WorldofLauraJane

On a cruise I did at the beginning of March it included an overnight stay at Lisbon, my first day in port was spent doing a shore excursion to Sintra and Cascais which I’ve done a separate post about. 

On my second day in port I chose to spend this exploring some of the city, Lisbon is a city which you sadly can not do in one day.

When you are sailing in or out of Lisbon make sure you go on deck or on your balcony if you have a balcony cabin to enjoy the beautiful sail. During the sail down Tagus river in and out of Lisbon you will sail under the famous Ponte 25 de Abril bridge which is a suspension bridge connecting the city of Lisbon to Almada. 

From the cruise port you are able to walk to the main square Praca do Comercio located in the downtown district. The yellow u-shaped square is a prominent landmark for the city where you are able to find some restaurants. There is the option to board a sightseeing trolley train which will take you to some of the main attractions in the city, I opted not to do this as I wanted to explore by foot. Praca do Comercio was built on the site of the old Royal Palace which was destroyed by an earthquake in the 17th century. As you walk north of the square you will find yourself walking towards the Rua Augusta arch which leads to Rua Augusta boulevard which is lined with shops and cafes. 

After I had spent some time exploring the square I then set off on foot to Lisbon Cathedral also known as Se de Lisboa, this isn’t located too far but it does involve walking up hill. As the oldest and most important church in the city the cathedral has got a predominant Romanesque style.  As you stand looking at the cathedral from the front you are able to see two bell towers which give a more medieval appearance to the cathedral. 

From the cathedral I then set off by foot up the hills and narrow streets towards Miradouro de Santa Luzia which is a spectacular viewpoint but is also a place which is decorated with unique decorative tiles. There is a small garden to walk through as you enjoy panoramic views of Alfama as well as the Tagus River, you will also get a good view of your cruise ship. From here you are also able to see some of the cities main landmarks such as the National Pantheon and the Church of Santo Esteban. 

From Miradouro de Santa Luzia there is a short walk to another view point Miradouro das Portas do Sol where you can see the red roofs of the Alfama houses. After I’d enjoyed the views it was time to take a little break for a drink and a bite to eat. This was where I then stopped at Manteigaria for a coffee along with a traditional Portuguese treat of a Pastel de Nata. 

After I’d filled up I then set off on foot again towards the National Pantheon as I went up and down the hills and narrow streets of Lisbon lined with colourful decorative buildings. 

The National Pantheon is also known as Church of Santa Engracia is a Baroque style building that is the final resting place of some Portugal’s most illustrious figures.  It is a distinctive landmark of Lisbon’s skyline which you will find yourself walking around and admiring the beauty of the building. 

From the Pantheon I then decided with the little time that I had left in the city I would take a slow stroll around the streets of the Alfama neighbourhood as I made my way back to the ship. Alfama is the oldest and most traditional neighbourhood of Lisbon which has many steep streets but also home to some of the best views available in the city. 

One of the most popular modes of transport in Lisbon is to use the tram, one of the most famous lines is line 28 which takes you on a route where you will see most of the main sights in Lisbon. This historic yellow tram goes through the narrow streets of Lisbon from Martim Moiz to Prazeres, this is a route which is very popular and will often be crowded on the tram. Due to the walking route I ended up doing to see the sights that I wanted in the short time that I had to see the city it meant I did most of the route that tram line 28 does by foot.

Lisbon is a city that I would like to return to for a longer period of time so that I am able to see more of the city’s sights such as:

Castelo de Sao Jorge

Pink Street

Belem Tower

When you get off the cruise there is also the option of doing a hop on hop off tour bus but this isn’t something I would recommend doing in Lisbon as I feel you would miss out on seeing a lot due to the narrow streets.