Lisbon has so much to offer. It’s easy to see why it’s one of the destinations of choice for a European city break boasting a wealth of history, trams, people watching, fabulous views and gastronomic delights. A three day visit wasn’t enough to explore everything fully but was a fantastic taster.
Day one
Baixa to Restauradores
We walked down the Avenida da Liberdade to the Elevador da Glória, a funicular dating from 1885. This was a great way to travel up the hill to the Bairro Alto (the old town). I wasn’t keen on all the street art and graffiti on the tram at first but it certainly symbolised the mix of old and new which characterises most of the city.
As we passed a bakery, a bell rang to signal that a new batch of custard tarts was ready! They were delicious – well it would have been rude not to….
The queue for the Elevador de Santa Justa was very inefficient and we wondered if the views would be worth the wait. Of course they were! Do climb the spiral staircase to the very top and enjoy the overview of the city. The elevator itself is reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower, being the work of Gustav Eiffel’s protégé.
We had lunch at A Brasileira, one of Lisbon’s most famous cafés. It was really like stepping back in time to its 1920s heyday when it was frequented by literary greats.
After lunch we caught the tram to Belém, which had a fantastic buzz and outstanding views. These next photos sum up the highlights of our afternoon.
Day 2
We spent quite a lot of time on the buses as David always enjoys an open-top bus ride. The commentary was very informative but I found that you can have too much background Fado music!
Day 3
We set off for the Parque das Nações – built on the site of the Expo 98 exposition. This modern district has lots to keep you entertained. We visited the Oceanário and went on the cable car to the Torre Vasco da Gama. It was good to see some contemporary developments as well as the more historical areas.
Back in the city centre we did a bit of shopping and came across a very unexpected shop with wall to wall sardines.
Lisbon has a great balance of historical and modern attractions and is relaxed and friendly with a nice dose of quirkiness thrown in.
Next time I would like to explore Cascais and Sintra too.
Lovely summary of Lisbon.