Some European cities are known for their hit lists. In Rome, you visit the Vatican and the Colosseum, in Paris you picnic outside the Eiffel Tower, climb the Arc de Triumph and pretend to be royalty at the Palace of Versailles. Lisbon is more of a wandering city. There aren’t things to do, so much as neighborhoods to see. It’s truly a city for wandering and walking.
How to Get Around
There are plenty of public transportation options but the trams and buses can get very crowded, especially during the summer. Scooters like Lime are also an easy way to move from neighborhood to neighborhood if you’re used to them. I’d never ridden one before and wasn’t a huge fan of the cobblestones so it didn’t work out for me, but they’re an easy and cheap way to cover ground quickly! If you have time, walking always works too, but bring walking shoes.
Where to Eat
The quickest way to get a taste of Lisbon is the Time Out Market. It’s a food hall filled with all of Lisbon’s best eateries. For a unique food experience, look for the Octopus hot dog. We played it safe with linguine with shrimp and scallops from Sea Me.
The most important thing you can eat in Lisbon is Pasteis de Nata, perfect little pastries filled with custard. Go to Pasteis de Belem or Manteigaria for the best of the best.
What to Do
If you’re looking for a specific destination I’ve heard only good things about the LX Factory and the Gulbenkian museum, and the “pink street” is great for photo shoots. A day trip to Sintra is always a great option if you’re looking for something outside the city and there are public transportation options that will take you straight there.
Explore More
Alfama is a historic neighborhood with a lot of the amazing tiling Lisbon is known for.
Belem is home to the Tower of Belem and Pasteis de Belem.
Barrio Alto is the best area of town for shopping, entertainment and night life.
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