I wasn't sure what to expect from Lisbon after spending so much time in Porto. Because it is the capital of Portugal, I knew it was going to be very touristy, but what I didn't expect was how beautiful the all of the surrounding areas were going to be. Sintra, which lies just outside of the city, has forever kept a piece of my heart. After Athens, Lisbon is the capital city that has been around for the longest. It was first ruled by the Romans, Germans, and Arabs before 1147 when Portuguese crusaders finally conquered it. However, it’s been an economic, political and cultural center for so long that it never really got officially confirmed as Portugal’s capital city. It’s by default and convention that it’s become so! This city provides excellent quality food, great accommodation, and nightlife for a fraction of the cost of some of Europe’s other capital cities. It makes a great European budget holiday destination! There is definitely a lot going on in this city in terms of things to do and places to see. Below I will provide a few tips for making the best out of your trip to Lisbon! ACCOMMODATION IN lisbon5 ESTRELAS NA QUINTA GRANDE Location: Rua Beatriz Costa 12 - 3.º Esq. Alfragide, 2610-195 Amadora, Portugal Cost: Two bedroom apartment starts at $83.00 per night Hours: check in time is after 4:00 p.m. Website: https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/alves-apartment.tl.html TOP PLACES TO EAT IN lisbonOne of my top 5 favorite meals of all time took place during my visit to Lisbon. Depending on where you looked you could find some great deals for food here. Lisbon also has some awesome bakeries where you can purchase both savory and sweet food at a fraction of the restaurant cost. Of course, you can eat at any time you like, but the usual time to eat in Lisbon is later, which is not typical for any American. Bars and restaurants won’t be too busy until 9 or even 10 pm. The food in Lisbon is a delight, ranging from Michelin star restaurants to local eateries. Below I will provide a few of my top choices - some that I actually did eat at, and others that were highly recommended by other travel bloggers. TOP THINGS TO DO & SEE IN lisbonLisbon is unlike any other European capital that I've visited. Although its lively and busy, the rhythm of life is somehow slower. It is a vibrant city filled with endless activities and numerous sights to see. Although it is visited by an ever-increasing number of tourists, it still boasts tons of character and uniqueness. If you have the chance, I would highly recommend participating in a free walking tour - but make sure you do your research because some companies are WAY better and more informative than others. Lisbon is like a playground for adults, with a lot to do and unique experiences to have. By far the best way to explore Lisbon is to walk. Despite being hilly (and yes, it can be very tiring) the city is full of hidden gems that will surprise you at every turn. Whether its magnificent views, little shops, or just amazing street art, you'll never find it unless you're walking. Below I will provide some recommendations for nightlife, day-time explorations, and of course activities during your stay in Lisbon! DAY TRIP TO fatimaHOW TO GET TO FATIMA: Most visitors start in Lisbon, which is located about 125 km away from Fatima. By car from Lisbon airport, it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The highway between the two cities is of good quality and relatively safe. Rental cars are available at the airport or other places in Lisbon, but they are not by any means cheap, especially if you are from out of the country. It is possible to reach Fatima by train, however, the closest train station to Fatima is Caxarias and is still a good 10 km away. Twelve trains run daily from Lisbon to Caxarias and the journey takes about 2.5 hours and costs about €5.70 one way. The easiest and most efficient way to get to Fatima is by coach bus. You have to go to the central bus station located in Sete-Rios. You can either take a taxi to the station or take the Metro. The bus station is located right across from the station once you arrive. There are a ton of companies that will take you to Fatima for about €11.00 per person. The one we used is called 'Rede Expressos.' Buses leave for Fatima hourly from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The ride is about 90 minutes and drops you off relatively close to the shrine. Make sure you ask the driver because most likely there will not be any type of announcements made at the stop, and if you miss it, you will end up in Porto. WHERE TO EAT IN FATIMA: Since I only spent less than 6 hours in Fatima, there was only one place we stopped to eat at - and it did not disappoint AT ALL! Because Fatima is such a small place, I was actually surprised to see how many restaurants and eateries they had available. They are not all great food options though, and most of them are foolishly expensive because it does cater mostly to tourists. Restaurant O Pereira was literally a hidden gem located among all the other restaurants along the busy street of Avenida Beato Nuno. Unfortunately, because we happened to be visiting during the 100th anniversary celebration of Fatima, there were waits outside of just about every restaurant in town. Luckily, we didn't have to wait longer than 30 minutes for outside seating. This lovely restaurant falls within my top 5 of all time in Portugal. The food was so delicious and the serving sizes were very generous. I would highly recommend eating here if you have a chance. WHAT TO DO AND SEE IN FATIMA: The primary building at the shrine is the Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima, a gleaming Neoclassical church. Its slender central spire rises 65 meters high. The church overlooks a large open plaza, the center of which is occupied by a Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The monument stands over a spring that was discovered there and was, according to the shrine, “the instrument of many graces.” Guards at the basilica doors may stop visitors who are not suitably dressed, which means general modesty, no shorts on men, and skirts or dresses on women. Inside, there are 15 altars dedicated to the 15 mysteries of the rosary as well as the tombs of the young visionaries, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto. The other main stop for pilgrims to Fatima is the Chapel of Apparitions, an open-air chapel built on the site of the appearances. It is open year-round for regular services. Inside the modern chapel is a single white column over the site of a small oak tree over which the Virgin Mary appeared on May 13, 1917. Near the entrance to the sanctuary by the rectory is a Berlin Wall Monument, containing a 5,732-pound chunk of the wall – a memorial of God’s intervention in bringing down Communism, as promised at Fatima. A particularly popular site is the Hungarian Stations of the Cross, consisting of 14 little chapels leading along 3 km of inclined stone walkways to a marble monument of Christ on the cross. There are many little shops near Fátima where you can buy fine linen, tapestry, embroidery, clothes and gift of many things other than religious souvenir items. DAY TRIP TO sintraHOW TO GET TO SINTRA: If you only have one day to visit Sintra, one of the best ways to do it is by taking a day trip from Lisbon. It’s incredibly easy and relatively cheap to do Sintra without using a tour company because they have a great and accessible transport system. You will need to get to Rossio train station and hop on a train that leaves regularly to Sintra. It's a local suburban line and the return trip will cost you less than 5 euros. Once you arrive in Sintra at the train platform, the town is literally right there. They provide numerous options for transportation around Sintra such as bicycles (not recommended) electric cars, hop on and off buses, local buses, taxis, and Ubers. I would recommend doing the hop on hop off bus because it takes you to all of the popular tourist destinations all within 2 hours, and it only costs about 18,00 per person for an adult ticket. WHERE TO EAT IN SINTRA: Since I only spent a day in Sintra, I was only able to eat at one restaurant. But, I can assure you, this one restaurant was more than worth it, considering it has made it into my top 5 all time favorite eateries in Portugal. I've already mentioned it above, but APEADEIRO is absolutely worth visiting if you get the chance. There are many options to choose from when it comes to finding good food in Sintra. I can't really say that I had any type of bad food in this lovely country. Although I didn't experience a variety of places firsthand, there are a few restaurants worth mentioning that have been highly recommended by other travel bloggers. Below I will provide a few of these places along with a link. WHAT TO DO AND SEE IN SINTRA:
Once upon a time, I fell in love. Not with a person, not with a thing. But I fell in love with a place, and this fairytale-like place is known as Sintra. Out of all the countries I've been to, and out of the all the cities I've seen, this beautiful majestic place is my all time favorite. I can't really pin point just one reason, because although I only spent a short day here, I didn't want to leave. From the castles, to the lighthouses, to the FOOD, this place really just had it all. Sintra is a popular day trip from Lisbon, but there is so much to see and do in Sintra that you can easily spend a few days in this area. Below I will provide a suggested list of places to visit during your time in Sintra.
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AuthorWest Coast blogger with a love for traveling and adventure seeking. Archives
July 2018
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