What Lisbon, Portugal, Offers That Other Cities Can't

GUEST POST OVERVIEW: The more guest posts I get from Aleix about Portugal, the more I’m convinced that Carrie and I are destined to head there after we finish our adventure in India. Lisbon, in particular, sounds absolutely amazing!

Lisbon is one of Europe’s most beautiful and amazing cities and yet it doesn’t get as much attention as other cities. However, it has some of the most amazing picturesque views and landmarks that can rival any other European city and even surpass it.

The good weather is coming and with it our desire to go traveling again. For some reason good weather brings our traveling needs back, whether it’s because we have time off work or because we think that it would be a waste to stay at home with it being so nice outside.

So when it’s time to get the map out and pinpoint our next destination, for some unknown reason, there are many choices that come before the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. Perhaps it’s because the country doesn’t get much attention in the media or because there are other destinations that are much more popular but the truth is that spending a few days in Lisbon apartments can be one of the best experiences of our life.

Lisbon has some of the most picturesque neighborhoods and views that we can find in Europe. In order to see them, all we need to do is go to two particular parts of town that will take our breath away. We start with the Barrio Alto, which is the neighborhood which stands proudly at the top of Lisbon.

The streets here are steep and the easiest way to get around is by tram, the emblematic old yellow trams that run throughout the city, although the ones here are particularly picturesque. The houses are also painted in different colors, so the view from the top of a hill can be breathtaking. Also, this is the spot to be for the nightlife, and I can’t think of any other place in Europe that has the liveliest spot in town in such beautiful surroundings.

The Alfama is the oldest district in Lisbon and one that seems to still be stuck in the past, such is the old beauty of it. Its beautiful narrow and winding streets, interconnected along the hills by even narrower streets with steps, are just a delight to see. The restaurants around the Alfama are among the best in the city but more on that in a bit.

Another characteristic of the Alfama are the small squares, delightful quiet areas where one can distance himself from the busy city and enjoy the landscape and the beautiful views of the river Taugus, in a part of town that was fortunate enough to survive the great 1755 earthquake.

As promised, Portuguese cuisine is among the best in Europe. The country’s speciality is fish, especially cod, which is cooked in hundreds of different ways that will make your mouth water. Make sure you try the bacalhau com natas, a creamy cod dish that’s one of the city’s trademarks. Food in Portugal is generally very cheap compared to other places in Europe, as well as coming in abundant rations, so a meal in a typical Portuguese restaurant can not only be cheap but also very filling.

Portugal, despite being in the Euro, is a very cheap country, definitely the cheapest in western Europe, so your money can go a long way, possibly two or three times more than in other cities, such as London or Paris. Another perk of Lisbon is that, by it not being such a huge tourist destination, you don’t feel like you’re surrounded by tourists all the time, which can be the case in other cities. But don’t say this too loudly, you’ll ruin the secret.

This city is unique, it has so much to offer that sometimes it’s overlooked in favour of the more ‘popular’ destinations. However, let that play in your favor when you rent apartments in Lisbon. The city will blow your mind and its views and food will give you a taste that you won’t be able to find anywhere else in the world.

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PHOTO CREDITS
Tram photo
Alfama photo

 About the Author: Aleix Gwilliam is a 24 year old from Barcelona who looks English but thinks like a Catalan. He enjoys traveling, especially on old Czech trains, and trying to start conversations in Hungarian with people at Pecs station, even though his Hungarian is as good as his Bulgarian, in other words, not very good. He’s a trier.