portugal

Welcome to Lisbon, where history, culture, and culinary delights await at every turn. Let’s explore this vibrant city together, discovering its hidden gems and iconic landmarks along the way. I had the opportunity to head back to Lisbon in March of 2024. The first time I went was in the fall of 2022 and it was for a travel nannying gig. Since I was working, I did not explore as much of Lisbon as I had hoped. Despite that, I was SO grateful to head back and have one of the BEST trips ever! Read more for inspiration, tips, and places to visit for your future trip to Lisbon’s capital! Day 1: Immerse Yourself in Lisbon’s Charm If you are traveling on a budget, getting from Lisbon airport to the city center is a breeze. The metro station is right at the exit of the airport and all the stops are clearly labeled. You can tap your credit card when using public transportation making it super quick and easy to use. Home Lisbon Hostel is the perfect home away from home. It was a little difficult to find, but once you buzz in, you go to the second floor and into the lobby to check-in. If you arrive early, they have an open luggage room for you to leave your things. This hostel is truly the best in Lisbon and is perfectly located in the heart of Lisbon.  Once your things are dropped off, I advise you to wander around Lisbon. The energy in the air is intoxicating and it makes walking around all the more exciting. Our first destination was the Arco da Rua Augusta. This is the main square of Lisbon and is a very popular spot for tourists. We ended up eating at Squisito which had views of the Arc and the infamous statue, Praça do Comércio, in the center. This was a perfect spot for a bite to eat in the heart of the city. Afterward, I advise you to wander through the lively streets, exploring the quaint souvenir shops and soaking in the vibrant atmosphere. Don’t miss the opportunity to marvel at the architectural splendor of Arco da Rua Augusta and stroll down the famed Pink Street, where colorful umbrellas adorn the sky. This is an iconic spot in Lisbon, but note that it is fairly underwhelming. There are very few rows of umbrellas and there are restaurants on both sides of the umbrellas. When the restaurants are busy, it is difficult to take good pictures as people are constantly passing through.  The Time Out Market is another must-go spot. This market is filled with every type of food you can imagine. The first thing we tried was the famous Pastéis de Natas which were incredible. We also tried the croquettes. I, of course, had to indulge in gelato afterward as I always have a sweet tooth.  We ended up eating dinner at Home Lisbon Hostel which I advise if you decide to stay there. Mamma’s kitchen is in the kitchen of the hostel. It is clearly labeled as her area and it is where she cooks the meals. Mamma, the matriarch and culinary genius of the house, plays an integral role in making your stay unforgettable.  Mamma isn’t just any chef; she’s the mother of the hostel’s owner, bringing her warmth and passion to cooking every meal. With a heart as big as her pots, she’s been delighting family and friends with her delectable and nutritious dishes for years. I had the opportunity to meet Mamma and she really lightened up the room and made it feel like a big family dinner. This was a really authentic and cultural experience. After dinner, immerse yourself in Lisbon’s vibrant nightlife scene with a bar crawl. The hostel hosts a bar crawl that is only available if you decide to stay there, but we opted to do a tour that we booked through Expedia.  The bar crawl was worth the price and it was nice meeting people from all over the world. With the Expedia Pub Crawl Lisbon, you go to three bars and one nightclub. You receive two welcome shots from two bars and then you have an hour of unlimited beer and sangria which was a fantastic bang for your buck. The host did arrange drinking games and beer pong, but we did not participate in them as we were chit-chatting. Lastly, you get V.I.P. entrance to the nightclub which is nice as there is generally a cover. If you want to explore the party scene in Lisbon and are not sure where to go, a pub crawl is a nice way to see a variety of areas and places Day 2: Discover Lisbon’s Hidden Treasures Start your day with a delicious breakfast at Dear Breakfast. If you know you are going there, I advise you to make reservations as we had to wait 30 minutes for a table. The menu was incredible and they had a fantastic brunch option where you could taste a little bit of everything (IT WAS FANTASTIC!). You can get a coffee/tea, granola, an egg or pancake meal, a smoothie or juice, and a croissant. It was the perfect mix of everything! After breakfast, hop aboard the iconic pink bus 760. The public transportation system is easy to navigate and use. We opted to use cash. The LX Factory is a creative hub filled with charming boutiques and quirky shops. This was a super cool area and we spent most of the day here. From book shops to rooftop bars to cinnamon rolls, there is a ton to do here. We loved the LX rooftop bar as you had wonderful views and the vibes were incredible. There are a lot of fantastic food options here so you can’t go wrong. Plan some time here to see everything!  Since we were there in March, the weather was unpredictable. It rained for a good portion of our trip. We had decided