Weekend Trip Round-Up: Portugal
November 27, 2017
As I have talked about a bit before, our independent study period gives us a lot more flexibility with our schedules and finally gave some extra time for long weekend trips. The first destination on my list was Lisbon, Portugal.
Lisbon, or Lisboa in Portuguese, was a dream. A mix of Mediterranean and European styles, Lisbon was a warm and fun getaway from the chilly hustle and bustle of Geneva. We had a great time walking along the winding (and extremely uneven) cobblestone streets and buying as much food as we could to take advantage of the lower prices (coming from Geneva any meal under $20 is basically free).
Here's a round-up of everything that I recommend checking out if you ever find yourself in the capital of Portugal:
Tile
TAP Portugal
The Portuguese national airline was a pleasant surprise. It was cheap, on time, and the staff was so nice. Additionally, the seats had power outlets and a little stand to hold your phone while you watch Netflix. Think that was all? You're wrong. They also gave out free snacks and drinks. Obrigada, TAP.
Time-Out Market
Probably, a little touristy, but Time Out Market was a fun and bustling food court right near the ocean and the Portuguese government plaza. The market had EVERY kind of food, including this gorgeous double layer burger. If you're in Portugal, be sure to stop by here for a fun dining experience. Just be sure to save some time for finding a table.
POP Cereal Cafe
Probably the greatest little surprise of our trip was this cereal bar that we stumbled upon in Barrio Alto. For only 5 euros you get a delicious bowl of cereal and they even put a scoop of ice cream on top, because why not. Eat breakfast here, eat dinner here, eat here in the middle of the night, just get here okay?
Sintra, Portugal
About an hours train ride from Lisbon is Sintra, home to two historic castles and a pretty cool chateau style palace. Another tourist-y site, but well worth a day's visit. It's famous for good reason. Take a tuk-tuk to the top of the hill, and enjoy the views as well as the ancient architecture.
Sardines
Sardines are a national institution in Portugal, and for good reason. Every local traditional restaurant has grilled sardines on the menu and they are DELICIOUS (although I'm not sure if I ate them right. It's pretty difficult to de-bone them). If you like fish even a little, order the sardines.
This list doesnt't even begin to round up all the amazing things that Portugal had to offer. It was so casually cool without even trying. There were cool shops, there was delicious food, and the view of the sunset over the Vasco de Gama Bridge could not be beat.
0 comments