If you know me, you know I'm studying abroad in Florence, Italy for the duration of this spring semester. If you don't know me, hey!! Being stationed in Italy is great because of the prime location, which makes weekend trips actually worth the time and money. We have access to a bunch of airports and train tickets are super reasonable! This being said, you have to do a ton of research and planning before just booking a flight and figuring it out as you go, otherwise, you'll end up spending too much or losing time that could be spent exploring.
This past weekend I took my first-weekend trip while being here! I traveled to Lisbon, Portugal with a good friend of mine and it was my first time visiting the country of Portugal. If you haven't been here, it should definitely be added to your travel bucket list! The city is clean and beautiful and holds it's own type of charm. We stayed in an Airbnb that had a killer price and a killer view, not to mention the host had great suggestions!
Our balcony at sunset Cambre Codington
After reading countless blogs and posts about places to go and things to do in the short time we had, we developed our own list and we saw a great deal of the city by the time we left! If you decide to visit Lisbon, these are all places you should try to see in the few days you're there!
1. Pastéis de Belém
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This place is famous for its amazing pastry's (one of my new favorites!), known as Pastél de Belém, is an egg tart created by Jerónimos Monastery monks and very few people know the secret recipe. You can find them in almost all of the pastry shops in the city but this one is by far the best!
2. Alfama
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Alfama is one of the oldest fishing neighbourhoods full of narrow and cobbled streets and has easy access to tons of things to do. You can see the São Jorge Castle as Alfama is located at the food of São Jorge Hill and is one of the most picturesque districts in Lisbon.
3. Parque das Nações (Park of the Nations)
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Easily accessible by bus, the Park of the Nations is a more modern section of Lisbon. It was designed for the 1998 Expo and now holds tons of restaurants, shops, and top attractions. We went to the Oceanário de Lisboa, the largest aquarium in Europe, and stopped to have more Pastel de Belem's with a view of the Vasco da Gama Bridge, the largest overpass in Europe at almost 8 miles long.
4. São Jorge Castle
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The São Jorge Castle provides the best views of the city of Lisbon! The area is called Largo das Portas do Sol and you can see the Mouraria and Alfama districts of Lisbon and view of the Tagus River from the top!
5. Chiado
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One of the more popular neighbourhoods in Lisbon, Chiado is home to the Santa Justa Lift. Chiado was rebuilt after parts of it were destroyed by a fire in 1998. The main streets of the district are Rua do Carmo and Rua da Garrett. The neighbourhood is known to being elegant and more bohemian than the rest of the city.
6. Bairro Alto
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The district of Bairro Alto is the home of the nightlife in Lisbon. It's packed with cafes, bars, and restaurants, as well as lots of antique shops. It may be one of the best places to listen to Portugal's famous Fado music.
7. Jerónimos Monastery
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Located in Belem, the Jeronimos Monastery with its Church and Cluster are must-see attractions when visiting Lisbon. The religious building was designed by the Portuguese architect Diogo de Boitaca to commemorate the return of Vasco da Gama from India. Close by you can also walk to the Belem Tower, located at the mouth of the Tagus River.
8. Belém Palace
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Also located only a few minutes away from the Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Palace has been the official residence of Portuguese monarchs and now the current President of the Republic. Another must-see when visiting the Belem district!
