Hiden (and not so hiden) Lisbon Secrets

These are places or things we enjoy in Lisbon.  We are sharing our list hopping you will help us make it the best one ever by sending your comments and new secrets to share with our other guests. Enjoy...


Castelo area:
  • Merceria do Castelo: right at your door, it is perfect for breakfast, brunch, coffee or just a drink. Hugo the owner is very friendly and helpful.
  • Fundação Ricardo Espírito Santo: Decorative arts museum and school, dedicated to maintain the ancient artisan art works in wood, metal, book binding, casting... http://www.fress.pt/
  • Botto Machado Garden: near the flea market, with a wonderful terrace to take a brunch after the walk around the fair, overlooking the Tagus and the Pantheon. It also has a playground for children. A great program for Saturday and Tuesday mornings.
  • São Vicente de Fora Museum: besides the breathtaking view, it has a collection of La Fontaine fables tiles and a relaxing terrace for having a meal or coffee under the typical portuguese buganvillas trees. Its a good kept secret as it is always empty and it is so relaxing to wonder around those centrury walls and views.
  • Flea Market: Near São Vicente, every saturday and tuesday morning

Baixa / Rossio / Restauradores area:
  • Fragoleto - wait in the queue for an ice cream...(Rua da Prata)
  • Confeitaria Nacional - for the typical portuguese sweets and cakes (Pç. da Figueira). http://www.confeitarianacional.com/home.html
  • Pinoquio Restaurant - very good seafood (Restauradores)

Chiado area:
  • Icecreams:   Santini, best icecream ever now opened in Chiado (rua do Carmo 9)
  • Bookstores: Bertrand and Bucholz, two places with the soul of letters to enrich the spirit
  • Eat: Cafe Royal, Macrobiotic Institute of Lisbon (for vegetarians, Rua Anchieta), Aqui há Peixe, Charcutaria... 
  • Shops: A Vida Portuguesa (where you take a leap back in time and return to the smells and memories of your childhood http://loja.avidaportuguesa.com/) and lots of other normal shops around.
  • Drinks: Have a drink before dinner at the terrace bar of Hotel Bairro Alto in Lg Camões for a drink with a view http://www.bairroaltohotel.com/
Principe Real:
  • Jardim Botânico, a pearl ro relax, never ever crowded...
  • Organic Market: Jardim Principe Real every saturday morning
Other:

  • The Markets -- The big market of Ribeira Nova (Cais do Sodré subway station) is as close as you can get to the heart of Lisbon. Behind the Cais do Sodré train station, an enormous roof shelters a collection of stalls offering the produce used in Lisbon's fine restaurants. Foodstuffs arrive each morning in wicker baskets bulging with oversize carrots, cabbages big enough to be shrubbery, and stalks of bananas. The rich soil produces the juiciest peaches and the most aromatic tomatoes. At the market, women festively clad in voluminous skirts and calico aprons preside over the mounds of vegetables, fruit, and fish. On cue, the vendors begin howling about the value of their wares, stopping only to pose for an occasional snapshot.
  • Estufa Fria (The Greenhouse) -- The Estufa Fria is in the handsome Parque Eduardo VII (at Marques de Pombal subway station, tel. 21/388-22-78), named after Queen Victoria's son to commemorate his three trips to Lisbon. Against a background of streams and rocks, tropical plants grow in such profusion that the place resembles a rainforest. The park lies at the top of Avenida da Liberdade, crowned by a statue of the Marquês de Pombal with his "house pet," a lion. There's a 1.20€ ($1.55) fee to enter the greenhouse, which is open daily 9am to 5:30pm. Metro: Parque or Marquês de Ponbal. Bus: 2, 11, 12, 27, 32, 38, 44, 45, or 83.
  • Cemitério dos Ingleses (British Cemetery) -- The British Cemetery lies up Rua da Estrêla at one end of the Estrêla Gardens. It's famous as the burial place of Henry Fielding, the novelist and dramatist who's best known for Tom Jones. Fielding went to Lisbon in 1754 to try to recover his health; his posthumous tract Journal of a Voyage to Lisbon tells the story of that trip. He reached Lisbon in August and died 2 months later. A monument honoring him was erected in 1830. Ring the bell for entry. Bus: 9, 20, 27, or 38.
  • Gardens and Museums -- Connected with the National Costume Museum and the Theatre Museum is the Parque do Monteiro-Mor, Largo Julio de Castilho, Lumiar. It's one of Lisbon's most beautiful botanical gardens. A restaurant (tel. 21/758-58-52) lies on the park grounds. The park is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Admission is 1.50€ ($1.95) and free for children under 14. It's free to all Sunday until 2pm. A combination ticket with the National Costume Museum (tel. 21/759-03-18) costs 3€ ($3.90) for adults and 1.50€ ($1.95) for students, teachers, and children under 14. Bus: 1, 3, 7, or 36. Metro: Luminar.

To wonder around:




Discover Lisbon from the river: http://www.lvt.pt/en/#/vista-panoramica/
Discover Lisbon on foot by yourself or with some knowledgeable help: http://www.lisbonwalker.com/
Discover Lisbon with alternative ways and with fun:

What we make our guests tell ;-)

Find Lisbon vacation rentals on FlipKey

Follow me on Twitter