Lisbon is one of my favourite European cities – it’s the combination of a beautiful city, beach, great vibes and delicious food that sings to me. On my second visit, we packed in lots of sight-seeing, but also made time to explore the colourful streets and hunt down some great eats. Here’s how to see the best of Lisbon in three days!
Sometimes, a place catches you by surprise. It might take your breath away with its beauty, draw you into a dance with its energy, or simply catch you unawares by showing you a side you hadn’t expected. I love it when this happens – and as I aim to travel with less expectations these days, I’m happy to say it happens more and more! Our prompt for Travel Tuesday this month is Unexpected Destinations, and as soon as Amy suggested it some of my recent trips instantly popped into my head. Do you have a story to add? Pop it in the link-up below!
Elizabeth Bridge, Budapest
I have to be honest – a big part of the reason I visited Budapest last year was because that was where my friend Kelly would be for the August bank holiday, as she was travelling around Europe at the time. But I’m so glad that’s where she was, as in our four days I got a great introduction to a city full of incredible stories, beautiful architecture, and an energy that captivated me. I’d never visited anywhere that had been behind the Iron Curtain before, and received a chilling and eye-opening introduction to some of the early history in the House of Terror museum. I also had a chance to survey the city from the stunning St Stephen’s Cathedral, see musical dancing fountains on the gorgeous Margit Island and experience one of the many thermal spas that Budapest is known for. Now I’m a big fan of Budapest – it was a great long weekend escape, and I know there is so much more to discover.
Beautiful Margit Island, Budapest
I can’t even remember quite how Lisbon was chosen as the destination of my October holiday – although I’m sure it had quite a bit to do with how warm it was predicted to be – and was! Once there I never regretted the decision for a second, as Lisbon charmed me with quirky architecture, including the beautiful azulejo tiles on every possible surface, and a multitude of different neighbourhoods, from the beachy cool of Cascais, to the stunning views from Castelo de Sao Jorge and Cristo Rei. I was also so grateful that we had enough time to make a day-trip to incredible Sintra, where castles and palaces seem to hide round every corner. And I could hardly forget the delicious pasteis de nata, which we made a point of sampling at least once a day… all in the interests of research, of course!
Crazy mix of architecture at Pena Palace, Sintra
While bumping into elephants was without a doubt my most unexpected moment in Copenhagen, what also caught me by surprise was the many beautiful colours of the city, from the beautiful painted houses of Nyhavn to those of the fresh food delights, including my new favourite delicacy, smørrebrød.
Where are your unexpected destinations? Whether you ended up somewhere unplanned, or like me a city caught you by surprise, we’d love to hear your stories in Travel Tuesday!
Ready to link up?
1. SHARE a post about travel! From road trips to trips abroad and from past travels to dream vacations. You can write about travel tips and tricks, favorite places to stay, or anything in between.
2. GRAB the lovely button above. If you run into trouble, just make sure to mention Bonnie, Amy, Camila and me in a link.
3. LINKUP goes live every Tuesday at 0800 GMT. Make sure to comment here, on the cohosts’ blogs, and visit around!
Tips:
1. Please only one linked up post per blogger. Save other posts for future linkups!
2. One Tuesday of every month will be a themed prompt if you want to join in (like this one!). We will announce the theme during the week before.
3. HOP around and meet new travel-loving bloggers – there are so many great stories out there!
Christ the Redeemer is one of Brazil’s icons. Towering above the city, it shows Christ with his arms outstretched. It was therefore a bit confusing to see an incredibly similar statute across the River Tejo from central Lisbon… especially when coupled with a sighting of what appeared to be San Fransico’s Golden Gate Bridge.
The statue of Cristo Rei (Christ the King) was inspired by a visit made by the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 1934, and is a national sign of gratitude that Portugal was spared involvement in the ravages of World War II. In contrast, the resemblance of 25 de Abril bridge to the San Francisco Bay Bridge is due mostly to the fact that they were designed and constructed by the same company!
Louise suggested that we visit the statue by ferry on our last day in Lisbon, and it turned out to be one of the best things we did during our time there. From the awesome boat ride across, to the stunning views from the base of the statue, I can’t recommend a visit enough!
Our ride across the harbour
Our last day turned out to be the hottest of our time there with temperatures up to 25C, which was certainly an unexpected bonus in late October. I relished the chance to wear a singlet and skirt one last time before we returned to the rainy London autumn. I’m definitely a summer baby… sunshine just lifts my heart.
Lisbon from the ferry with Castelo de Sao Jorge and Santa Engracia crowning the skyline
The ferry sails from downtown Lisbon across to Cacilhas, and from there it’s easy to catch a bus up to the statue. I loved the views from the base of the statue – we could even make out the Pena Palace in Sintra!
Can you spot Sintra? Belém is a little easier to see in the foreground!
After soaking in the sunshine and the views, it was time to hop into the lift inside the statue’s foundations to be whisked up to the top. From there, the extra height made me glad that there was fencing all the way around – and the views were even better.
Up close with the statue
Visiting Cristo Rei was a fantastic end to our time in Lisbon – I hope to be back again one day to explore more of this fascinating city.
Bits & Pieces
The ferry to Cristo Rei leaves from Cais do Sodré in downtown Lisbon and sails across to Cacilhas where the 101 bus leaves every half hour for the statue complex
Entry to the Cristo Rei complex is free, and the lift cost us €5
Have you visited Lisbon? What was your favourite part of the city?
The Alfama area in the east of the city offered a very different experience to what we’d found in the rest of the city. As we wandered through narrow alleyways, stepped over locals having their morning gossip, and spotted unusual graffiti I began to appreciate how the pace of life felt more relaxed, less touristy.
Some traditional Portuguese names, and some less so… Harry Potter anyone?!
When the Moors ruled Lisbon, the Alfama was the fanciest part of the city, but when they were defeated by the Christians it was left largely to the fisherman who lived along that part of the coast. Although it is close to the main part of the city, it still retains a bit of a village feel, which makes it fascinating to wander through.
The Igreja de São Miguel – and Jono looking up!
Our daily custard tart sample – I managed to restrain myself long enough to take a photo!
Lots of steps on our way up – we certainly earnt our pastéis de nata that day!
One of the main tourist attractions of the Alfama is the magnificent Santa Engrácia. Begun in 1681, the church was not properly completed until 1966, and is now home to Portugal’s National Pantheon, housing the tombs of several important national figures. However, our main reason for visiting, aside from seeing the stunning building itself, was the views over Lisbon and the River Tejo from the church’s terrace… they were worth every stair climbed and then some!
Beautiful!
Wouldn’t be us without a jump shot! (Credit: Louise Sawyer)
Bits & Pieces
Entry to Santa Engrácia costs €3 for adults and includes admission to the roof terrace. If you’re planning to visit, remember that it is closed on Mondays.
The Alfama area is easily reached by heading east from the city centre up the Rua Augusta Rosa – just make sure to dive off the main roads into the alleyways as soon as you spot an interesting-looking one!
You can also catch the #28 tram from the city centre and hop off on Rua San Vincente.
Have you visited the Alfama? Did you discover any hidden spots that are a must-see?
