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Roam the world, record the moments, relive the memories!
There are so many beautiful cities in Europe, but Lisbon is definitely one of the best I have visited. It is the oldest city in Western Europe, with incredible historical sights, majestic panoramic views and vintage wooden trams. Lisbon is known as ‘the city of light’, owing to the sunshine which brightens the entire capital, with approximately 220 days of sunlight each year! I flew to Lisbon for a weekend break and carefully planned my trip beforehand, to make the most of my 48 hours there. Is Lisbon on your list of places to visit? Continue reading to see the best that the Portuguese capital has to offer!
The first day in the city should be spent exploring the central neighbourhoods, venturing to the highest points in Lisbon to see the city from above, and riding the famous yellow streetcars.
BOOK: Lisbon Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour or Lisbon City Card
Elevador de Santa Justa is to Lisbon, what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris and what the Acropolis is to Athens. The view from the top of the wrought-iron Elevador de Santa Justa is one of the best the city has to offer. The lift and elevated walkway were originally built to connect the hilly areas of Lisbon.
You can still ride the impressive elevator to this day, up 135ft to the viewing platform, to witness the vast city landscape with it’s pretty red-roofed buildings.
Rossio Square is one of Lisbon’s main plazas and is in a fantastic location, less than a 10-minute walk away from Elevador de Santa Justa. Rossio Square is the perfect photo spot, with its creative tiled floors, a column of King Pedro IV and an impressive fountain.
From Rossio Square, take a walk down the adjacent Rua Augusta where you will arrive at Praca Da Comercio, Lisbon’s main town square. You enter the square by passing through the magnificent Rua Augusta Arch. Praca Da Comercio is a great place to explore the souvenir and boutique shops, watch Lisbon’s famous yellow trams as they rattle their way around the city, and see the Tagus River.
If you are after more breathtaking panoramic views of the city, take a trip up the Rua Augusta Arch. From here, you will be able to see the Tagus River on one side and the beautiful cityscape on the other.
Be sure to explore Lisbon’s seven hills to get a sense of the city’s rich history. Lisbon is a very hilly city so if you want to give your feet a little break, then jump onboard one of the historic colourful trams.
Tram 28 is the most popular route, as it rides through the scenic neighbourhoods of Alfama and Baixa.
You should definitely check out Elevador da Bica. This is one of Lisbon’s best-preserved trams and is a very popular tourist attraction, with everyone wanting to experience riding the special streetcar which climbs up the steepest hill on Rua da Bica de Duarte.
This is one of the most scenic photo spots in Lisbon, with the yellow tram and perfectly framed pastel-coloured buildings, together with the Tagus River in the horizon.
The historic neighbourhood of Belém sits about 7km west of central Lisbon, and it is from this very place that Portuguese explorers set off on their global expeditions.
I was in awe of the architectural marvellry of the UNESCO-listed Jerónimos Monastery. It was built off the coast of the Tagus River in the 15th Century, as this was considered the final opportunity for the sailors to pray for spiritual protection before setting off on their voyages.
The monastery has been well preserved and is a true treasure of the Portuguese exploration era.
Situated on the northern bank of the Tagus River sits the stunning 500-year-old Torre de Belém. It was originally a fortified defence tower and is now also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It was closed at the time I visited but was definitely great to witness one of the country’s most famous architectural monuments from the outside.
A short walk down the riverside from Torre de Belém is the stunning Paros Dos Descobrimentos, otherwise known as the Monument of the Discoveries. It features some of the world’s greatest explorers, such as Vasco de Gama and Ferdinand Magellan.
Whilst in Belém, treat yourself to a delicious custard tart from the country’s most famous bakery, Pastéis de Belém, located next to the Jerónimos Monastery.
The bakery sells approximately 20,000 pastries every day, and the long queues are a testimony to the popularity of these treats with visitors!
What a wonderful place to explore — there is so much history and interesting architecture. Thanks for sharing!
Rakhee says: Definitely! Thanks so much 🙂
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