For James’s birthday getaway in 2023, I organised a trip to Lisbon and LOVED it. Here are my top recommendations to spend a couple of days here!
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Where to Stay
I found there are plenty of places to stay, but very few big hotels. I think we managed to stay in the biggest hotel in Lisbon – Hotel Mundial. The location was perfect, within walking distance to pretty much everywhere, and our room was huugee, with a big window overlooking the square – ideal!
Activities
Walking Tour
This was the first time I’ve ever gone on a walking tour of a city, and could not recommend end the experience more! You get to learn all about the history, the rich culture, and get local insider tips from the tour guides. I advise you do it to start off your trip here.
We went with the ChillOut free tour (you still are encouraged to pay), but there are plenty of other options, such as this 2 hour Lisbon Walking Tour.
Rua Augusta
Rua Augusta is a busy street in the heart of Lisbon, with plenty of shops, cafes, and street performers. This will probably be your main point of reference when navigating around Lisbon.
Praca do Comercio
Also known as Commercial Square, this is a big plaza with beautiful arches and historical statues. There’s also pretty views of the water from here. Bring sunglasses though, because it can be very bright – there are even opportunistic salesmen walking around selling sunglasses because this must be a common unforeseen circumstance!
Santa Justa Viewpoint
The Santa Justa Viewpoint offers panoramic views of Lisbon, and can be reached by an old-fashioned elevator (if it is in use). I think there was a big queue for it when we went, so we just walked uphill for the viewpoint.
Elevador de Bica
This is one of Lisbon’s iconic trams which can take you up the steep hills of the Bairro Alto district. We watched it go by and admired it as it made it’s way uphill, but didn’t make it onto the tram unfortunately.
Ribeira das Naus
This scenic riverside promenade offers the tranquility of the ocean, while being nearby to the city centre. It’s perfect for a leisurely stroll and taking in the sea air.
Miradouro de Santa Luzia
Here you’ll find a beautiful hilltop terrace, decorated with traditional tiles and a pergola, offering stunning views of Lisbon. This place is PERFECT for golden hour and sunset!
Pink Street
This small street is known for its vibrant nightlife and lively bars, against a backdrop of pink buildings – that’s why its aptly called Pink Street. We enjoyed watching a street performer on rollerblades flying up and down the street while we had some Port spritz!
Castle de Sao Jorge
This historic fortress is on top of Lisbon’s tallest hill, offering some more panoramic views of the city. There are also archaeological exhibits within its walls, and plenty of resident peacocks. Be sure to book your tickets online in advance, as there was a huge queue to buy tickets on the day, but no queue if you bought tickets online!
Places to eat
Time Out Market
In this food hall you’ll find plenty of food and drink options to cater to your tastebuds. We went for the classic Portugese Peri-Peri chicken and chips. Practically Nandos… It’s difficult to find a table here as it’s quite busy, so bear that in mind.
Nicolau
This was a Tiktok find, but we had a really tasty lunch at Nicolau. It was a really cute cafe, with good variety of options. There was a lot of people queuing though, so prepare to wait.
I’m very jealous of you if you’re heading off to Lisbon soon, and hope you love it as much as I do!
Thank you for reading ❤
Love, Lydia x
LYD1A KERR 
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