A city break in Lisbon — More Active Travel

Laneways, stunning plazas and harbour views.

Nestled in the historic laneways of Lisbon are any number of great sights to be seen and restaurants/bars to pass time at. The smallest city streets are just bursting with soul and culture, and even the humble pavements can be beautiful with the intricate tiled designs. The soaring panorama of the harbour - reminiscent of Sydney or San Francisco (although of course chronologically speaking it’s Sydney and San Fran that resemble Lisbon) provides an altogether different backdrop but just as compelling - meaning that several days spent exploring and soaking up the atmosphere will almost certainly be well spent. The city has a number of large and historic plazas which are big landmarks and really atmospheric.

The city can be lovely to explore in the winter (we were there over new year) - especially if the sun is out being outdoors during the day is amazing. However a lot of the buildings are old and don’t have built in central heating so worth wearing some warm clothes when going out to restaurants etc in the winter (most have portable heaters or reverse cycle a/c, but can still be chilly).

Highlights/don’t miss:

When you need a break from walking stop in for drinks, cocktails and/or sharing plates at the bar of the Pharmacy museum (Farmacia), overlooking the harbour (you can’t book, but it is usually only a short wait)
Put your feet up and gaze right out over the water with a cold beer at Quiosque Ribeira das Naus
Check out the many hidden restaurants and wine bars nestled in the laneways of Calçada do Duque near Rossio railway station
A brisk walk up to Castelo de S. Jorge, the historic 11th-century, hilltop Moorish castle is a must do early on in your stay. It offers fantastic views of the city. Buy your ticket before you go to avoid the queue
Stop for wine and tapas at the trendy By the Wine in the Chiado area. Perfect after a day of walking!
For a longer degustation menu with Michelin-starred attention to detail at great value try Restaurant 100 Maneiras (and absolutely go for the wine pairings)
Grab some food at the Time Out Market Lisbon, a food hall located in the Mercado da Ribeira
Buy yourself some well known Pastéis de Nata at Manteigaria
Enjoy a Fado ( traditional musical instrument similar to a guitar + singing ) show in the authentic (but small) Duque da Rua bar
Take a walk along the harbourside at Belém ( 15 min taxi ride from the city) and visit the historic tower there

Hot Tips:

Arrive at the Time Out Market early (it is popular and seats get taken up very quickly)
Get your walking shoes on - its is very possible to walk upwards of 10km each day in Lisbon and there is quite a lot of up/down hill (for the less energetic there is the option of tuk-tuk rides) flat shoes for women are a must for walking
Lisbon has become hugely popular with tourists, in fact one of the fastest growing and largest European city break destinations. So plan ahead and book restaurants to avoid disappointment, especially during key holidays like New Year (which is when we visited)
For the more active Lisbon city centre being very busy can be hard to find good running routes, but try heading up the avenue de Liberdade to the park Amalia Rodrigues which has some great routes (and very hilly!). If you have the time/inclination to get a bit further out from the city centre a run along the harbour side at Belém is amazing