In this blogpost we are visiting Lisbon, the capital and largest city of Portugal, home to around 3 million people within the metropolis. At the very bottom of this post you will find our YouTube video from Lisbon. The city has a major international airport just a 20 minutes taxi ride from the city center.
Lisbon is one of the oldest cities of the world and is known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and lively culture. Set along the scenic Tagus River, it features picturesque neighborhoods like Bairro Alto, with narrow streets and colorful buildings. Lisbon’s blend of traditional Fado music, delicious cuisine, and sunny weather makes it a popular destination. The city’s unique charm combines old-world beauty with a modern, cosmopolitan vibe.
1. Torre de Belém
The Torre de Belém is a historic fortress, built in the early 16th century. Overlooking the Tagus River, this UNESCO World Heritage site once guarded the city’s harbor. Its distinctive Manueline architecture features ornate details, making it an iconic symbol of Portugal’s maritime past.
We are here in the middle of the summer and it’s really hot with around 33 degrees centigrade. We rented some electric scooters making it a fun and less hot experience. Because next up we are going to the Monument to the Discoveries, about 800 meters away.
The Monument is an iconic tribute to the Age of Exploration. Built in 1960, it commemorates the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator, a key figure in Portugal’s maritime expansion. The monument stands 52 meters tall, shaped like a ship’s prow, with sculptures of explorers, scientists, and missionaries who played significant roles in Portugal’s global ventures. It’s a powerful symbol of Portugal’s rich seafaring history and contributions to world exploration.
2. A Merendinha do Arco Bandeira
An authentic, traditional restaurant in the heart of Lisbon! The food here was delicious, with good prices, especially considering the prime location and high quality of the dishes.
The menu features traditional fish and meat dishes like grilled sardines and black pork bbq with rice. We got served home made bread and a Portuguese beer. We ordered this octopus salad. And grilled mixed fish with potatoes. There is red snapper in there together with sea bass and a grilled sardine.
A great meal, excellent service and ambiance. The bill came to 42 euros.
3. Rua Augusta
We go for a stroll along the main street in the Baixa neighbourhood. Rua Augusta is a lively and historic pedestrian street in the heart of Lisbon. Stretching from the grand Praça do Comércio to Rossio Square, it is lined with elegant shops, cafés, and restaurants, making it a popular spot to visit. At the bottom of the street is the impressive Rua Augusta Arch.
It symbolises the rebirth of a new Lisbon after the tragedy of the earthquake, fire and tsunami in 1755 that razed what stood before. And it affirms, in Latin, “The Virtues of the Greatest”: the strength, resilience and achievements of the Portuguese people.
4. Pasteis de Belem
Pesteis de Belem is the original recipe to the world famous Pasteis de nata.
Since the opening of Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém, the original recipe that inspired pasteis de nata varieties is kept in a secret room. The Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém is, therefore, the only place on earth that produces the original pastry that inspired many variations commonly known as “Pastéis de nata”.
We tried a few different shops like this one, located very close by. I have to say they were equally good and much less busy. I good alternative if you don’t like busy shops.
This shop called Fabrica da Nata is located on the Rua Augusta street that I showed you earlier. Also this one was excellent and you can see the whole process how they make them as well.
5. Ponto Final
To get to our next stop, we will have to travel across the 25th of April bridge to the Almada district. If you think it looks familiar to the Golden Gate bridge, you are right. It’s painted in the same International Orange colour as the Golden Gate bridge. It has a similar design to the San Franscisco Bay Bridge and was built by the same American company.
We are on our way to a unique restaurant. It was definitely a bit tricky to find. A charming traditional portugese restaurant in a unique environment. We went during lunchtime without a reservation and managed to get a table quite quickly but it is definitely recommended to make a reservation. We started off with an icecold Portuguese beer which tasted great during this hot day. Some bread, a side salad and this very tasty tomato rice soup. And of course we had try to try the baked cod with potatoes and orange – a really classic portugese dish.
Very good food, affordable prices and great service.
6. The Sanctuary of Christ the King
It is a Catholic monument and shrine dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ overlooking the city of Lisbon situated in the Almada district. It was inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, after the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon visited that monument. The project was inaugurated on 17 May 1959. The giant statue was erected to express gratitude because the Portuguese were spared the direct destructive effects of World War II.
7. Fado Performance
It’s now 9 o’ clock in the evening and we have arrived to the popular Bairro Alto district. The plan is to see a live Fado performance. Fado is a traditional Portuguese music style that carries a rich heritage of storytelling and emotional depth. Rooted in the bustling urban life of Lisbon in the 1820s, Fado channels the heart and soul of Portugal into deeply emotive tunes.
The genre is noted for its expressive and profoundly mournful music, characterized by melancholic melodies and narratives of longing, hope, passion, and tragedy, often about the sea or the life of the poor.
The word ‘Fado’ itself means ‘fate’ in Portuguese, indicating the music’s themes of destiny, melancholy, and resignation to life’s hardships.
This was the first place we visited, called Tasca da tia Macheta.
We got hooked on this music, so we visited a second place. Maybe even slightly better. This one is called Tasca do Chico.
That’s all from Lisbon! I hope you have found some inspiration from this blogpost. Don’t miss our next post, where we leave the bustling city of Lisbon and drive west to the relaxing city of Cascais!
Our YouTube video from Lisbon:
