Trips and Travel

My Guide to Lisbon

January 2, 2015

OLÁ

I think my last visit had to have been at least my sixth to Lisbon. At least. I wouldn’t consider myself an expert on the city by any means, but this time I jotted down a few addresses that I’d been to before or new places that I’d heard about to take some snaps for a little guide here on the blog, in the hope that one day it’ll be handy to a few of you, or at least convince you that a trip to Lisbon is totally worth it!

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Lisbon is a beautiful city, from it’s signature cobbles to it’s colourful tiles. I love just wandering the streets, and of course, eating all the pastries I come across. I hope these tips help get your trip to Portugal off to a great start!

General Tipslines

The Metro in Lisbon is super simple to understand, and isn’t a massive network. However, it’s easy enough to wander around the centre and see lots without using the trains, and the beautiful old trams will take you where you need to go.

And talking of trains, when you have a spare day in your schedule and have ticked the rest of the places on your list off, you must get the train over to Sintra. It’s one of the most beautiful places, full of old palaces in the mountains, and is just a 40 minute train ride from Rossio station.

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People in Lisbon won’t have a problem communicating to you in English, so there is nothing to worry about there, but do brush up on the basics.

However, something to be wary of (as is the same in many cities I’m sure) is thieves and pickpockets – I wouldn’t usually bring it up in a guide but after witnessing a poor Australian lady have her bag taken from her table at a restaurant on one of the main shopping streets, I’m a little on guard!

A OUTRA FACE DA LUA
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I’ve been to this vintage shop a few times, and whilst I’ve not ever taken anything home with me, it’s always worth a snoop as it’s so close to the main shopping streets. It also has a cafe, so works well as a spot to do a little shopping as well as grabbing a coffee.

RUA ASSUNÇÃO 22

TARTINElines

This is a sweet little bakery perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up. Portuguese pastries are THE BEST as far as I’m concerned, and I always eat a scary amount of pasteis de nata when I’m there. You’ll find them at almost any bakery, but I loved this one from Tartine (where you can also grab some free WiFi!)

RUA SERPA PINTO 15A

Although, if you’re in Lisbon you totally owe it to yourself to take a trip to Belem and discover the place the famous Portuguese custard tart was created in the 1800s. You’ll have to queue, but they come warm from the oven and with a sachet of cinnamon to sprinkle on top. Heaven! You can catch the 15 or 127 tram from the city centre.

RUA BELÉM 84-92

A VIDA PORTUGUESAlines

Ahh! This shop is my absolute favourite in Lisbon. I can spend forever in here! They specialise in traditional Portuguese products, so you’ll find anything from brightly coloured tins of sardines that look like they’re vintage, to books, soap, chocolate, stationery and other design products. It’s a must-visit!

All the items in the image at the top were bought here! I still don’t have the heart to eat the chocolate sardines…!

RUA ANCHIETA 11

TO.B – TO BURGER OR NOT TO BURGERlines

I just had to! Not Portuguese at all, but as I’m not a big fan of anything fishy, we beelined to this burger place for lunch. I have to say, I really really enjoyed my cheeseburger here, ordered with plenty of fries and a garlic and herb dip.

Burger places aren’t a huge thing in Lisbon like they are here in London, but they do have a few restaurants, so there are still more to tick off the list…watch this space!

RUA CAPELO 24

MERCADO DO RIBEIRAlines

I didn’t get any snaps of this place, but if you’re in Lisbon you have to go! TimeOut have brought together some of Lisbon’s best shops and foodie places under one roof. You’ll find flowers, pastries, steak, burgers, cheese…all sorts! Take a closer look at what you’ll find here.

AVENIDA 24 DE JULHO 50

ÁS
DE
ESPADASlines

Another vintage shop! This was one I stumbled on as we left Rossio station. It had a wonderful rail of dresses – I picked up a few before deciding that my wardrobe would break under the weight of any new additions. Everything was wonderfully curated, and they also had a fab men’s section! Worth a browse…

CALÇADA DO CARMO 42

SANTINIlines

Another Lisbon institution! Santini Gelado shop has been serving up tasty ice cream since 1949. I first fell in love with the stripy red and white decor, but of course, the ice cream is pretty damn good, too! Very much necessary on a hot day in Lisbon, but just as good on a cold day in December!

RUA DO CARMO 9

Landeau
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Go here for one reason, and one reason only; the chocolate cake. Oh my word. I’m almost struggling not to dribble just writing about it. It was perfect! We’d squeezed in lots of food that day, and this was our last stop, but we just had to finish the gooey triangle of heaven off before we made our way to the station

It’s a small place, but felt like a very calm, welcome resting spot.

RUA DAS FLORES 70

Read part two of
my Lisbon guide here

79 comments

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  1. Marli ● Reply

    As I said before, I’m portuguese and I loved to learn a bit more about Lisbon, since I’ve never visited one of these places. That chocolate cake caught my eye!!

  2. Clare ● Reply

    Such a great post, never thought of going to Libson before.

    They sell those custard tarts in the London deli/coffee shop chain Benugo (worked there as a student, ate about er…10 a day) they’re just delicious!

  8. Ana Leote ● Reply

    Lovely post! Next time you definitely need to check the Portuguese night, specially Bairro Alto. and Cais do Sodré. There’s so many different people everywhere and the atmosphere is really cool. You should also check this great library that has a coffee inside, called Ler Devagar at the LX Factory.

    xx
    Ana Leote | Meet Me @ 2 am

  12. Rayra ● Reply

    I have to admit, it’s so strange read portuguese phrases on your blog! Hahaha. I’m brazilian and I really think that you HAVE to visit Brazil, see our beaches, eat a lot (like tapioca, brigadeiro and churrasco) and take many pictures!

  15. Simone ● Reply

    Dear Carrie, olá! you’re my favorite blogger ever. Always all so wonderful and delicate, let me wonder at all about you and your world.
    Then, I’m so happy about this post dedicated to my country and to the capital, Lisbon!

    Happy new year, kisses from Portugal 🙂

  17. Cat ● Reply

    Hello Carrie! I follow your blog for a long time, although I don’t usually comment. But today I couldn’t resist 😉 Lisbon is my city. And it’s so cool to see it through the eyes of other people, especially yours, as your pictures are always so beautiful. For your next visit I suggest you go to LX Factory, an amazing place. It’s a creative centre here in Lisbon, I’m sure you’ll love it! I’ll leave here a link with some places I love, it’s from my own blog, I hope you like it. 🙂

    http://www.fromsomeoneinlove.com/lisbon/

    Have an amazing 2015! **

  27. Amy ● Reply

    Lisbon has to be one of my top 3 city break destinations (with Copenhagen & San Fran). I love the tiles, the windy streets of the Alfama, relaxing with a drink in one of the squares (Placa de Santa Catarina is probably my favourite).

    I wrote about some of the places we ate on our last trip in July, could highly recommend them all – though Ibo may not be the best value if you dont like seafood (though the desserts are amazing!) (http://bristolvstheworld.com/2014/07/11/food-friday-lisbon-eats-part-ii-3-years-later/phttp://bristolvstheworld.com/2014/07/11/food-friday-lisbon-eats-part-ii-3-years-later/).

    Have you visited the fashion & design museum, too, in the main shopping bit? It’s not on the scale of something like the V&A, but I like how each decade has it’s own stand with fashion & objects together, and music from the era playing. And it’s free, so if you don’t like it then no harm done!

  31. daria ● Reply

    I love that you always post good places for burgers in your travel posts 🙂 I could really go for a pastel de nata right now – heck, any Portuguese pastry will do, they’re unexpectedly delicious! Did you visit the flea market (Fiera da Ladra)? It’s lovely!

  36. Maria Ana ● Reply

    I am living in Lisbon since I enrolled in a University there.
    I haven’t visited all those places you described, but I sure will do it as soon as the semester starts! I am still exploring the city, but there are some spots I love to go.
    To eat pizza, I recommend the Pizzeria Casanova, near the Stª. Apolónia Station. For burguers I recommend the Hamburgueria do Bairro and the Honorato Hamburgueres Artesanais.
    The Choupana Caffe, near Saldanha (Avenida da República) it’s a great place to have a cup of coffee and a croissant (they are absolutely delicious!).
    I also think you should try more portuguese traditional food. The best restaurants are in my region, Alentejo, of course, but in Lisbon people love to eat steak, which I recommend the famous cervejaria Portvgalia (the traditional one, in Almirante de Reis or the restaurant in Belém, which is also very pleasent).
    Have you ever visited the Gulbenkian Museum & Gardens? It’s a must-go. I love it there 🙂

    If you ever come to the Costa Vicentina (which you totally should) I can recommend the best places to eat & visit. It’s the most beautiful region, especially in the summer when you can enjoy the fantastic beaches 🙂

    I have photos of my region and of Lisbon too in my blog – http://missgoesaway.blogspot.pt/

    Hope you like!

  37. Katie ● Reply

    If I only plan a trip to Lisbon, I definitely go back to this post, great inspiration! thank you for sharing Carrie ♥

  38. MissLilly ● Reply

    Really good tips! I lived in Lisbon for 8 years (although 4 of those I was living on the other side of the river) and it’s a city I love as my home town. For the last few years Lisbon has changed a lot and there’s lots of new places to explore, so every time I go back I fell amazed with so many new corners to explore.
    I couldn’t agree more with your tip regarding Sintra. I love love love Sintra. That’s the place I want to retire. It’s gorgeous! You can rent a car to go there or you can take the train. Another trip worth doing is from Cais do Sodre to Cascais by train (or the other way around), it’s such a gorgeous view along the river! If you have the time than you can also go to the other side of the river to explore the beach area of Costa da Caparica.
    Love going out in Bairro Alto – and now Cais do Sodre too – there’s lots of cool bars. And did you know Gin is the latest fashion there? It’s so easy to find an amazing gin tonic (I’m happy!).
    Also, the last tip is to make sure you watch the sunset from the many rooftop bars, the view is just amazing!!!

  42. Rita ● Reply

    Usually when I’m visiting my family in Portugal, I stay around the Algarve, which is also lovely. If you ever find yourself there, go to Guia- they have incredible Chicken Piri Piri restaurants that you HAVE to try! Lisbon, though, remains my favourite city in the world, I think. It’s gorgeous, and I fall in love with it each time I’m there. I went this year for my birthday, to see some of the sights I hadn’t before. We also went to Sintra to visit the Pena Palace which is so beautiful! I miss it just thinking about it! I’m glad you enjoyed being in my country- it’s so lovely to see posts like this. 🙂 xx

    Rita x

  46. Teffy ● Reply

    I loved Lisbon when I went there!! It has so much character and history, and everyone is so lovely!
    I spend a couple weeks in Portugal a few years back, and probably had my weight in custard tarts! Being from Brasil but living in London at the time, it was so nice to hear my native language (albeit with a completely different accent!) and eat such yummy food!

    {Teffy’s Perks} X

  47. Mary Bloomy ● Reply

    Portuguese over here!!!!! Next time you come over please go to Oporto I’m sure you’re gonna love it there! #FavoriteCity 😉 Really nice to read a Portuguese based post! xx

  49. Elle Croft ● Reply

    This is a great guide – thanks! I haven’t been to Lisbon yet but after a weekend in Porto last year I completely fell in love with Portugal and want to go explore some more. I think it’s one of Western Europe’s most underrated countries, but I’m sure people will keep flocking there more and more soon. I agree that Portugese pastries are insanely good, and the thought of those fresh-from-the-oven custard tarts are making my mouth water!

  50. Sarrah ● Reply

    I spent a whole 9 months studying in uni in Spain and I never got the chance to go to Portugal!! I even took intro to Portuguese for 2 semesters lol. This posts make me want to visit soooo bad! It looks gorgeous!

  51. Mariana ● Reply

    Oh my God! I didn’t know that you loved Lisbon that much! I’m Portuguese and I live just 30 minutes away from Lisbon and I love when I go there and take a walk around the city. I actually know the city very well and I think it’s beautiful (specially on Christmas time with all the decorations). How do you know Lisbon so well?! Is it because of your boyfriend Miguel? I am sorry for all the questions but I am recent follower of your blog (which I love a lot)!

    Mariana from http://www.marianashark.blogspot.com

  55. Glynis ● Reply

    I absolutely LOVE Portugal and Lisbon is the most beautiful and gregarious city I have visited. Besides the many coffee shops, the character of the streets, the tiles, the pavements, the nooks and crannies it offers so much, it is spectacular! The people are also amazing, so hospitable and go out of their way to be of assistance, without recompense I might add!
    I will be making my third visit this June…just can’t wait!
    Thank you for your tips will definitely look them up!
    Muito beijinhos xx

  56. Nancy ● Reply

    Hello! I love this guide – so excited to visit Lisbon in September, now 🙂 Can you recommend the best area to stay? I’m booking hotels this week!

  57. Margarida ● Reply

    Just a little correction… Santini is best known in Cascais where the store is originated and still exists today. You should visit 🙂

  58. Thaïsa ● Reply

    Great article! Very inspiring, since I’m going to Lisbon in October myself. Can’t wait to be there (again), it’s been 8 years!

  59. Simone ● Reply

    Dear Carrie,
    this summer I spent 7 days doing a trip through Portugal. You’re right: Lisbon is small but I find it beautiful also for this reason. I’ve just published on my blog a full report of this city in which I express my full opinion and I give readers a few tips (for example, what’re the best ways to explore Lisbon? Foot, if you’ve time, or tram). You find it here http://ontravl.com/post/130796147106/lisbon
    Let me know what do you think, I will really appreciate a comment by a famous travel blogger like you.

    Best regards,
    Simone

  60. charlotte ● Reply

    Hi Carrie, I am planning on going to Lisbon at the end of November. I was wondering if you had any tips regarding any cute boutique hotel ?
    thank you so much in advance for your precious advice !! bisous from paris !

  62. Laura ● Reply

    Great tips, thanks so much. I’m off to Lisbon at the weekend for the first time so I’ll be sure to check these places out – especially A VIDA PORTUGUESA
    x

  66. Fabio Virgi ● Reply

    Hey Carrie, loving your post and especially the quality of your photos; that pastel de nata in particular made me drool a little, lol.

    Being Portuguese I’m a little biased (even though I’ve lived in London since I was a baby) but I love love love Lisbon. Delicious food and drink, beautiful places to see and of course the weather is on point.

    Looking forward to reading more of your stuff!

  68. Teresa ● Reply

    Dear Carrie, olá. Thank you for your kind words about Lisboa, my city. I was born and raised in Lisbon and it is my passion about this city that made me want become an official tourist guide. I love more and more my city, May I suggest a tailored walking tour in Lisbon : you can find different options on my site http://www.itsaboutlisbon.com
    Obrigada
    Teresa

  69. Christina ● Reply

    Hello There!

    Thank you so much for the guide above! I’d just like to ask if it’s safe for solo female travelers?

  72. Michelle ● Reply

    Wonderful blog! Love you spirit!
    My husband and I are planning a trip to Portugal this fall. He booked the trip and I plan the fun.
    I almost feel like I’m cheating reading your tips.
    He’ll never know……

  73. Alison Williams ● Reply

    I’ve just returned from Lisbon and I really didn’t like it at all. I’ve never seen so much graffiti in my life. I didn’t think that there was much to do (other than shopping). I went to Sintra and Cascais and wasn’t really that overwhelmed to be honest. I feel really disappointed as everything people have said or that I have read or even Rick Stein’s weekend break all waxed lyrical about Lisbon and I just didn’t feel it. My friend and I both felt the same so it wasn’t just my opinion. I felt it was jaded, tired. The graffiti is everywhere and looks awful. I don’t know whether it was because of the time of year (November) and it might be better in the summer.

  74. Aime ● Reply

    Hi Carrie!!
    I was wondering if you had any hotel/ accommodation recommendations for a city break to Lisbon? Nothing too pricey.
    I am planning on going this May, I can’t wait! X

  75. Andrea ● Reply

    I am planning a trip to Lisbon early April and starting to orient myself on what to see and what to eat. i like your suggestions. Is there an area you would recommend staying in the Old Town?

  76. Pia ● Reply

    Dear Carrie,
    went to To Burger or not to Burger because of your recommendation and had a great lunch with delicious burgers, homemade ice tea and sweetpotatoe crisps. So it’s still a great place for good burgers.
    Lots of regard from Germany.
    Pia
    http://www.kuechenkarma.de