Piggybacking off our trip to Belgium and the Netherlands, Pete and I flew TAP (Air Portugal) to Lisbon, Portugal in May, 2023. Could our fantastic trip get even better?
Yes, but in different ways than expected.
Traveler's Tip: TAP Airlines is great! We procured Business Class seats, including lounge time, for a reasonable price.
Lisbon IS incredibly beautiful. I recommend three full days to take in the city sights plus one additional day to explore surrounding areas via tour company.
The following is a list of highlights not to be missed (and a few tips to maximize your visit and safety:
Don't be afraid to try public transportation. For a whopping 7 Euros each, we had day passes for use on all modes of getting around including the subway, trams, buses, and funiculars.
Traveler's Tip: Lovingly restored Tram 28 (dating back to 1914) is Lisbon's most famous tram and definitely most crowded. We jumped on for a short trolley ride just to say, "We did it". You'll find references to Tram 28 everywhere. I'm thinking it's the city's mascot?
Lisbon's hotels are plentiful. It can be difficult to choose where to stay.
Traveler's Tip: We chose the Avenida Palace due to its ideal location, beauty, and incredible amenities such as the over the top daily breakfast buffet in a grand salon. After a fun day of sightseeing, we loved finding surprise thank you gifts in our room such as chocolates, and a cotton shopping bag. It is also here where I found the most beautiful public ladies room I've ever seen featuring lovely silk fabric wallpaper!!
It was during this trip when it became quite apparent Covid travel restrictions had truly lifted. With each passing day, the crowds grew thicker and tourist attraction lines grew longer.
Traveler's Tip: Lisbon is extremely hilly! The pavement and steps can be uneven as well. Bring comfortable walking shoes and be ready for steps- lots of them.
Traveler's Tip: Plan ahead and buy your timed tickets to tourist sites early. We gave up trying to visit the Castelo de S. Jorge (long line) and waited over an hour to see the Jeronimos Monestary.
Belem Tower is interesting, but again, be prepared. Lisbon can be quite warm and tourist lines move slowly. Bring water!! I had to cut my time in the tower short due to feeling dehydrated while navigating the tower steps on the very warm day.
Friends advised us to explore outside the city limits as well. Using Tripadvisor, I chose the day trip to Sintra and Cascais which we thoroughly enjoyed. The National Palace of Pena is wonderful!! Our skip the line tickets let us pass by the throng of tourists waiting their turn in the hot sun.
Our van driver stopped to allow us to take photographs at Cabo Da Roca, the farthest western point of Europe.
Shopping in the pretty town of Cascais (James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service was partially filmed here) finished up the perfect day of seeing more of Portugal without having to rent a car.
Our absolute most memorable trip highlight was a sailing trip on the Tagus River. I can't recommend more highly the Sunset Cruise on a Luxury Sailing Yacht with Lisbon By Boat.
Despite high wind conditions, our capable crew provided a sailing adventure we found engaging, thrilling, and very informative (the wine was delicious too).
Lisbon is fun! Lisbon is beautiful! Lisbon is affordable! This second oldest capital city in Europe is filled with history you can touch, see and experience. Yes, Portugal is definitely worth including in your European itinerary.
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