Just like my life back in the US, the quiet destinations have my heart but I am always drawn back to the city. And for me, Lisbon is at the top of my list of big cities. My favorite days are ones with little plan, leaving the house for coffee, walking, stop for lunch, more walking, stop for wine…more walking! Everyday in Lisbon we meandered through the many different neighborhoods getting in 4-6 mile walk. The one we spent the most time in was Bairro Alto known for the cities best restaurants, boutique clothing shops, and lots of history.
Hands down my favorite thing to do (which we did every single day) was walk from our Airbnb in Bairro Alto up to Jardim de São Pedro de Alcântara for sunset. Scattered throughout the city are little kiosks that you can walk up to for a take away coffee, snack, or beer. The kiosk at the Jardim is beautiful with tables, lounge chairs, and umbrellas to sit and watch the sunrise or sunset.
One thing we wanted to make sure we saw while in Lisbon was the Torre de Belém. In the 16th century the tower served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers as well as the ceremonial gateway to Lisbon.
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Sintra
If there is one thing I would recommend the most when traveling to Lisbon, its actually to leave it. Taking the 30 minute trip to Sintra quickly transports from big city to a magical lush green land filled with castles taking you way back in time.Palácio de Pena
This vibrant castle sits on the top of a hill in the Sintra mountains and on a clear day can be seen from Lisbon. It was first constructed as a chapel, the converted into a monastery. After the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755 the majority of it was left to ruins for almost 100 years until King Ferdinand rebuilt it to be a palace that would serve as a summer house for the Portuguese Royal Family.
To get there we hiked almost 7 miles and climbed 71 flights, and it was well worth it. We toured the interior and exterior of the palace as well as the almost 200 acres of gardens.
Quinta de Regaleria
We’re just racking up UNESCO World Heritage sites to our list! And this one…WOW! The romantic palace is surrounded by luxurious gardens and a park with lakes, fountains, and sculptures.
There is also an extensive tunnel system that runs underneath the palace bringing you to caves, waterfalls, and eventually to the Initiation Wells formerly used for Tarot initiation rites.
Now we’re headed to the second largest city in Portugal, Porto! From friends and locals everyone raves about the city and that its a must see so we’re very excited to check it out.
From Abroad With Love – AG
