One of the main gateways to Portugal , Lisbon We love the smallest details. In addition to the nickname capital of the country, the city is also a gastronomic and cultural capital – just wander through the streets here to notice the bold architecture, the historic buildings and the aromas that come out of its numerous kitchens.
With 544 thousand inhabitants and more than 2.8 million people in its metropolitan area, Lisbon pulse history which is well preserved and blends in a unique way with modernity.
Darling of Brazilians in Europe, the capital was at the top of Brazilian travelers’ searches for destinations last year. It is not by chance that the ease of language, cultural ties and landscapes that the country and the city are seductive.
I’ve been to Lisbon a few times and, on all occasions, I’m still amazed by the possibilities it offers us. It’s like repeating the dose the first time I set foot in the city. And while filming fourth season of CNN Travel & Gastronomy in PortugalI could feel that little taste again.
Why visit Lisbon
Your gastronomic scene is one of the best in the world, with award-winning restaurants with traditional and bold cuisines, its hotel structure is beyond exquisite, with luxurious hotels with impeccable services and, of course, its historic-cultural heritage is maddening, with monuments even listed as UNESCO world heritage sites.
Therefore, apart from the more traditional tours that must be included in the itinerary, such as São Jorge Castle and Praça do Comércio, there are still regions and neighborhoods that concentrate various cultural events, such as the emblematic Chiado and the Príncipe Real neighborhood – the latter has stood out in the scene cool of the city.
So, in addition to the attractions themselves, the path also matters: the tip is explore various corners of Lisbon on foot and also by cable car , which here are yellow and known as the Lisbon trams. In operation since the 19th century, in 1900 they started to be electric and today there are five lines – in addition to two tourist lines – that pass through the main points of the Portuguese capital.
And in the middle of the tours, why not make a gastronomic stop? Lisbon is synonymous with fresh seafood, fish, meat, sausages and, of course, plenty of beer and wine.. Generous dishes and typical delicacies can be found around the city – just talking about it makes my mouth water!
So, due to the size of Lisbon and its numerous attractions, I always recommend staying in the city for at least a week. So, calmly and organized, I say that it is possible to get to know different neighborhoods, try different flavors and return home with the desire to repeat the dose!
Emblematic points of the city
Like every big city and capital, some tourist spots should be on the basic itinerary. They are monuments, avenues, historical and typical buildings that give us a better idea of what was and what is Lisbon . To begin with, the Sao Jorge’s Castle is always on top of what to see and do around here.
Open to the public seven days a week, the castle refers to an ancient fortress built by Muslims. Here, we have a lot to go through: there are 11 towers and several walls and stairs, and it takes disposition. There is also an archaeological site, a permanent exhibition and viewpoints.
Every effort is worth it: built on the highest hill in the historic center, expect breathtaking views of the city and the estuary of the Tagus River. Tickets cost between €5 and €10.
Another Lisbon postcard is the Belém Tower , built in the early 16th century on the right bank of the Tagus River – and erected precisely to control the arrival of those who came by water. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of the city’s identity, it is an incredible testimony to times gone by.
There is the high tower and the bastion, two structures that impose themselves together in the landscape. If from the outside it is already quite a symbol, its interior does not disappoint either: enter and discover the various floors of the Tower and be enchanted by the view of the Tagus from above. The regular ticket costs €6.
Taking advantage of your visit to the Tower, be sure to discover other iconic spots in the same neighborhood that are within walking distance. There is the Jerónimos Monastery , one of the maximum representatives of the Manueline style. A masterpiece of Portuguese architecture, it is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was built from the 16th century onwards – dragging on for many, many years.
Its exterior, facade, windows and columns deserve several clicks and give us an idea about the time of discoveries. It’s one of Lisbon’s must-do programs! Tickets cost around €10.
Speaking of Belém, a gastronomic delicacy stands out in the region: the famous and original pastel de Belém. The original store, the Pastéis de Belém , is located on Rua de Belém and started making the candy in 1837 following an old recipe from the Jerónimos Monastery. It’s a real – and legitimate! – trip to one of the traditional flavors of Portugal.
It is the only place where the pastéizinhos, in fact, can be called “de Belém” – the rest, which there is not much difference in flavor and ingredients, should be named as pastéis de nata. The delicacies cost an average of €1.10 and there is usually a line outside the house.
Other points to visit in the city include the Monastery of Sao Vicente de Fora in Largo de São Vicente, which carries a centuries-old history and has a patio, museum and visits that show us majestic details of the rooms – bold furniture, paintings and architecture.
Finally, at some point it is certain that we will come face to face with the Liberty avenue a 1.1 km long and 90 m wide street that concentrates luxury shops, public walkways and gardens – some of the best restaurants in town, like Seen, Jncquoi and Yakuza by Olivier are located here. The grand avenue is impressive and was built in 1886 mirroring the famous boulevards from Paris – any resemblance is no coincidence!
Unmissable downtown areas
wheezing
It is one of the most special corners of all of Lisbon: traditional, emblematic, elegant and historic are just some of the attributes that the neighborhood carries. Located between Bairro Alto and downtown Lisbon, Chiado is like a Lisbon corner full of mansions, cafes, restaurants and theaters.
Here, once again, we have a taste of an old Lisbon that reminds us of literature, as the place was a stronghold of poets, writers, artists and intellectuals in the capital’s heyday. Today, one of the liveliest places in the entire city, in the 1980s it suffered from decay and a fire devastated much of the region. The neighborhood was then revitalized and is currently one of the favorite destinations for us tourists.
THE Luís de Camões Square is in the heart of the neighborhood and contains a statue of Luís de Camões, a 16th century Portuguese writer and author of “Os Lusíadas”. Here, the tip is to glimpse a little bit of everything, but if you want to narrow down the tour a little more, it’s also worth it.
Want museum? go to Carmo Convent (open from Monday to Saturday for €5) and see the ruins of the convent caused by the earthquake that struck the city in 1755, or take a trip to the Chiado Museum of Contemporary Art a historic building that houses works of art by the best-known national artists from the late 19th and 20th centuries (admission costs €4.50).
Want to see beautiful works that give a taste of the past? The choice may be Sao Carlos Theater , the capital’s main opera house, opened in 1793 with a neoclassical facade and offering guided tours; or even the Church of San Roque which began to be built in the 16th century and was the first belonging to the Society of Jesus in the country.
Do you want to end your visit with privileged views of the city and the sunset? O Santa Catarina viewpoint it is the stop for beautiful photographs and contemplation.
Here, don’t forget to stop by Garrett Street one of the best known in Chiado and famous for being home to Bertrand Bookstore taken as the oldest working bookstore in the world – in addition to the books, the bookstore itself carries a great historical narrative.
Selling books since 1732, the place was an intellectual stronghold – Eça de Queiroz was one of the regulars, for example – and today has seven rooms with the names of important authors. The stop is also strategic, as it has a café and a corridor, which connects the rooms with paintings that narrate the history of the place.
downtown Lisbon
Speaking of squares, they are one of the riches of the city: towards the Tagus, already at the downtown level, is the magnificent Commerce Square near Chiado.
It’s basically one of Lisbon’s top postcards – unmissable to visit and contemplate – and is next to the Tagus. Its size also surprises us, since it is 36 thousand m² – one of the largest in all of Europe. Residence of King Manuel I from the 16th century, the 1755 earthquake that hit Lisbon destroyed the place.
It was only after the square was rebuilt according to the Marquês de Pombal plan that it ended up becoming one of the most visited and worshiped spots in the capital. In case curiosity arises, the buildings on the square are made up of ministries, government departments, hotels and restaurants – here, by the way, is the Martinho da Arcada, the oldest café in the city that carries a history of more than two centuries.
At one end of the square is the Arc de Triomphe on Rua Augusta , entrance to Baixa and another tourist point that must be visited. THE Augusta Street, a straight and planned line, it is the main commercial route of the historic center here and, right away, reflects its name: it is an imposing and majestic place.
Thus, it connects some of the most traditional points of the region, as well as the D. Pedro IV Square (the famous Rossio) it’s the Santa Justa elevator – super interesting public transport that connects Rua do Ouro and Rua do Carmo to Largo do Carmo. Worth checking out!
Source: CNN Brasil
