5 Things To Do In Lisbon : Feast Your Other Senses

Bruno Marques — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:00:55 +0000

Visiting a city is usually a feast to the eyes. A new landspace, historical buildings, the famous painting. In this post I want to tell you about what else you can taste, feel and hear in your Lisbon visit. Please, make sure you enjoy them all.

Pasteis de Belém – They can be found in one of the oldest pastry houses in Lisbon, located right by the Jeronimos Monastery, in Belém area (between and the Monastery and the Belem Palace, where you can also find the Coches Museum). The “Pastel de Belém” is a unique recipe for a nationwide cake, the “Pastel de Nata”. The version you’ll be eating here is something you won’t find anywhere else. Choose a table, have your breakfast or afternoon snack here.

Ginjinha – You may not be a big fan of alcoolic drinks, but don’t worry, as the ginjinha is a shot size drink, that won’t get in your system, at least if you have just one. The drink is a sweet version of brandy, and has in name (and taste) from the Ginja, a special kind of cherries that grow in Portugal. You can get one almost everywhere in town, but the most tipical spot to get one is in Praça de São Domingos, between Rua Portas de Santo Antão and the Rossio square.

The Sun And The Sea – Like the title of our blog says, Lisbon in a sunny city, and located right by the ocean. The weather here is normally sunny, and even in the winter months when the temperature drops, you can almost everyday catch the sun outside. So enjoy yourself, take a train to Cascais and Estoril, have a walk by the beach, breath the salty air and feel the warmth of the sun on your skin.

Fado - You’ll find it in every city guide, and it’s not enough to stress it. Lisboa spirit lives in Fado houses, little restaurants in the Alfama district where Fado, the national music, is sang, not by big stars, but by amateurs and residents, keeping it’s true nature. The songs are melancholic and sad, just like the blues. They speak of “saudade” the portuguese word, for missing something or someone.
The Nightlife – When it’s time to party in Lisbon, schedules and clocks are left at home. The nightlife in the city starts late (around midnight) and ends up at… well whenever you feel like it, since there are houses open until 9 or 10 in morning. Enjoy the Bairro Alto district with is small bars or the riverside are of 24 de Julho, with it’s dance clubs. Have a beer and have fun, enjoy yourself.

Sunny Lisbon » Alfama

5 Things To Do In Lisbon : Feast Your Other Senses