Is it just me, or is Lisbon the place to be this summer? I've seen people all over my feed heading to the Portuguese capital to enjoy the tiled buildings, delicious food scene and relaxed vibes. Me and my bestie Georgie went there for a little girls' trip ahead of her wedding, and we had the best time!
Even though I was only in Lisbon for three full days, I felt very at home among the tiles and terracotta roofs and came away with a few fabulous recommendations I felt I needed to share.
Where to stay:
Lux Lisboa Park:
We knew we wanted some chill time on our trip, so we looked for a hotel with a rooftop pool. This narrowed our search right down, as there aren't loads of hotels in Lisbon with this facility. The Lux Lisboa Park was a little over our budget, but given that it offers a free airport transfer for stays over three nights and a free one-hour TukTuk tour, we decided to go ahead and book it.
Location-wise, this hotel is just outside the centre of Lisbon. But it only takes 20 minutes or so to get into the hustle and bustle on the metro. And the journey is super easy to navigate. If you don't have it already, I'd recommend downloading Citymapper as it'll help you find your way around.
The rooms at the Lux Lisboa are really clean, modern and spacious. And I remember thinking that ours had a fresh and pleasant smell. There was a great selection of food at breakfast, too – we tucked into eggs, little sausages, salmon, toast and then had some sweet treats to finish. If you're vegan or lactose intolerant, it's worth noting they also have a whole separate table loaded with food to suit your needs.
During our stay, we spent quite a lot of time on the roof, soaking up the sun on the loungers and taking dips in the pool. It was lovely. The only downside was the pool was heated, so it wasn't very refreshing and didn't provide much relief from the baking sun. Thankfully, the drinks served from the adjacent rooftop bar did help to keep us cool. All in all, I'd recommend this hotel to anyone wanting to explore Lisbon and have a bit of time to relax.
Viewpoints:
📍Miradouro Sao Pedro
📍The top of the Santa Justa Lift
📍Miradouro da Graça
These are the three viewpoints we visited while in Lisbon. The first and second on the list are fairly central, on the city's west side. The view from all three was stunning, thanks mostly to the gorgeous terracotta roofs and pastel-toned buildings. I'd definitely recommend adding at least one of these to your Lisbon bucket list. Seeing the city from above will really help you to get your bearings and understand where the different neighbourhoods begin and end.
Tip: You don't have to get to the top of the Santa Justa Lift by going up it. Instead, you can walk out onto the viewing platform from the Largo do Carmo. Just head down a pathway to the right of the Carmo Convent – the church with no roof – and you'll find yourself at the top of the lift looking out over the city.
Things to do:
Tuk Tuk tour
We got to these viewpoints via Tuk Tuk. Included in our hotel deal was a free, one-hour TukTuk tour. Our guide gave us a good overview of the city, but there are lots of specific tours you can choose from if you hop on a Tuk Tuk from the centre. If you like history, for example, there's a route that will show you the historic architecture.
If you want to get the most out of your tour, try to make sure your guide is from Lisbon or has lived here for a long time. Our driver told us there are lots of guides out there who just drive you around without explaining what you're seeing, but it's definitely helpful to be given information about the different neighbourhoods and sights.
Our guide was very friendly and took us to several beautiful spots in Lisbon. We meandered through the different neighbourhoods, and he explained which parts were best for food, nightlife and which areas were more residential. This was such a great way to see Lisbon as it is very hilly, and it's a little difficult to explore without overheating in peak summer.
Markets
Lisbon is home to an array of different markets selling clothes, art, crafts, jewellery, and second-hand furniture – you name it, you'll find it. On our Tuk Tuk tour, we drove by the Feira da Ladra flea market, which takes place every Tuesday and Saturday. It seemed to be very popular with both locals and tourists so I'd definitely recommend checking it out if you're in Lisbon on either of those days. If not, there are plenty of other similar markets dotted around the city.
The Time Out Market is a must-visit for anyone going to Lisbon. It's an industrial-type building filled with a selection of some of the city's best eateries. Around the edge of the communal seating area, you'll find stands serving up anything from tapas-style Portuguese food to pasta and curries to fancy sandwiches. After your main, you can tuck into a pastel de nata, doughnuts or ice cream. It's the perfect place to stop for lunch after a morning of exploring.
Places for dinner:
Le Petit Cafe
On our first night, we were tired from our early flight and went in search of a yummy meal that didn't require us to trek up Lisbon's notoriously steep hills. After wandering around for a bit, we discovered this lovely Italian restaurant with outdoor seating and a musician playing live music. The vibe was lovely. I had a cheese cannelloni and Georgie had spaghetti Bolognese – delicious and comforting. It may not have been traditional Portuguese food, but it really hit the spot.
Maria Catita
I’d read really good things about this restaurant online, but reviews also said it was quite difficult to get into. We went anyway, hopeful they'd find space – and to our luck, it turns out they save tables for walk-ins.
For our starter, we shared juicy prawns in a delicious garlic sauce, and then I had salmon and Georgie had sea bass. Everything tasted so fresh and flavourful, and the service was great. The street that the restaurant sits on is really nice too and gets a good dose of evening sun even despite being lined with buildings. This was my favourite place we ate dinner during our trip, and if I had to recommend one restaurant to you, it would be this one.
Javá
This place scores points for the setting alone. It’s a rooftop bar and restaurant that you may have seen popping up on TikTok if you’ve searched for places to eat in Lisbon. The view is insane, and you can see right over the city’s charming terracotta rooftops to the ocean. We went in time for sunset, meaning everything was bathed in a warm golden glow.
The food was also heavenly. We shared some feta parcel cigars drizzled in honey, followed by super-tender octopus alongside a plum tomato salad. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the fresh spritz cocktails we had to wash it down! I’d definitely recommend this place if you’re in Lisbon – though do book a table or else you might have to wait quite a long time to be seated.
The only drawback about Javá is that because it’s so popular on TikTok, it attracts lots of tourists. It therefore doesn’t have that authentic Portuguese feel to it. If you want to stick to restaurants where the locals would go, I'd avoid this one.
Ice Cream & Sweet Treats:
Sabini
This ice cream parlour had a lovely selection of flavours – hidden in metal tubs as opposed to being on display. This meant it took me longer to decide. I went for salted caramel and strawberry – the latter of which was especially good! The guy serving us said they only make strawberry ice cream when the fruit is in season, and you could tell from how fresh it tasted. Definitely get this flavour if they have it when you're there.
Gelato Davvero
The branch of Delato Davvero we visited was in the Time Out Market – meaning we knew it was going to be good before ordering! Again, the flavours were listed on a board instead of being on display in a cabinet. This seemed to be quite common in Lisbon. I had salted caramel (no surprises there) and Georgie had strawberry again. This was my favourite ice cream I had during our trip. The consistency was smooth, and the flavour was delicious.
Manteigaria (pastel de nata)
For our pastel de nata-trying experience, we went to the highly recommended Manteigaria, which is again in the Time Out Market. I’ve not had many of these tarts in my lifetime, but I can confirm this one was incredible. It was still warm from the oven, and the custard was perfectly soft and yet still held its own. The pastry was also flakey and crisp, and there were subtle hints of cinnamon running through. I’d heard this was one of the best pastel de natas in Lisbon, and I can definitely see why.
I hope you can tell from reading this that Lisbon has it all – sun, sea, good food, lovely architecture. This is probably why it's attracting so many people of late! I'm going to end by sharing my three top tips for visiting Lisbon, just in case you're planning a trip or have added it to your travel bucket list:
Research and book restaurants before you arrive
The restaurant scene is booming in Lisbon, and we found that many of the places that are highly recommended get booked up well in advance. To avoid disappointment, do your research before you travel and get a few locked in the diary.
Make the most of public transport
Walking around Lisbon in the heat will be exhausting, as it's very hilly. Make the most of the cheap and easy public transport methods – and be sure to get on one of the city's iconic trams at some point!
Wear comfortable and grippy shoes
I've already mentioned that you'll likely do a lot of walking up and down hills when visiting Lisbon, but there's another challenge to contend with as well: the slippery tiles. It's beautiful being surrounded by ceramics, but sometimes, the ones under your feet will be so worn down the surface will be quite slippery. Grippy shoes should help.
Thanks for reading!
Estelle xo
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