4 Days in Lisbon: A Perfect Blend of History and Modernity

Arriving in Lisbon, the first thing to do is check into your hotel and then grab a local Bifana and Portuguese beer. The combination of the thinly sliced pork sandwich with a beer is a great introduction to the culture and street food of Lisbon. I recommend going to “O Trevo” or simply any local small family owned shop for the best and most authentic experience. After you are fed, walk or take a cable car tram known as an “elétrico” to the center of the city. The best way to acclimate yourself to a new city is to simply walk around. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as Lisbon is known as “The City of 7 Hills.” The roads are very narrow compared to other countries such as the United States. The sidewalks are also paved with small flat stones so be careful if it rains as it becomes slippery. After walking around the center of the city and stopping at many of the plazas, it is time to head back to the hotel and get ready for dinner.

Portuguese cuisine involves a lot of seafood. A place I recommend is Cervejaria Ramiro, a famous place known for its fresh seafood yet casual atmosphere. There are also many restaurants that are not seafood restaurants if that is not your style.

After a good night's rest, wake up and have breakfast at the hotel. Make sure to enjoy the Pastel de Nata pastry, a nice crispy outside with a creamy and smooth inside makes for a perfect breakfast treat. Head to the center of the city again and get ready for some walking.

Start at Praça do Comércio, a nice historical square with a statue of King José I. It is directly next to the water and a great place to look out and see the ocean as well as enjoy a small beach.

After taking in the views and some nice pictures head towards Arco da Rua Augusta, a massive archway that will not only lead you to the next landmark but also to a main shopping area. Spend some time and look around at the local craftwork. Many shops will sell Azulejos, which are authentic painted tiles. They are usually small, roughly the width of your hand and individually painted. They are very rich in history and date back to the 8th century Moorish influence on Lisbon. You will see these tiles on many of the old buildings throughout the city as well.

The next stop of your journey requires walking a couple blocks and taking a left onto Rua do Ouro where you will see an old elevator lift. Either take a ride on the lift if the line is not too long or simply walk around it and enjoy the historical feature of engineering while also turning it into a modern purpose of connecting the different levels of Lisbon. After spending some time at the lift, head over to Rossio Square (Praça Dom Pedro IV). It is a great place to appreciate the cobblestone patterns and take in the liveliness of the city. After you are ready, head east on Rua Augusta towards Rua da Madalena. Continue on Rua da Madalena until you reach Largo da Sé. There you will see Sé de Lisboa (Lisbon Cathedral). It is the oldest church in Lisbon and has a lot of historical significance. There is a lot you can do such as visit the museum and enjoy the architecture or even attend mass.

After spending some time at the church, your last stop is Castelo de São Jorge (Saint George's Castle). From the Lisbon Cathedral, continue uphill along Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo for about 600 meters to reach the castle. The castle offers great views of the entire city being on an elevated hill. It features a grand history as well as old castle walls that are able to be traversed. Following the walking journey you have just experienced, enjoy lunch at any of the authentic Portuguese restaurants with many options of pork, beef, or soups as well as tapas or small plates.

After the late lunch, head back to your hotel and enjoy some rest. At around sunset time, head to the Barrio Alto district and enjoy the beginning of the vibrant nightlife or if that is not your thing, head over to the Praça do Comércio and take a seat and enjoy the sunset.

On your third day, make sure you have a fulfilling breakfast for the day ahead of you. Take a tour of Pena Palace. Hop on a tour bus which takes roughly an hour with a reputable guide. You will take an hour-long tour of Pena palace which is extremely beautiful and full of history and culture.

On the way back, stop in Sintra and explore the charming town. Grab a nice sit down lunch at any of the small restaurants and afterwards explore the local markets and the Sintra National Palace.

Head back to Lisbon and go to the Bairro Alto district and sit down and listen to some Fado music with dinner. Enjoy some tapas with Portuguese port wine. Fado is a type of music meant to bring emotions out of its listeners. It is a melancholy and sad genre of music singing about the tragedies of life. It involves a singer with some guitar accompaniments. Even if you do not understand Portuguese, you can feel the passion through the music and intense energy.

For the last day, wake up and head to breakfast nice and early. Enjoy a “bica” or “café pingado” both types of Portuguese coffee with a "pastel de nata." Head over to the western side of Lisbon either by taxi or tram and take a self tour of the Tower of St. Vincent or Belém Tower. Constructed in the 16th century, this tower served as a defensive and observation structure sitting right on and into the water. Explore the walls and spiraling staircases to the large and old limestone tower.

After exploring all of the towers and walls, take a 10-15 minute walk back east to the Monument to the Discoveries. The large statue with multiple figures carved into it standing 171 feet tall is dedicated to the age of discovery and exploration.

After taking some pictures and enjoying the ocean views, walk across the street to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. The Monastery of Jerónimos served as a center of spiritual life and a place of prayer for sailors departing on voyages of discovery and is a center of spiritual and religious history in Lisbon. Enjoy the unique architecture mostly late Gothic and the rounded domes. All the walking will surely make you hungry and therefore your next stop should be Mercado da Ribeira. The lively and famous mostly indoor market has a lot to offer. Many renowned chefs have stalls as well as plenty of fresh food and baked goods being sold. There is a center seating area where anyone can grab a seat and enjoy some Portuguese Vinho Verde or “green wine” made exclusively in Portugal. The wine, although available in red as well, is usually a crisp and light white wine that pairs excellently with a nice pasta or seafood dish.

After having some lunch, walk around the market and enjoy the atmosphere. By now it is close to time for checkout so head back to your hotel and gather your belongings. Head and arrive at the airport 2-3 hours early and reflect on your exciting and enriching adventure in the Portuguese capital.