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Lisbon’s Amazing Food Scene
Let’s start with the food when you visit Lisbon! With the overwhelming amount of food and wine to try in the city, booking an experience can help narrow down the options and allow you to try more food for less money. It’s nearly impossible to try all of the best restaurants in Lisbon without doing a tour like these.
During these tours, locals take you around to all the best wine and food restaurants in the city. You can even drink your wine in the streets, unlike most cities in America. Along the way, you’ll get to meet locals and other tourists who share the same passion for culture and food as you do. These typically last a few hours and then you’ll have the rest of the day free to explore the city. Read on to see other fun things to do in Lisbon.
Portugal is known for their fresh seafood dishes and pastel del nata. Most Portuguese actually eat sardines for breakfast and they reportedly make your skin glowy. The Portuguese serve sardines in many ways and if you’re brave enough to try them, I highly recommend them.
You can actually book a Pastel De Nata Cooking Class in Lisbon when you visit, where you’ll learn how to make them from scratch and cook up some yummy treats for you to enjoy afterward. These classes are extremely popular and only take about 1.5 hours to complete. If you’re a foodie who wants to immerse yourself in the culture, this class is a perfect way to do that.
A glass of wine in Lisbon costs around €1-2 and a cup of coffee is the same. The food possibilities are endless and make for a great destination for travelers on a budget. Whether you’re new to European travel or just getting started, there’s food for everyone here and at all prices.
Lisbon’s Nightlife Culture
As a member of the LGBTQ community, I wanted to go somewhere that I wasn’t afraid to be myself. Portugal is known for their amazing clubs and pub crawls (for as little as $18) that last all night and spill onto the streets of Chiado. If you’re looking for another reason to visit Lisbon, it’s super LGBTQ-friendly and a lot of their locals go to these clubs. Going out with locals can be a great way to make international friends and even meet a travel buddy for the future!
The music they play is different than in America because they dance to more techno-style music than we do at clubs. If you’re not a big club-goer, then this scene might not be up your alley but it’s a cool thing to say you did when visiting Lisbon.
Most nightclubs in Lisbon are open until 3 – 4 AM, with some even closing a 6 AM! Without doing a Nightlife Tour, you’ll have to pay €10-20 for entry to each club. Paying to get into a bar is generally uncommon in America, so this might come as a shock to some. In Lisbon, drinks are way cheaper once you get into the bar and the vibes are always unmatched, therefore, making a pub crawl worth the money.
If a crazy night club isn’t your scene, Lisbon also has more upscale bars in the city that offer a more luxurious feel. These typically still charge a cover fee but are chiller and play music that isn’t as danceable.
FREEBIE ~ Travel Itinerary and Budget Template
I created this super easy to use, completely customizable travel itinerary and budget tracker for a 6 day trip. You can use this to plan out your must-eats and must-sees in Lisbon or anywhere you go. You can also track how much you want to spend on souvenirs and sightseeing so you don’t overspend!
Sign up for a Free Canva account to take advantage of this simplified checklist. It will help keep your traveling must-dos and budget all in one place.
Lisbon Has 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
There is so much history in Lisbon, with 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit and appreciate. There is Baixa, Belém Tower, and Jerónimos Monastery. You can visit these by yourself or as part of a guided tour. Click on the pictures or text below to see tour options you can book today.
Sites like these bustle with amazing culture and history that honestly can’t be found anywhere else. Many European cities/towns have rich history, but to say you visited 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites is a lot cooler for the scrapbook.
Along with the beautiful Heritage Sites, Lisbon has many other historical buildings with immense character. There are massive churches you can visit, shopping malls, and even the oldest bookstore in the world! If you like coffee as much as I do, you can even wander toward the back of the library to enjoy their literary-themed cafe. There is so much to do and see! If you haven’t booked your trip yet, I recommend going for no less than 4 days.
So, if you’re wondering why to visit Lisbon, it is extremely underrated as a city but also as a vacation spot. Americans tend to go to Spain or Italy for a vacation but they’re missing out on all of the amazing food, nightlife, local wine, and heritage that Lisbon has to offer. You can read more about my Portugal experience in my blogs HERE.
Omg Lisbon looks amazing 😍can’t wait to try everything!!
I can’t wait either!! There’s so much to do here!