A Long Weekend In Lisbon
Day 1
Touch down at Lisbon airport and hop in an Uber (the quickest way to get into the city for cheap!) to your accommodation. I highly recommend staying in the Príncipe Real region, just outside of the bustling Barrio Alto. A 15 minute walk down-hill along streets filled with wine bars and authentic restaurants, offers a unique and calm retreat from where you will spend most of the day exploring!
Morgan-Jupiter studio apartments are clean, spacious and in the perfect location, with a small terrace where you can chill for some downtime. All for an affordable price. If you're looking for a slightly more lively accommodation, head to Mama Shelter, for quirky interior design complete with a rooftop bar. Both are located within a stone's throw from each other so full use of the rooftop bar for all!
It's time now to head out and explore the touristy spots of the historic city of Lisbon! First, walk down the Rua Augusta and see the Arco de Rua Augusta, taking in the buzz of the centre of Lisbon. Then, see the Praça do Comércio, the main square of Lisbon with stunning views of the Tagus River.
By now you must be hungry for some food. Wander along the waterfront to the famous Time Out Market (Mercado da Ribeira) and grab some authentic Portuguese lunch. O Prego Da Peixaria is a must, serving prego, the national mouth-watering steak sandwich.
After some downtime at the apartment, head to the iconic Pink Street to catch some live music from talented buskers and snap a photo for Instagram. Maybe even stay for a pre-dinner drink, with an abundance of bars with happy hours, boasting cheap 2-for-1 cocktails. Relax into the vibes of Lisbon on your first day!
Then, head for yummy Portuguese tapas and wine at the cosy Taberna da Rua das Flores. This dinner place does not take reservations, so either be prepared to wait or head to one of their sister restaurants for larger groups, such as Antiga Camponesa. Finally, grab a post-dinner glass of wine just down the street at BytheWine, a bustling wine bar with expert sommeliers, offering a range of cheap local wines.
Day 2
Start the day early with a simple breakfast of some pastel de natas and a coffee at A Padaria Portuguesa. Watch alfacinhas (people of Lisbon) and the iconic yellow trams pass by as you enjoy your breakfast in the street.
Head across to the Alfama district to explore the most ancient part of the iconic city. Head up to the Castelo de São Jorge for breathtaking views of Lisbon. With no time-slot entry required you can pre-book tickets online instead of queuing in the heat for the ticket office once you arrive. Next, head to the Panteão Nacional to see the impressive monument, making sure you stop for some pictures at the Miradouro de Santa Luzia on the way with views of the Tagus River.
On Tuesdays and Saturdays only the Feira da Ladra fleamarket fills the streets with ceramics, jewellery and book stalls. This is the perfect place to wander and buy some souvenirs. If you are not there on one of these days, still head to Feira da Ladra to see the ceramic shops that sell the iconic tiles you see on many buildings in Lisbon.
Then, grab some mouthwatering ramen at the nearby Astro Ramen. Get a green tea ice cream to keep you going, while you queue for the free Tram 28. You will be transported back in time, while you ride the tram from its first stop at Martim Moniz back to Chiado. From the stop at Chiado, you can stroll back to the apartment for some downtime before heading out later.
Before heading out for dinner, grab a taxi to see a farther out region where you will find the Torre de Belém and the Jerónimos Monasterio, where pastel de natas were first invented by monks. Have your second pastel de nata of the trip at Pastéis de Belém, a restaurant where they only serve pastel de natas and hot drinks!
After a little cultural outing, take a stroll along the waterfront, stopping at one of the cocktail stalls along the way to drink and watch the sun set over the river. Head for a classy Italian dinner at Leonetta, offering free appetisers with every cocktail bought! Finally, grab a post-dinner cocktail at the Mama Shelter rooftop bar near your accommodation before heading back.
Day 3
It's Sintra day! You may have heard of this iconic UNESCO heritage-protected town filled with magical parks and castles, just a 30 minutes drive away from the central of Lisbon, but if not then this cannot be missed! I highly recommend a tuk-tuk tour to explore Sintra, as although expensive it can be a long day of walking, but the open-air tuk-tuk rides will make it fun. You can also Uber from castle to castle, for less than €4.
If you do the latter, make sure you start at the top at The National Palace of Pena, a Romanticist yellow castle with stunning views that looks like something out of a Disney movie. Make sure you pre-book tickets for this one, as this is the most popular castle and requires a time-slot to enter. The second must-do castle is the Quinta da Regaleira, with the iconic Initiation Well, leading to magical underground tunnels with a waterfall. You can stop for lunch here in the courtyard café, boasting views of the stunning Renaissance and Gothic castle.
My top tip is to not rush Sintra, it is a once in a lifetime place to visit that cannot be found anywhere else. Take your time exploring the magical palaces and spend the entire day.
After a long day of exploring head back to the apartment for some downtime before your final evening meal. You will spend your last night with fresh Portuguese seafood watching the sunset over the Ponte 25 de Abril, Lisbon's answer to San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, at the famous Ponto Final restaurant.
Thank you for purchasing my guide to a long weekend in Lisbon. Please let me know if you enjoy my recommendations, I would be glad to hear it. Happy travelling!
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