Charming Lisbon

The City of Light. Queen of the Sea. The City of Seven Hills. These are all nicknames that have formed over the years for Lisbon, basking in the sun by the Atlantic – and there is a valid reason for each of them.

Finnair's direct flights from Helsinki take you to the Portuguese capital in just under five hours. But what are the best parts of a city break in Lisbon? Vasco Teixeira, A350 Operative Support Engineer at Finnair, who was also born and raised in Lisbon, shares his best recommendations for a memorable trip under the sun.

Wander through the wonders of the city

Up and down, up and down – and up again. Make sure to pack your most comfortable walking shoes for your trip to Lisbon. Like Rome, the city is built on seven hills and there’s a lot of height elevation – accompanied by wonderful views. A particularly nice view of the city you can get from Saint George’s Castle, as it was built on the highest point of the city.

The best way to get to know Lisbon is by foot, while admiring decorative houses with mosaic patterns and feeling the bohemian vibe of the city. In between sightseeing, Vasco recommends stopping for a bica, an espresso, multiple times a day as the locals do. And when you get tired of walking, why don’t you hop on the Lisbon tram, funicular or city-built elevators, which make it easier to move around the steepest differences in height.

The little yellow trams date from the 1930s and are one of the symbols of Lisbon. The number 28 tram is especially popular with tourists. It takes you past the most famous sights, cathedrals and squares, passing through the popular areas of Graca, Alfama, Baixa and Estrela. Travelling the route from start to finish takes about 50 minutes and costs three euros.

A nice walking route also runs along the banks of the Tagus River from the centre to the Belém Tower, which was built in the 16th century to protect Lisbon from attacks. In this area, you’ll also find Vasco’s favourite spot in Lisbon, the Cultural Center of Belém, in which you can visit contemporary art and architectural museums, and take a break in the surrounding gardens and outdoor areas. Have a cup of coffee in the beautiful Olive Tree Garden overlooking the river and admire the 25th April Bridge also known as the Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge. This 2-kilometre-long bridge resembles San Francisco's Golden Gate, connecting Lisbon to the municipality of Almada. The main attraction there is the Cristo Rei statue, whose mission is to protect the city of Lisbon.

Not getting enough of the beautiful city views just yet? For some more amazing Lisbon views, Vasco recommends catching a ferry across the river from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas. This inexpensive panoramic experience costs less than two euros. In Cacilhas, walk along the old industrial complex and stop by at restaurant Vale do Rio to enjoy affordable but just as good seafood as on the Lisbon side. Restaurant Ponto Final is another excellent option.

Beach, please!

When you wish to combine a citybreak with a beach holiday, Lisbon truly is a perfect destination for that. According to Vasco, you’ll find Lisbon’s best beaches, plenty of space and easy parking only about a 20–30-minute drive away from the city center or Lisbon Airport. The coast stretches a long way allowing you to choose how far you want to drive and how quiet you prefer it to be. One of Vasco’s favourites is the Praia da Morena beach south of Lisbon. 

Another great beach choice on the Lisbon side of the river is Carcavelos beach towards Cascais. Even though it’s smaller in its size, it’s a nice option with plenty of restaurants and beach bars nearby. Additionally, you can access it easily by train from Lisbon downtown, so you won’t need to rent a car to get there.

A foodie's paradise

A foodie will find a versatile selection in Lisbon from Portuguese dishes to international gourmet restaurants. The star of the local food scene is definitely seafood, but according to Vasco, you can’t go wrong with any freshly grilled fish, grilled meat or a stew. Vasco recommends at least trying the sea bream, any seafood rice stew (arroz de marisco) or bean stew with pork (feijoada).

In case you are wondering where and what to eat in Lisbon, these are some of the best restaurants in Lisbon according to Vasco:

1. O Lutador – enjoy petisco, Portuguese version of tapas
2. O Campino – serves local, traditional Portuguese food
3. Atalho Real – great choice for meat lovers, and as a bonus, comes with one of the nicest terraces in town
4. Café de São Bento – serves the best steak in town
5. O Mercado – try any of the grilled fish here.

However, if the food preferences of you and your travel companions differ, the Time Out Market is an excellent dinner destination, too. The market hall has numerous counters selling different dishes: burgers, seafood, Portuguese classics, tartar, croquettes, stuffed sandwiches, pizza, Asian food and sweet treats. There are groups of tables in the middle of the market hall and each member of the party can compile a meal according to their own preferences with a mojito, wine, beer, or non-alcoholic options.

You’ll also find some excellent restaurants and evening venues in the popular Bairro Alto neighbourhood, which is full of trendy bars and cafes. During the day, the area is very quiet, but after the sun goes down the streets are bustling with people.

Finally, the locals love sweet pastries, especially their own national treasure: pasteis de nata cream pastries. The pastries of the Pastéis de Belém cafe, which was established already in 1837, have become legendary, and the queue at the cafe’s take away counter often reaches far into the next block. On the other hand, you can usually slip into the cafe’s large interior spaces more easily if you are ready to enjoy your delicacies on the spot.

Stunning day trips from Lisbon

About a 40-minute train ride or a half-an-hour-drive away is the fairytale town of Sintra, which is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The old town and the numerous old palaces and castles are many Lisbon travellers’ highlights of the trip. One of the main attractions, the Palácio Nacional da Pena, completed in 1894, is located at the top of the mountain. Its green surroundings are often covered with fog creating a magical atmosphere. However, on rarer clear days, the views from the palace’s balconies are magnificent and reach all the way to Lisbon.

Another day trip option with lots of astonishing ocean views in the Sintra region is Vasco’s top recommendation, Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe. From Lisbon, Vasco recommends to start driving to Cascais along the coast making stops in Estoril, Cascais, Mirador Casa de Santa Maria viewpoint, the Praia de Santa Marta, and Boca Do Inferno to see some huge, crashing waves on a windy day. From there, continue your coastal drive towards Guincho, and stop for some delicious seafood at restaurant Porto de Santa Maria, or for a lighter bite with outdoor seating at Bar do Guincho. Continue uphill towards Malveira da Serra and finally towards Cabo da Roca, with breathtaking cliffs and sea views along the way. 

Lastly, as a third day trip option, Vasco recommends driving south of Lisbon to the old and idyllic fishing village of Sesimbra. Cross the bridge towards Alfarim, making a stop in Lagoa de Albufeira. If you’re already ready for lunch, stop at O Lagoeiro fish restaurant or Cabana do Pescador in Meco beach. For magnificent views, continue to Cabo Espichel and then towards Sesimbra, making a stop at the castle on top of the hill before driving down to the coast and village center. For the best ever grilled fish, Vasco tips to eat at A Tasca do Isaías restaurant. The nearby protected natural area of Arrábida, the Galapinhos beach, Portinho da Arrábida beach and the restaurant O Farol are all worth a visit. Before heading back, make sure to drive uphill to the Miradouro do Portinho da Arrábida viewpoint overlooking the Tróia peninsula.

Enjoy year-round sunshine

If you’re wondering about the weather in Lisbon, the city is said to be one of the sunniest cities in Europe, and that makes it an ideal holiday destination all year round. The summer season starts already in March and ends only at the turn of October-November when the rainy season begins. Still, even in November, you can do just fine in shorts and a t-shirt. 

Even though it rains the most between November and February, the sun still shines every so often during the winter season. The coldest is in January-February when the daytime temperature is slightly above 10 degrees Celsius. Correspondingly, the hottest weather is in midsummer when the temperature can be anything between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius. Fortunately, the winds blowing from the Atlantic make the heat more tolerable. 

Finnair flies daily to Lisbon from Helsinki.