Portugal Blog

We took the train from Porto to Lisbon but only had one full day in Lisbon. This was because our second day in the area was being used for a day trip. We wanted to see as much of Lisbon as we could during our one day in Lisbon, and a tuk tuk tour was the best way to do so. But first, we needed a quick bite to eat. Dallas Burgers was convenient since it was right down the street from our hotel, so we decided to go there. It was better than some American burgers I’ve had. We went here twice because it was just that good!

We booked the Lisbon Historical Private Tuk Tuk Tour through GetYourGuide. Our driver was extremely animated and I didn’t know if I would survive this level of excitement for 3 hours, but the tour was great! The only con was that we weren’t able to see the Alfama district because we were visiting during a holiday in the city and the traffic was too bad to get there. However, we were able to see most of the other landmarks. I would definitely recommend doing this tour the first day you’re in Lisbon to gain an understanding on the lay of the land. It’s a better option than the hop on hop off bus in my opinion because the tuk tuk is smaller and can navigate the roads easier to get you closer to the sights. If you take the tour we did, and your guide offers to get off at Pasteis de Belem, don’t pass it up. The guides can skip the line and the pastries are worth it! These were the best pastel de natas I had while in Portugal. But make sure to try some of their other pastries as well. They’re equally as delicious.

Later that night, we headed to Seen Rooftop Restaurant in the Hotel Tivoli. I loved the vibe here, and we decided to share the famous lobster pasta that they serve here. This dish was 164 euros, so very pricey. If you enjoy seafood, this pasta surely lives up to the five star price. And two people can share it because it’s a large portion.

When we left the restaurant, there was a parade going on because of the holiday. We walked along the main road to see the festivities, but it seemed to be more of one of those things that you had to understand what the holiday was about to really get it. We had an early start the next morning, so we headed back to the hotel.

The next morning, we headed to our meetup spot for our tour to Sintra/Pena Palace, Regaleira, & Caiscais. I would definitely recommend a tour guide for Peña Palace. We wanted to take the earliest tour we possibly could so we chose the 8:30am bus tour. When we got there, the crowds were already piling in. And when we were leaving, it was even more crowded. So I would recommend taking the earliest possible tour for the best experience while you’re there. Once we left Pena Palace, our bus took us to Regaleira. This is where you will see the very tall well that you see in all of the pictures. It was very cool to see in person. I really enjoyed the grounds at this site! The last stop on our tour was Caiscais. We didn’t have much time here, so we just found a restaurant by the beach and ordered a few drinks. We were there in early June and the water was still really cold, so we weren’t interested in going in the water.

The best tip I can give you for Lisbon is the videos that you see on social media about the hills are not an exaggeration. They are brutal and can be super steep! This is not a city that is meant for travelers with mobility issues. If you can manage the hills, Lisbon will reward you though. It was beautiful and the food was also great!

In the next blog, we will end our Portugal vacation in the coastal city of Lagos in the Algarve.