Travel Diary // Lisbon City

Last week on Sunday we got up at 2am and headed to Geneva Airport. After 2 and something hours we arrived – still a little tired but very excited - in Lisbon, Portugal. My friend and I spent 7 days in Lisbon and stayed at the Lost Inn Lisbon hostel the whole time. I seriously have never been in a cuter or cleaner hostel! Breakfast was included and we also took advantage of the free walking tour. As I am a huge fan of the tour guide thing I am giving you one myself today. Though this is a virtual tour, I am sure you will enjoy Lisbon as much as I did!

Praça do Comercio

Surrounded by beautiful architecture and with sight of the Arca da Rua Augusta we enjoyed our first breakfast at a little restaurant on the left side of the place (face the Arc).

 

From Praça do Comercio we headed up the shopping street and already peaked into the stores. Bershka, Pull & Bear, Mango, Zara, Stradivarius etc. did line up between cute little restaurants and kiosks.

On the left side of the shopping street you got the neighborhood Baixa Chiado. On the right side Alfama is stretching up the hill. If you didn’t know this yet, Lisbon is a “up & down” city. You are constantly walking either up or down a hill and definitely work that butt and tights a lot ;) The highest elevation is about 200m I think.

 

Chiado & Bairro Alto

Chiado is the place to go, if you love literature! We went in this beautiful and magical book shop (I actually don’t think it was a store, maybe more of a library?) on R. Garrett Street. At first I thought it was all little and stuff but when I passed the first book shelves I saw long hallways stuffed with books right to the ceiling. It felt like a Harry Potter kind of thing where the corridor would never end.

Also Chiado and Bairro Alto offers many places to eat and I not once was disappointed in my dish! My recommendations:

·         Café Tati (Rua da Ribeira Nova 36)

·         Taberna da Rua das Flores (Rua das Flores 103)

·         Royale Cafe (Lg. Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro 29)

·         Lost In – Esplanada Bar (R. D. Pedro V 56D)

·         Ginjinha sem Rival (Rua das Portas de Santo Antoão 7)

·         Mercado da Ribeira / Timeout Market (Av. 24 de Julho 49)

 

Tip: if you see Ginja on the drinks menu, try it! It’s a cherry liquor and sooo yum!

Don’t let you fool and go on the Elevador de Santa Justa which is labeled as a scenic lookout. The ticket to go up is way too expensive and you can get the same amazing view by walking up the hill (which you are going to do anyway to get to other attractions and shops). Some people are saying that Mr. Eiffel – yes, the one the Eiffel Tower is named after – built the Elevator but don’t let them fool you because that’s not true.

 

 
 

Alfama

Heading east you’ll get in the Alfama neighborhood. I love this part of the city as there are lots of street art and historic sights such as Catedral Sé Patriarcal, Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Portas Do Sol, Menino Deus and Castelo de São Jorge.

If you got sent a postcard from Lisbon then there might was a yellow tram on it. The Tram 28 is pretty famous and if you get the chance, take a picture of it! They are pretty fast, so make sure to check your camera settings for a good one.

On Tuesdays and Saturdays there is also a flea market right behind the São Vincente de Fora. People are selling all kind of stuff there; cutlery, books, paintings, electronics, jewelry and the famous tiles. If you are thinking of buying some tiles, please check the back for a signature. They are selling lots of tiles which they actually stole from a building somewhere in the neighborhood!