4 days in Lisbon
It was time for another long weekend, but where could I go at the start of February that was a relatively cheap link from Manchester, but also, and more importantly, wasn’t mind numbingly cold - at least to give me some respite.
The answer - Lisbon!
Sure I read there was a chance of rain at this time of year, but it wasn’t too far, was cheap to get to and was, relatively speaking, warm.
Here are some of my top highlights:
Pastel de Nata - Okay, we’ll start with the obvious, Funnily enough, I don’t have any photo’s of them because they never lasted long enough for me to get them in frame. Maybe you can try and get one of these elusive treats on camera. But I highly doubt it! Our favourite was from Fábrica da Nata.
Bars - Lisbon really is a food and drink Mecca. And Bairro Alto is the centre of the drinking Mecca. Here you can wander the streets and take in Fado music, sit outside for a drink, or go partying in one of the many bars on offer.
Sunsets - Lisbon is a city of balconies and vistas. That means lots of steps. But also, amazing views across the city. You can find many a terrace on one of its seven hillsides where you can enjoy a beautiful sunset. Our favourite? Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. Look for the secret terrace bar at the side and enjoy a drink looking over the city.
Sintra - This pops up on any recommendations list, so there’s not much to add here. But make sure to allot plenty of time. It’s a large area with lots to see - we didn’t cover half of it on our visit.
Football - Portugal is a sporting nation with a passion for football. If you’re in town, there’s plenty of opportunity to go and see a game and it’s fairly simple and cheap to get tickets. We bought tickets to a Benfica game on a Sunday evening and there were still plenty of seats available. At 30 euros a ticket for visitors, this is far cheaper than what we’re used to in the UK - considering Benfica are a top team (at the time leading the equivalent of the Premier League). The atmosphere was amazing, as was the stadium and game itself
The Trams - maybe it’s just me, but the trams here look like they’re straight out of a movie set. I still struggle to fathom how they get up the steep streets of Lisbon, but they do - and they do it in style. I wandered around much of the city looking for the best spots to photograph these wonderful machines and after wandering the streets for an hour or so, I found the perfect spot close to the castle. It provided a narrow perspective framing the trams between the classic buildings, with a great backdrop of the cathedral.
The People - the people of Lisbon are friendly and hospitable and as it’s a popular holiday destination - you’ll be surrounded by many holiday makers and travellers who you can share experiences and conversation with. Street photography is a fascination of mine and given the unique mix of people and environment, its clear to see why Lisbon is one of the best cities in Europe for this style.
In the end we had 4 wonderfully warm days filled with fun activity and given the low amount of tourists, I’d say it was one of the best times of year to visit! So don’t be put off by the threat of rain, if you’re lucky you won’t see a drop.
Until next time. Happy Travels.
