Portuguese spirit
Lisbon
Is Portugal a former empire with an extremely long and rich history or just a small country somewhere near Spain?
Lisbon, Portugal
Olá Darling! How was your sweet time without my travel stories?
Today we land in one of the most beautiful and amazing cities in the world - the capital of Portugal. Of course I am talking about Lisbon! Lisbon - a city of lights situated in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus. With an urban area of more than 2 millions inhabitants, Lisbon is among the largest cities in Europe (11th place). It is known for its colonialist history, ornate architecture and tradition of Fado music. But some of its best features are in the everyday – spectacular hilltop vistas in Alfama or at St. George's Castle, pleasant year-round weather and friendly locals.
Olá Darling! How was your sweet time without my travel stories?
Today we land in one of the most beautiful and amazing cities in the world - the capital of Portugal. Of course I am talking about Lisbon! Lisbon - a city of lights situated in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus. With an urban area of more than 2 millions inhabitants, Lisbon is among the largest cities in Europe (11th place). It is known for its colonialist history, ornate architecture and tradition of Fado music. But some of its best features are in the everyday – spectacular hilltop vistas in Alfama or at St. George's Castle, pleasant year-round weather and friendly locals.
The shot was taken while departing from Vienna-Schwechat Airport in the direction of Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport
How to get to Portugal?
Let us talk about ways you can use to get to Lisbon. There are (obviously) many ways to do so.
Let us talk about ways you can use to get to Lisbon. There are (obviously) many ways to do so.
- By plane. It is that easy, the Lisbon airport serves huge amount of destinations in Europe, South A., North A., Africa, Middle East and even Asia. Besides hundreds of direct flights to South America and major cities worldwide, their airport is a large hub for Ryanair and Easyjet which makes it very very cheap to visit Portugal from almost anywhere in Europe!
- By bus/train. Having Spain the only neighbour connected by mainland there are no options to visit Portugal by bus or train besides coming from some Spanish city. But anyways if you travel from Madrid you can either take a night train (Renfe, 10 hour ride, from 30EUR) or a bus (Flixbus, 9 hour ride, from 15EUR). Same options available from other major Spanish cities.
- By car. Facing the same location issue - you can only come through Spain.
- By Cruise Ship/Ferry. There are plenty of options to visit Portugal (Lisbon, Porto and many many stunning islands) using a cruise ride which is a very fantastic way to organise a vacation!
Sightseeing
After we have arrived to Lisbon it is time to do memorable sightseeing, try local food and meet very friendly Portuguese people! How to do that without spending too much time on basic touristic spots and really dive into Portuguese culture. And don't worry, it has so much to offer that it is even hard to imagine.
Let us start with major must-visit locations in Lisbon.
Also check Tripadvisor for more places: LINK
There is not much I can say about each of them, they all are extremely unique and interesting to visit.
The following list below are my personal recommendations from the recent trip in summer 2022.
After we have arrived to Lisbon it is time to do memorable sightseeing, try local food and meet very friendly Portuguese people! How to do that without spending too much time on basic touristic spots and really dive into Portuguese culture. And don't worry, it has so much to offer that it is even hard to imagine.
Let us start with major must-visit locations in Lisbon.
- Castelo de São Jorge: An Iconic Landmark
- Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: Built in Honor of Portugal's Age of Discovery
- Oceanário de Lisboa: A modern Aquarium
- Museu Calouste Gulbenkian: A Priceless Collection of Western and Eastern Art
- Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga: The National Museum of Ancient Art
- Torre de Belém: A Historic Tower
- Elevador de Santa Justa: An Antique Elevator
- Sé: Lisbon's Imposing Cathedral
- Padrão dos Descobrimentos: A Tribute to the Age of Discovery
- Sintra. Sintra's Pena Palace
- Arco da Rua Augusta: A Triumphal Arch
- Igreja do Carmo: One of the City's Oldest Churches
- Ponte 25 de Abril: Golden Gate like looking bridge
- Sentuário de Cristo Rei: Catholic Statue Dedicated to Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Inspired by Rio's Christ the Redeemer.
- Lisboa Story Centre: Exploring Lisbon's Vibrant History
Also check Tripadvisor for more places: LINK
There is not much I can say about each of them, they all are extremely unique and interesting to visit.
The following list below are my personal recommendations from the recent trip in summer 2022.
- Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara - A park with stunning views on the whole city with live music playing all year round. In summer you can find a nice market here with homemade souvenirs, delicious sangria bar. (Google Maps LINK)
- Bairro Alto - Very nice district near the park mentioned above with lots of tiny streets and hundreds small bars where they serve cheap and good alcohol. There are always lots lots of fun, million locals and Brazilian people serving vibes. (Google Maps LINK)
- Time Out Market Lisboa - Large market with lots of cafés and restaurants combining different cuisines in one place. Located in the very center near the main train station. (Google Maps LINK)
- LxMarket - Cool hipster (ex-factory) place with many bars, cafes and restaurants right next to the golden gate looking bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril).(Google Maps LINK)
- Aroeira Beach Bar - The best beaches in the area of Lisbon (Caparica). Definitely worth visiting to spend the whole day near the Atlantic ocean, enjoy tasty seafood and sangria. To get here take Uber or Bolt - the ride takes approximately 35min from Lisbon center and costs 20-25EUR. Be Careful (!!!), in the evening sometimes it takes up to 1-2 hours of waiting time. (Google Maps LINK)
Some interesting facts about the city you might like
- The city was almost completely destroyed in 1755 by an earthquake. The earthquake of 1755 (wiki link), also known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake, wrecked havoc on the city. It was followed by a series of fires and a tsunami. Lisbon’s commercial center, Praça do Comércio, was completely destroyed. This included the Royal Ribeira Palace too and many adjoining monuments/regions.
- The city has very unique bridges. Vasco da Gama Bridge that opened in 1998 is 7.6 miles (12 km) long. It is the longest bridge in the European Union and the second longest in Europe. 25th April Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril), another major Lisbon landmark, is also pretty long. In fact, this is the longest suspension bridge in Europe. This bridge resembles the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco and is a great place for getting the best Lisbon pictures. The resemblance is because it was designed by the American Bridge Company, the same firm that designed Golden Gate.
- Lisbon has not always been the capital of Portugal. Yes, the first capital of Portugal was Guimarães in the 12th century followed by Coimbra in the second half of 12th and early 13th centuries.
- Lisbon has the world’s largest salt water oceanarium. Oceanário de Lisboa is the world’s largest salt water aquarium. It features four marine habitats as well as temperate, tropical, and cold waters. You can see birds, fishes, amphibians, invertebrates, mammals, and various plants and algae.
The view from Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
Food time! Yaaay
Now lets us move on with what Portuguese people eat on daily basis. I found Portuguese cuisine extremely tasty and diverse. You might think that the country with an ocean has mostly seafood served. That is not completely true and lets first dive into history: "local medieval diet was based on wheat and rye bread, vegetables, grains and fruits, honey, olive oil, and wine, in addition to fish and game meat for the wealthiest. From the 15th century on, Portuguese cuisine became more diverse, thanks to new ingredients discovered during the Great Navigations. [source]". As we can see, Portugal is also a very agricultural country as well as rich with meat.
First of all, I will start with the list of most popular dishes here:
Portugal has a lot to offer when it comes to food and wine. Here you can find excellent Portuguese fish dishes, world-famous Portuguese pork dishes and a variety of monastic desserts. In addition to classics such as Portuguese-style chicken and sandwiches, there is also a wide variety of local Portuguese dishes.
Now lets us move on with what Portuguese people eat on daily basis. I found Portuguese cuisine extremely tasty and diverse. You might think that the country with an ocean has mostly seafood served. That is not completely true and lets first dive into history: "local medieval diet was based on wheat and rye bread, vegetables, grains and fruits, honey, olive oil, and wine, in addition to fish and game meat for the wealthiest. From the 15th century on, Portuguese cuisine became more diverse, thanks to new ingredients discovered during the Great Navigations. [source]". As we can see, Portugal is also a very agricultural country as well as rich with meat.
First of all, I will start with the list of most popular dishes here:
- Polvo à Lagareiro - Octopus with olive oil and potatoes (my personal recommendation, very delicious and available in any Portuguese restaurant in Lisbon)
- Bacalhau - Portuguese cod fish (probably most popular food here but not my recommendation)
- Sardines - they are everywhere here, all types of cooking/serving, very fresh and tasty. (If you're in Portugal, there whole stores only for sardines - it is a must to buy some and bring home with you)
- Pastel de Nata - it is an iconic Portuguese dessert. This sweet and creamy egg tart is extremely addictive and might become your daily pastry of choice.
Portugal has a lot to offer when it comes to food and wine. Here you can find excellent Portuguese fish dishes, world-famous Portuguese pork dishes and a variety of monastic desserts. In addition to classics such as Portuguese-style chicken and sandwiches, there is also a wide variety of local Portuguese dishes.
Prices
Sooooo.... Prices! I will try to be quick with this part because prices in Portugal are very pleasant. It is never too expensive and never unexpected (unlike taxi pricing in southern part of Italy for example). Based on my personal experience - I would probably say that Portugal is similar to Czech Republic here.
Food:
Meal, average Restaurant - 15EUR
Cappuccino - 1.46EUR
Water (1.5l) - 0.54EUR
Beer (0.5l) - 1.09EUR
Wine - 4EUR
Transport:
Public (1ticket) - 1.46EUR
Taxi - 3.5EUR + 0.80EUR/km
Cigarettes:
Marlboro Red - 5EUR
[source & more cost details]
Sooooo.... Prices! I will try to be quick with this part because prices in Portugal are very pleasant. It is never too expensive and never unexpected (unlike taxi pricing in southern part of Italy for example). Based on my personal experience - I would probably say that Portugal is similar to Czech Republic here.
Food:
Meal, average Restaurant - 15EUR
Cappuccino - 1.46EUR
Water (1.5l) - 0.54EUR
Beer (0.5l) - 1.09EUR
Wine - 4EUR
Transport:
Public (1ticket) - 1.46EUR
Taxi - 3.5EUR + 0.80EUR/km
Cigarettes:
Marlboro Red - 5EUR
[source & more cost details]
Torre de Belem (Lisboa)
Bonus! Extra recommendations
Even though, I have covered mostly everything I have planned to, there is one place that is so worth visiting, that I make a separate paragraph for it.
Even though, I have covered mostly everything I have planned to, there is one place that is so worth visiting, that I make a separate paragraph for it.
Cascais
A town of Cascais, a charming town with beautiful beaches and great food. One of the best places near Lisbon to spend your weekend at.
Visit "A Nova Estrela" for the best Portuguese cuisine experience in Cascais. (Google Maps LINK)
How to get there?
- 30km away from the center of Lisbon and still its urban area. (take an Uber/Bolt for 15-20EUR or direct suburban train for 2.30EUR and an hour ride).
Conclusion
Coming to an end of this post - I would like to say, that Portugal is among favourite countries I've ever been to because I love everything about this place! If you ask me how I will spend my next summer - Portugal will definitely be on the list.
Thank you so much, that you've been through the whole blog post with me and I hope you've liked the materials I have prepared.
Muito obrigado, tchau!
Coming to an end of this post - I would like to say, that Portugal is among favourite countries I've ever been to because I love everything about this place! If you ask me how I will spend my next summer - Portugal will definitely be on the list.
Thank you so much, that you've been through the whole blog post with me and I hope you've liked the materials I have prepared.
Muito obrigado, tchau!
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