Twelve Reasons I Fell in Love with Lisbon, Portugal
It wasn't easy to choose only twelve!
Lisbon, Portugal lived up to the hype. It’s one of the most interesting places I’ve ever been to! Here are twelve reasons why…
#1. The People
At every turn I was greeted with friendliness and smiles. The people of Lisbon are warm, friendly, and ready to engage in conversation. It’s easy to see they’re proud of their beautiful city, and their joy over Lisbon was contagious, adding an extra layer of magic to my time there.
#2. The Food
Yes, this is often one of the main reasons I fall in love with any place I visit, but the food in Lisbon is truly exceptional. Regional, fresh, flavorful, and bright! I feasted on so many mouth-watering local dishes from croquettes to cod to fresh sardines to Portuguese tarts. Traditional foods have thrived over the years in Lisbon, and it’s one of those places where eating authentic dishes is so very easy.
#3. The History
Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world: it has been inhabited for over 3,000 years. This fact is obvious as you walk around. History oozes out of the walls of this city. Ancient buildings, Roman-era architecture, and opulent edifices from the Age of Discovery when Portugal was a thriving kingdom all coexist. The city looks like nowhere else with its iconic colorful tiles and red roofs. I don’t remember seeing a single modern building during my time there. In fact, everywhere I went looked stately and old.
#4. Rooftop Bars
This is another thing I always seek out when I travel because there is no better way to end the day in a foreign land than with a glass of wine on a rooftop at sunset. But Lisbon is exceptional: it has an abundance of rooftop bars with jaw-dropping views. The city is situated on hills sloping down towards the water, so the views are expansive. I visited several rooftop bars in Lisbon and each one wowed me anew.
#5. The Alfama
Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood fascinated me the most. Its winding streets turn into tiny alleys without warning. Laundry flutters above, strung across the alleyways. Colorful modern street art can be seen at any turn in stark contrast to the ancient buildings. This neighborhood houses many iconic historic sights and a lot of locals. Wandering through the Alfama, I could believe I lived in Lisbon a hundred years ago, especially when the Fado music drifted past me on the evening air.
#6. Fado
That brings me to another one of Lisbon’s historic traditions that has thrived throughout the years: Fado music. A mournful, haunting genre of music, Fado was invented in Lisbon a couple of hundred years ago. It remains alive and well today. You can go to tiny Fado restaurants in the Alfama and eat one of the best meals of your life while being serenaded by a live band and Fado singer. This intimate concert and dinner remains one of my favorite travel memories to date.
#7. Sunshine
Lisbon is the sunniest capital city in mainland Europe. It boasts of about 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. I went in May. It was very sunny but in a pleasant way! The sun bounces off the colorful buildings and warms your visit. Sunny vacations are just the ticket sometimes, and Lisbon is a perfect sunny destination.
#8. Affordability
I’m a diehard budget traveller, and Lisbon was so easy to see on a budget! Happy hour beers can be found at vibrant neighborhood haunts for one euro. Many of the best things to see are free. And the big, local dinners at tiny authentic restaurants in the Alfama are inexpensive. Lisbon on a budget is absolutely do-able.
#9. The Tiles
Okay, all the hype over these glazed ceramic tiles is valid. They started crafting these tiles in the 13th century, and today the old tiles shine brightly next to the modern ones that carry on the tradition. The buildings of Lisbon remain covered in intricate, colorful, hand-painted tiles just as they have for hundreds of years. It’s one of the things that makes Lisbon Lisbon! Plus walking around is a continual feast for the eyes. The whole city is basically an art museum for these tiles.
#10. Coffee Scene
Sometimes, in Europe, it’s hard to find really good specialty coffee. It wasn’t hard in Lisbon! I visited several top-notch specialty coffee shops during my time there. It’s a small thing, but being able to find well-made coffee to start the day really takes your trip to the next level. Plus, all the cafes I found were super cozy, tucked in ancient buildings.
#11. It’s Alive!
Lisbon is hopping! The sunshine, the happy people, the colors all combine to form this explosively buzzing lively place. The energy is contagious but not overpowering. There’s so much to do and see here! Even if all you do is take a walk, it’s so alive!
#12. Santa Pausa
Sometimes there is one coffeeshop or bar that makes your trip. That one spot where you become a regular for a week. The place where your wifi connects automatically or the bartender knows your name. It centers your trip, makes you feel like a local, or just has the coziest atmosphere around. In Lisbon, that place was a tiny bar called Santa Pausa tucked into the same alley as my AirBnb. The owner/bartender treated us like true neighbors for our entire time there, welcoming us wholeheartedly into Lisbon and making us feel at home.
There are so many other reasons I fell in love with Lisbon. It is a uniquely beautiful city, and I look forward to returning again one day to wander aimlessly through the colorful, lively streets.