Lisbon in a day, the essentials

Hello dear readers!

Lisbon has got so much to offer, but unfortunately due to several situations sometimes it's not possible for us to stay for longer than a day or a weekend. So what are non missable experiences in Lisbon?

Take a picture from a good point of view

The capital of Portugal was built on several hills throughout time, making it a challenge to walk around, but with very worthwhile rewards. Try climbing one of them to discover a beautiful belvedere with a great perspective over some of the hills, the different layers of the streets, and the beautiful roofs. If you're not too much into walking (or because time is running out) just take a taxi/uber and point them out to the nearest belvedere. Go during the sunset to be rewarded with the best landscape worth of an Instagram post!

Senhora do Monte viewpoint.

Get lost in labyrinthic streets

Alfama's the oldest quarter of the city. Although it was also affected by the big earthquake that happened back in 1755, the layout of the streets was kept - and around every corner there's a beautiful door or window to inspire you.

Alfama still has the charm of old Lisbon. Have fun exploring every corner!

Go shopping where the bourgeoisie used to hang out

The Chiado quarter became very popular between the 19th and the 20th centuries in Lisbon, mostly because that's where the theatres were located (which were frequently visited by members of the royal family), along with the shops full of imported products from France and cafes for the intellectuals to debate the latest news. It has changed a bit since then, but the aura of those days is still present in the façades of the shops (some of them still running the original businesses!), while on the other hand there are several portuguese brands that opened their own places here, from ceramics to vintage national products like soaps, colognes or chocolates. Just take a look around and you'll find some precious and unique gifts to take back home.

The main street in the Chiado quarter. Paris em Lisboa is one of the several shops that in the past supplied the new money with high quality imported homeware goods.

Have lunch in a portuguese restaurant - with a modern twist

José Avillez is a portuguese celebrity who won 2 Michelin stars for his most famous restaurant, Belcanto. As you can imagine, it's leaning on the more expensive side and there's a big waiting list of several months to have a meal there (according to the info I got from a call I made there once). For the sake of our wallets though he has opened several other restaurants throughout the city with different concepts, and representing several different traditions from different nations. Cantinho do Avillez is very well established in the Chiado corner and it offers several different traditional meals adapted to the 21st century. Try the famous peixinhos da horta, fried, crunchy green beans, similar to the japanese tempura.

Peixinhos da Horta at Cantinho do Avillez. Source: Enoventos

Ride the most famous public transport of the city

If you've gained an interest in Lisbon I'm sure you've seen the several pictures of tram 28 going up and down the hills. It covers most of the historical sites of the city while keeping its price low since it's a public transport for the locals to use. Because of this, it is insanely crowded! To make sure you get a seat to take a few pictures along the way, make sure you go to the first stop at Martim Moniz as early as possible (like 8.30 AM), or after 8 PM if you like to see the night lights.

Tram 28 going up the Castle hill.

Learn about the pioneers of globalization in Belém

By the late Middle Ages, the portuguese sought the control of the spice trade by exploring the seas in a time where the known world was completely different from our present day. Brave souls ventured out into the open sea without knowing what would become of them. As such, Lisbon was the european center for anything around the world, from previously barely known spices to exotic species of plants and animals. As such, Belém was the place where all the vessels departed, and many of the monuments in this quarter date back to those days (albeit with restorations) or pay homage to them. Visit the Monastery of St. Jerome and be amazed by its architecture, or go snap a picture with the most important figures of the day at the Monument to the Discoveries!

Monastery of St. Jerome on a busy day. The queue line is for the cloister, but you can enter the church for free (and no queues)

Take a break by snacking on a delicacy with a secret recipe

Ahh, the custard tarts. Probably the next famous portuguese delicacy after codfish. Hundreds of portuguese flock to the shop dating back to 1837 every weekend to have a flaky, custardy pastry (or two!) with a bit of cinnamon on top. So don't be fooled by thinking that it's a "touristy site" - they're truly worth the wait in line!

Custard tarts, the only reason the portuguese will queue in a line for a long time.

Sip a glass of wine by the river

End your day by basking in the sunlight by the Tagus River. Around Commerce Square and Cais do Sodré there are several restaurants which offer meals for every taste, so why not enjoy a glass of sparkly vinho verde?

If you visit during the summer, make sure you check the time for the sunset to take some nice pictures!

So what do you think? Lisbon has so much to offer, but this is the way for you to check that bucket list concerning Lisbon. If you'd like to explore other sights or would like to stay in Lisbon for a couple more days, keep checking my blog (along with my Instagram and Facebook page) for updates on what else you can see in Lisbon! Do give me some feedback on the comment section below. Thanks!