We love Lisbon. The food, culture, people, and weather are all reasons to visit this city. We especially like visiting Portugal because the accommodations are cheap for the quality of the space and the food is very inexpensive compared to other European cities. You can find a pint of beer for €2 and have a full course meal including wine for a fraction of the price you would pay in Dublin. More importantly though, the people are what make Portugal a special place to visit. It’s why I keep going back to see more. The locals are easy going and generous with their time and advice.
My first trip to Portugal was about 8 years ago and I’ve been dreaming of returning ever since. I decided to go on a solo European adventure for a few months after college. My first 2 weeks of the trip were spent on a Portuguese farm WWOOFing followed by another week or so in Lisbon and Logos. After my long flight from CA, and what felt like an even longer train ride, I got off the train in the middle of nowhere following my host’s directions. I had a moment of panic, and to be honest, I had several that day, as I looked around and saw no house numbers that I recognized. This was before international phone plans were really a thing and I had no choice but to use my human skills to get to the farm.
My parents were very worried about me taking this trip alone and I found their words of concern and warning slowly creeping in…but, no! I was going to make this trip work. I was determined. I knew I could do this…it wasn’t stubbornness, I really just wanted to see more of the world and nobody was able to join me. I needed to do this before getting locked into a 9-5 job.
I noticed a couple in their front yard and I started walking up to them. To my surprise, I found that they were also walking towards me, probably after witnessing my panic stricken face and overhearing me giving myself a pep talk. We couldn’t understand each other so I pointed to the address with tears in my eyes. The older couple took me by the arm, pointed to the car, and told me to get in. Of course my first thought was not to get in the car with strangers but I really knew I would be okay in that moment. I put my trust in total strangers and to this day their kindness stays with me. The man drove me right to the house, patted me on the shoulder with a big smile and said bye! All of the anxiety and jet lag from traveling alone drained out of me in that moment and I knew my adventure had truly begun. I will always remember that couple and their kindness. Whenever I see a lost tourist I always offer my help and I always try my best to make others feel safe and supported when they are clearly doubting themselves.
So yeah, the reason I will always return to sunny Portugal is the warmth of the people. Traveling with your best friend is so much easier than traveling alone but the experiences of solo travel have really taught me some valuable lessons. While this was my second trip to Lisbon, my experience was completely different. When you have money to spend and an amazing travel companion, there’s really nothing to hold you back.
Where we stayed
We stayed in Alfama, the historical section of the city away from the busy city center. We highly recommend staying in Alfama if you want to get a glimpse into local life. Just think…laundry hanging out of the windows, winding streets, music playing, neighbors chatting with one another. Try to grab a bnb with a view and keep in mind that Alfama is on a hill so you’ll get some workouts in unless you opt for the tram. We didn’t want to wait in line for the tram or pay for it so we walked…a lot! This is the bnb we stayed in that we highly recommend.
How we got around
We took day trips to Belem and Sintra. I would recommend Sintra over Belem if you want to spend some time out of the city to explore a different side of Portugal. We bought a Viva viagem card at the airport and made our way to the city by metro which ended up being handy for the rest of the trip. You can top up anytime at the kiosks for €1.50/hour covering any number of journeys in the hour or a day ticket. We took the metro to Belem and the train from the main station in city center to Sintra.
What we saw
- Castelo de Sao Jorge
- Belem Tower and Monument of the Discoveries
- Sintra; Pena Palace and Park
- Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto, Alfama
Experiences we loved
- Watching a live fado performance at A Baiuca
- Eating pastel de nata and bacalao
- Drinking wine and port
- Walking tour for free (you better tip-don’t be cheap!)
- Checking out the city’s best viewpoints and miradouros
- Visiting XVIII Azulejo & Faianca tile shop
- Enjoying the nightlife; even if you don’t want to go all out it’s fun walking around while enjoying some wine
We took this trip to celebrate Matt’s birthday and Thanksgiving. What are we thankful for? Travel and each other! I’ll just continue daydreaming over here until we return to Portugal.
Comments
Love it!!❤️
I love the story of your first time there ❤️ Adding Lisbon to my list!