My Lisbon, What you Don’t Wanna Miss

I was born in Lisbon, and I absolutely love my city.
It is a charming place that was built over 7 hills – yes, as Rome was, and that was rebuilt after a tremendous earthquake that destroyed most of the city back in the 18th century.

The 7 hills

• Colina do Castelo
• Colina de São Roque
• Colina de Santo André
• Colina de Santa Catarina
• Colina das Chagas
• Colina de Santana
• Colina de São Vicente de Fora

This beautiful city has been in the limelight for the last couple of years, being today recognized as a top tourism destination.

The perfect harmony between safety, history, art, culture, gastronomy, fantastic nightlife, rooftops and view points to die for, landscape, sports options, shopping options, close proximity to beaches, mountains, the famous Alentejo plains, and the welcoming nature of our people, makes it really a destination to put on your bucket list.

Another strong point of Lisbon its a great public transport system, comprised by trains, metro, bus and boats, that connect the various neighborhoods, as well as surrounding places such as Cascais, Sintra, Setúbal, Sesimbra, Portinho da Arrábida, Troia, Oeiras, etc.

Public Transports

• Metro – Blue, Red, Yellow and Green Line
• Urban Trains – Sintra line and Cascais Line. Estação de Cais do Sodré, Estação do Rossio, Sete Rios (integration with Inter city Bus, Bus and metro),
• Train stations – inter city and international – Gare do Oriente (integration with Inter city Bus, Bus and metro), and Estação Santa Apolónia
• Bus (stop points all over the city
• Tram (stations all over the city)

Welcoming people, options for all pockets, cultures, religions and tastes, are among the great reasons for visiting my city.

Therefore, in this post I will include a beautiful collection of my pictures taken in my favourite spots, and give you options of where to go for shopping, day trips AND

with a special mention to the lovely Naomi – @authenticchica from Authentic Chic Travel & Lifestyle a few options for roof tops where you can enjoy the view while sipping a glass of our famous Vinho Verde (green wine) and enjoying our fantastic food, as well as restaurants, from Michelin starred to better options for the ones in a short budget.

Oh, and did I mention that the blue in Lisbon’s sky is unique? Yes it is, so one more reason to go there.

Places to go

• Praça do Comércio
• Cais do Sodré surroundings
• Av. da Liberdade
• Parque Eduardo VII
• Castelo de São Jorge
• Rua Augusta
• Chiado
• Rossio
• Bairro Alto
• Alfama

Lisbon has several “Miradouros” from where, while sipping a coffee or a chilled beverage, you can enjoy the beautiful views. Each one has different views, vibes, atmosphere, and I strongly recommend a tour through all of them. Reserve a day for that.

 

Places with view points

• Miradouro de Santa Luzia
• Castelo de São Jorge
• Miradouro da Graça
• Miradouro de Santa Catarina
• Miradouro do Arco da Rua Augusta
• Miradouro do Tourel
• Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
• Miradouro da Senhora do Monte (highest view point)
• Elevador de Santa Justa
• Amoreiras 360
• Miradouro do Parque Eduardo VII
• Miradouro das Portas do Sol

Lisbon has beautiful monuments, old buildings, charming corners, cute kiosks, small details that sometimes go unnoticed but tat all together give my city an unique charm.

Museums and Monuments

• Museu dos Coches
• CCB
• Museu do Oriente
• Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
• Sé
• Castelo de São Jorge
• Basílica da Estrela
• Elevador de Santa Justa
• Panteão
• Convento do Carmo
• Palácio de Queluz
• The Sweet Art Museum
• Museu Calouste Gulbenkian
• Museu de Arte, Arquitectura e Tecnologia – MAAT

 

 

Although Porto is the city of Bridges, Lisbon has two beautiful of her own. 25 de Abril bridge, that is named after the day of the Carnation Revolution that ended the fascism time, and Vasco da Gama bridge at Parque das Nações.

But Lisbon is not only the old part, the new renovated Parque das Nações is an amazing area with fantastic river views, a cable car, limitless options for restaurants, bars, shopping or watching a show from famous singers like Rihana, Madonna, and many others, not to mention the beautiful Aquarium.

Lisbon is known for its impressive gastronomy, including not only the typical Portuguese foods, that are by the way delicious, but cuisines from all over the world.

Thus, you will find restaurants from Nepal, to India, China, Thailand, Italy, France, Germany, Mozambique, Angola, Brazil, Perú, you name it.

Whatever culture/country you come from, and if not willing to try other cuisines, you will most probably find an option in Lisbon.

Lisbon is a fantastic gastronomic hub, with options for all pockets, from Michelin starred restaurants to really affordable local cuisine, typical “tavernas” and small restaurants.

Lisbon is home of five Michelin awarded restaurants, from a total of 23 for the whole country. Chefs like José Avillez with his stunning Belcanto – 2 stars (he also has Páteo do Avillez, Cantina do Avillez, Taberna do Avillez), Henrique Sá Pessoa with the fantastic Alma, João Rodrigues with Feitoria, Alexandre Silva with Loco and Joachim Koerpe with Eleven offer a unique gastronomic experience with a fusion between local and international cuisine. In total, the Michelin guide for this year mentions 31 restaurants in Lisbon surely worth a visit.

One place that I really enjoy to go is Mercado da Ribeira, where you can find a multitude of restaurants, in an open and relaxed space, with options for all tastes.

Restaurants & Fado houses (typical Portuguese music)

Restaurants

• Belcanto
• Alma
• Bairro do Avillez
• Cantinho do Avillez
• Padaria da Esquina
• Trindade
• Mercado da Ribeira
• Pateo Bagatella
• Solar dos Presuntos
• Solar dos Nunes
• Solar das Gravatas
• Tia Matilde
• Guilty
• Prego da Peixaria
• Aqui há Peixe
• Cevicheria
• 1001 maneiras
• Casa da Índia
• Príncipe do Calhariz,
• Zé Varunca,
• Parreirinha de S. Vicente,
• Restaurante Panteão,
• Bica do Sapato,
• Chapitô
• Pizzeria Casanova
• Bonsai,
• Sabores de Goa
• Tibetanos,
• Paladar Zen,

Vegan Restaurants

• The green affair
• Quintal de Santo Amaro
• Eight – The Health Lounge
• Foodprintz
• Juicy
• Jardim dos Sentidos

Restaurants with Fado

• Adega Machado
• Casa da Mariquinhas
• Clube de Fado
• Duetos da Sé
• Marquês da Sé
• Museu do Fado
• Sr. Fado
• A Severa
• Sr. Vinho

Roof tops

• Hotel Mundial Rooftop Bar
• Lux Frágil
• Topo
• Sky Bar
• Level eight
• Sky Bar Oriente
• Silk Club
• Rio Maravilha
• Epic Sana Lisboa
• Park

Bars

• Bairro Alto – Agito, Arroz Doce, BA Bairro Alto Hotel, Grapes & Bites, Majong, Maria Caxuxa, Páginas Tantas, Pavilhão Chinês,  Solar do Vinho do Porto,
•  Cais do Sodré  – Bairrazza, O Bom o Mau e o Vilão • By the Wine, Cais de Quatro, Champanharia do Cais, Hennessys Irish Pub, O’Gilins Irish Pub, Pensão Amor, Quero-te no Cais, Tokyo Rock Bar
• Bica –  Bica à Esquina,  Bicaense, Elevador Amarelo, Enólogos Amadores, Estrela da Bica, Funicular,  Le Marais, Pai Tirano
• Alfama – Agapimu, Medrosa d’ Alfama, Portas do Sol, Sagrada Família, Tejo Bar, Tasca do Chico, Tasquinha de Baco
• Martim Moniz – Mercado Fusão (vários bares na praça principal), Rooftop Bar do Hotel Mundial

Places to Dance

• Lux Frágil
• Clube Noir
• Incógnito
• Jamaica
• Kremlin
• Paradise Garage
• Plateau (80’s)
• Silk Club
• Urban Beach

LGBT friendly

• 40 e 1
• Anarca Bar
• Bar 28
• Bar Side
• Clube da Esquina
• Etílico
• Fantasy GLSBT Club
• Iceberg Bar
• Maria Lisboa
• Purex
• Salto Alto
•  Trumps

And tha’s it for now, I hope I could help somehow to showcase my amazing City, and see you there soon I hope.

Next post about Portugal will be dedicated to Belém, on the outskirts of Lisbon, and home of some of the best monuments, the famous Pastéis de Belém, as well as many other points of Interest, Stay Tuned