Lisbon City Guide

After a few trips to Lisbon, I figured it would make sense to try and compile some of my favourite addresses old and new for you to discover. I remember the first time I went there must have been in the mid-nineties with my family. We were on a road trip across the whole of Portugal and we stopped in Lisbon for a few days, following a rather touristy trail that led to many rather comical situations where my dad would start shouting at pickpockets in a mix of English, Portuguese and French aboard the 28 Tram. His wallet remained firmly in his pocket and the trip was great. Fast forward to the late 90’s and I was back in Lisbon, this time with one of my first serious boyfriends at University. He happened to have a good friend living in Lisbon and so we figured we would go spend the Summer there. It was perfect for our students budget and we were able to live like Kings for three weeks. My most vivid memory of that trip, is of us playing “House of the Dead” in an arcade and finishing the entire game for €10. Good times. On that trip, I learned more about the city, I started seeing it with the eyes of a local rather than like a tourist and so I grew to love it more.After those two trips, I didn’t really travel to Portugal much.

Until 2013 when I spent a weekend in Lisbon and the following year when I visited Cascais and Sintra during my stay at the Oitavos. So in February, as half-term loomed and with it the fear of being stuck inside in London with a bored 7 year old, I decided to book a holiday in Lisbon. There are many beautiful hotels in Lisbon including the Four Seasons (my personal favourite) and there are numerous flight options too, including hiring a private jet to get there.

Once in Lisbon, there are so many things to do. This time, I decided to stay in an area I didn’t know so well, opting for somewhere a little more residential and locals-only rather than in the heart of tourist-land like last time (I didn’t enjoy that at all). After a bit of research, I found out about the area called Principe Real, which is a short walk from the centre of town but has a completely different vibe. There is a huge amount of stuff to do locally too: along the Rua da Escola Politécnica you will find museums, gardens, concept-stores, cool bars and restaurants. I will definitely stay in that area again: it is as practical as it is beautiful. Our stay was a mixture of slightly touristy things (I took Mini to the zoo and on a boat tour on the Tajo) and off the beaten path exploration.

When it comes to food, I like to follow recommendations from locals to find more authentic places, or just things that are slightly different. And we did… Oh that we did! I came back a few kilos heavier because of all the delicious food that seemed to pave our way through town. Anyway – this was meant to be a visual diary and here I am, rambling away! I bet you want some addresses, right? Then scroll down!

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Eat 

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Coffee

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Shop

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See

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 Ice cream coloured buildings on rua Comércio