Lisbon, Portugal is home to scenic streets, a rich history, fabulous weather, and delicious food, making it the perfect city to explore on a long weekend away!
Be a Culture Vulture
The perfect place for a day of exploring, Belem is the setting for many of Lisbon’s most iconic tourist attractions featuring the UNESCO World Heritage site of Torre de Belém, the Jerónimos Monastery and the original Coach Museum. If you are visiting between August and September you’ll be able to catch the Lisboa na Rua festival in a variety of locations. From jazz to Fado, you’ll be able to enjoy free performances in squares, gardens and miradouros across the city.
Explore the Sites
A trip to the beautiful village of Sintra is a must when visiting Lisbon, with it’s stunning castles and ancient palaces the romantic architecture it really is something to behold. From the labyrinth of forested pathways that surround the vibrant Palacio de Pana to the Quinta da Regaleira an extravagant 19th century gothic mansion. If exploring by foot isn’t for you, trams are the ideal way to discover some of Lisbon’s sites. The most popular route is that of the no.28 which runs from Martim Moniz to Campo de Ourique with the option of hopping on and off at any point.
Get your Design on
Housed in a former bank’s headquarters with underground vault and second-floor gallery, Lisbon’s Museum of Design and Fashion – Museu do Design e da Moda – is a must visit for any design lovers, showcasing iconic household design and furniture as well as fashion, footwear and accessories. If your visit leaves you feeling inspired, head beneath the Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge, where this industrial area – once home to Lisbon’s fabric factories now hosts Lisbon’s creative quarter and the LX Factory – filled with cafés, edgy restaurants, bars, art spaces, vintage shops, yoga studios and music venues.
Coffee Stop
No visit to Lisbon is complete without enjoying an obligatory a Pastel de Nata (traditional Portuguese custard tart) and coffee. If you are serious about coffee Fábrica Coffee Roasters is the place to go, with two shops in Lisbon, one just up from Rossio Square, the other a short walk from Cais do Sodré station. If a coffee with a view and great atmosphere is more your ‘cup of coffee’, check out Montana Lisboa Cafe on the banks of the River Tej – perfect for people watching! Alternatively, if a lively spot is what you are seeking, Cafe Tati is the place, with friendly staff, mismatched vintage furniture and live jazz in the evenings.
Retail Therapy
Lisbon is a Mecca for shoppers, with bijou boutiques, vintage outlets, crafts, antiques and a huge flea market – Feira da Ladra – which can be found on the streets that surround The Pantheon every Tuesday and Saturday. If an elegant design shop is what you are after then Stock the Nature is worth a visit. With a plethora of interior design items including ceramics, furniture, lighting and more, you’ll find the store inside the Embaixada shopping centre of the Principe Real district.
Find yourself craving a fashion fix? Well, simply head to one of the Fashion Clinic’s two Lisbon stores, a grand cathedral of designer chic, stocking a wide-range of labels from Burberry Prorsum to Prada and everything in between!