I Run Like A Girl

We are in Portugal!! Joe and I are here for Chrit and Rene’s wedding this weekend, and we decided to extend our stay in Portugal for 2 weeks. It’s our first international trip together since Mexico last year, and boy were we looking forward to it. I’m enjoying my time here immensely, and it’s wonderful to be in the beginning days with the whole trip to look forward to. 🙂

Just for fun: the last time I was in Portugal was in 2015. I was 21 and had just graduated college, and I worked on a bamboo farm in Odemira. Portugal always had a special place in my heart. It’s wonderful to be back after 9 years where I can share this experience with Joe.

Our time in Lisbon has been filled with traveling slooow and enjoying the vibes of all the different neighborhoods. I have 3 days to recap and a ton of photos to share, so buckle up. 🙂

Day 1: Getting settled + neighborhood sites

We arrived in Lisbon in the late afternoon and checked into our Airbnb. We stayed in Santa Catarina – a quaint neighborhood bordering the more popular parts of Lisbon. I absolutely loved it here because it was quiet but within walking distance of all the fun sites. Also, we had a BEAUTIFUL private rooftop, score.

After traveling for the last 15 hours, I had a surprising amount of energy, so we got out right away to see the neighborhood sites. Immediately, I noticed the charming, historic, old town vibes of our area — there were cobblestone streets, steep hills, and old buildings with chipped paint and tiles handmade centuries ago.

Our first meal! We had dinner at A Obra, a Portuguese tapas restaurant. We were not too hungry, so smaller plates sounded perfect to us.

The restaurant was on Green Street – a cute alleyway paved with potted plants. Perfect Instagram moment.

After dinner, we continued walking to the next neighborhood: Bairro Alto. The vibe here picked up with tourists as this is a central neighborhood of Lisbon known for its nightlife. Even though it was touristy, I felt energized being around people compared to the quiet area where we stayed.

Maybe it was the jetlag, but as we walked around, there were moments when I legitimately thought we were in San Francisco. It’s no wonder why people compare the two cities. The yellow trollies, colorful houses, coastal views, and hilly streets gave me deja vu!

Our Airbnb host recommended Manteigaria for traditional Portuguese egg tarts. I was really looking forward to eating these…

They were absolutely delicious! The filling was a sweet, runny custard with a flakey, croissant-like crust. The first of many egg tarts of this trip. 🙂

Day 2: Belém neighborhood + LX Factory + exploring Baixa + Time Out Market

I woke up ready to party! The jet lag was pretty mild for me which was a blessing. We started the day with breakfast near our Airbnb, and then set out for the morning activity: exploring Belém. Belém attracts tourists as it’s known for its museums, notable monuments, and historic sites. The white marble pavement, manicured garden, and compact sites reminded me of Washington D.C.

Our first stop was the Jerónimos Monastery. We were hoping to go inside, but they were closed on Mondays. We snapped some photos outside and moved on.

Next was the Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument. It was a huge statue right by the waterfront – you can’t miss it when passing through Belém.

Overall, I felt like Belém was just okay. Maybe it’s because we got rained on, but I didn’t love the area as much as other parts of Lisbon. Joe and I both agreed we wanted to enjoy more upbeat vibes, so we headed to LX Factory next. Joe found out about LX Factory, an industrial complex with artsy retailers & unique restaurants. We got lunch, did some shopping, and enjoyed the artsy vibes.

After our morning adventure, we headed back to the Airbnb. The jet lag was hitting Joe more than me, so Joe had some down time while I set out for a solo adventure. I took a walk through Baixa, the shopping center of Lisbon. This area was modern and lined with tall buildings. It was packed with locals and tourists shopping at fast fashion to luxury brands. It reminded me of 5th Avenue NYC.

I stopped at Pastelaria Alcôa, a bakery with fancy hotel dining vibes. I figured I would try another egg tart — it was delicious but overall I preferred yesterday’s spot!

I passed by Arco da Rua Augusta – an ornate 18th-century triumphal arch by the waterfront. I really like this area – it was wide open and had a pristine European feel. I sat by a fountain and people-watched before heading home.

For dinner, Joe and I ate at the Time Out Market, which was recommended by an Uber driver. Time Out was a food court with many savory and sweet restaurant options. It was packed and seemed like the place to be on a Monday night!

We found a handmade pasta shop with outdoor seating, and we enjoyed delicious pasta and ice cream for dessert. 🙂

Day 3: Castelo de S. Jorge + Alfama neighborhood + National Pantheon

The next day, we started off with breakfast and downtime at the Airbnb. The weather is on the chilly side in Lisbon, so we timed our activities with the afternoon warmth. Around noon, we set out for the first activity: Saint Jorge Castle. This is on every “must-do” list for Lisbon, and I was curious to check it out.

The castle was on a hilltop with beautiful views of the city. It was refreshing to get out of the city buzz and be in this peaceful spot. We had our second coffee of the day at a cafe outside of the castle.

The views were beautiful. I loved seeing the cute orange rooftops and the coastal views. To be honest, I enjoyed the area outside of the castle more than the castle itself.

The castle was pretty neat too. It was a large compound, and we weaved in and out of the different sections while Joe read out loud the history of the castle by chatGPT, ha.

After the castle, we headed down the hill for a late lunch. We weren’t too hungry and shared some tapas at Petisqueira Conquistador.

As we continued downhill, we stopped at another viewpoint: Miradouro das Portas do Sol. There were a lot of people taking photos at the viewpoint, so we enjoyed the surrounding gardens.

We continued our descent, and we made it to Alfama neighborhood. Alfama is one of Lisbon’s oldest areas, and the narrow streets were lined with shops and cafes. This is also where musicians play traditional Fado music in the evenings. There was a more grungy vibe here, and this was Joe’s favorite neighborhood in Lisbon.

We continued our walk and passed by the National Pantheon. We decided to buy tickets for 8 euros each and check out the interior. There are SO many historic buildings to visit in Lisbon, and it was somewhat random that we picked this one. We ended up having the best time exploring the building and climbing to the top. The National Pantheon is pretty unassuming, but we found random things amusing, and it ended up being a memorable spot for us.

Next up, our time in Portugal is about to get more social. Our friends have been trickling into Lisbon for the wedding, and we have some fun things planned over the next few days. 🙂 Thank you for reading along, and I’ll see you in the next post!