Lisbon's charming cafes and historical monuments contrasted with Porto's colorful Ribeira district and iconic bridges - 10 days wasn't enough! Here's how you can pack maximum flavor into your trip, starting with Lisbon.
🏠 In Lisbon, we stayed in Santa Catarina and Barria Alto areas. Both great and suitable areas to walk everywhere if you don't mind getting around on foot!
Restaurants:
🍴Mini Bar by Jose Avillez is a must for a nice occasion, but you need to book! It's a theatre themed restaurant in beautiful setting, with each of it's unique dishes served on small plates. I did not try the tasting menu, but have heard great things - I did try the Fois Gras Pearl and it was divine! @mini_bar_joseavillez
🍴Magnolia Bistrot is a cosy corner restaurant across from a pretty tree-filled square. All wines and the octopus and burrata are sensational. This square has a number of popular restaurants which all look amazing. We managed to try a few during our stay, and its certainly somewhere you can head knowing that you'll have options to eat!
🍴@acevicheria_chefkiko is a fantastic Ceviche restaurant, where bookings aren't available but you place your name at the door, being prepared to wait for an hour in peak time. But that's okay - there are a few bars around which you can pop into while you wait, or they have an outdoor patio where you can enjoy one of their signature Pisco Sours. Menu highlight - the raspberry ceviche!
☕️ Portugal has a great coffee scene - maybe envying Australia's... maybe... @augustolisboapt serves up delicious espresso coffee, incredible banana bread and wonderful brunch. Head here around 10am, then proceed to roam the old winding streets of Alfama.
Shopping:
🛍 It'll be hard to miss all of the ceramics stores in Portugal, ranging from high end artistic pieces to original tiles preserved (and the cheap, fake touristy versions of them). The best store I found was @ceramicas.na.linha for excellent ceramic shopping at reasonable prices, and you won't walk away with the same "original" tile as every other tourist ;) I bought some beautiful coffee cups and saucers and coasters to add to our home collection.
Sites to visit:
Apart from roaming the streets of Lisbon, there is plenty to see and a lot of history to absorb.
🏰 Visit Jeronimos Monastery because it's beautiful inside. Stunning architecture, but it'll only take about an hour to visit. €10.
🏰 Not far down the road is Belem Tower which you could honestly just view from the outside. There isn't much inside... though the original maker of Pastel de Nata - those amazing portuguese tarts you might have encountered, were made by the monastery at Pasteis De Belem
⛱️ we caught an Uber €25 to the beach on the north side of the city Praia do Castelo. Wide beach with bars that line the coast, but not in a busy way. Spread out and a lovely spot to watch the sunset. In summer, all the bars will be open, but when we went in April, there were only a handful.
A day trip to Sintra was recommended and I'd love to go back and do this!
Your Lisbon adventure awaits! With these recommendations, skip the tourist traps and dive into Lisbon's vibrant essence.
Follow me for more details of my adventures on instagram @lifeofshanmarie
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