During our trip to Lisbon (read about that here and here), there was plenty we were able to visit and explore, but there were also a number of places that we’d have liked to visit but just didn’t have the time to. I thought that I’d try out this style of blog as something a bit different, to share both the highlights of the trip, some things to avoid and some of the places we want to return to visit.
3 Things to Do
Take a walking Tour – Regular readers of this blog are probably sick of me going on and on about walking tours, but I really do rate them. They are a great way to explore a city, see the main sights and learn a bit about the history of a new place. The guides are also a fountain of information and recommendations of both places to visit or eat at as well as places to avoid. If you’re able to, book your tour directly with one of the tour companies rather than via a 3rd party as this means the guide pays less in fees.
Visit Torre Belém – At just €8 to visit, the Torre Belém or Belém Tower is definitely worth a visit for the history and the views. Try to get there early as large queues can form owing to the limited space inside, but this really is one of Lisbon’s must dos. As an added bonus for those keeping track, its also part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, so you can tick another one off the list when you visit.
Visit the Cod Museum – The Centro Interpretativo da História do Bacalhau, affectionately known to us as the ‘Cod Musuem’, I unfortunately didn’t get to visit owing to my spate of food poisoning, however Beth had a thoroughly enjoyable time visiting on our final morning in Lisbon. The museum tells the story of the cod fishing industry in an interactive way as well as its importance and impact on Portuguese social, economic and political history.
3 Things to Avoid
Bus Tours – Whilst previously I would have recommended these as a good way to see a city and get about, on reflection and following more recent experiences, they are not worth the price you pay for what you get. We purchased a 3 day, 3 tour ticket during our stay in Lisbon and felt we had ultimately wasted at least a day travelling on these. The bus tours had large chunks of limited commentary and whilst they covered the main attractions, there were long stretches of dual carriageway and nothingness between them. Personally, I’ll now avoid these and use public transport to get around instead.
Boat Tour – I’ll start this one with a caveat that we visited at the start of February and whilst the weather was reasonably nice, it was still the off season. We took a boat ‘tour’ from Cais do Sodré to Belém and ended up bailing there rather than do the full round trip as it was quite boring. There was no commentary and whilst you get good photos of some of the main sights, its quite a long and boring journey. As with the bus tours, ultimately we felt like we’d wasted time by doing this.
Tourist Traps – As with many major cities, Lisbon has a number of tourist traps that we were warned against by our walking tour guide, with these including the Castle and the Santa Justa Lift. Make sure to do your research, check out guidebooks and get some tips from your walking tour guide, rather than heading straight to the ‘big ticket’ items as they’re quite often not worth it. For example in Lisbon, you can get the same views as you’d get from the Santa Justa Lift for free by heading down a passageway near the Carmo Convent.
3 Places to Eat
A Provinciana – This backstreet tasca is clearly popular as for most of our meal there were people waiting to be seated and we can certainly see why. Tasca’s are traditional, usually family run, ‘hole in the wall’ restaurants with the menu changing daily based on the ingredients available at the market. They’re also generally quite cheap and we enjoyed a three-course meal with wine for less than €50.
Fábrica da Nata – This pastry shop on Praça dos Restauradores is a great place to enjoy breakfast and a Pastel de Nata whilst watching the world go by. Praça dos Restauradores is one of the main squares of the city and it we sat outside (in February!) to watch the hubbub. They also do a breakfast deal of a coffee and a croissant for just a few euros, much cheaper than the breakfast offering at the hotel!
Pastéis de Belém – This pastry shop in Belém is frequently voted as producing the best Pastels de Nata in Lisbon. Theres not much more to say really than to encourage you to visit enroute to the Torre Belém or the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos.
3 Reasons to Return
Belém – Whilst we were able to visit the Torre Belém and have a short wander around the town of Belém during our stay in Lisbon, we certainly didn’t do the town justice. the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is the other part of the joint UNESCO World Heritage Site with the Torre Belém as this alone is a reason to return. Belém is also home to the Navy Museum, the National Coach Museum and the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) which are all highly rated.
Sintra – This colourful town at the end of one of Lisbon’s suburban railway lines is famous for its picturesqueness and has plenty to do with several historic palaces, castles, scenic beaches, parks and gardens. Possibly most famous is the Pena National Palace, situated on a hilltop and easily visible on the approach to Lisbon airport, although the town is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site (another one for those counting), so there’s plenty to see or do. With regular trains from Lisbon’s Rossio station, the town is a easy to do day trip from the capital.
Cacilhas, Almada and Santuário de Cristo Rei – situated on the south side of the River Tagus and accessible by ferry from Cais do Sodré, the neighbourhoods of Cacilhas and Almada have plenty to explore including a historical frigate and submarine, Castle and of course the Santuário de Cristo Rei. The Santuário de Cristo Rei is a giant statue of Jesus Christ, inspired by Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, which at 28m high sits on a 82m tall pedestal on cliff top 133m above the River Tagus. The top of the pedestal has a viewing area, accessed by a lift from the base.
Flights & Times 