Brewpub HopSin Colares: beer with a view
A few days after we visited microbrewery Dois Corvos, in Lisbon we found out that there’s been a new beer place in Colares, less…
Tips from locals
Exploring a city like Lisbon can be done in different ways. You read all the travel guides you can find, view all kinds of videos about the city on Youtube.com or browse the internet in the search for a good site, full of tips from locals.
Luis's Lisbon (73) (retired engineer) “I really love the history of my city. Unfortunately, the 1755 earthquake destroyed a large part of Lisbon, so lots of great buildings and monuments no longer exist.The top 3 local tips from Luis:
1. Convento Carmo “I like to come here to enjoy the silence, right in the middle of the city. The ruins themselves are impressive, at least as important are the relics found in the museum: from an Egyptian sarcophagus to Azulejos from the 18th century! ”
2. Sé de Lisboa “I am not a deeply religious man, but the devotion and religious energy that hangs in this cathedral is almost tangible. A wonderful place to relax on a busy summer afternoon. ”
3. Praia da Adraga “As a teenager, I liked coming to this beach. I walked along the shoreline with friends, philosophizing about life. And occasionally, we'd also met girls.”
Known and loved
And do not be mistaken, sometimes all those super famous sights are also worthwhile according to the locals! Castelo de São Jorge for example. Its in all the guides. On every website. Every top 10 list about Lisbon talks about it. And guess what? The locals also love it! Okay, they can go inside for free, but still. And we completely understand, the views from the castle are phenomenal! Here you will find all insider tips we got from the locals. We keep this list of recommendations as up to date as possible. 
Museu Nacional do Azulejo – the tile and its story
When I wander through Lisbon, I always love to admire the houses with those typical Portuguese tiles: azulejos. So it was only a matter…
Pastelaria Mexicana – good food, if you wait for it
Many locals consider Pastelaria Mexicana to be the best pastelaria in town. Don’t be distracted by the ‘Mexicana’ part to think you can’t get…
Restaurant Horta – dining in a unique part of Lisbon
Restaurant Horta is located in a unique location in Lisbon: Páteo Alfacinha. Here you can take a look at the typical districts of Lisbon…
Mãe d’Água – Hidden water temple
Mãe d’Água (which translates to “mother of water”) is the old main reservoir, completed in 1834, where the water supplied from Aqueduto das Águas…
Refúgio do Ciclista – hidden gem near Sintra
If our friends hadn’t taken us to Refúgio do Ciclista, we would never have found this place. For more than 35 years I’ve been…
Barbearia Oliveira – trendy barber in Lisbon
It’s pretty clear that Lisbon is one of the hottest capitals in Europe these days. Craft beer breweries, small but exciting restaurants that have…
Popular Do Capelo – hidden restaurant in the tourist center
Hidden in the more touristy area of Chiado, restaurant Popular Do Capelo is a typical Portuguese place where many locals come to eat. Don’t…
Ginginha do Carmo – a shot before you go up
In the mid 1930s, Ginginha do Carmo opened its doors for the first time to provide the locals with ginjinha. You will find this…
O Viriato – Cascais’ living room
Restaurant O Viriato is a bit off the beaten track if you’re staying in the city centre of Cascais. But with an uphill walk…
Dois Corvos – Local craft beer with international allure
A stone’s throw from the centre of Lisbon, about 10 minutes by taxi or Uber, you’ll find Lisbon’s most famous craft beer brewery: Dois…
New Year’s Eve – experience the New Year in Lisbon
Are you arriving in Lisbon for new year’s eve, celebrating the new year in Lisbon? Prepare yourself for a grand party! Enjoy one of…
Bolo do Rei – traditional Christmas cake from Lisbon
If you spend Christmas holidays in Lisbon you will notice that in the average Portuguese family the Christmas party is not complete without a…
Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira – hunting lodge turned palace
Built in the 17th century and intended as a hunting lodge for the first Marquis of Fronteira, that’s the palace Palácio dos Marqueses de…
Café Pão de Canela – quiet neighbourhood café with delicious food
On the edge of the charming Praça das Flores you will find the lovely Pão de Canela café. Most of the café’s seats are…
Páteo Alfacinha – Lisbon’s best kept secret
One of the best things about having a travel blog about Lisbon is to discover special places and then actually not being able to…
Aqueduto das Águas Livres – Lisbon’s eye catching aqueduct
Aqueduto das Águas Livres, one of Lisbon’s more distinctive landmarks, was built between 1731 and 1749 to provide the city with clean drinking water….
Museu Nacional dos Coches – finest historic carriage collection in Lisbon
You would think that iconic landmarks like Elevador de Santa Justa, Castelo de São Jorge or Ascensor da Bica are the most visited sights…
Palácio Nacional da Ajuda – palace of great splendour
Looking to escape the many tourists in the city centre and Belém for a while, and still visit some of the best historical sights…
Livraria Bertrand Chiado – the world’s oldest bookstore
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Livraria Bertrand Chiado is the oldest bookstore in the world. This place is an obligatory stop…
Museu da Carris – Lisbon public transport museum
If you want to know more about the history of all those yellow trams you see in the city, you have to plan for…
Going for coffee in Lisbon – serious business!
Do you like coffee? And do you want to get through your holiday in Lisbon without the stress of not knowing how to order…
Panorâmico de Monsanto – abandoned restaurant with beautiful views
Situated on Monsanto’s highest mountain, the Panorâmico de Monsanto is a beautiful, deserted restaurant that has gained cult status over the years. This is…
Escadinhas da Saúde – “stairway of health” to Castelo de São Jorge
When you visit Lisbon you will quickly realise that the city is built on hills. Seven of them in fact. Especially in the Alfama…
Centro Comercial Colombo – Europe’s largest shopping centre
You’ll be forgiven if you consider Centro Comercial Colombo an attraction more than a shopping centre. This mall is so huge that you can…
Easter in Lisbon – traditional food
Semana Santa is an important week for Catholics in Portugal. In many cities there are Easter processions, you can also find a couple in…
Ribeira das Naus – down to the beach in Lisbon
Looking to cool off during the hot summer days, but your visit to Lisbon is just too short to go to the beach? Don’t…
Pastelaria Versailles – old soul in young pastelaria
Even though Pastelaria Versailles is one of the oldest pastelarias in Lisbon, compared to the city centre of Lisbon this pasteleria is not super…
Ginjinha sem Rival – have a ginjinha without rivals
Ginjinha Sem Rival literally means Ginjinha without a rival. It’s funny that this little bar is called this way, because just a stone’s throw…
Praça das Flores – picturesque square in São Bento
Do you know that feeling when you get to a place that feels so good: the atmosphere, the conviviality that you can stay there…
O Velho Eurico – in the heart of Alfama
** Update May 2019 Due to the poor health of the owner, the restaurant is permanently closed ** Looking for typical Portuguese food in…
A Tribute – an ode to the inhabitants of Mouraria
The English photographer Camille Watson runs her studio in one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Lisbon: Mouraria. “A Tribute” shows a series of portraits…
Jardim Zoológico de Lisboa – Lisbon’s City Zoo
When you’re enjoying a city break in Lisbon with the family, be sure not to miss a day at the Lisbon Zoo: Jardim Zoológico…
Santuário da Peninha – hidden gem in the Pena
Santuário da Peninha is a hidden gem in the Pena mountains where few tourists come. Which makes this a very nice and quiet place….
Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau – say cheese!
We love the Bacalhau pastries that you can usually get at any pastelaria. This is something different though, Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau…
Igreja de São Roque – seemingly boring facade
Many times I walked past Igreja de São Roque, never really noticing this church. Why is that?! I don’t get it either. It’s a…
A Vida Portuguesa – traditional Portuguese products
It’s not just Lisbon as a city that is experiencing some sort of second life. A lot of traditional Portuguese products are being marketed…
Confeitaria Cistér – clattering coffee cups
The sound of coffee cups and saucers clattering together as a result of cleaning up the dishes reminds me a lot of those real…
Embaixada – alternatief shoppen
If you come to Lisbon to do some shopping, then Embaixada is definitely a place that you shouldn’t miss. At this moment this beautiful…
Veneziana – oldest ice cream shop
Tucked away in a corner near Praça dos Restauradores you will find Veneziana. This is the smallest and oldest ice cream parlour I have…
Parque Infantil do Alvito playground in Monsanto
This is certainly one of the coolest playgrounds we have encountered in Lisbon: Parque Infantil do Alvito. Large, clean and something to do for…
Óbidos – fortress city with ginja
The city of Óbidos, surrounded by castles walls, is an one hour’s drive north of Lisbon. In Óbidos time appears to have stood still….
Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte – highest vantage point in Lisbon
Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte is the highest miradouros in Lisbon. If you want to come back from Lisbon with beautiful panoramic photos…
Hospital de Bonecas – the Lisbon dolls hospital
So your doll is sick, what do you do? In Lisbon, people have been going to the doll doctor at the dolls hospital for…
Jardim Principe Real – quiet city park, loved by locals
One of our favorite parks in Lisbon is Jardim Príncipe Real. Even though it is next to a fairly busy road, Rua da Escola…
Typical Portuguese food – posta Mirandesa
If there’s one thing for which I can wake my Portuguese friends Isabel and Luis, it’s posta Mirandesa. Well, when it’s prepared in a…
RC Restaurante – value for money!
We love to stroll through Alfama and discover new places. And on this particular day we walked from the Pantheon land passed the tiny…
Miradouro de Santa Catarina – live music every night
Miradouro de Santa Catarina is also known as Miradouro do Adamastor and lends itself to take beautiful pictures of Ponte 25 de Abril and…
Convento do Carmo – photogenic ruins in Lisbon
In the middle of the city of Lisbon, between Chiado and Bairro Alto, you can find Convento do Carmo, the Carmo monastery. This impressive…
Fado bar A Tasca do Chico – search for new talent
A Tasca do Chico is a fado cafe in the Bairro Alto district. This restaurant, which is actually more of a bar, is very…
