Travel review: Lisbon – Enjoy the passion of Fado

Lisbon had always been on our list. However, it wasn’t near the the top. This changed when we decided to go on a cruise which finished in Lisbon and decided to tour around Portugal. You can’t go to Portugal, and not see and experience Lisbon! Read this travel review: Lisbon for more great information on this intriguing city.

After a beautiful, balm week in Lagos (Algarve), we hopped a train up to Lisbon to stay for a few days. As the last leg of our month-long vacation, there were a few things we still wanted to do and only a few days left.

Pulling into the station midday, we found our bearings and contacted our airbnb host. We were in luck! We could drop off our luggage now as long as we let them finish the clean up! Great, then we could start exploring –

Our four days in Lisbon were exquisite. Moody and memorable nights in Alfama listening to fado. Eating some local fish at a close by cafe. Long days of walking our feet off – my kind of vacation!

Recommendations

Eat:

Mesa de Frades – you’ll also see this under activities! Great dinner and evening of fado with sublime ambiance and excellent service – highly recommend it! Manjerico Alegre Restaurant & Wine Shop – absolutely amazing – excellent local fare, with minimal to no tourists in site, and lovely service with a smile – we loved it so much, we went a couple times!

A Travessa do Fado at the Fado Museum was a lovely way to enjoy a couple drinks on the patio with some local nibbles. Copenhagen Coffee Lab – when out and about, you can always find a great cup of coffee here along with great treats! Topo, in Belem, at the Centro Cultural De Belem, is a great option if you are wandering around the area. We enjoyed a lovely fresh salad, and beautiful fresh pea soup in this airy, modern restaurant on the top floor of the center.

Accommodations:

In Lisbon, we opted for an airbnb right in the heart of the Alfama district. The sights and sounds, especially in the late evening, of fado wafted through the streets, and the wine bars and restaurants were very inviting! Just up Remedios from Mesa de Frades, it was a glorious 1 bedroom loft at the top of the building with beautiful views of the harbor and the National Pantheon.

Activities:

We walked, and walked, and walked some more in Lisbon! So much to see and do within walking distance, and everything else is just a short HOHO bus trip away. Some highlights included: National Pantheon – alot of history here, and a beautiful, serene setting. Climb to the top to get a beautiful panoramic view of Lisbon!

The Museu Nacional Do Azulejo was 30 minute walk from our apartment, or a short 10 min bus ride. Beautiful, extremely LARGE museum dedicated to tiles. Amazing artwork as well on display, so give yourself at least 2-3 hours to explore. A great, courtyard cafe is in the atrium of the museum, and serves up wonderful coffees and snacks.

The Mosteiro de Sao Vicente de Fora is a awe-inspiring monastery, with beautiful high ceilings – highly recommend the permanent exhibitions for all the well-preserved artifacts that spin the tale of the monastery and the region.

Castelo de S.Jorge – walking up the winding roads (paths really as they are so very narrow!) to this castle, it really does not provide the great ‘reveal’ until the end. The shops along the way are diverse and try to capture interest to divert all the masses of tourists trying to reach the top of the hill and entrance to the castle. Once in, every more stone stairs and paths through the castle show you the amazing fortification that was. This former royal palace has glorious views, and the views of the surrounding neighborhood – and indeed of Lisbon – are thrilling to behold. Take some time, and maybe relax and have a drink at the top cafe, to enjoy the beautiful view.

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Shopping:

Some wondrous shopping available in Lisbon if you look. Chicoracao, a Portugal woolen mill, has a few outlet /factory stores – great for beautiful throws and scarves or clothes to keep you covered in cooler climes; for Portuguese olive oil, check out Olive by Oliveira da Serra on Rua da Prata; and like a kid in a candy store, I LOVED Benamor, for all the wonderful smells of the body cream, soaps, and toiletries home grown in Portugal.

In addition to this travel review: Lisbon, enjoy more information on our travels in Portugal!