Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon had been on my must-visit list for a while. I had received so many recommendations to go there and the photos I had seen were beautiful. So, when two of my friends and I decided to book a weekend trip. 

Our adventure began with a long travel day, a 1 a.m. FlixBus to catch and a 6 a.m. flight. Thankfully I was able to sleep pretty much the whole way which made the time go by fast. When we landed in Lisbon, I immediately noticed the warm air. With Florence getting colder, the sunny weather felt like the perfect getaway. 

After arriving, we spent most of the first day napping to recover from our long travel day. In the evening, we headed out for dinner. Leve Leve was lively, with friendly staff . Although the staff seemed small with only a couple cooks and waiters, they were very organized. On our walk back to our Airbnb, we stumbled upon a small local market. It was more of a gathering spot where people enjoyed drinks, food, and music. I saw many locals mixed with tourists there dancing around and having a great time. 

One thing I immediately noticed about Lisbon was the hills. Although the city is very walk able, be prepared to walk up some steep inclines . Thankfully, there’s Tram 28, Lisbon’s famous yellow tram that takes you through many of the city’s most iconic spots. This tram was fun because not only did you get to see around Lisbon but, it allowed you to meet some of the other tourists and swap some recommendations. If you’re short on time, I highly recommend taking this tram. It’s an easy and enjoyable way to see a lot of the city.

The food in Lisbon was amazing, especially the breakfast places. We found a breakfast place called dear breakfast, a must try! For only €15 we got a coffee, smoothie, croissant, yogurt, and an omelet. It was perfect because how full it kept us for the majority of the day.  Another must try is the Pastel de Nada, a mini custard tart. I honestly could say that this may be one of my favorite desserts I have ever had. 

On our last day, we took a short trip to Cascais, a coastal town just outside Lisbon. We visited Praia de Santa Marta, a picturesque beach, photographers were everywhere. It was the perfect way to end a busy trip with a little bit of down time in the sun. 

Looking back, Lisbon was everything I hoped for and more—warm weather, great food, stunning views, and lively culture. I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to explore these incredible places and share my adventures along the way.