What to see in Portugal with XcelTrip. Best Places of Lisbon
It is difficult not to be fascinated by Lisbon’s charm! Look around! The showy trade zones are found side by side with the cozy streets, magnificent castles, and multicolored small houses, decorated with the bright Abaciscus. Anyway, a mass of pleasant surprises and pleasures are waiting for you at every step. Here are a few recommendations about what to do and what to see in Lisbon, save your money by booking your hotels or flights at XcelTrip.
Travel around in the yellow tram
The yellow tram is as legendary a Lisbon symbol as the red call-box is considered to be a symbol of London. The most interesting route is № 28. It goes through the ancient part of the city: from Campo Ourique to Martim Moniz city square. At times, the tram goes through the narrow streets: you can touch the stony houses, putting out your hand through the small tram window.
Advice: be careful and try not to leave your personal things unattended. There is always a chance to meet pocket lifters in the city transport.
Watch Lisbon from a birds’ eye view
St. George Castle (Castelo de S. Jorge) is seen from every point of Lisbon. It was a time, when this castle was the property of Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Portuguese monarchs. This castle is a museum now: the gardens are full of peacocks as far as viewing posts are full of tourists, admiring Lisbon panoramic views.
You can get here by tram № 28. Do not miss the beautiful souvenir shop with the Portuguese dishware, hand-made toys and magnets. The working hours are November-February from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. In the period from March till October the museum works from 9 a.m. till 9 p.m.
Listen to Fado
Fado is not just music, but the cultural property of people. You do not need to learn Portuguese to feel the deepness of Fado melodies. You can hear fado everywhere: from the opened windows, music shops, in the excursion buses. You can also come to the special Museum to listen to fado alive.
Oh, do not miss the number of restaurants in the districts of Bairro Alto, Alfama and Madragoa. The concerts usually start at 9–10 p.m. The entrance is usually free -just as the food and drinks cost much more expensive. What to eat in Lisbon? Petiscos, petiscos, petiscos.
The “petiscos”. Learn how to spell this word if you want to get the best of Lisbon food culture: petishkus. Many of you wrongly know them as tapas, which is a Spanish expression for nibbles and snacks. Portuguese are proud to have their tasty “petiscos” because food is all about people — the sort of finger licking, beer sipping, wine tasting and conversation inducing experience. You mainly need your hands, a fork for some messy saucy dishes, and of course, bread to dip and/or escort food to your mouth! It’s always something with bread, that’s just how the Portuguese roll.
Advice: Portuguese restaurants are full of starters. Even if you did not order all those tasty treats, you can try any of them. Just remember that all these foods will be included in your calculation. This is not a way to trick out your money — it is just a local tradition.
Admire azulejos
Painted enameled stoneware that makes Lisbon so charming and interesting is called azulejos. It is not only aesthetically pleasant, but practically functioned: azulejos protects buildings’ fronts from being wet. You have a chance to see the ancient tile panel picture of Lisbon in the St. Roque Church. Actually, there is no need to go somewhere to find azulejos compositions. Just look around! This is the most popular decorating material in Portugal — the visiting card of the country.
For a perfect vacation in Lisbon, pay attention to XcelTrip . Choose from over 450+ Airlines, 2.3m hotels worldwide. Take a break with your family or friends now! To get started, ensure you are registered with XcelTrip at the time of the transaction.
Oh, I absolutely agree! Lisbon is a gem with so much to offer. I loved riding the iconic yellow tram and feeling the city's history through its narrow streets. The views from St. George Castle were breathtaking! Lisbon holds a special place in my heart, and I can't wait to go back and explore even more. However, this year I decided to travel around the country more, so I'm currently reading guides like miami where to stay. Happy travels to all!