31 best things to do in Sintra
Sintra is Lisbon’s best day trip, for sure. Each year millions of visitors flock to the UNESCO World Heritage Sintra village to explore enchanting 19th-century palaces and eat a travesseiro. But there’s much more to do here than tick off the top sights and twirl around a palace (though there are plenty of opportunities to […]
Guide to the best food tours in Lisbon
A food tour is my favourite way to get to know a new destination, and Lisbon is a prime place to explore via your stomach. As you traverse its hilly cobbled streets you’ll soak up history as you sip ginjinha, snack on pastéis de bacalhau, and hear tales and legends about the city. Portugal’s capital […]
Portugal Road Trip: Where to stop between Lisbon and Lagos, Algarve
If you have at least five days or even a week in Portugal, you might like to skip south and explore two regions – the capital, Lisbon, and Lagos on the sunny Algarve coast. While you can zip between the city and this charming coastal town in under three hours, if you have the time […]
Where to Find the Best Views in Lisbon: 11 Top Miradouros
They say Lisbon is the city of seven hills, which is a lie. There’s more than seven, a fact you quickly learn while walking up what feels like non-stop staircases on your first day in the city. But many hills means many viewpoints and lookouts. At the top of any Lisbon hill you’ll almost always […]
Where to Find the Best Pastéis de Nata in Lisbon – 2025 Edition
How many pastéis de nata could you eat on a holiday to Lisbon? Our friend Jayden smashed 30 on his trip to Portugal, but I will say that not all of them were prime pastéis. The man was on a mission to eat at least two Portuguese custard tarts a day, picking them up from […]
Local’s Guide to Feira da Ladra, Lisbon’s Famous Flea Market
If I have a free Saturday morning in Lisbon I love to venture over to Alfama and kick around the Feira da Ladra market. You never know what you’ll find at Lisbon’s oldest flea market – it’s been in existence since the 12th century – and that’s the joy of the hunt. Vendors at Feira […]
6 best food markets in Portugal
My favourite way to get to know a place is through its food, and there’s no better place to start than at the source – the local fresh produce markets. Every town and city in Portugal is home to permanent market halls filled with fruit and veg vendors, fish wives, butchers, cheesemongers and spice stalls. […]
Portugal Road Trip: Where to stop between Lisbon and Porto
Most people visiting Portugal for the first time are keen to visit Lisbon and Porto, the biggest and second-biggest cities. But driving three hours directly from one to another skips out on coastal gems, medieval walled villages, wine regions, castles, and plenty of culture. Yes, Lisbon and Porto are two distinct cities with unique architecture, […]
Where to find the best Portuguese street food and snacks in Lisbon
Updated Apr 27, 2025 There’s nothing more comforting than knowing you can get a snack at any hour. From hot sandwiches like bifanas and pregos, to petiscos (tapas) of snails and prawns and an overwhelming range of eggy treats, Lisbon is not short of snacks. Hell, there’s even an entire 5pm meal, dedicated to hoeing […]
Best places to eat octopus in Lisbon
One question I get asked a lot is where is the best spot to eat octopus in Lisbon. It seems every traveller coming to visit wants to try great octopus dishes in Portugal, whether that’s a traditional Polvo à Lagareiro or a simple octopus salad. It’s true – octopus is a favourite ingredient in Portugal. […]
Where to buy authentic souvenirs in Lisbon
Souvenirs don’t have to be tacky fridge magnets or novelty mugs. Take home gifts with a little more heart when you visit Lisbon. From ceramics made in Portugal and works by local artists to traditional brands and objects, here are 13 stores you can browse for authentic Portuguese souvenirs in Lisbon. Of course, as with […]
Sardines & pimba: Your 2025 guide to Lisbon’s Santo António Festival
Every June the smell of sardines and sound of pimba music ricochets through the narrow cobbled streets of Lisbon‘s most traditional neighbourhoods. The start of summer is a wild and wonderful time to be in the Portuguese capital. In late May locals start constructing temporary bars and barbecues, and hang colourful streamers and decorations ahead […]