small lounge, but very well decorated with velvet materials, steel bars, dark purples, teals and blues all around. A must go!
Dinner: Although this place officially closed down in September 2015, a few months after we visited, we wish it hadn't. It was chic, contemporary spot called A Ucharia, filled with fresh, Portuguese inspired food. Ah well.
Activities
Exploring the city: We walked through multiple neighborhood of Lisbon on our last day. We visited Chiado and Baixa once again to do some last minute shopping and climbed the hills of Barrio Alto to top it off.
Highlight of the day
You guessed it, getting lost in Lisbon is definitely worth it (don't necessarily do it late at night). We got to see many things most tourists don't, spoke with tons of locals and found an amazing wine and cheese spot that really put a cherry on this great day.
Quick Tips
The Covers
Contrary to many Northern American and even Asian cities, Lisbon restaurants have covers upon entrance (it is added to your bill) which usually takes care of your bread, olives, dip (in many cases, a Tuna purée which was quite good), butter and so forth. It is usually between 2 and 5 Euros.
Late Night Dinners
Although not as late as other cities we visited, be sure to plan to have dinner no earlier than 8 (unless you want to be a tourist). We found that 9:30pm-10:00pm was a great time as it allowed for pre and post dinner drinks.
Comfortable Shoes
Comfortable shoes are very important especially for the ladies. With all the hills and cobblestone streets, Lisbon is not the best city to show off your new heels.
Sunscreen
It is a very warm city year round, don't get a sun burn or gamble with your health. Protect yourself.
Cabs For once, I must say cabs were great. They are friendly, helpful and most speak English. Be sure to give them a small tip and they will help you with anything you might need. Must also be said that the cars are newer, better quality and in better shape than most cabs we get to use on our travels.
Concierge
The best source of information anywhere, our concierge made all our reservations, arranged our transportation and activities. They had plenty of insider tips and can tell you what the locals are up to (which is usually where the fun is)
Recommendations
Go to a beach
Go to Cantinho do Avillez
Explore the city by walking everywhere (get lost even) especially Chiado, Baixa, Alfama & Barrio Alto
Go to Sao Jorge Castle
Go to PARK
Go to Cinco
Get Gelato
Highlight of the trip
The people are simply awesome; friendly, helpful and approachable. We do not remember one bad interaction with any local, simply smiles, handshakes hugs and laughs. Lisbon was truly an amazing little vacation.
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