Duration: 3.5 days, 3 nights

Country: Portugal

Budget: $350

Miles Traveled: 775

Portugal is one of the most visited countries in the world. Lisbon is the hilly, coastal capital city filled with a rich history that will appeal to history buffs and catch the attention of those with basic knowledge of historical facts. Architectural lovers will enjoy the different styles found within the city and the different patterns of the colorful tiles will catch anyone’s eye.

Visiting Lisbon during the summer is peak tourist season, but you will find that Lisbon is still a great time to visit even during the winter months. There are less crowds and the Mediterranean climate offers plenty of sunshine, but you still might need to wear a jacket.

You will find that different barrios (neighborhoods) have different vibes. No matter your interests, you will find a barrio that will appeal to you. Barrios Alto, Alfama, Chiado, are the most well-known. Plentiful options for shopping, museums, UNESCO world heritage sites (Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery), and amazing food are found within the barrios of Lisbon.

Whether it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner there were plentiful food options to try. The colorful bakeries were filled with many options. You MUST try the Pastéis de Nata (egg custard tarts). Almost every bakery sells a version of that pastry. I still dream about them! For lunch or dinner, you can choose from freshly caught fish, sizzling steak, or various vegan options. Thinking about a side of potatoes that I had one evening makes my mouth water.

My advice to everyone trying to navigate the city: use public transportation. Upon arrival in Lisbon, I wanted to see as much as I could and believed the best way to do so was to walk everywhere. I was wrong. The steep hills and stairways are no joke. By the end of my first day my legs were cramping. Unless you are certain that the direction to your destination is flat, please use the metro, bus, the famous yellow tram, or tuk tuks to navigate the narrow and steep streets.

Day 3

I took in the views of Parque Eduardo VII, a sloped park with a a great city view all the way down to the water. I honestly just walked around to see what different streets looked like and what shops they had. 

I also visited Mercado de Santa Clara, which is an open air flea market that is only open on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It is also called the Thieves market, because items that were stolen the previous night was sold at the market the next day. Antiques to souvenirs, it has something for everyone.