Portugal : Lisbon & The Algarve
Lisbon
Lisbon definitely took the spot as my favorite trip of this year as the Portuguese capital offers a blend of stunning unique architecture, culture and affordability. All of the Uber and Bolt rides were super cheap, most of ours were around 5 euros. Yet getting a car around was a necessity at times as Lisbon is also a very hilly terrain, but the walking efforts were often rewarded with breathtaking views. Nearly every restaurant we went to had yummy food, no matter the type of cuisine as well. We would recommend staying in the Bairro Alto neighborhood which had a lot of cute shops, restaurants and look out points but did not feel touristy yet was still central. Overall, Lisbon is a must-see city as I am already planning for my next chance to visit.
Restaurants
Java Rooftop
Java Rooftop
Java Rooftop
Java Rooftop
Java Rooftop
This rooftop gem definitely delivers. Whether you are looking for chill drinks or a yummy dinner, Java offers both. If you do stay for dinner, we recommend making a reservation in advance and ordering the feta cigars, lamb dishes, and the bread pudding for a sweet finale to your meal (when it comes out the staff light it on fire!). With
This rooftop gem definitely delivers. Whether you are looking for chill drinks or a yummy dinner, Java offers both. If you do stay for dinner, we recommend making a reservation in advance and ordering the feta cigars, lamb dishes, and the bread pudding for a sweet finale to your meal (when it comes out the staff light it on fire!). With the great panoramic views of the city and the waterfront, Java was one of the all around best experiences in Lisbon.
Java Rooftop
Honest Greens
Honest Greens
Honest Greens
Honest Greens
Honest Greens
If you're craving a salad or just a nutritious quick meal head to one of Honest Greens' conveniently scattered locations around Lisbon. We came here for breakfast, and were pleasantly surprised by the variety of food and drinks they offered. Honest Greens offers a variety of fresh salads, juices and healthy meals/snacks for every dietary
If you're craving a salad or just a nutritious quick meal head to one of Honest Greens' conveniently scattered locations around Lisbon. We came here for breakfast, and were pleasantly surprised by the variety of food and drinks they offered. Honest Greens offers a variety of fresh salads, juices and healthy meals/snacks for every dietary preference. I ordered an overnight oats bowl with protein and it was delicious and kept me full for awhile. The atmosphere is very casual and welcoming so its perfect for a quick meal.
JAC
JAC is a hidden gem that shouldn't be missed, especially if you are already staying in the Bairro Alto area. This unassuming eatery offers a straightforward yet thoughtfully crafted brunch and breakfast menu that. With some highlights including the açaí bowls, fresh juices and pancakes, JAC's simple fare is anything but ordinary.
Izanagi
Tucked along the vibrant stripe of Rua dos Bacalhoeiros, Izanagi offers an intimate waterfront dining experience. Izanagi had remarkably fresh fish and the sushi and sashimi platter was our personal favorite as it just included everything one craves when thinking of sushi. So, if you are around that marina for a boat tour or looking out at the waterfront and craving some Japanese, Izanagi is a great option.
Tapa Bucho
Tapa Bucho was our favorite tapas restaurant of the whole trip. The entire experience of coming here felt so authentic, the service was fast and we enjoyed all of our dishes. It is located in Bairro Alto and the line to get in gets very busy so we recommend getting there right when the restaurant opens if you dont have a reservation which is what we did.
Activities
Irmao Beach Club
If you are looking for a beach escape close to the city, Irmao Beach Club is a short 20 minute drive outside of central Lisbon. The beach club offers chairs for 25 euros, but since we had four people in our group we decided to get a cabana which was 70 euros for the day but could fit up to 6 people. It has a very relaxed, and not crowded atmosphere which is ideal for laidback beach time. The lunch, pictured above, was also phenomenal specifically the pizzas. The beach is all around just gorgeous although the water was quite cold and the entire experience definitely didn’t feel like we were just 20 minutes away from Lisbon.
Sunset Boat Tour
Doing a sunset boat tour around Lisbon was definitely a highlight of our trip and a great way to spend our last night. We booked our tour through GetYourGuide and it was a few hours with complimentary drinks and snacks and just 40 euros. If you are going on one of these boat trips though, we would recommend dressing warmly and bringing a sweater or jacket as it gets quite cold on the water.
Day Trip from Lisbon : Sintra!
Sintra
While we also heard that CaisCais is a good option for a day trip out of Lisbon, Sintra’s rich history and variety of interesting activities for the day did not disappoint. It was such a unique and picturesque location with amazing views and it was about a 45 minute Uber ride out of Lisbon’s city centre. We walked everywhere in SIntra but heard that taking a Tuk Tuk around was a good alternative as well. To avoid lines while there be sure to buy all tickets online and plan your day in advance. We started at the Pena Palace which was adorned with colorful tiles and exquisitely decorated rooms. This was also where the Portuguese royal family used to spend their summers so it was fun to imagine them living there.
Afterwards, visit Quinta da Regaleira which really transcends you back in time. These grounds have various different sites and buildings to see so if you are wanting to you could spend up to a few hours here, but the unique highlight of it all was the Initiation Well. If you are in Sintra be sure to wander around this area.
Nightlife
Pensao Amor :
While Lisbon's rowdy Pink Street is lined with tourist traps, Pensao Amor stood out as an authentic and quirky gem. This trendy yet unpretentious bar offers a lively night out with an eclectic mix of cozy lounge areas and DJ sets starting after 11pm. It had a lot of impressive drinks and ample room for hanging out and dancing. The crowd was a mix of students, adults and even influencers (we saw Silvana here).
Music Box - We kept the party going after Pensao Amor and went to Music Box which is also on Pink Street. We went around 12:30 on a Monday night and it was packed with lots of good dancing music and definitely had a student vibe. Be sure not to get there too early as we went at 12:00 the night after and it was empty. There was also a cool dive bar with live music directly across from the venue so if you are looking to kill time, we would recommend you stop in there for a drink and some music. Overall, Music Box played well known American hits and we definitely recommend going if you are with a group looking for a rowdy night out.
K Urban Club - Although this club was in a very random neighborhood (definitely do not come or leave alone) it was still so much fun and we ended up staying here until sun rise. It was a massive venue, with pools and a huge dance floor and terrace, and was right on the water. The one complaint we have was that they make you get a “K Urban Card” in order to buy drinks so you have to put money on that card and then use it to buy your drinks. It was really annoying and didn’t make much sense but we still had a really fun time. When we went my friend and I didn’t have to pay a cover but some of our other friends payed 10 euros for entry so I think it varies depending on the group size and who is in the group (girls pay less than boys).
The Algarve
The Algarve was a relaxing and beautiful place to visit. We took a 3 hour train from Lisbon to Faro which was easy and about 80 euros roundtrip. We made the mistake of staying in Faro, which to our surprise was more of a city than a beach town as it is also 15 minutes away from any beach (we would also recommend staying away from Albufeira). A great alternative would be to stay in Lagos which is just so picturesque and where this photo was taken. We felt very safe everywhere we went in The Algarve, but definitely keep your guard up. A daytime activity that you absolutely must do if you are in the algarve is to go to Praia da Marinha. It got a little crowded by mid afternoon but it was the most stunning beach I had ever been to and if you go through a cave at the beginning of the beach it leads you to a more quite area to swim and tan. There are also hiking trails at the top of the cliffs which we hiked for 30 minutes to the cute beach town of Benagil after we were done with the beach. We were able to get an Uber from there but the entire experience was unforgettable. Overall, when going to The Algarve be very careful when choosing what area you will stay in because while it is all very affordable there are very “hit or miss” places.
(8 Tapas Restaurant, Faro)
(Rua Ten Valadim, Faro)