Lisbon · Historic Centre

Your guide
to Lisbon

Groceries around the studio, the best-reviewed tables nearby, and the city's essential monuments, viewpoints, streets and traditional tascas.

Around the studio

Groceries & the market next door

The big supermarkets of the historic centre are a short walk away — and there are small minimercados in the streets around Campo de Santa Clara for basics.

Pingo Doce — Santa Apolónia

Full supermarket by Santa Apolónia station — an 8-minute walk downhill, with everything from fresh bread to household basics.

Supermercado · 7:30–22:00
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Mercado de Sapadores

Traditional covered market — fresh fish, butcher, fruit and vegetables, about 12 minutes uphill towards Graça.

Mercado tradicional
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Feira da Ladra

Lisbon's legendary flea market, literally next door to the studio — Tuesdays and Saturdays, best early in the morning.

Terças e sábados · 9:00–18:00
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Nearby

The best-reviewed restaurants around the house

The highest-rated tables within a few minutes' walk of the studio — ratings from travellers on Google and TripAdvisor.

Agulha no Palheiro

Contemporary Portuguese in a tiny dining room — one of the neighbourhood's highest-rated tables; book ahead.

4.8 ★ · 800+ avaliações · €€–€€€
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Bistrô Gato Pardo

Cosy bistro with a bold, short menu — the pasta gets rave reviews.

4.7 ★ · 1.200+ avaliações · €€–€€€
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Augusto Lisboa

All-day dining near Campo de Santa Clara — great brunch, healthy plates and vegan options.

4.8 ★ · 2.100+ avaliações · €€–€€€
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O Tasco do Vigário

Seafood tasco — the Greek-style cod and the generous portions are the ones to order.

4.6 ★ · 600+ avaliações · €
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Beco a Sério

Small wine-led kitchen — the octopus is the dish to order.

4.6 ★ · 450+ avaliações · €€–€€€
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O Vinhaça Tapas & Vinhos

Tapas and Portuguese wines — the octopus salad and the blue tuna stand out.

4.8 ★ · 550+ avaliações · €€–€€€
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Menina Sardinha

Sardines and codfish done with love — a homemade feel.

4.8 ★ · €€–€€€
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Orquídea

Portuguese wine bar — sardines, prawns in curry butter and rare bottles.

4.9 ★ · €€–€€€
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Stō Restaurante

Refined Portuguese tasting menus in an intimate room.

4.9 ★ · 1.000+ avaliações · €€–€€€
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O Beco — A Tradição do Bacalhau

Codfish (bacalhau) in every form — a modern take on the tradition.

4.4 ★ · 800+ avaliações · €€–€€€
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Petisqueira Conqvistador

Petiscos near the field — chorizo on fire and the gazpacho.

4.5 ★ · 600+ avaliações · €
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Santa Clara dos Cogumelos

Mushrooms take centre stage — a few steps from the studio.

4.7 ★ · 690+ avaliações · €€–€€€
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Miss Can — Petiscaria

Tinned-fish (conservas) petiscos done with flair — and you can buy the cans.

4.6 ★ · €€–€€€
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Eat like a local

Traditional tascas

Old-school tascas that survive — many with fado. They're small and they fill up: book ahead or arrive early.

Tasca do Chico — Bairro Alto

The temple of fado vadio — improvised fado most nights, chouriço assado and cheap wine.

Rua Diário de Notícias 39 · até às 2:00 · €
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Tasca do Chico — Alfama

The second house, in the heart of Alfama — same fado, much closer to the studio.

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Zé dos Cornos

Tiny tasca in the Mouraria — book ahead or queue with the locals.

Beco dos Surradores 5 · reservar · €–€€
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O Velho Eurico

Petiscos and vinho verde on Martim Moniz's square — very local.

Largo São Cristóvão 4 · €–€€
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A Baiuca

Fado vadio inside a family dining room — reserve well ahead.

Alfama · reservar · €€
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O Trevo

The bifana institution on Camões square — a counter, a beer, a pork sandwich.

Praça Luís de Camões 48 · €
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As Bifanas do Afonso

Old-school bifanas since the 1970s, on the walk down to Baixa.

Rua da Madalena 146 · €
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A Provinciana

A tasca frozen in time near Rossio — presunto, queijo and the stews of the day.

Travessa do Forno 23 · Rossio · €
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O Zé da Mouraria

Generous petiscos — chocos fritos and iscas — in the birthplace of fado.

Rua João do Outeiro 24 · €–€€
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Lisbon

Monuments not to miss

From the church next door to the icons of Belém — the essentials, starting with what you can see from your window.

Panteão Nacional

Santa Engrácia church, 5 minutes away — the tombs of Amália and the fado heroes, and a terrace with river views.

5 min a pé
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Igreja de São Vicente de Fora

Right behind the Feira da Ladra — a monastery with tiled cloisters and views from the towers.

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Sé de Lisboa

The cathedral, Lisbon's oldest church — don't miss the cloister and its archaeological diggings.

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Castelo de São Jorge

The Moorish castle above Alfama — the classic view over the red rooftops all the way to the river.

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Praça do Comércio

The grand yellow square opening onto the Tagus — the gateway to Baixa.

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Arco da Rua Augusta

Climb to the top of the triumphal arch for a rooftop-level view over the square and the river.

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Elevador de Santa Justa

The neo-Gothic iron lift connecting Baixa and Chiado — best photographed from the Carmo terrace.

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Convento do Carmo

The roofless Gothic church left by the 1755 earthquake — now a beautiful open-air museum.

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Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

The Manueline masterpiece of Belém, resting place of Vasco da Gama — UNESCO World Heritage.

Belém · tram 15
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Torre de Belém

The fortified tower on the Tagus — the postcard of the Age of Discovery.

Belém
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Padrão dos Descobrimentos

The Discoveries Monument, shaped like a caravel's prow — great view from the top.

Belém
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Museu Nacional do Azulejo

The tile museum tracing 500 years of azulejos, in a former convent — a short ride towards Xabregas.

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The views

Viewpoints of the seven hills

Lisbon is a city of seven hills — these are the terraces to enjoy them from.

Miradouro das Portas do Sol

THE postcard of Alfama's rooftops — 5 minutes from the studio, with a café terrace.

5 min a pé
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Miradouro de Santa Luzia

Azulejo panels and vine-covered arches, right next to Portas do Sol.

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Miradouro da Graça

A terrace café under the pines, with the castle right in front of you.

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Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

The highest viewpoint in the city — the classic spot for sunset.

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Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara

A garden terrace looking across Baixa at the castle — with a map in tiles.

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Miradouro de Santa Catarina

The sunset hangout by the Adamastor statue, looking at the 25 de Abril bridge.

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Streets & rides

Streets, squares & the tram

The streets that make the city — from the lanes under the studio to the postcard funiculars.

Alfama — as ruelas

Get lost in the lanes below the studio — laundry on the windows, fado in the corners, tiny squares.

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Rua Augusta

Baixa's grand pedestrian avenue, running from the triumphal arch to the river.

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Rua das Flores

Flower street — street art, natural-wine bars and brunch spots.

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Chiado — Largo do Chiado

Elegant Chiado: bookshops, historic cafés (A Brasileira!) and the way up to Carmo.

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Praça Luís de Camões

The square where Bairro Alto begins — everyone meets 'no Camões', under the poet.

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Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo

The postcard funicular street — ride it down, or photograph it from the top.

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Rua Nova do Carvalho

Pink Street, the old red-light street of Cais do Sodré — now the heart of clubland.

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Bairro Alto

Mystic by day, wild by night — the 16th-century quarter of tiny bars.

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Elétrico 28

Ride the vintage tram — it passes by Portas do Sol on its way from Graça to Estrela.

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LX Factory

A creative hub of studios, bookshops and rooftops under the bridge — tram 15 from Cais do Sodré.

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Day trips

Sintra in a day

The hilltop town of palaces and mysteries — 40 minutes by train from Rossio station. Our route, and the best-reviewed monuments.

1

Train from Rossio

About 40 minutes from Rossio station — leave early, the palaces are best before the crowds.

2

Palácio da Pena first

Bus 434 up the hill — book the timed ticket online, well in advance.

3

Castelo dos Mouros

Right next door — walk the medieval walls with views all the way to the Atlantic.

4

Lunch in the old town

Down in the historic centre — and don't leave without trying the queijadas de Sintra.

5

Quinta da Regaleira

The afternoon belongs to the gardens, tunnels and the famous Initiation Well.

6

Still have time?

The National Palace in the village, or Monserrate in its exotic gardens — then the train back.

The best-reviewed monuments

Palácio da Pena

The fairytale palace on the hilltop — a Seven Wonder of Portugal and Sintra's icon.

4.6 ★ · bilhete com hora online
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Quinta da Regaleira

Gothic palace and mysterious gardens — the Initiation Well is one of the most photographed places in Portugal. #1 of Sintra on TripAdvisor.

4.8 ★ · 14.000+ avaliações
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Castelo dos Mouros

9th-century Moorish walls winding along the ridge — Atlantic views from the towers.

4.5 ★ · 6.800+ avaliações
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Palácio de Monserrate

An exotic hidden gem — palace and botanical gardens, far from the crowds.

4.7 ★
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Palácio Nacional de Sintra

The village's white palace with the iconic twin chimneys — a thousand years of royalty.

En el centro de la villa
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Day trips

Cascais in a day

The royal seaside town — 40 minutes on the coastal train from Cais do Sodré. A relaxed route along the coast.

1

Train from Cais do Sodré

The coastal train runs along the Tagus for about 40 minutes — sit on the left for the water.

2

Old town & Praia da Rainha

Wander the lanes down to the tiny queen's beach and the bay.

3

Santa Marta & the museum

The striped lighthouse and the Condes de Castro Guimarães palace-museum, right by the sea.

4

Boca do Inferno

A 25-minute seaside walk to the dramatic cliff chasm where the Atlantic crashes in.

5

Santini ice cream

The institution since 1949 — queue like everyone else.

6

Cabo da Roca at sunset

Bus 403 or an Uber: the westernmost point of continental Europe, 140 m above the sea.

7

Optional: Praia do Guincho

Wild dunes and Atlantic surf, between Cascais and the cape — one of the highest-rated beaches in the country.

The best-reviewed stops

Praia da Rainha

The tiny sheltered beach hidden in the old town — a favourite of Queen Amélia.

4.6 ★
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Farol de Santa Marta

The striped lighthouse with a small museum, by one of the prettiest bays on the coast.

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Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães

A palace-museum full of treasures — bookshop, tiles and a tower, right on the seafront.

4.7 ★
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Boca do Inferno

The 'Mouth of Hell' — the cliff chasm where the waves explode.

4.6 ★ · 20.000+ avaliações
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Praia do Guincho

Wild dunes and Atlantic surf — kites and boards all year round.

4.8 ★ · 58.000+ avaliações
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Cabo da Roca

Where Europe ends — cliffs facing the open Atlantic, unforgettable at sunset.

4.7 ★
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Santini Cascais

Ice creams since 1949 — arguably the best in Portugal.

4.5 ★ · desde 1949
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