Lisbon | 3 ways to discover the vibrant city

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal is a colorful, vibrant and pleasant city. There is plenty to see and experience. Do you really want to discover the city in a unique way? Then read on to discover how this can be done.

Continue by bike the Belém district

Cycling through Lisbon with all those steep hills? No, I haven't gone crazy. It is possible in the neighborhood Bethlehem (Location here), because it is generally very flat compared to the other neighborhoods built on the steep hills of the city. That's why you can explore here by bike. This is also my favorite neighborhood in Lisbon!

Torre de Belém

We cycled along the banks of the Tagus River, which brought us to Torre de Belém (Location here), the starting point of our bike tour. This defense tower was built by the UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site and one of Lisbon's main attractions. This building was founded at the beginning of the 16th century to commemorate the voyages of discovery Vasco da Gama to commemorate. You can climb the tower from €8 per person. Please note, there are long queues, so be on time. 

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Monument to the São Tomé Discovery

Right next to the tower is a fairly new monument called Monument to the São Tomé Discovery (Location here). This monument was built in honor of the Portuguese explorers who explored the world in the 15th and 16th centuries. You can call these people real pioneers. It depicts 33 people and is 53 meters high. From the ground it is an imposing structure. Be sure to take a break here. Enjoy the view of the Tagus and listen to the musical street performers. 

Ponte de 25 de Abril

Then we cycle further along the Tagus and saw the famous suspension bridge in the distance Ponte de 25 de Abril (Location here). You immediately imagine yourself in San Francisco and Rio de Janeiro. The bridge looks exactly like the Golden Gate Bridge and behind it is a replica of the famous statue of Christ, the imposing one Christ the Redeemer. It is a special picture to see. When you are near the bridge you hear a lot of noise because of all the traffic that rushes over it. A fun fact; Only when you drive north over the bridge you have to pay a toll, which is about €1,80. 

LX Factory

Do you want to go to one of the hippest places in Lisbon? Then you can LX Factory (Location here) definitely don't miss it! This industrial area has been transformed into one of the city's hotspots. Here you will find all kinds of unique and creative entrepreneurs with great shops, bars and restaurants. Buy beautiful local and handmade products here or sit down at one of the cozy and intimate terraces.

Extra fun: There is an open-air market here every Sunday. Stroll around the grounds and view the beautiful buildings and look for the cool Street Art that can be found here. 

Pastel de Belém

Your visit to Lisbon is only complete after eating Pasteis De Nata, or pastéis de Belém. The latter are the real pastéis and also the tastiest! In 1837 the baker (location here) the tarts based on a secret recipe of eggs, dough and cream. To this day, the recipe is still a secret. The original pastéis were developed by nuns in the abbey of Jeronimos Monastery and it is probably no coincidence that this monastery is located right next to this bakery. 

Jeronimos Monastery

This 16th century monastery (location here) stands out immediately. It is a large, white and beautifully decorated building. This monument has also been included on the World Heritage List by UNESCO. And this is not surprising. It took 100 years to complete this structure. When you walk around here you are truly amazed. There is so much decoration and symbolism to discover in the building.

A visit costs €10 and entrance is free every first Sunday of the month. Please note that this is a busy attraction. You can also buy a skip-the-line ticket so you can avoid the long queues. 

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Jardim Botanico Tropical

Would you like to recover from all the impressions and sights? Then go to this amazing botanical garden (location here). Entrance costs €5 per person and it is more than worth it. The garden is enormous and contains many places where you can relax. It is beautifully maintained and there are many plant species. The rows of palm trees and subtropical plants make you feel like you're in sunny California. It is also a nice place to take beautiful photos. Don't be alarmed if you suddenly hear a scream. There are several peacocks walking around that make themselves heard every now and then. Furthermore, it is an oasis of peace. 

Crossing the steep hills with a tuktuk

You can of course conquer the steep hills with the fun trams, but we opted for something completely different; a tuk tuk tour through the city! A unique experience where you get a lot of inside tips. They are already ready on several corners of the neighborhood, but one immediately appealed to us. A Portuguese man enthusiastically stood next to his Tuktuk and asked if we wanted a private tour of Lisbon. We looked at each other with big grins and accepted his offer. We got in and Miguel, our local guide van @lisboa360citytour, couldn't wait to get started so we hit the road straight away. 

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Carmo Monastery

Our first stop was a very special historic building, namely the Carmo Monastery (Location here). This building is a former monastery with associated church in the Chiado district (location here).

What's so special about it? It is a building without a roof. In 1755 there was a major earthquake in the city, which destroyed large parts. The earthquake was followed by a tsunami and a fire that left almost all of Lisbon in ruins. It was one of the most destructive and deadly earthquakes in history. The roof of this building has been destroyed, but the ruins are still there and it is very impressive to see. 

Santa Justa Elevator

We left the tuktuk and walked on to the Santa Justa elevator (Location here). This 45-meter-high vertical elevator connects the Baixa (lower city) and Bairro Alto (upper city) districts. It is a busy attraction and we could immediately see that at the entrance. Miguel told us that this elevator is often very busy and you sometimes have to wait 45 minutes before you can enter the elevator. The ride itself takes less than 2 minutes. 

Igreja De São Domingos

Miguel wanted to show us Lisbon through his eyes and took us to his favorite church: Igreja De São Domingos (Location here), or Santa Justa. This church from 1241 was renovated and destroyed several times. Even during the earthquake in 1755, the building was not spared. The church was rebuilt again, but in 1959 it burned down completely. There was no money to immediately restore the church, so this only happened in 1994. As a result, the fire damage is still visible. This has given the church a spooky and mysterious appearance. 

The Alfama district

We got back in the Tuktuk and drove to the historic fishing district Alfama (Location here). It seems as if time has stood still here. Here you will find everything you expect from authentic Lisbon; the beauty was fluttering on the line, steep narrow streets, colorful and old buildings. This neighborhood survived the earthquake fairly well. This is because the area is built on a solid stone plateau, which is harder than the surrounding (and lower) sandy subsoil. 

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Street art

We sped through the narrow streets, stopping every now and then so we could take pictures. Our guide told us to keep an eye left and right because there is something beautiful to see everywhere. He also showed us a lot of Street Art, something I really like! Not only in the Alfama district, but throughout Lisbon you will encounter beautiful works of art. 

One of the most famous artists is Bordalo II. He makes Street Art from waste, actually Waste Art. You see the 3D animals appear in various places. His art is not just limited to Lisbon, but can be admired all over the world. We saw 3: 'Big Racoon,Half Fox' in "Bee'.

There are also impressive portraits of the Portuguese street artist Vhils (Alexandro Farto). He cuts, drills and chisels his art into brick walls so that different layers become visible. And made a tribute to different cultures and, among other things, a human rights lawyer. 

There are of course many more works of art to admire. To do this, go out on your own and stroll through the streets of Lisbon. Most works of art are temporary, so you often discover new gems, even if you have been there several times. 

city ​​walk through Lisbon

Strolling through the city is one of the best ways to discover a city, because you can view everything at your leisure. You can plan different tours for yourself. For example, along the most important sights, along the most beautiful Street Art or simply going on an adventure without a route or plan.

Bairro Alto

We explored the neighborhood on foot Bairro Alto (Location here). Here you will find many hip bars, intimate restaurants and it is one of the places where the locals go out. 

Elevador da Gloria

The most iconic image of Lisbon is the yellow tram. You will find these in abundance in the city, but the tram lift Elevador da Gloria (Location here) is very special. This vehicle will take you from Baixa district to Bairro Alto in 4 minutes. The ride in this monument costs €3,80 return. The 3 elevators have not been modernized since the 30s and you can hear that. Everything squeaks and creaks when the elevator starts moving, but it brings all passengers safely to their destination every time. 

Viewpoint of São Pedro de Alcântara

Once you arrive at the top you will arrive at Viewpoint of São Pedro de Alcântara (Location here). One of the many viewpoints in Lisbon. There are many street musicians in this place and there is a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. And of course you have a beautiful view of the city from here. 

PARK bar 

One of the tips we received from Miguel during the Tuktuk tour was: PARK bar (Location here). This bar is built on top of the roof of a parking garage and from here you have a fantastic view of the Tagus River. Unfortunately the bar was closed when we were here, but it seems to be a really cool place. 

Fado

Do you want to completely immerse yourself in authentic Portuguese culture? Then visit one doom evening in the Bairro Alto district. Fado is traditional folk music and is very popular here. The singers immerse themselves completely in the music. Don't expect hip tunes, because the music is quite dramatic and sad. The lyrics are often about the dark side of love, death and sadness. Nevertheless, it is wonderful to experience this once!

Low

Low (Location here) is the city center of Lisbon. After the earthquake, a completely new city plan was drawn up for this part. Where there used to be narrow streets with houses built close together, this part now mainly consists of straight 18th-century shopping streets and spacious squares. The person who made this plan was a real pioneer, because he foresaw that the city would have to be more spacious for the future and the expected larger cars. 

In this district you will find one of the best ice cream parlors in Lisbon, namely: Amorino (Location here). This name may sound familiar to you because nowadays this store can be found in almost every well-known city. The ice cream here is really delicious! And the best part, they don't create balls, but they make the shape of a rose on your cone or in your container. So it also looks very nice. Almost too beautiful to eat. 

rooftop bar

The last but not the least; have a drink Rooftop Bar Hotel Worldwide (Location here). It is not very cheap, but it is a unique experience. When the weather is nice you have a beautiful view of the Baixa district and you can enjoy a nice drink. They offer various snacks and incredibly tasty cocktails. Be on time because it is a busy place where many locals come to enjoy themselves. So you may have to wait a while until a spot becomes available. 

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Practical Information

The best travel time

Lisbon has a mild climate and it is therefore ideal to explore the city in winter. The best period is in spring and autumn. Then it is usually between 10 and 18 degrees. In July and August it is around 27 degrees and at the same time it is very busy in the city. We were there in March and the temperature was very pleasant. We regularly walked with t-shirts and shorts. Delicious!

Nice to know: in Lisbon it is 1 hour earlier than in the Netherlands.

Flights

It takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes by plane from Amsterdam to Lisbon. Prices depend greatly on when you book and the dates you want to fly. Therefore, simply compare the options with Skyscanner.

Hotels

There are of course many hotels in Lisbon. Do you want more in the center or outside the city, or do you have a specific preference for one of the many nice neighborhoods?

Located in the Bairro Alto district The Vintage Hotel (look at here). If you are looking for a hip location then you have come to the right place. Plus point: the hotel has a beautiful roof terrace with fantastic views. Disadvantage: it is pricey. You pay around €150 per night.

A cheaper alternative just outside the Alfama district is Vila Rodrigues (look at here). The price per night is about €110 for a studio. If you want an upgrade, you can choose one of the villas or a penthouse apartment.

Do you want to go to Lisbon on a budget? Then the charming theme hotel HF Fenix ​​Music (look at here) a good choice! A double room here costs around €85 per night. The rooms are decorated according to a music theme and the hotel features a rooftop pool.

Camping

We stayed at during our trip Lisbon Campsite (look at here). The campsite was not very special, but it was the only one so close to the city. We could easily get to the Belém district by bike. This was also the only reason why we chose this campsite. We paid about 28,50 per night, including electricity and could use the sanitary building for free.

Taxi

In Lisbon it is very cheap to take a taxi to your destination. You pay about €0,47 per kilometer during the day and the starting rate is often €3,25. A great option!

Metro

You can also easily travel by metro. Metropolitano de Lisboa (click here) is the oldest metro system in Portugal and therefore not as extensive as in other cities. There are 4 metro lines in Lisbon and the metros run between 6.30:1.00 am and XNUMX:XNUMX am. So you can travel almost all day by metro.

Also read: Lisbon is the cleanest, most hygienic capital in Europe

Eat Drink

In general, Portugal is a cheap country in terms of food and drinks. At the same time, Lisbon is the capital, so prices here are slightly higher than in the rest of the country. But it is still cheaper than in the Netherlands.

If you eat out outside the tourist spots in a hidden street or alley, you can save even more money. And the best of all: cheap is not expensive in this case. The cheaper restaurants and bars also offer delicious dishes.

Popular dishes

It will come as no surprise that Portugal is known for its seafood, as the country has a long coastline. One of the best known is Codfish. This is dried and salted cod, the national dish of the Portuguese. It is prepared in endless ways, which means there is a lot of variation in this dish.

I was talking about this earlier custard tarts. The locals eat these puff pastry tarts pretty much all day long. During coffee, after dinner or just in between. That's why you encounter it everywhere.

Restaurant opening hours

Good to take into account, dining times in Portugal are at different times than in the Netherlands. Most restaurants don't open their doors until 20:00 PM.

Save money with the Lisboa Card

With the purchase of the Lisbon Card you can save a lot of money! This gives you free access to 24 of the most beautiful museums and sights for 48, 72 or 37 hours and you do not have to queue at the ticket office. You can also travel unlimited free by bus, tram and metro. Even the train to Sintra en Cascais is included. Are you planning to tick off many highlights during your visit? Then it is convenient and cheap to purchase this card.