Lisbon one of Europe’s great short breaks. Here’s our insider guide to getting the most out of a visit..
. Every second street has a monument, a museum or a gallery in Lisbon. Photo: Deposit Mama Shelter in Lisbon.
Photo: mamashelter.com Lisbon is a dream of a city. The walls are adorned with azulejo tiles, there are grand boulevards lined with historic buildings, and charming patio cafés around every corner.
This is a place where it’s a joy to get lost, to follow your nose down winding, narrow streets and up steep laneways that lead to beautiful views of the city and the river beyond. Here’s how to plan out the perfect city break in Lisbon. Lisbon, with the Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge in the background.
Photo: Stephen Knowles / Getty Alfama With the turrets of São Jorge Castle at its peak, Alfama is one of the most distinctive neighbourhoods in Lisbon, and you could lose hours wandering around its picturesque streets. Be sure to visit the castle itself, which dates back to the 11th century and has amazing views out over Lisbon and the surrounding terracotta rooftops. But don’t rush out of this neighbourhood too soon – there are plenty of charming bars, ice cream shops and even an outdoor escalator to help you up those hills.
Time your visit to coincide with sunset, which you can watch from the pretty Praça Júlio de Castilho. Time Out Market Lisboa There are a few iterations of this market around the world now, but the first one opened in Lisbon back in 2014. Set in what was the historic Mercado de Ribeira in the Cais do Sodré district, Time Out Market Lisboa features a collection of the best food offerings in the city, curated by the publication’s journalists.
The result? A beautiful food hall where you can get everything from prego steak sandwiches to the pork cheeks that helped Henrique Sá Pessoa win two Michelin stars. There are several bars too, serving local wines, craft beer and ports. timeoutmarket.
com/lisboa Take the tram Sure, some routes are fairly busy, particularly in peak season. But even so, a trip on one of the city’s trams is an experience in itself, as well as a handy way to get around town (Lisbon’s hills are no joke). The one that draws the crowds is the bright yellow Tram no.
28, which starts in the city centre and heads out to the Graça quarter, Alfama and some of the most picturesque neighbourhoods in the city. You can ride the entire length of the line, or hop off when you see something appealing. A post shared by LISBON STREET ART TOURS (@lisbonstreetarttours) Vintage shops The Avenida da Liberdade may be the main shopping street in Lisbon, but when you get to its southern tip there are some excellent vintage stores on the side streets that surround it.
Head to Rua da Prata and you’ll find a few just steps from each other, like Heartcore Vintage Clothing, A Outra Face da Lua and Humana Vintage, where you can pick up great pieces. Street Art Take a walk in Alfama and you’ll come across plenty of interesting street art, from the murals near Miradouro de Santa Luzia to the pop art tunnel under the nearby Miradouro das Portas do Sol. But if you walk further north to the Graça neighbourhood, you’ll see plenty of bright pieces on the walls.
Take a walk with Lisbon Street Art Tours to find all the best spots. lisbonstreetarttours.com Lojas das Conservas Tinned fish has had something of a resurgence in popularity in recent times, and the pretty, pleasingly arranged jars for sale in Lojas das Conservas make for the perfect souvenir.
There are 300 varieties on offer, from octopus and mackerel to spicy sardines. instagram.com/lojadasconservas/ Dinner under the orange trees at Tapas 'n' Friends in Alfama Drink like a local If you fancy a sundowner, head for one of the bustling kiosks found in many Lisbon parks and open spaces.
These casual bars are where locals meet up for a beer or a spritz after work, and there’s often music, too. Try the Corner Quiosque in Parque Eduardo VII. instagram.
com/quiosquecorner/ Wear flat shoes Lisbon is known for its seven hills, and some of those gradients sure do pack a punch. Be sure to wear flat, comfortable shoes for walking around the city, and you’ll be able to explore to your heart’s content. Get the Lisboa Card If you plan on visiting a few museums, pick up a Lisboa Card.
You get free entry to 51 museums and places of interest, fast track entry to 12 attractions and free transportation (including the trams and funiculars). You can get them for 24, 48 or 72 hours. visitlisboa.
com Mama Shelter in Lisbon. Photo: mamashelter.com €€€ Palácio Príncipe Real Impossibly grand but with a strong sense of Portuguese identity (including stucco ceilings and preserved blue and white tiles), the Palácio Príncipe Real is a dreamy place to stay, particularly in the summer when you make use of the huge garden and infinity pool.
palacioprincipereal.com €€ Mama Shelter Young, vibrant and fun, Mama Shelter is a hotel for those who want rooftop cocktails accompanied by live DJ and free movies in the bedrooms, which vary from cosy to more spacious. The rooftop is great for brunch, too.
mamashelter.com € This is Lisbon A hostel with both private and dorm rooms, This is Lisbon may not be the most stylish spot in town, but it has one huge selling point – a giant terrace overlooking the local rooftops, where they have sun loungers and run yoga classes. thisislisbonhostel.
com You’ll find among the best pastries at the home of the custard tart, Pastéis de Belém €€€ A Cevicheria On the cool street of Príncipe Real, A Cevicheria is a (surprise, surprise) Peruvian ceviche restaurant, where you get the freshest local fish served with a kicky tiger milk marinade. Their Pisco sours are top notch, too. Get a seat at the bar to watch the chefs at work.
acevicheria.pt €€ Bonjardim Get there after 5.30pm and you’ll be in for a wait, but standing in line at Bonjardim is well worth it.
This piri piri chicken joint has been on the go since 1959 and they sure have mastered the art of perfectly spiced, blistered chicken. Get it with fries and a bottle of local wine. (+351) 21 342 4389 € Pastéis de Belém Lisbon is renowned for its pastéis de nata, and they were invented at Pastéis de Belém, so you should make that your first port of call if you want the real deal.
They’re flaky, creamy and oh so good. pasteisdebelem.pt A post shared by Sonia Shirsat (@soniashirsat) Clube de Fado You can’t come to Lisbon without catching a fado performance.
There are nightly performances by top musicians at Clube de Fado in Alfama, where you can enjoy dinner as they play. clubedefado.pt Black Cat Cinema With locations in historic buildings all around the city, this open air cinema night pairs classic movies with beautiful backdrops, like Palácio do Grilo and Igreja da Graça.
There’s food, drinks and live music, too. theblackcatcinema.com Park There are plenty of fantastic rooftop bars in Lisbon, but Park is one of the coolest.
Set on the roof of a car park, this hangout has great views of the river, great cocktails and killer DJs. facebook.com/parklisboaofficial A post shared by Erica Bracken | YOGA + SKINCARE (@erica_bracken) @timeoutlisboa – the best place to go for all the latest news around the city.
@erica_bracken – an Irish yoga teacher living in Lisbon, who knows all the best spots. @lisboafoodguide – for all the hottest new openings. While it rarely gets properly cold in the winter, it’s still best to experience Lisbon when the sun is shining in the spring or autumn.
However, you can often get lucky into November with sunny skies and cheaper hotel rooms. Lisbon Airport is just 7km from the city centre, and you can get there in 20 minutes on the Metro. It’s served by Ryanair, TAP Portugal, Vueling and more.
Ryanair.com, flytap.com, vueling.
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