After our roadtrip to Andalousia and Algarve, I went directly to Lisboa to enjoy three days in this beautiful city. I was staying in Alfama and visited the below part (Baixa) and Bairro Alto, Chiado. The third day I went to Belem to enjoy the fresh air!
Alfama
In 1755 an earthcake happened in the sea, 290km from the city. As it was the 1st of November, a famous catholic day, every candle lightened fell and burnt the most part of Lisboa. Alfama – which was mostly a jewish quarter – is the most authentic place of the city. Here is a labyrinth of streets, far from the straight of the rest of the city! You can enjoy nice points of viewand very cute streets.
Tips:
- If you have time to visit it, I heard the Sao Jorge castle is a must see!
- The best views : Miradouro da Graça, Miradouro Santa Luzia(where you can take a drink).
Also usefull:
- If you are too tired to climb, you can take the Tram 28E that crosses the whole district.
- To stay: San Jordi Hostel
Lower part : Baixa
As you will see the architecture is very new, as everything disappeared in 1755, first because of the earthcake, then the fire, but also the tsunami! On the Rossio place (officially Praça Dom Pedro IV) are drawn the same waves of Copacabana walk : it’s to refer to the water arrived until here. Right behind this place you’ll find what’s famous to be a cursed church : Igreja de Sao Domingo.
In this part of the city – not really the most interesting – you have a lot of administrative buildings, but also shops and restaurants between the square of Figueira and Plaça do comércio.
Tips:
– Museo do dinheiro: It’s optional but interesting
– San Justa lift: Instead of paying 5€ to go to the top, you have a free elevator right behind it, rua do Carmo (hidden in a shop), or you can choose to cross Zara
– Where Most of the Tour for Tips start: Rossio
Chiado
I found this district very dynamic! I visited the ruins of Igreja do Convento de Santa Maria do Carmo transformed into a small egyptian museum with mommies (you also have a light show if you want to visit it by night). With Tour for tips I also entered in Igreja de Sao Roque, famous for its gold (from the colonies). It’s also around this church where people party : the streets are full of bars there!
Belem
As it was very hot, and I already visited all I wanted in the city, I decided to go early to Belem. Sadly, I didn’t have time to visit the 2 places :
Belem’s Tower
To go there: You can take the train from Cais do Sodré or the Tram 15E
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
