Hot spots to see and avoid in Lisbon

They say that home is where the heart is and if we’re going by that, then my home is Lisbon. I’m there a lot throughout the year, it normally adds up to around a month total and I’ve been doing this for almost two years so I’ve become fairly confident with the area and knowing what to do, where to go, what to see and what to avoid. If you’re travelling to Lisbon this Summer, there’s a lot you need to see and a lot you could avoid too!

Lisbon is one of Europe’s oldest cities but it’s also one of the most beautiful cities too, there’s an atmosphere throughout the entire city that you just cannot beat. The people are friendly, the weather is gorgeous and the buildings and general aesthetic of the city itself is colourful, bright and airy.

So, what should you see?

The Pena Palace

The Pena Palace is a real treat, it’s a gorgeous palace which is situated in Sintra, this will involve some planning and a day trip to Sintra but it’s so worth going. Throughout August they open the palace up throughout the night so that you can have the pleasure of exploring the palace after dark, there are considerably fewer people around the tour itself is a lot less crowded, but if you want to see the palace in it’s full, colourful glory then it’s worth spending a day in Sintra and going to the palace.

The Sanctuary of Christ The King

You may recognise this statue as you fly over it when you first come into Lisbon; it’s the same statue as the Christ The Redeemer in Rio. It’s a bit bigger and you can actually go in and on it. This is something that you will need to either do as part of a day tour or you need to get familiar with bus routes in Lisbon.

When I went, I took the bus across the bridge and walked for about fifteen minutes uphill to get there, but once I was there I realised there were many coach station and stops where you can hop on to get back into Lisbon. It’s a bit costlier doing it this way so I did end up saving money by going on the bus and walking a bit, plus there’s a charming little cafe in the middle of the street leading up to the statue where you can stop off for a drink.

Things you can avoid guilt free

Tower Of Belem

I know – a lot of influencers have their photo taken here and it looks amazing, but you’re essentially paying money to go up a set of stairs and stare across the river. You can do that for free lower down; it’s nothing amazing and it’s a bit of a tourist trap.

Santa Justa Lift

Again, another glorified viewing point. If you think it’s worth going up here for the view and you haven’t been to the Castelo de S. Jorge – go to the castle first. You’ll get the same view and a better experience making it worth the money. The lift is a nice feature in Lisbon and I can see its appeal, but I don’t think that it’s a must do at all.

Tuk-Tuks

Last April, we enquired about the cost of a tuk-tuk ride so we could hop on, neither of us were that fussed and already knew it was a major tourist trap but when in Lisbon… then we found out that it costs over €50 and both of us said “nope.” For where the Tuk Tuks take you and what you see, you can essentially do the same tour on foot in about an hour.

Where to eat

Frankies

Literally the most amazing hot dogs ever. Frankies is a niche restaurant that is a bit of a journey to get to, but there are two Frankies locations, both of them are a bit of a journey but the one located in Alameda is an easy twenty minutes if you hop on the subway or in a taxi and it’s the nearest location.

The hotdogs themselves are huge, we ordered a side of fries but I could barely finish the hotdog it was so big. It’s incredibly tasty and there are lots of options on the menu to choose from, we’ll definitely be heading back here as it’s one of the best meals we’ve had in Lisbon.

Ground Burger

This is another restaurant that takes a bit of a journey via the subway to get to and there weren’t many English speakers besides me in the restaurant when I went. I relied on my other half to order the food and speak to the staff, but judging from their Instagram page they’re tourist friendly and do serve English menus as well.

The burger itself was really tasty and pretty big, I couldn’t finish it because it was so big, but I did feel like it was a bit costly, so if you’re looking to splurge on a good burger, this is where to do it, otherwise there are lots of burger restaurants scattered all over central Lisbon that are probably on par with Ground Burger.

Italy Caffé

This restaurant is pretty near to Frankie’s in Alameda so again, you may need to hop in a taxi if you don’t have a car, but it’s so so so worth it. This is my favourite Italian, the last time I went I ordered a pizza and it was probably the best pizza that I’ve ever eaten. So tasty, and also, so affordable. The menu is a great budget for what you get on the plate.

So… are you heading out to Lisbon?

About the author: Georgia Anne is a lifestyle blog named after…myself! I write about all sorts of things from theatre reviews to sex and relationships columns. My blog is a safe space for women to come and talk about everything and anything free of judgment.