We’ve finally made our trip to Lisbon, which we’ve always been postponing for months, eager to go! We started to miss this city, which we burned with its complex streets, its crowd reminding Istanbul, and the crazy slopes that caused shocking effects on our lazy body, as we returned, as we returned.
Among you, who set foot in Cuba before and our If you’ve been hit hard enough, you’re likely to have a great love affair with Lisbon, too.. Because, if we put aside the slopes that make people cry, we are sure that you will notice that the city resembles the streets of Havana in places.. Of course, in this similarity, besides the architecture and the palm trees that add extra cuteness to every place it is located, the fact that the problem of “no one stays on the streets after 9pm”, which is experienced in many other European cities, is definitely not experienced in Lisbon, that is another thing.
Early note: While we wrote Lisbon Travel Guide, we touched on the food and drink issue in Lisbon here.
When to Lisbon Where to go?
Determining when to go to Lisbon is actually very easy; when you find cheap tickets! Yes, you may have thought that we were taking a very shallow approach, but we are actually trying to emphasize something else at this point.. No matter what time of the year we are, the weather in Lisbon is somehow always conducive to getting lost in the streets.. However, if we categorize you a little considering that there may be other points you would like to avoid;
For the hottest weather, swimming, plenty of Asian tourists but the most active period in terms of entertainment: June-September
For those who accept the cool period with less tourists, lower hotel prices: October-February
For the period when the weather starts to get better and the tourists don’t get out of hand: March-May
Let’s not forget, if you are going in the interim periods such as spring/autumn, you may be exposed to rain and mud, although the probability of encountering very harsh weather is quite low.. For example, although we wandered around in a very sweet weather with a temperature of 15-18 degrees in November, we had to deal with the rains and winds where we were like sausages.. Therefore, it is a good idea to take something like an umbrella and a raincoat with you.
Lisbon Budget
Lisbon is not an expensive city compared to many European cities.. The “Brother, even water is 10 lira” update in Scandinavia is not used for Portugal, thankfully.. To elaborate a little more on the subject;
Water: around 1 Euro
Coffee in an average place: 1.5-3 Euros
Main meal in an average restaurant: 8-15 Euros
Beer: 1.5-3 Euros
1 bottle of wine in an average restaurant: 9-17 Euros
In addition to this, you can get city passes that make your work easier in many cities for the museums you will visit and the transportation issue.. The version here is the Lisboa Card as you can guess the name.. 1, 2 and 3 day versions available. It activates from the moment you put it into use and includes free/discounted entrance to museums as well as means of transportation.. As of November 2014 1-day card is 18.50 Euros, two-days 31.50 Euros, three-days 39 Euros. When we evaluated the museums we will visit and our transportation costs, we decided that it is definitely a useful card, so you can easily get it without thinking whether it is a tourist trap.. I think we gave some bad advice..
-You can get the Lisboa Card at the airport or at the Welcome Center in Praca do Comercio.
In Lisbon Transportation
When it comes to transportation, you won’t have your back in Lisbon. Yes, from the beginning of the article 2342. As we have emphasized once, you will sweat like İsmail Türt because you will come across many slopes while walking around, he has no escape.. But thank God it’s easy to reach everywhere because the metro and tram network doesn’t consist of 3 stops (we like to exaggerate) like ours.. While spending time in the city center, instead of using public transportation, walking and immersing in the street that blows your mind is the best way to get to know Lisbon or any city, but you will certainly use public transportation when going to places a little further away, such as Belem.
If you are not going to buy the Lisboa Card, let’s summarize the metro costs as follows;
One-way metro ticket: 1.49 Euros
Daily metro ticket : 6 Euros
If we have solved this issue, we think it would be useful to explain the situations where there should be a transfer that confuses us from time to time.. Because we were confused from time to time on our way to other parts of the city.. I think it would make your job much easier if we write down from which stop to where you can transfer.
Cais de Sodre: Train to Cascais, tram and train to Belem, ferry to the statue of Christ, all around this stop.
Rossio: The train to Sintra leaves from here.
Sea Sebastio: Gulbenkian slightly off the center The closest stop to the Museum.
Oriente: If you are going to change city or country, this is the center of those events.
-Metros can be used until 1 am.
-Let’s not forget for the enthusiasts, Tram 28 is Lisbon’s iconic tram. Therefore, we understand that you may have a desire to get on, but if we consider that there are 1000s of tourists like you, this can create a feeling of getting on the metrobus from Zincirlikuyu rather than an authentic experience, so decide accordingly.. Every time Tram 28 passed in front of us, people were stuck to the glass and were advancing with an expression of desperation on their faces.
Accommodation in Lisbon
About the point of accommodation in Lisbon. we think we’re making the shot. Therefore, we can definitely recommend the apartment we rent to you.. Design Chiado Flats is located on Rua do Carmo, adjacent to Elevador de Santa Justa, one of the city’s tourist magnets. We are not exaggerating when we say adjacent, because the terrace of the hotel is connected to Elevador and if you decide to have breakfast here, you will have a city view right next to you.. The decoration of this hotel-like apartment, which is located in an über-central part of the city, very close to many transportation options, is also magnificent.. If they let go, we would stay 3 months. They didn’t let go.
For those who are interested, the images of the apartment we stayed in can be found here. By the way, if you don’t want to make your payment before you go, you can contact them in advance and say that you will make the payment when you go, they accept it.. We are sure that the fee varies from period to period, but we paid 100 Euros per person for 4 days as of November 2014.
Places to Visit/See in Lisbon
It may be helpful for us to detail the regions so that you can get to know the city more easily before infiltrating Lisbon’s attractions.. In this way, by allocating your day to a region, you can both evaluate your time correctly and not miss anything.
As a tourist, one of the places that may attract your attention is the Baixa/Chiado region.. Many touristic activities, restaurants, cafes etc.. As it is located in this region, this is one of the places you can prefer in terms of accommodation.. It is also possible to find various shopping options that do not satisfy us in this region, which is slightly reminiscent of Beyoğlu.. (h&m, zara, nike etc.). The brands you can see here as well) Although Alfama, which can be considered as a slightly more alternative area, creates the impression of a beautified version of Tarlabaşı at first, when you get lost in its streets, you will realize that this is one of the most beautiful areas of the city.. It can be said that this area, which was shaped around the castle, reflects the old Lisbon in the best way, since it was the area that suffered the least damage from the great Lisbon earthquake in its time.. Let me warn you in advance, you can run the risk of getting crushed while trying to take pictures with the scenic yellow tram, be careful.
If we go a little further from the center, you will probably want to see Belem first.. You can see the historical aspect of Lisbon in this region, which attracts a lot of attention in the touristic sense, and you can get a nice Bosphorus air.. In addition, you can end your trip as it started by having a sweet Pasteis de Nata crisis unique to Belem.. A good ending for us.. If you went to Belem by train, Alcantara is a port area that often reminds us of Karaköy, which you can remember as the previous stop of Belem.. Especially if you stop by the LX Factory, which we will explain in more detail below, you can understand what we mean much better.
Since we have summarized the regions, let’s now come to the places to visit;
Praca do Comercio
We know that you cannot take your eyes off the magnificent beauty(!) of Taksim Square.. Praca do Comercio is considered the most important and largest square in Lisbon, although it will not look very nice after Taksim, the concrete of which we burned.. There is Tejo River on one side of the square, the imposing monument of King Jose 1 in the middle, a restaurant with all kinds of tourist piles around it, and on the other side Arco da Rua Augusta that opens to Rua Augusta.. If you take a walk from the square towards the river side, you can see the 25th April Bridge and the statue of Jesus even from afar.
-This may be a logical point to start your Lisbon trip, it is announced to those who are confused as to where to start.
-You can easily walk here from the Baixa/Chiado metro.
Rua Augusto
The Arco da Rua Augusta in Praca da Comercio, that is, in every European country According to “WHAT WAS A VICTORY?” Rua Augusta, the street you will reach when you pass under the triumphal arch that we started to give a reaction to.. This place is full of street artists, Asian tourists and shops working in the style of “look, I painted myself and I’m airing”.
-If you are going to buy souvenirs, we think you should not choose those on this street. Our philosophy of “the farther you are from the center and the touristic places, the cheaper life is” applies here, of course.
Jose Saramago Foundation
Obama’s peace Dedicated to the great writer Jose Saramago, the rightful winner of the Nobel Prize, whom we lost our trust with, this institution is open to touristic trips.. Inside, you can get a lot of information about Saramago, as well as see various drafts of his books.. If you come across and have an interest in literature, it is possible for you to come across various conferences.. Moreover, some of them are in English.
-Do not be surprised when you see the Giriştkie archaeological excavation site, ancient Roman ruins have been found under the building and they are exhibiting with great enthusiasm.
-Walking distance from Praca do Comercio.
-Speaking of Saramago, you can start with Blindness, Sight and Cain.
Lisbon Cathedral
Santa Maria Called Marior de Lisboa or the Sé Cathedral without the need for words, this cathedral is the largest and most magnificent church in Lisbon.. It bears the characteristics of many different architectural movements, as it has survived many hardships, including the great earthquake in Lisbon in 1755.. (We are not assertive enough to describe this place as gothic and baroque)
-The entrance is free.
-You can easily reach the Terreiro do Paço station.
-The night lighting looks beautiful
Castelo de Sao Jorge
Before writing anything about this castle, we will make a confession to you: We did not go to this castle.. Yes, it may be one of the most iconic buildings in Lisbon, but for some reason it did not attract our attention.. Since it is located at the highest point of the city, we could not even bother to go, as it was visible from many places, including the window of our house.. Even though we don’t want to rant about what’s inside, we know that there can be crazy queues because it is a very touristic building, at least let’s warn about that.
– 20% discount with Lisboa Card.
-Log in. 8.50 Euros.
Elevador de Santa Justa
Elevador de Santa Justa to put it simply , an elevator that takes you from a lower part of the city (Baixa district) to its upper streets (Largo do Carmo). It is also a very touristic spot as it provides an opportunity to see the city from above and is currently the only one of its kind in the city.. Even if it doesn’t interest you, please use this elevator-like thing to understand that we are not exaggerating the incline issue in Lisbon.
– 5 Euros to use.. 1.5 Euros if you only want to see the view from the top floor. Within the Lisboa Card.
Open between -8.30 and 20:30.
-Walking distance from Baixa/Chiado metro. Let’s also mention that it is right next to our apartment that we mentioned above.
Rua Garrett
It is located in the heart of Baixa/Chiado metro, where many famous stores (Blanco’ from Hermes) or whatever you call Nike from Bershka) this street is one of the most central points of the city.. As you can see from the brands, although it is not something to be excited about (because the prices are no different from us), it is nice to have plenty of restaurant options nearby and to see different aspects of Lisbon by diving into its side streets.
-Lisbon’ Cafe Brasileira, one of the most famous cafes of the city, is located here.
–If you still love shopping malls, there is a shopping mall called Armazens do Chiado here.. However, we recommend that you do not waste your time on this ridiculous shopping mall.
Bairro Alto
Another place we cannot stop is our curiosity to compare every place to another place from Istanbul. We probably wouldn’t be wrong if we made the analogy of the “good old days of Asmalı” for the Bairro Alto region.. Regardless of weekdays or weekends, if you are happy to be faced with a different venue, a different band and music from every street you lay your head on, in a young and student-dominated crowd, as we are, you can throw yourself here in the evenings.
– We are not in favor of recommending any bars or venues, because it will definitely be much more fun to enter the place that suits your head according to the flow of the night. Let’s get it right.
-If you want to listen to Fado, Bairro Alto has dozens of tiny, cute, local & tourist mixed fado restaurants.. If you don’t want to act spontaneously, we can recommend Tasco da Chico.
Museu Coleçao Berardo
Lisbon and modern We did not go to Museu Berardo with great expectations, as we did not know how the art duo went together.. However, after we let ourselves in, things changed and we can say that he has written his name in gold letters on our favorite 3 list of those we have visited recently.. Inside, there are dozens of artists that most of us know, such as Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein, Anish Kapoor, Richard Hamilton, as well as artists such as Tony Oursler, Piero Manzoni, Yves Klein that you should definitely not miss. works available. So much so that we felt ignorant as we returned to Istanbul and started intensive research on them.. If you’re into minimal art, pop art, and conceptual art, it’s a museum you shouldn’t miss.
–Entry is free.. (They may charge for some temporary exhibitions.)
-Remind us, of course, it is closed on Monday.
-Because it is located in the Belem region, Jeronimos Monastery can be removed together with the Explorers Monument and Torre de Belem, you can make a “Belem day.” to your attraction. Located right at the bottom of the river and dedicated to Portugal’s famous explorer Vasco de Gama, this tower is both architecturally beautiful and is within walking distance of the Explorers’ Monument in Belem that might interest you. You can make a sight combo once in a while.
-Entry 6 Euros. Included in the Lisboa Card.
– If you’re interested in both, a ticket is available for Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower. The fee is 12 Euros. The version with the Archeology Museum added to this pair is 16 Euros.
Jeronimos Monastery
Jeronimos Monastery, one of the most impressive structures we have seen in Lisbon, is located in Belem. sine qua non. We do not know whether we should praise the inside or the outside of this monastery, which was started in the 1500s and is considered one of the works that best reflect the architecture of the period, or whether we should talk about the beauty of the Santa Maria Church, which was added next to it.. However, we think that seeing such a beauty while you are there will satisfy both your brain and your soul.
-Entry 10 Euros.. Within the Lisboa Card.
-The legendary Pastais de Belem is located on the street right next to the monastery, you can just walk around.
Museu Calouste Gulbenkian
Calouste Gulbenkian’s “how did you collect all that stuff alone bro?” This museum, which consists of a collection that will make you wonder, has come to the fore especially with its ancient works of art.. (You can even find Iznik tiles inside.) Of course, our brother Gulbenkian did not miss the works of pioneers in European art such as Rubens, Monet, Van Dyck, Degas ay da Manet.. We congratulate Calouste and his institution, who gave us a little disappointment after learning that he was born in Üsküdar and that he decided to open the museum in Istanbul for the first time, but due to problems in various issues, he decided on Lisbon.. (we talked like real art lovers, right?)
–Entrance 5 Euros. 20% off with Lisboa Card. Free on Sundays.
-If you are one of those who do not like to visit museums without an audio guide, we would like to convey the exact information we received from the ticket seller.. Audio guides were lousy, we shouldn’t have bought them. The people of Lisbon are very sweet, my dear.
-We would like to remind you that there is a modern art section next to the classical works and you need to buy separate tickets for both museums.
LX Factory –Ler Devagar-Bairro Arte
One of the most interesting places in the Alcantara region we mentioned above is undoubtedly LX Factory. At LX Factory, which has been converted from a 23,000 m2 old fabric factory to an art and entertainment center, you can wander around cafes/bars, shops with many different concepts, galleries and streets full of street art on an ordinary day, and if you come across it, you can attend many concerts, shows and exhibitions, especially in the context of it. You can mingle with the people of Lisbon. Don’t be fooled by what we call the people of Lisbon, of course, judging by the environment, you will most likely experience a hipster explosion, that’s different.
In LX Factory, which we have adopted as the “closed” version of Karaköy, you can lose yourself in front of the books lined up from floor to ceiling Be sure to stop by Ler Devagar and the Barrio Arte concept store, which feels like picking up and taking everything inside. As we see, those who do not intend to buy anything eat their bread on Instagram.
–From Cais do Sodre, the last stop of the green metro line train, you can get here by getting off at Alcantara, which is the previous stop from Belem.. If you start to see deserted streets when you head towards the center of Alcantara from the station, don’t give up because of the panic “let’s not wake up in the morning with one kidney”.. When you go a little further, LX Factory will welcome you with its Alice In Wonderland illuminated sign on Rua Rodrigues de Faria street..
Tips
-There are many nearby alternative areas in Lisbon that you can visit if you have time. If the weather is suitable for swimming and sunbathing activities, let’s take you to Cascais, if you want to see a place of beauty out of fairy tales, let’s take you to Sintra. We already talked about where you can go to both of them in our transportation section!
–The time difference we are used to from many European cities is it is 2 hours, not 1 for here. Also, be prepared for a 5-hour flight as you will be going to the furthest point of Europe.
–Lisbon is an incredibly advanced city for street art.. You can come across magnificent examples, especially in the Alcantara region, which go beyond the touristic places of the city.
-There is no point in being closed to places in this city.. Because they are like us in terms of evaluating the streets and they are not pressured to “take your tables off the street”, everyone is very interested in having fun on the streets and making use of green spaces.
Even though we reacted, “Our tap water is better”, we realized that we were never told about this in Lisbon.. Whether it’s still water or ours, you can drink all of them easily.
-We don’t think you will have a problem with English in the city.. From the people working in the venues to the young people on the street, everyone speaks enough English to communicate with you in some way.. Let the people of Madrid take an example.
-Before you go, you’d better read Fernando Pessoa and Jose Saramago, one of the most important names to come out of Lisbon.
