Summer 2022 was one for the books! I visited three new cities located in two very different countries. Although summer is over, bookmark this post for a late summer visit or a future trip to Europe. I did a 4 day solo trip to Lisbon after spending 4 days in Porto. Although Lisbon has a different vibe to Porto, it is definitely not a city you should skip out on! Let’s get into Part 2 of my Portuguese adventures. Be sure to check out all my travel guides from the last six years in the Travel category of the blog.
COVID MEASURES IN LISBON
Although most of Europe have lifted all their restrictions, Portugal is one of the few that has Covid measures in place (23rd June 2022). A mask is required on planes, airports and all forms of public transport including Ubers, Bolts and regular taxis. You don’t need to wear a mask to enter indoor and outdoor establishments. I kept a mask and antibacterial with me at all times. (All COVID restrictions have been lifted in Portugal (31st August 2022)).
BEST TIME TO GO TO LISBON
To avoid crowds, the best time to go to Lisbon is during the off-peak seasons between March to May and September to October. It will be warm, hotel rates will most likely be cheaper and you’ll be able to have some beach days with less crowds. I went at the start of summer and it was packed! The weather was hot due to the heatwave and it stayed around 30 degrees Celsius during my stay.
GETTING TO LISBON
From Porto (Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport), it’s about an hour by plane and three hours by train. If you are flying from Geneva, it will take roughly 2hr 30 minutes. I recommend flying out midweek and the earliest flight possible so you’ll arrive during the daylight. One thing that I don’t like doing on a solo trip is flying into a country at night. I find it uncomfortable to navigate and prefer to be in hotel or place of accommodation when the sun is out. With the rise of flight tickets, I suggest buying your tickets as early as possible.
WHERE TO STAY
There are a wide range of hotels in Lisbon within all budget ranges. I book all my hotel stays through Booking.com and get additional discounts through their Genius programme. (I recommend downloading the app to get the occasional mobile discount too!). Eco-hotels and boutique hotels are my favourite places to stay. I find that it is more intimate and a different experience.
Inspira Liberdade Boutique Hotel was the hotel I stayed at. I extended my trip by a day and they were accommodating. It’s a four star hotel close to the centre of the city. There was a spa, a fitness centre and a rooftop bar. Unfortunately, I was not able to enjoy the other facilities. The room was cozy and had a feng shui vibe. My favourite part was the bathroom because the walls of the shower were clear. All the products were made from sustainable materials and there were tips provided so I could do my part for the environment.
Here is a list of other hotels that were potentials:
WHERE TO EAT
For a capital city, I was slightly disappointed with the food in Lisbon. I was expecting something more vibrant as I had just left Porto but I didn’t get that feeling at all. One thing I recommend all travellers to eat in Lisbon is Pastel de Nata (a Portuguese famous pastry – add cinnamon, trust me! ). I inhaled around 2 to 3 a day of these, they are that addictive! Although, I didn’t enjoy the food scene as much in Lisbon (could have been because I unconsciously was suffering from COVID), there are some good spots to go to. Here are some brunch spots and restaurants that were on my list that I didn’t have an opportunity to try out:
Dear Breakfast for Nordic breakfast foods all day
Casa do Alentejo – I recommend booking in advance
WHAT TO DO & SEE
Take a day trip to Sintra, Pena Palace and Cabo da Roca – It’s about 30 to 40 minutes away from Lisbon. I took a guided tour with GetYourGuide and they handled the transportation there and back from.
Visit Belem for an afternoon – I wanted to be as active as possible on this trip so I took a scenic bike ride from downtown Lisbon, through the marina to Belem.
Pastéis de Belém bakery – While you are in Belem, make sure to stop over here. The lines are extremely long but to avoid the queue, opt to be seated inside to enjoy the sweetness of the pastry without rushing.
Time Out Market Lisboa – A huge food hall with over 25 restaurants, a cooking academy, a shop to buy Portuguese products, a bar etc.
Visit the Alfama district and listen to Fado music
Go to Red Frog Speakeasy for some cocktails. I recommend booking in advance.
WHAT TO WEAR
Lisbon was so much hotter than Porto. While I was there, the temperature was in the high 20s to low 30s and it was humid. I recommend wearing something that covers your shoulders to protect your skin from the sun. I burnt my shoulder despite wearing sunscreen. Make sure to pack a hat, sunglasses and a pair of trainers. Lisbon is extremely hilly (it has seven hills I believe) and cobbled stones everywhere. Heels were not made for this city.
This was one holiday that I was not ready to leave! I hope to visit Lisbon again sometime in the future and other Portuguese cities. Check out my TikTok for more content from this holiday and my Instagram highlights! If you have visited Lisbon and have any recommendations, please drop them below in the comments. I’d love for this post to become a resource for you.
Until next time,
Folakemi
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