Lotsa hills and beautiful views- get the e-bike

✈️ First Take

I love Lisbon. ❤️
We drove in from the Douro Valley, watching the scenery shift from sun-baked countryside to a hilly, tree-lined city shimmering on the Atlantic. About three miles out, the traffic hit- a preview of what was ahead.

Lisbon is packed -over 500,000 people stuffed into a romantic, bustling, ridiculously photogenic city built on hills. Lots. Of. Hills.

Since we were on summer holiday and had rented a car in Porto, we could have used it around town-but we wisely parked it and didn’t touch it for three days. Public transport here is the way to go. The city (Lisboa, same thing) is extremely walkable… if your calves are up for it.

Terraces everywhere, small plates at fair prices, great Portuguese wine, and a laid-back energy. Several friends told me Lisbon is their favorite European city- and I get it. It’s the perfect blend of yesterday and today: beautiful, relaxed, and full of heart.

This one’s special. I’ll be back.

🏨 Where We Stayed

Hotel Britania Art Deco – Lisbon Heritage Collection (Avenida) → total steal. Perfectly located on the edge of everything but just far enough from the chaos.

One street over → the café-filled Rua Augusta, with terraces, shade trees, and an old-school Lisbon vibe. Most big European cities have a similar main drag for t-shirts etc.. This one is a good one,

🤷‍♂️ The Good, The Weird & The WTF

Lisbon may have half a million people, but it feels like a small town. If the city had a facial expression, it would be The Dude-calm, confident, and just rolling with it.

The Gaudi stuff is weird. YEs its classic and famous, to me, its meh. The Sagrada de Familia, looks like he had good drugs, and didn’t share.

Its a very cozy town for being so big. Lots of family-run restaurants, open-air markets, and that southern Iberian warmth.
Compared to Barcelona, Lisbon feels like the older brother-a little more calm. I like it. A lot.

👉 Come on, we’re doing this together

I hope you packed your comfy shoes. Today, you will earn your wine.

AWESOME Bike Tour → We will do this first. Its really top-tier. We saw far more than on foot, covered serious ground, and caught jaw-dropping views from city hilltops. Our guide was most excellent-one of the best tours we’ve taken anywhere.

Alfama → the city’s oldest neighborhood, full of narrow lanes, tiled facades, and the sound of Fado music drifting from cafés. We’ll get one of the street tours- many are done for tips only and are really good. We will hit the easy button with public transport to get there.

🍴 Bite Test

Portuguese food → I’m a bit of a convert here- its simple, lots of fish, beef, and comfort dishes. There are lots of options that were good.
We stuck to small, local spots-simple, fresh, and delicious. We will do the same.

Lunch – Zé da Mouraria → as authentic as it gets. Feels like you’re eating in someone’s house. Chaotic, loud, crazeballs.

Dinner – Grelha do Carmo → authentic, tucked away, and easy to miss if you’re not looking. Huge plates, tasty stuff

Dinner – Cervejaria Liberdade → pricier pick, but excellent seafood. If you want something upscale, this one delivers.

Drinks – SEEN Sky Bar → amazing skyline views and stylish vibes. Let’s grab a drink, take in the sunset, and soak up the city. Just a three-minute walk from our hotel.

Sweet Note → We will eat several Pastel de Natas. You’ll see them everywhere. I do not have, nor do i want to have the willpower to not eat at least 2 a day for the whole trip. Best at the local bakeries nice and warm. It’s a Portuguese national treasure, you’ll know why at first bite.

🚋 The Getting-Around Bit

Easy one- Keep it simple → walk or take public transport.
Lisbon’s tap-in/tap-out system (phone or card) is easy, and the metro runs right through the historic districts.

We had a car since Lisbon was a stop on our three-week Portugal road trip, but once we arrived, we parked it and left it. Didn’t touch it for three days. Perfect.

☀️ Pay attention to this

Heat Management → Lisbon in summer is hot. Lots of trees, which make it bearable, and its on the water, so you do get some breeze. Remember the basics, water, sunscreen, a hat, and light clothes. You’ll do 10k steps before noon-no kidding, and somehow feels uphill both ways.

Shoes → your most comfortable pair, no exceptions. Between the cobblestones and the hills, this city will test your footwear.

🏁 Final Take

I’ve never met someone that didn’t rave on about Lisbon. It is one of those rare cities that checks all the boxes- Good food, wine, culture, fun stuff. I was looking for a really cool analogy to Schrodinger’s Box, but couldn’t make it work- sorry.

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Lisbon-You’ll Earn Your Wine