It’s been almost two weeks since I went to Lisbon, but I’m still blown away by how awesome it was. Honestly, I went to Lisbon with no expectations, which I think was a great thing to do. I was able to experience the city and make my mind up for myself. Last week, I told you things you needed to know to enjoy the city, but today, I’ll let you know what to do and see in Lisbon.
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and Torre de Belém
These were my first stops in Lisbon. They are located in the Belém area of Lisbon. To get there, you can take either a bus or a tram. It takes about 15-20 minutes from the main part of the city. The cost of the monastery is €8, and the cost of the tower is €6. (If you are a student, you can get a 50% discount.)
This is where things got insane. The Belém attractions are closed on Mondays. I was there on a Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. No problem, right? Wrong. That Tuesday was May 1, which is the equivalent of Labor Day in Europe. Everything was closed. So that Sunday, I got to the monastery (for what I thought was) early. The line was HUGE!
The Monastery
On Sundays from 10-2, if you are a Portuguese resident, you can get in for free! The line was crazy, and everyone was confused because there were multiple lines. So then I followed the advice and got in this one line to buy a ticket for both the monastery and the tower. I asked if I could just go right in and the guy said yes.
So, I go to the front, but there is still this big line. So I said, “Well, I guess I just have to go wait in this line anyway.” Turns out, if you showed the security guard the ticket, he would let you in! I wasted so much time at the monastery that day. Personally, I wasn’t even wowed by the monastery. Just look at it from the outside, and you can go into the church for free.
The Tower
The situation for the tower was similar. There was a long line coming down a pier that connected the tower with the land. I already had a ticket, so I didn’t know whether or not I had to wait in line. I decided to wait. Then, people started pushing by saying they had a ticket, so I followed. Turns out, if you had a ticket, you didn’t have to wait in line! Also, PSA, watch out for the waves. Waves come crashing over the bridge and I got soaked on my left side!
Moral of the Story
You don’t have to wait in line if you already have a ticket. With that said, I wasn’t blown away by the inside of either of these places. The Belém area itself is really cool. It’s where the explorers set off in Portugal’s Golden Age. Make sure to try some pastéis de Belém while you’re up there!
Alfama
How do I describe Alfama? During the Salazar era, people were flocking from the countryside into Lisbon looking for work. Because they didn’t have enough money to afford a good sized house, families shoved themselves into tiny apartments. Alfama has churned out fadó and old ladies making ginjinha.
I walked through the Alfama neighborhood a little, but I know there is so much more to discover. The streets are so narrow and windy that most maps just label is as an area; they don’t even try to name the streets. Unfortunately, there are plans to develop this area within the next year and a half. Now, tourists are flocking there to see it before it goes.
Castle of São Jorge
I didn’t get to see this up close, but this is a Moorish-style castle that looks over the city. It’s possible to see it from different parts of town. I was told, however, that you should NOT pay to go inside the castle: it isn’t real! It was not the original. Salazar had it rebuilt! It is worth your time to go up and see the free section, and you get a view over the whole town.
Another option for looking over the city is the Elevador de Santa Justa. This was built in 1902 by a disciple of Eiffel. It’s a steel structure in the Baixo Chiado area. It does cost money to go to the very top, but it is possible to get a great, free view on the elevator without going to the very top.
Ponte 25 de Abril
Look familiar? Yeah, it looks exactly like the Golden Gate Bridge. It was actually designed by the company that made the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (not the Golden Gate) and it uses the same paint as the Golden Gate. You can’t walk across it, but there is an observation deck. Or, if you are like me, just look at it from afar. You can see it from many different points in the city. Also, behind the bridge, is a statue of Jesus that reminds one of the one in Rio.
Line 28
Line 28 is the famous tram line that you see all over the post cards. It’s the old-fashioned tram with one car. I didn’t ride this. It turns out, if you want to ride this, you have to clear a good portion of your day. Someone I talked to said they waited for two hours to get on the tram! A Spanish tour guide passed me and said to someone that Line 28 is a “locura”, it’s madness.
So, my personal tip, don’t waste your time in line. If you really want to ride an old-fashioned tram, there are other tram lines that do it, too. Or just take a modern tram that you don’t have to wait for.
The World’s Oldest Bookstore
I collect Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in different languages, so I was looking for a place to buy the book. Many people recommended Bertrand Books and Music (or Livaria Betrand). I was nervous because the name was in English! So, I went to the bookstore (most of the books are in Portuguese) and I got my book. Cool.
My final day in Lisbon, I was trying to kill some time before my walking tour. I love bookstores, so I thought I would go look in Bertrand’s again. On the door is a sign with the Guinness World Record for the oldest continually run bookstore in the world! It’s been in operation since 1732. If you buy a book there, they will stamp it with a stamp that says the book was bought in the oldest bookstore in the world. How cool!
And so much more …
There is so much to do and see in Lisbon. I didn’t even scratch the surface on what I wanted to do. You can see fadó shows (no need to understand the words, only the emotion), take ferries around the city, and dine in many fabulous, affordable restaurants. Don’t be like me and wait three years … go to Lisbon ASAP!
