The prettiest neighbourhoods in Lisbon

Lisbon was one of the nicest surprises in my traveler history: I fell head over heels for the narrow, labyrinthic streets, the old trams and some of the prettiest views a city has to offer!

A day-long layover on the way to NYC gave me the chance to revisit Portugal’s capital after a solo-trip in the cold of February 2015. More than 3 years later, the charm of Lisbon still has wrapped me around its finger and sparkled my motivation to do a more detailed roundup (with some updated photos) about one of the most beautiful European cities imo. So here’s my personal Lisbon neighbourhood guide:

1. Baixa/Chiado

The actual downtown of Lisbon is the commercial centre of the city with the highest density of shops, cafés and restaurants. Due to it’s central location and as a transportation hub, it’s always been my preferred base for my Lisbon explorations. Some of the largest city squares like Rossio and Praça do Comércio can be found in the downtown area as well as the Elevador de Santo Justa which connects the lower streets with the higher levels.

From Praça do Comércio you’ll get an uninterrupted view of the Tagus (Tejo) River and the 2 kilometre long suspension bridge Ponte 25 de Abril.

A sweet cherry liqueur called Ginja is the weakness of many locals who shamelessly drink a shot or two during all times of the day. Who can blame them, after all, the liqueur goes down easily and costs only a little over a Euro 😛 These tiny Ginja bars are mostly only hole-in-the-walls on the streets like A Ginjinha – extremely popular not even since it’s been featured at one of Anthony Bourdain’s episodes and conveniently located behind Praça Rossio.

Just as sinful as the liqueur and yellow like Lisbon’s trams are the heavenly-delicious custard tarts Pasteis de Nata. They are Portugals signature dessert, highly addictive and can be found pretty much anywhere. They are soooo good!

2. Alfama

No question, Alfama is the most photogenic neighbourhood and feels very different from the perfectly-manicured Baixa: The houses often could need some fixings and the vintage trams somehow make their way up through the narrow, steep streets while most cars are parked in an adventurous manner. The former neighbourhood of the poor has recently been rediscovered by visitors and locals alike and the traditional charm of Alfama is highly appreciated today.

Alfama is also known to be the home of the Fado – Portugal’s melancholic folk music that not only inspires musicians but street artists alike.

While the hilly terrain in Lisbon can be quite challenging for long city walks, you’ll be rewarded with some of the most breathtaking vistas! Lisbon in general and Alfama in particular have countless observation platforms like Miradouro de Santa Luzia. They’re all public and free!

Another impressive viewpoint is Miradouro de Graça, from where you can see pretty every famous landmark of Lisbon, including the bridge, São Jorge Castle and the ruins of Carmo Convent. It’s probably my favourite place of all Lisbon!

Every Tuesday and Saturday there’s Lisbon’s largest flea market Feira da Ladra selling everything from clothes, books, antiques, CD’s and art. A popular souvenir are the colourful Azulejos – the typical tiles that decorate so many facades in Lisbon. However, don’t expect them to be “real”, most tiles on sale are made for the souvenir market (which serve their purpose perfectly).

3. Belém

If you’re looking for Lisbon’s most historic attractions (and UNESCO World Heritage sites), you can’t miss the picturesque district of Belém in the Western part of the city: It hosts the Jerónimos Monastery, a gigantic Gothic structure with incredible details and arches. You can easily spend half a day there exploring the exhibitions and impressive interiors and exteriors. Find more visitor information here.

A short walk from the Monastery takes you to another UNESCO site, right by the Tagus River: The Belém Tower has played an important role in Portuguese history since the early 16th century and is a beautiful example of Portuguese-Gothic architecture. Last but not least, you shouldn’t miss to grab a few Pasteis at Pasteis de Belém, probably Lisbon’s most famous pastry shop!

4. Eating and drinking

While I could survive on Pasteis de Nata entirely, I almost forced myself to bring more change into my diet: And that’s certainly a good idea because Lisbon has an amazing variety of restaurants that caters to every palate. Here’s just a small excerpt of the places that stayed in my mind.

Nicolau Lisboa

Nice atmosphere, healthy options and central location – that’s what makes Nicolau Lisboa a perfect breakfast and/or coffee spot!

Time Out Mercado da Ribeira

The first address for foodies, Mercado da Ribeira is a giant food court and market serving everything from Portuguese tapas, pizza, sushi and burgers but the focus on Portuguese delicacies is pretty obvious. A great place to taste your way through!

O Eurico

While Lisbon has its fair share of fine dining, international cuisine and hip cafés, all I wanted was a hearty, local meal in a rustic restaurants where locals meet at their lunch break. And here I found what I was looking for: O Eurico is a no-thrills, traditional bistro – loud and tight – yet cozy. For a real taste of Portugal there’s no way around Bacalhau – dried and salted codfish – and this restaurants serves the country’s national dish Bacalhau with eggs and potatoes in giant portions. Yes, that meal is a filling as it sounds, so come hungry 😉

5. Where to stay

While hotels are relatively inexpensive in Lisbon, I still prefer hostels when I travel solo. I was very pleased about the excellent location, courteous staff and clean rooms at We Love F Tourists that definitely provided a more pleasant hostel experience than I was used to. Every stay comes with complimentary breakfast and for those who want more privacy, they also offer private double rooms! You can book the hostel here.A

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