Where the Tagus River flows overland into the Atlantic Ocean, it is precisely in this inlet that Lisbon was built. Strategically, this was a perfect location and has made Lisbon a lively trading city with beautiful historic sights, charming neighborhoods and bustling markets. It is also the city of fado, sardines, Portuguese colorful tiles and the famous and delicious egg tart 'Pastel de nata'... we want to go back...!

Our highlights

We spent 2 days in Lisbon, mainly did everything on foot, but we also used the bus and taxi.

Day 1: 

⭐ Feira da Ladra (9)

⭐ Museo Nacional do Azulejo or National Tile Museum (10)

⭐ Passeio das Tágides (11)

🥗 The delicious cuisine of Lisbon 

🎵 Fado, the Lisbon blues 

Day 1

1. Torre de Belém

Built in the 16th century as a fortress to defend the city, this iconic monument is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 'must-visit' for history lovers, like us. At the top of the tower, you have a beautiful view of the river and the surrounding landscape.

Torre de Belém, highly recommended, especially when the sun started to shine. 

2. Jerónimos Monastery: a testament to Portugal's Golden Age

Our next stop, and close by the 'Torre de Belėm, was the beautiful Jerónimos Monastery. This monastery is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, and basically a testament to Portugal's golden age of discovery. 

Built in the Manueline style, this architectural masterpiece features intricate stone carvings, beautiful cloisters, and a serene atmosphere that transports visitors back in time. One of the most beautiful monasteries we have ever seen.

3. The Padrão dos Descobrimentos

Close to the monastery, is 'The Padrão dos Descobrimentos' or the 'Monument to the Discoveries'. It is established in honor of the Portuguese explorers who explored the world in the 15th and 16th centuries. The structure is 52 meters high and has the shape of a ship with billowing sails. The bow features 33 prominent figures from Portuguese history. Impressive. 

4. Ponte de 25 de Abril

After our visit to the monastery, we had lunch and walked further to the 'The Ponte de 25 de Abril' (1966), which completely spans the Tagus, is a 'look-alike' of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The bridge connects Lisbon with the bustling suburb of Almada and serves as a symbol of Portugal's transition to democracy. Very special is the 'Christ the King' statue in the background (on the other side of the bridge in the Almada district), which is a 'look-alike' of the Christ statue in Rio de Jainero. Here, along the banks of the Tagus, we sat for a while and enjoyed the beautiful view.

5. Elevator de Santa Justa

Since the day was almost over, we decided to continue walking to Bairro Alto. We wanted to have dinner in this area, but before choosing a restaurant, we decided to quickly walk past 'The Elevador de Santa Justa', located in the Baixa district, which borders the Bairro Alto district. This striking 45-meter high building connects Santa Justa Street to Carmo Square. It is a major tourist attraction in the city. The elevator is a design by Raul Mesnier de Ponsard. Construction started in 1900 and was completed in 1902. The construction is entirely made of iron and decorated all around with neo-Gothic figures. We didn't go in, but we were able to take a few pictures.

6. Bohemian neighborhood Bairro Alto 

We must say, the late afternoon is the probably best time of day to visit the lively Bohemian district 'Bairro Alto'. We wandered through narrow cobbled streets lined with cozy cafes and vintage boutiques. We ate between the locals and enjoyed live (fado) music and delicious food under the beautiful sunset. We walked back to the hotel, close to Torre de Belém and took some pics from 'The Golden Gate Bridge' and The Monument to the Discoveries by night. Let's call it a day!

Day 2

7. Castelo de São Jorge

8. The iconic yellow 'Tram 28'

9. Feira da Ladra

After lunch, we walked (about 20 minutes) to the oldest flea market in Lisbon, Feira da Ladra. We strolled among the atmospheric stalls full of vintage clothing, antiques, handmade earthenware and carpets and quirky souvenirs, in search of that one unique find. With some 'haggling' it became a beautiful bowl. This market is also part of Lisbon's rich cultural heritage. We love it.

10. Museo Nacional do Azulejo

From the market, we continued on foot again (about 20 minutes) to our next stop: National Tile Museum. We happen to love these Portuguese tiles! So we were very looking forward to this highlight. The museum gave us an insight into the rich history of Portuguese tile production; from intricate azulejos adorning the walls to beautiful designs in vibrant colors, what a beautiful, traditional craft. Too many picts ;-) 

We were feeling a bit hungry and decided to have a coffee with a pastel de nata before going further. So good.

11. Passeio das Tágides

We decided to end our second (and unfortunately last) day at the Passeio das Tágides. From the Tile Museum, we hopped on the bus towards Parque Das Naçōes and got off at the Passeio das Tágides, a waterfront boulevard. We had heard that you can eat and drink fantastic here. And so it was. A nice bonus, you get a fantastic view of the Tagus River. We treated ourselves to a fantastic plate of fresh sardines and a delicious, traditional Portuguese wine. We stayed here until the late hours and took a taxi back to the hotel.