Lisbon Travel Diary

About a month ago, I traveled to 4 European countries, with Lisbon being my first stop. Since it was my first time in Portugal, I did not know what the country was going to be like and didn’t have any expectations. After spending only a few days between Lisbon and Sintra, I ended up falling in love with all Lisbon and Sintra had to offer. From the colorful/tiled buildings and beautiful ocean views, to the friendly people and delicious custard tarts, Lisbon is at the top of my list for favorite travel destinations. Only a 40-minute train ride away, the city of Sintra is a completely different vibe from Lisbon – a mystical and dreamy place.

Day 1

We took a quick 2-hour flight from the UK to Lisbon and landed in Lisbon’s main airport. From the airport, we took a quick train ride to our Airbnb in Martim Moniz. By the time we settled into the Airbnb it was around 8:00 P.M., so we grabbed a quick bite to eat at a one of the gyro places close by (obsessed with gyros if you couldn’t tell from my Greece Travel Diary) and called it a night.

Day 2

First things first, I did some research to find where we could find the best custard tarts (Pastel de Nata) and coffee close by, and the consensus was SAGA Pastelaria. The cute Portuguese cafe located in Graca, offers a wide array of pastries, coffee, and sandwiches/salads. All of the pastries and sandwiches displayed looked absolutely amazing, but our mission was to find the best custard tarts in Lisbon, so we opted for 2 Pastel de Natas and 2 lattes. This was the first and best custard tart I had while in Lisbon, so if you visit the Graca area I highly recommend visiting SAGA for their delicious food and friendly service.

After inhaling our custard tarts, we headed to Igreja da Sao Vicente de Fora. This historical Monastery, founded by the first Portuguese king in the 12^th century is often overlooked, but was one of my favorite buildings we visited in Lisbon. The building is stunning, with the original cistern and walls beautifully decorated with tiles. Walking through the Monastery, we were in awe by the details that went into designing this building. At the top, you are rewarded with gorgeous views of the city and Tagus River. This is where I first fell in love with Lisbon.

Next, we headed to Castelo de São Jorge, a Moorish Castle with tons of history and beautiful views of Lisbon. After spending about an hour exploring the castle, we worked up quite the appetite and headed to Corvo Azul for lunch. With outstanding service and relaxing ambiance, this restaurant was a break from the crowds, and perfect for a late lunch after a day of exploring in the sun. We had a plate of charcuterie coupled with a couple of glasses of wine.

Day 3

On our last day, we headed to Sintra for the day since we heard amazing things about the city. After a quick 40-minute train ride to the city, we were in Sintra and were greeted by the beautiful scenery which felt like a rainforest more than anything else.

Since we only had a day in Sintra, we wanted to be sure to visit the main attractions. First stop was Quinta de Regaleira. The estate, located in the historic center of Sintra, was one of the most memorable places we visited. While you can tour the inside of the estate for an additional fee, we decided to focus on exploring the palace grounds since we were short on time. From the caves, labyrinth, and gorgeous views at the top of the tower, this place is truly magical.

From Quinta de Regaleira, we headed to another palace, Pena Palace. It’s about 2 miles from the estate and mostly uphill, so I recommend taking an Uber or Tuk Tuk (ours was only 5 euros!).

This formal Royal Residence is truly unique with each room decorated with different tiles and furnishings. The architecture is stunning and detailed. We visited on a particularly foggy day, which added to the mystic/dreamy feel of the castle. If you’re visiting Sintra, make sure to visit Pena Palace, a true gem.

We headed back to Lisbon for dinner at Bota Alta in Barrio Alto. The restaurant is situated in the center of Barrio Alto – a perfect place for dinner/drinks!

The culture and architecture of Lisbon really speaks to me. All in all, I’m happy I got to experience Lisbon and am excited to return!