Here are some ideas and tips for Lisbon
beyond the famous tour sites. Keep in mind if you do choose the
famous sites you may stand in line for several hours to get in. If
you are staying in the flat area of Lisbon (Parque das Nacoes) and
you want to go to Belem it will take 45 minutes by taxi or 1 ½ to 2
hours by public transit.
Taxi
Prices are very inexpensive and you
will find them clean, safe and anyone in hotels, shops or restaurants
can call you a taxi.
Tuk-Tuk's are all over the city. There
is no need to book in advance, just talk to them and agree on a price
for the time and places you want to go.
English
You will not have many issues with the
language because most people in the tourist industry, restaurants,
and shops speak either a little or fluent English. If they don't,
they will find someone who does to help you.
Toilets
Casa de Banho (baan yo) ? They will
know you are asking for the bathroom. If you are near shops that
sell snacks, coffee, drinks, just go in and buy a coffee or water or
something and use the bathroom. Otherwise you may have to pay .50 or
1 Euro to use the public restroom.
Coffee
In most cafes the price of an espresso
is between .50 and 1 Euro. The coffee culture in Portugal is
strongly rooted and they have delicious beans. However, if you like
Starbucks there are 8 spread throughout Lisbon. Portuguese coffee
shops do not do latte art or have syrups.
Breakfast
There are not many restaurants that
serve a British or American breakfast. Cafes have pastry, rolls,
bread and all types of lovely goodies anytime of the day. It would
be wise to have a breakfast at your hotel before heading out if they
offer it.
The Metro
The trains are clean and on time by a
couple of minutes of their schedule. The stops are all over the city
and there are customer service windows with a person to help you get
your swipe card (Viva Viagem Card) You tap in and tap out.
Going outside of Lisbon by train
If you are going to be here for a
couple of days it is very easy to see sites outside of Lisbon. The
country is small. The trains are clean and easy and there are always
taxis at the stations. By the high speed train Alfa Pendular you can
get from Lisboa to:
Porto 2 hrs 35 minutes
Fatima 1 hr 10 minutes (Intercidades
train)
Coimbra 1 hr 30 minutes
Evora 1 hr 30 minutes (Intercidades train)
Evora 1 hr 30 minutes (Intercidades train)
Castles of Portugal
Pork
Portugal does pork extremely well.
Porco preto or Iberian Pork (black pork) and is very famous and only
available in Portugal and in some parts of Spain.
Wine
Portuguese wines are delicious and
inexpensive. If you like port, I would suggest picking up a bottle
of Tawny Port 20 years or older of any brand. We have had 20 and 40
year old Tawny Port. If you take a bottle on the ship once it is
gone you will wish you bought another one!
Easy Walking
The flattest area in Lisbon is in the
Parque das Nacoes area. There you will find the Vasco da Gama Mall
with good food choices on the 3rd floor, shops and a very
large grocery store on the bottom level. We recommend the restaurant
called La Parrilla. They cook porco preto ribs (Black Iberian Pork)
while you wait, it comes with fries, salad and a drink. They will
give you a beeper and you can grab a table outside or inside while
you wait. It is worth it! Here is their menu.
https://www.zomato.com/grande-lisboa/la-parrilla-parque-das-na%C3%A7%C3%B5es-lisboa/menu
The National Tile Museum
It costs 5.00 Euros entry. It is not
on the tours for ships so you will not feel crowded. Take your time
and explore the large building and have some food and coffee at the
cafe in the building. You will be seeing tiles over 2,000 years old!
Remember, they are all hand painted. We stayed over 3 hours!
Lisbon Winery
Try some Portugal wines, cheeses and
cured meats. Stop in for a glass and a bite or book a wine tasting.
Time Out Market
The food at any of the spots inside are
all good because this place is the love of chefs from around the
city. It will be loud but you will not be disappointed.
Butchers Steak House
Is located in the flat part of the city
in the Parque das Nacoes walking distance from the Vasco da Gama
Mall. This was one of the best steaks we have ever had.
Pizzeria Casanova Restaurant
It is located right next to the cruise
ship dock. We arrived just before lunch and the doors where still
closed but locals were lined up waiting for them to open. We were
one of the first in the door and by the time we were finished with
our meal, the place was packed and there was a line outside waiting
to get in. We had Wood Fired Prosciutto and Mushroom Pizza and the
Tenderloin with mustard sauce and rocket. It was amazing!
Google Maps
For the flattest area of Lisbon is in
Parque das Nacoes. I think most of you probably know how to use
Google Street View, but if not, open the map and drag the little man
in the lower right corner and drop him on any blue line. We use
street view during our research before we visit a city and when we
get there it feels nicely familiar. You can see how flat and easy
the area is.
Vasco da Gama Mall
Hotel Ibis Lisboa Parque das Nacoes
Myriad Hotel
The green strip you see on the map is
flat walking next to the river
Park Jardim do Passeio
North of the Myriad hotel is a pretty
park with flat walking next to the river
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jardim+do+Passeio+dos+Her%C3%B3is+do+Mar,+Portugal/@38.7790198,-9.0963064,15.73z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1sHotels!3m4!1s0xd1931f235ac0047:0xd5539259b035e641!8m2!3d38.7828843!4d-9.0927073
Butchers Restaurant
Casino Lisboa
Lisbon Oceanarium
