80 hours in Lisbon, Portugal.
This ultimate Lisbon travel guide will help you plan an unforgettable trip!
My mom has been dreaming about visiting Portugal and it’s been on the top of my list to take her. She’s dedicated the last few years to care for my Nana and after her passing – I knew we were no longer going to take time for granted. We booked this much-deserved trip to celebrate my mom’s birthday!
WHERE TO STAY:
We stayed at two locations during our trip. The first two nights were at The Ivens and the third night was at the Moxy.
Moxy Hotel:
Great price with a young, trendy vibe. They are remote work friendly and you will find lots of digital nomads in meetings all over the property. Located 15 mins away from the airport and 20 mins away from the coast of Lisbon. Clean and great vibes from the staff, Upon check in you’re given a complimentary drink of choice and you can select an compliment from their compliment jar.
The Iven’s, Autograph Collection:
A high-end hotel located in a great location. This is a much pricer hotel (we found a great deal) with a dreamy cloud bed, kind staff that help with anything you need. We were spoiled and fell in love with the connivence of being able to walk to key locations on our list.
- Located in Chiado: In the historic heart of this district is known for its luxury shops, famous landmarks, and historic cafés. For the quintessential Lisbon day out, come here in the afternoon before an evening out in Bairro Alto.
WHERE TO EAT:
Food in Lisbon was fantastic! I saved so many places to try and here are the ones we visited and loved!
Pro tip: Book reservations in advance. It will save you time and ensure a seat! I used Google maps to book for majority of places
Breakfast:
- Dear Breakfast
- Seagull Method
Coffee + Sweets:
- The Mill
- Manteigaria – Pasteis de Nata
- Copenhagen Coffee
- Hello, Kristof
Lunch/Dinner:
- Delfina
- TreeStory
- Topo Chiado
- Mercado de Ribeira
- Bonjardmin
- Time Out Market
MUST SEE:
There is so much to see and experience in Lisbon. We had plans to spend a day in Porto but because of the train strikes we stayed to explore the city more. Little did we know we needed all the time we could get in Lisbon in order to get through our list.
- Explore Chiado neighborhood
- Bica Funicular
- Praça do Comercio
- Green Street
- Lisbon Cathedral
- Miradouro de Santa Luzia
- Santa Justa Lift
- Ride Yellow Tram 28
- Palacio dos Marqueses da Fronteira
Belem:
- Padrão dos Descobrimentos
- Belem Tower
- Jeronimos Monastery
Day Trips:
Sintra: A quick 30 min Uber ride from Lisbon. Beautiful castles, sitting on lush hills, overlooking Portugal. Read more about Sintra, here.
Porto: a 2 hour train ride or 1 hour flight. We wanted to take the train but sadly they train employees were on strike. We didn’t want to risk flying with the potential of something going wrong with our flight. If you can make it happen Porto seems like a wonderful experience!
Travel Tips:
- Bring your walking shoes! Lisbon is famous for its winding smooth cobbled streets and steep hills. Similar to San Francisco there are many hills and when wet, the cobble stones are slippery, making it hard to walk.
- Save all your destinations on Google Maps, it was much easier navigating where to go and what was near each other.
- Make reservations especially for dinner.
- Purchase the Lisboa Card, this card allows free access to many museums, attractions and the metro – saving you lots of time and money!
With a rich history and fascinating culture, you could spend a lifetime discovering the wonders of this unique, red-roofed city. Wandering through the winding cobblestone streets, it’s easy to fall in love with Lisbon. While you’re lounging in a plaza and sipping local wine as you overlook the Atlantic, you’ll decide that you never want to leave.
Leave a Reply