Lisbon is a cracking city. You know this, we all know this. It's been the number one city break destination filling up your Instagram feed for the past two years.
And for good reason too. It's beautiful, it's affordable, the locals are brilliant, its approach to tech businesses and remote working has attracted young people from all over the world, and the food? Don't even get me started on how gosh darn delicious the food is.
Personally, my best tip is to rent one of the thousands of electric scooters that you can find (literally) littered all over the city – download the scooter company's app (there are several different ones), swipe the scooter, and you're off. Scoot along the seafront all the way down to the Belém Tower (it's about seven kilometres but you're scooting, and if it's a sunny day it's a delight).
On a more sombre note, and for a fascinating slice of history you probably know little about, take time to visit the brilliant Museum of Aljube, where members of the resistance who opposed the Portuguese dictatorship (1926-1974) were imprisoned – many never to be seen again.
Elsewhere, there's the LX Factory, a bustling hive of artists and foodsellers (think Boxpark but with actually independent stores – the bookstore there is unreal). Get lost wandering the streets in the Alfama district up to the castle, take yourself over to the Mercado de Santa Clara for a mix of bric-a-brac and art, and hop from €2 beer bar to €2 wine bar in the tiny-but-packed backstreets of Bairro Alto – just north of Calcada do Combro. Omg and do brunch. Do it twice a day. No one outside of Australia does brunch better than Lisbon.
With summer coming up, the Money Diaries Facebook Group have been excitedly chatting city break plans – with a nod to finances, of course. What are their best tips for a fun but budget-friendly trip to Lisbon? Click through to find out and add your tips at the bottom!
Go to Sintra! It's about 45 mins outside of the city but 100% worth the visit, it's one of the loveliest places I've ever been!
-Abby
Sintra is incredible. Visit the Quinta da Regaleira. It’s an absolutely beautiful 20th century estate and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I spent a good half-day wandering around the site and soaking in the culture/history – I found caves, waterfalls, buildings, etc. It’s truly magical! Plus I remember it being super reasonable; only a few euros entry per person. Then you can stroll back into Sintra and pick up something from the bakery... such a chilled out and picturesque place.
-Chloe
Defs go to Sintra (it was really cheap and easy on the train, don't pay for a group tour. The queues at the station can be really long, but there's a little shop upstairs in the station which sells tourist tickets to Sintra for like 8€).
-Rebecca
You must go to A Nossa Casa in Bairro Alto! The food is unreal! Sintra, Time Out Market and Tram 28 are also a must!
-Sofie
A Valenciana for piri piri – stupidly cheap and so delicious. By The Wine is a super cool bar and has delicious (and cheap) vino verde. Time Out Market also rules, Alexandre Silva in the top left corner is my favourite and apparently you would pay three times the price for the same dishes in their restaurant. Sintra is a great day out (though fewer food choices), and Cascais along the coast is a pretty beach town. Back in Lisbon itself, Bairro Do Avillez had some of the best food I've had in my life; still dream about the pork belly sandwiches.
-Jo
Atalho Real for steak! O Talho is also tasty.
-Polina
Cascais is great, LX Factory, Time Out Market, also defo try walking into the little "mom and pop" places tucked away for dinner. Had some of the best meals of my life for about €6!
-Rhiannon
Pharmacia near the docks.
-Sophie
Pharmacia is mad. It's an old pharmacy (duh) in a huge mansion with a stunning view from the front garden but like, it's pharmacy themed. They've kept all the old medicine bottles and the like and named all the cocktails after medicines (tbf they're so good they probably cure literally anything).
-Jess
The Garden Rooftop or Park Bar for cocktails at sunset. Oh and the best pastel de nata are definitely from Manteigaria!
-Pamela
Definitely visit Cervejaria Ramiro – the famous seafood restaurant Anthony Bourdain visited and sampled their "dessert". Day trip to Sintra! Take part in a Sandemans Walking Tour (they’re free!). Belém also is a shout. Enjoy your trip!
-Flora
Omg I could write a whole essay on brunch places in Lisbon. This is a city that does brunch very, very well indeed. Cafe Janis is divine. Fauna & Flora is banging (beware on weekends, there will be a queue around the block). Then there's Copenhagen Coffee Lab (obvs not Portuguese – it's a Danish chain which sadly hasn't made it to the UK. The one underground in Alfama is grand). Pois Cafe in the Alfama district is wonderful. Zenith too is meant to be brilliant. I didn't make it there though. I want to go back and eat 57 avocados.
-Jess
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