Lisbon for us was love at first sight. It is the city that made us fall in love with Portugal and all things Portuguese.

Ever since that first visit a decade ago, we have kept returning and even though we have ended up adopting Porto as our home town, our love for Lisbon remains as strong as ever.

Here are the top five things we love to do in Lisbon.

1) Praca Luis de Camoes

We fell in love with this quaint little square in the heart of Chiado, with its lovely little kiosk selling coffee and drinks. Sit and chill while sipping on your wine, visit Manteigaria across the street for some freshly baked pasteis or just enjoy watching the people walk by. It remains our must visit place every time we visit Lisbon.

2) Parque Eduardo VII

Located on one side of the Marques De Pombal roundabout, we love visiting this park with its duck pond, gardens and lawns. A perfect place to just chill like a local while watching the dogs play, and enjoy the view of downtown Lisbon while watching the planes coming in to land.

3) Arco da Rua Augusta

Get an iconic view of downtown Lisbon from the top of this archway. Admission is currently Eu 3,50

See a large portion of downtown Lisbon with its mosaic pathways on one side, with the magnificent Praca do Comercio on the other side.

4) Time Out Market

Located opposite the Cais de Sodre Station and Ferry Terminal, this market is a foodie’s delight. The market consists of over 30 food stalls operated by well known chefs along with 8 bars and numerous retail shops. The range of cuisines is vast and the quality of food superb. The place gets incredibly crowded, so be prepared for long wait times. A must visit.

5) Parque das Nacoes

A different side of Lisbon with plenty of commerce and high-rises. Just across the road from Oriente station, you can pop across to Vasco da Gama shopping mall, eat at any of the waterfront eateries or hop on a cable car to view the coastline…there is something here for everyone.

Needless to say, we discover something new to love about Lisbon every time we visit. Thanks to it now being a mere 3-hour easy bus ride from Porto (Pune-Bom vibes :)), we head on over to the big bad city (compared to Porto, at least) at least once every two months.

Have you been to Lisbon? Would you like to know more about what to do and where to eat? Let us know in the comments

Ciao

Sunil