Sightseeing
Museo Nacional de Arte Antiga has some masterpieces, including Hieronymus Bosch
Iziko leNkqubo Yezakhiwo Zokugcina
Rua das Janelas VerdesFood scene
Try simple Portuguese cuisine in simple restaurants. Bacalhao (Cod) is typical. Pasteis de bacalhao is very tasty. Pasteis da Nata is the dessert everybody talks about. No need to go to Pasteis de Belem for it, try Fabrika da Nata is is the same.
Good place to have breakfast before visiting the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga. Always fresh bread and pastry, good service, excellent location overseeing historical square. Cozy and local.
41 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
La Boulangerie
42 R. do OlivalGood place to have breakfast before visiting the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga. Always fresh bread and pastry, good service, excellent location overseeing historical square. Cozy and local.
Very very basic, but typical Portuguese and good for lunch or dinner. Local food and wine, always fresh. Friendly, very local. Popular among locals and foreigners.
57 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
O Tachadas
178 Rua da EsperançaVery very basic, but typical Portuguese and good for lunch or dinner. Local food and wine, always fresh. Friendly, very local. Popular among locals and foreigners.
Very very basic but good Portuguese cuisine restaurant. For simple dinner or lunch. Always fresh and good service.
37 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
O Aregos
182 Rua da EsperançaVery very basic but good Portuguese cuisine restaurant. For simple dinner or lunch. Always fresh and good service.
Local market where one can buy fresh fish, meat, fruits. Right next-door is TimeOut market. Timeout would be a good place to eat local food, if it was not so madly overcrowded.
253 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mercado da Ribeira
Rua Ribeira NovaLocal market where one can buy fresh fish, meat, fruits. Right next-door is TimeOut market. Timeout would be a good place to eat local food, if it was not so madly overcrowded.
Garrafeira de Santos
74 R. Santos-O-VelhoGood local wine store
Buy fresh fruits and vegetables here (that have an excellent choice of these always), as well as the basic foods. But for fresh meat or fish go to the proper market (e.g. Ribeira market)
Mercado Santos +++
56 R. Santos-O-VelhoBuy fresh fruits and vegetables here (that have an excellent choice of these always), as well as the basic foods. But for fresh meat or fish go to the proper market (e.g. Ribeira market)
My favorite restaurant. Authentic Japanese cuisine. Excellent sushi and sashimi, excellent service and interior. Try business lunch or dinner (advance reservation is required).
by Koji Lisboa - Picoas
My favorite restaurant. Authentic Japanese cuisine. Excellent sushi and sashimi, excellent service and interior. Try business lunch or dinner (advance reservation is required).
In addition to Boulangerie and Heim Cafe - one more good breakfast place
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mercearia da Mila
38 R. Santos-O-VelhoIn addition to Boulangerie and Heim Cafe - one more good breakfast place
One more breakfast place. I prefer Boulangerie, as Heim Cafe tend to get crowded around 10-11 in the morning.
31 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Heim Cafe
2 e 4 R. Santos-O-VelhoOne more breakfast place. I prefer Boulangerie, as Heim Cafe tend to get crowded around 10-11 in the morning.
Tourist attraction, selling thousands of "Pasteis de Belem" sweet pastry every day. Better to visit at 8 in the morning, before crowds. I would recommend trying besides their Pasteis other things, not sweet, "salgados" incl. samosas, pasteis de bacalhao, etc.
835 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pastéis de Belém
84 R. de BelémTourist attraction, selling thousands of "Pasteis de Belem" sweet pastry every day. Better to visit at 8 in the morning, before crowds. I would recommend trying besides their Pasteis other things, not sweet, "salgados" incl. samosas, pasteis de bacalhao, etc.
Excellent seafood place on the Atlantic coast. We may be able to give you a ride, or make a small tour. Please get in touch with us on this.
30 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Água e Sal
5 Largo do Padre AntónioExcellent seafood place on the Atlantic coast. We may be able to give you a ride, or make a small tour. Please get in touch with us on this.
Shopping
Lisbon is not Milan. Though you find some major brand stores (Prada, Tods, Cartier) on Avenida da Liberdade, I would rather recommend you enjoy the scenery instead.
MUJI
63 e 75 Rua do CarmoExcellent minimalistic Japanese design
SIM card from local provider, as well as electronics, books and tickets can be purchased here
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Armazens do Chiado
Rua do CarmoSIM card from local provider, as well as electronics, books and tickets can be purchased here
Best local glass store - if you want to buy quality souvenirs from Lisbon
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Vista Alegre
20 Largo do ChiadoBest local glass store - if you want to buy quality souvenirs from Lisbon
Amacebiso ngesixeko
Ukuhamba-hamba
Walk or use local tram (it's fun)
Local tram is always fun. Beware of pickpoketers and use Tram 28 early in the morning only, to avoid crowds. Be very careful when it is raining, the sidewalks become slippery.
Izinto omele uzipakishe
Lots of hills in Lisbon, bring comfortable shoes
Beware, stone sidewalks become extremely slippery after rains
Ungaphoswa
Beautiful beaches
Portugal's coastline is very beautiful. Ocean water is cold, but beaches are spectacular. Just drive to Guincho beach near Cascais (or use train - takes 40 min), or drive further to the north to Cabo da Roca, or to the south Cabo Espichel.
Iindlela zokonga
You can have dinner at a local restaurant for 10 EUR
Local restaurants are simple, but fish and meat is tasty and service is good. Just avoid tourist traps in the center. I added some local restaurants in Santos for convenience.
Amabinzana aluncedo
Everyone speaks English
But can always say "obrigado" (if you are male) or "obrigada" (female).
Ungaphoswa
Old city train going trough narrow streets of Alfama
Go early in the morning to avoid tourist crowds
Iindlela zokonga
Don't be afraid of simple local restaurants
There are many simple local restaurants where locals go for lunch or dinner and where the price will not exceed some 15 Euro for a piece of meat or fish (Dorada, Seabass, etc.), soup and glass of wine. Examples near our flat are O Aregos and O Tachadas. But I suggest you avoid tourist traps in central Lisbon.
Ukuhamba-hamba
Secret garden of Museo do Arte Antiga
There are Two (!) gardens near this museum. One right in front of the entrance of the museum. The other one you can enter only through the museum building. You do not need to pay the ticket price, just use the side entrance at Rua das Janelas Verdes and tell them you go to the garden only.
Ukuhamba-hamba
We may give you a little tour to the Atlantic coast
Westernmost point of continental Europe (Cabo da Roca) is some 1 hr. away by car. There are some spectacular beaches (Gunincho, Macas, Ursa) and restaurants on the Atlantic coast.