Overview
A city that is almost an exact copy of Istanbul. From the moment we landed until we moved on to Porto, we kept catching ourselves saying "wait, are we in Istanbul?" Especially during a company event where we went on a sailing trip on the river, paint the bridge from red to gray and it's basically a Bosphorus cruise. Most of the touristy areas resemble the Taksim-Macka-Besiktas district too. The parts descending toward the center are literally Akaretler hill; the vibe is identical.
What to See
Many people have already made great recommendations, so let me just note the extra highlights we found:
- Castelo de S. Jorge - We watched the sunset here and absolutely loved it. We were lucky enough to catch an incredibly long sunset. Since the castle is close to the sea, the Bosphorus-like view was stunning. Highly recommended.
- Arco da Rua Augusta - Hands down the most impressive historical structure we saw in the city. Mesmerizing architecture.
- Igreja de Sao Vicente de Fora and Panteao Nacional - Two places we forgot to add to our itinerary. We only noticed them while admiring the view from the castle and could only see them from the outside at night. Photos suggest the interiors are beautiful too; worth a visit.
- Sintra - Absolutely phenomenal. We did a day trip but in hindsight I'd stay at least one night and spend two full days there. There's so much to see, and spending an evening in that mystical historic atmosphere would be something special. Quinta da Regaleira (especially the Poco Iniciatico inside) and Parque e Palacio Nacional da Pena are the two must-sees. We also managed to visit Parque e Palacio de Monserrate - the building itself isn't extraordinary, but the gardens are absolutely worth it, with enormous and gorgeous plants and trees. Uber is widely used and genuinely cheap, so you can comfortably ride between these spots.
Food & Drink
- Nata pastries - Over our 8-day Portugal trip, we probably tried nata from about 10 different places. It's a truly original flavor that never gets old. The best one by far was at Pasteis de Belem. The place is famous for a reason, don't skip it.
- We stumbled into a wine shop at a market-like spot. So glad we did. They occasionally open incredibly aged Port wines and sell them by the glass. We tasted a Port wine from 1878, normally a 1,000-euro bottle that you'd probably never get to try, for 70 euros a glass. Seventy euros for a single glass is still steep, but being able to do this at all is priceless. If you're a wine lover, tasting something from the 1800s that has survived to the present day is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
- Ginginha - A local sour cherry liqueur unique to the area. The flavor is decent, but one place had an amazing presentation: first they pour it into bitter chocolate shot glasses, you do a shot, then another round with a slightly different version, and then you eat the chocolate glasses themselves. They also offer you cherries that have been soaking in ginginha. A unique experience. The place was Ginginha do Carmo.
Tips & Advice
- The airport and train station were calm. Especially the train station, entry and exit are super easy; arriving 10-15 minutes before your train is more than enough.
- City traffic can get jammed occasionally and traffic lights cause extra delays. Whatever Uber or Google Maps shows as the arrival time, always add 10-15 minutes. I never once saw it be accurate.
- For sunset spots, there are many options recommended by others, but the castle worked perfectly for us.