 Layover in Lisbon As you all know by now, I love to find the best deals while traveling. One of the least expensive options to fly from Europe back to the US is Air Portugal. I had always seen this when scanning for inexpensive flights, but I had never flown Air Portugal. What I also discovered is that if you book directly through Air Portugal's website and choose to book a "stopover" flight, meaning a long layover, you can get even MORE of a discount on your flight, depending how many days you stay in Lisbon. The more days you stay, the greater the discount. If you are stopping over for more than 24 hours, they will give you your checked bag back so that you can have it during your stay. Once I heard about this, I thought "Why not?!" A cheaper flight home plus a new adventure, count me in. Lisbon was so much more than I expected, and it had such a unique vibe to it unlike any other European city I have visited. I am so excited that I chose this spontaneous little layover on the way back to the states, so that now I can share it all with you!  The Charisma of Lisbon Lisbon is lined with beautiful architecture, landmarks, and pastel buildings. What may seem contrary to all this- there is also graffiti everywhere. Lisbon is known for its street art. The graffiti started as a way for people to express their political views during the revolution. It is now an art form to symbolize unity. Unity was definitely the vibe I got here in Lisbon. The culture here was so inviting and social. Young and old gathered together. People were friendly and adventurous. Both the city, and the people, had so much character. One thing I was surprised by in Lisbon is all of the beautiful music. There is a large culture of musicians here that play romantic songs along the streets, at the lookouts during sunset, and I even witnessed large choirs singing while walking. The culture here is so beautiful- people were so friendly and seem to value friendships very highly. Everywhere we went, friends would gather together to enjoy the scenery, music, and a beer.  The people of Lisbon have a very keen sense of humor, lol Things to Try:
Otherwise known as Traditional Cod Fish Cake, Pasteis de Bacalhau is something you have to try. I wasn't too much of a fan, but nonetheless you have to try! Let me know if you like them in the comments. 
 Yes, this is two stories of sardines. I took some home!
Most Instagrammable Places in Lisbon While you are here for your stopover, here are some of the best places to see and get awesome pictures! 1. Miraduro de Senhora do Monte  One of the most famous lookouts, Miraduro de Senhora do Monte, meaning "The Viewpoint of the Lady of the Mount," is one of the best panoramic views of Lisbon. It is the most beautiful at sunset, with the sun setting near the river. The fence is decorated in love locks from many "lovers in Lisbon" and is a popular hangout spot for both locals and tourists.  2. Miraduro de Santa Luzia 
3. Mosteiro dos Jeronimos   The Jeronimos Monastery was built in 1502 to commemorate Vasco Da Gama's voyage and to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for its success. It is so grand and beautiful! You can walk inside the church here for free, but to see the grand courtyard area, you will need to pay a ticket. There is also a history museum here that you can visit as well! Before you visit here, make sure to eat some traditional Pasteis at Pasteis de Belem. It is only a couple feet away and a must try in Lisbon!   4. Elevador de Santa Justa What was once a part of Lisbon's invaluable transportation network, it is now a prime tourist attraction in the Baixa district. There is a viewing platform on the top of this 19th century gothic lift, and you can also enjoy the sights and shops around this area.  5. LX Factory The LX Factory is such a cute little hipster/trendy area in Lisbon. You can enjoy lots of healthy restaurants and cute shops. You can find the Livraria Per Devagar here, and many other aesthetic corners! This area reminds me a little bit of Camden in London.   6. Livraria Ler Devagar  Located in the LX Factory, Livraria Per Devagar is such a cool spot for photos! This library large with two stories! Grab a bite to eat and then check it out upstairs.   Wander in Heels Pink Passport Holder 7. Miradouro Panoramico Do Monsanto Located in Monsanto Forest park, right near the LX factory, you can take photos at this super cool location! It seems like abandoned building, with lots of art and graffiti. This art filled building used to be an exclusive high society restaurant in the 1960's- but you would never know it looking at it now. It feels a little sketchy at first but it is safe. There is also a beautiful viewpoint of the city here. You can walk around the park, and apparently there are many porcupines that you might see!  8. Christo Rei  Just across the bridge, you can visit one of the most iconic monuments in Lisbon. The statue of Christ has arms raised to symbolize Christ blessing the city of Lisbon. It is also in front of an amazing view of Lisbon across the river, a scene that remind me so much of San Francisco!  9. Pink Street  Pink Street was painted pink to represent a place reborn from ashes. This area was formerly known as "Rua Nova do Carvalho," which was Lisbon's Red Light District. I love the symbolic meaning here of starting something new and creating beauty from ashes!  10. Tram 28  Tram 28 is a staple image of Lisbon. It runs through the popular tourist districts, so hop on if you can! The real challenge is trying to get a picture with it! If you see it, be quick to snap away! 11. The Baixa District The Baixa District is a prominent staple in Lisbon, with many shops and restaurants!  Map Map from Wanderlog, a vacation planner
4 Comments
Boris
11/9/2021 08:09:15 am
Such a great read and love the pictures. Felt like I was there with you! I hope to travel there someday! How was the language barrier there? Did the locals speak any English or did you have a translator?
Daniel Reyes
11/10/2021 01:39:40 pm
I really enjoyed reading this. Very informative and I love your passion. The pictures are beautiful and I would really love to visit someday. Great job 😊 Leave a Reply. |