City Guide: Weekend in Lisbon

Before going to Lisbon I heard nothing but amazing things. I can definitely attest to how amazing of a city it is. I went with one other friend and even though it was slightly rainy and foggy we had an amazing time. We both could see ourselves going back in the near future because there was so much to explore that we needed more time to see. Also, I totally recommend this city for December as it was so much warmer than most EU cities.

THINGS TO DO & SEE

Lisbon Cathedral- This is the oldest church in Lisbon. Since my friend and I are Jewish we only saw it from the outside but it is on the way to the Castelo de São Jorge.

Castelo de São Jorge- When we got to the castle is was just about to close so we decided not to pay to go in. There is a beautiful view though and inside the castle grounds tons of small shops and things to explore.

Arco da Rua Augusta & Praca do Comercio- This is Lisbon’s main touristy square near the water. The Arch is beautiful to take pictures of from both sides as well as the square.

Rossio Square- This square has a unique tile that looks like a trippy wave pattern. Since we went in mid December there was a cute christmas marker with goods and food. Perfect area for taking pictures and its also close to a museum.

Day trip to Sintra- A day trip to Sintra is a must! You’ll probably want to leave right after an early breakfast so you can get the most out of your time there and stay until the sun sets. Set aside a full day, you won’t regret it. The best way to get there is by train and then purchasing a day bus ticket once you arrive. I honestly loved Sintra so much I wish I stayed the night because there was so much to do and it was a beautiful city with unique attractions. We only had time for the Pena Palace and the National Palace of Sintra. Both I highly recommend.

Reuse- Vintage shop right across the street from Fauna & Flora. I bought so many goodies and I felt everything was reasonably priced. If I lived in Lisbon I would go often!

FOOD

Brunch:

Nicolau Lisboa- This was our absolute first stop in Lisbon. We went mid December and it was still nice enough to sit outside. The menu is huge and typical brunch/ healthy lunch options. We loved it so much we went back our last day!

Fauna & Flora- By far my favorite meal in Lisbon. The aesthetics were on point, the staff was super friendly, and the food was delicious and cheap! I got the bacon pancakes and I would probably get them every time there were so yummy. Bonus: There is a super cute vintage store across the street to shop at while you wait for a table.

Dinner:

Time Out Market- We loved this market! It had a ton of Lisbon’s most popular restaurants all under one roof. We ended up splitting a lot of things and enjoying with beer. They have everything anyone would want and its perfect for big groups who like different cuisines.

Sr. Lisboa- This restaurant was very typical Lisbon food yet with a modern twist. We both loved this restaurant and it helped us be somewhat adventurous by trying the cod croquettes. The restaurant was small and intimate and the food was delicious. We recommend the cauliflower, bread basket (this is a must) and the potatoes.

Dessert:

Any bakery will have pastel de nata they are amazing, you must try them! Local to Portugal, they are best warmed and topped with cinnamon.

NIGHTLIFE

Pink Street- Since I was only here for a few days we didn’t stay out very late. We got some muted wine at a bar on Pink Street. There are a ton of options here and it is a fun area to go out! Some places I was recommended are Pensão Amor and Music box.

TRANSPORTATION

It is so easy and cheap to get around Lisbon. Mostly we walked which is awesome because its a lot of mountains and we got a great workout in while seeing attractions. For the places that were farther or if we wanted to save time we simply took an Uber or used the Bolt app. Uber is cheap but Bolt was even cheaper! I totally recommend using Bolt when getting to and from the airport I think it was $10 from our Air bnb. We unfortunately didn’t have time to take a tram but they were so pretty and I am sure easy to use!

WHERE I STAYED

I could not recommend my Air Bnb enough. We were only two people but there was so much space for a bigger group. It was clean, aesthetically pleasing and in a great spot! Totally worth the price it was only $40 a night which split between two people is super affordable. I usually use Air Bnb when traveling because it is nice to have your own space. If you haven’t used it before you can use this link for $55 off!