Romaria de Baco

If you’d rather eat away from the tourist crowds but would prefer not to leave the city center, Romaria de Baco is the perfect spot. Hidden on a side street near the Palácio Nacional de Sintra, it’s mostly known by locals. The food is traditional Portuguese.

Tascantiga is hidden, delicious and has a very authentic vibe. In a nutshell, it’s perfect for everyone. Tapas style & delicious wines.

Piriquita - Founded in 1862, this is undoubtedly one of the most famous pastelarias (pastry shops) in town. Make sure to try the travesseiro and queijada.

Bar do Binho for port wine taste testing. It’s a locals bar, with amazing hospitality. Be prepared to drink, laugh, learn the history of port wine in Portugal.

Baixa and Rossio* - Most tourist-friendly neighborhood, liveliest and most central area where you can find Lisbon’s main landmarks, shopping, and dining opportunities. This is the real Lisbon downtown area. (Very walkable)

Chiado & Barrio Alto* - Lisbon’s bohemian and alternative neighborhood and the most central location. Caters to young crowd/very lively and party scene. Filled with bars, restaurants, cafes, and hostels. (Very walkable)

Avenida da Liberdade - Designer row, 5 Star hotels with lots of high-end stores for shopping (Prada, Gucci, etc)

Alfama - Old town, the authentic fishing neighborhood the most charming and oldest part of Lisbon. The place to go if you want to eat traditional meals accompanied by Fado music. Narrow winding medieval alleys are common in this area. (Very hilly, less walkable)

Cais do Sodre - Like Barrio Alto, this area is a cool neighborhood to go for a beer. The Time Out Market is in this area. It is one of the city’s main food courts that offer everything from traditional meals to trendy treats and bakeries. It is also home to the colorful Pink street, full of bars and restaurants and artistic personalities.

These will be done on the food & bar tour, but in case you can’t attend:

Time Out Market - Food hall located in the Mercado da Riberia at Cais do Sodre. This is where you can find the best of Lisbon under one roof. Be sure to try Pasteis de Nata From Manteigaria, it is €1 each!

Alfama (old town) - One of the oldest district of Lisbon with narrow cobbled streets and ancient houses. Great to wander the narrow streets, seek street art, ride the #28 tram, climb to the top of National Pantheon for a panoramic view over the Lisbon waterfront.

Praça do Comercio (Commerical Square) - The largest of Lison’s plazas with nearby shopping areas and nightlife. Eric & Ashley took a TukTuk ride from here and saw the entire city over a 3 hour tour.

The best meal Ashley claims to ever have was at Ceia — a unique dining experience where 14 guests share the same table and same menu. It’s a once in a lifetime experience (ranked in the world’s 50 best restaurants), doors lock at 8:30, so be timely! The wine pairing is unbeatable. Book well in advance.

Ashley & Eric can’t go a week without Asian food, so this restaurant exceeded expectations. It has amazing shopping at its sister restaurant. If you don’t go for food, be sure to grab a drink.

This Michelin star restaurant was recommended to us countless times — 100 Madeiras has a unique menu that also requires a reservation well in advance.

Another must have for our Mediterranean lovers/vegan friends is Tantura — the chef has you thinking your dining in Israel. Eric & Ashley thought about this meal for about a week after. They recommend doing the chef’s tasting menu.

Arrive at the top of the hill to the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. The garden offers one of the best views over Lisbon and the River. The multiple food trucks and drink stands are open until 2 am, with drinks & a DJ. Across the street, Independente is one of the trendier bars to start your night.

Be sure to check out the views from these roof top bars.

Porto is full of charm with its cobbled-streets and ancient architecture and it is nestled in one of the world’s leading wine regions -- yet it’s still affordable and uncrowded. One of Ashley & Eric’s most memorable day was a wine tour in Douro Valley. It was incredible and a 1000/10 recommendation.

Walk the Dom Luis Bridge and take in the sunset. Bring a bottle of wine :)

Try to hit some of these spots all over the city. We walked over 20,000 steps and 10 miles in one day. Be sure to stop in any local shop for drinks & tapas along the way. Ashley & Eric recommend eating and drinking through the Mercado do Bolhão.

We went to Torto in Porto 3x with our friends—that’s how many times it took to try almost every cocktail on the menu. A MUST do.

Portugal has an advanced train system that is super simple and easy get around. See HERE. The trains have 67 stations and 4 train lines: Sintra Line, Azambuja line, Cascais line and Sado line. I suggest taking the train to get to Cascais/Estorial and Sintra (head to Lisbon and Sintra pages). Eric & Ashley used this and it was less than 3 Euros a ticket and very easy to navigate—the metro ride is 35 minutes each way.

All destinations below are easier to get to by BUS if you did not rent a car.

If you want to visit multiple destinations near Lisbon on a day trip, THIS tour is an excellent choice. It visits Fátima, Batalha, Nazaré and Óbidos in a small group.

Comporta is considered right now THE under-the-radar destination to visit and is often compared to Ibiza, Montauk and Tulum before they became travel hotspots. But in reality Comporta, which is located an hour and 20 minutes from Lisbon, is entirely different than these places. Instead it is a landscape of cork oaks, blustery dunes, sandy beaches and rice paddies. Comporta invites travelers to relish in afternoons that melt into evening.

Known for its beaches, head to Praia da Comporta and if you are thirsty grab a drink at the beach bar.

Praia do Carvalhal has all the unassuming charm, plus the perks of volleyball and massage tents. If the conditions allow, you can even try kitesurfing. Continue south on toward Praia do Pego, where serenity awaits.

If you like boutique shopping, then you are in luck. Check out Loja do Museu do Arroz and Lavanda.

Eat at Ilha do Arroz for breezy vibes and seafood.

Comporta is naturally beautiful, Sado Estuary Natural Reserve is a a 30-acre swoop of protected wetlands.

Stay at Sublime Comporta (https://www.sublimecomporta.pt/) and definitely check out the spa!

For more info check out these articles:

Forbes

CN Traveller

Fun Fact: George Clooney built a mega mansion here!

Surfing big waves put Nazare on the map and it has become one of Portugal’s most famous tourist destinations. The town gets an influx of surfers and spectators from October to February. Nazare is located halfway between Porto and Lisbon, specifically an hour and 30 minutes from Lisbon.

Farol da Nazaré (Lighthouse in Nazaré ): If you watched HBO’s “100 Foot Wave” this lighthouse was the lookout point. In addition to looking out at the ocean’s towering waves you can find the Surfer Wall exhibition and a gallery of surfboards of famed international surfers who have conquered Praia do Norte's swells.

Miradouro do Sítio: A great lookout point of Nazare’s famous beaches

Great Restaurants: Can’t go wrong with Casa Pires, A Tasquinha, and Conchinha da Nazaré

Ericeira is a fishing town turned surfing destination with a relaxed daytime vibe and fun nightlife. It is the perfect day trip, only 40 minutes from Lisbon. Ericeira hasn’t truly been discovered by tourists and provides an authentic Portuguese experience. Marfa is another nearby destination that shares the bus line with Ericeira.

Ericeira was declared a World Surfing Reserve back in 2011 and still remains the only place in Europe acknowledged by the organization. The best surf season is October!

You’ll find the best restaurants in a small square, called Jogo da Bola, surrounded by pastries stores and ice-cream places. Because this is a land of fishermen, don’t forget to try the seafood or the fresh fish. Sea urchins are a delicacy here.

Marfa is another nearby destination that shares the bus line with Ericeira. Head to the National Palace of Mafra. It is a monumental building in the Baroque style, where you will find what is considered to be one of the most beautiful libraries in the world!

Getting There

By CAR: Typically it is 3.5-4 hours from Lisbon, but keep in mind that there can be traffic at times.

By TRAIN- There is a fast train twice-a-day (Alfa Pendular) connects to Faro with stops in Albufeira and Louie around 3 hours. To get to Lagos, get off at Tunes and take regional train into Lagos.

BY BUSES- Many popular resort towns namely Albufeira, Armecao de Pera, Faro, Lagos, and Tavira are a 3-4 hour buss ride depending where final destination is. If you are looking to get to Lagos, train likely the best route!