oh yeah this is cool too if the phrase "chapel made of human bones" is something that piques your interest:
http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/portugals-chapel-bones
― japanese mage (LocalGarda), Tuesday, 5 January 2016 17:17 (eight years ago) link
xp sadly
I dunno, was just agreeing with a friend that if we could get a week off we'd go south - when picking a destination we thought of Lisbon without thinking twice, I guess it's maybe some kind of collective unconscious that sometimes surfaces in the consumer choices you make. Or coincidence/misinterpretation.
― niels, Tuesday, 5 January 2016 17:19 (eight years ago) link
that is a SPOOKY looking chapel!
― niels, Tuesday, 5 January 2016 17:20 (eight years ago) link
if you have a week i would probably give porto a go as well. it's a short and pleasant train ride. there's a really good wine tour of the douro valley, from porto, that is quite affordable and idyllic.
hostels really are a major deal in portugal, like if you google best hostels in the world most of the top 10 are lisbon or porto. and not like in a grim way either, these are genuinely really nice. i guess apartments are cheap too tho.
alternatively the very southern tip is interesting in a weird kind of way, there are some strange little islands in the ria formosa near faro - i stayed in a town called olhao about a half hour outside faro. down that way it's very hot and a bit shabby but quite enjoyable nonetheless imo.
maybe avoid faro itself i guess, it seems like sun-seeker destination 101.
― japanese mage (LocalGarda), Tuesday, 5 January 2016 17:26 (eight years ago) link
another option if you wanted three destinations in a week would be lisbon for a few days, then head to south of portugal - then go from faro to seville.
i forget exactly how long the bus from faro to seville is but i don't remember it being a major trip - maybe 4 or 5 hours. and seville is really great - amazing weather and a brilliant atmosphere.
― japanese mage (LocalGarda), Tuesday, 5 January 2016 17:29 (eight years ago) link
lots of great advice, much appreciated
― niels, Tuesday, 5 January 2016 18:05 (eight years ago) link
i got a very nice & hostel-priced airbnb in Bica - not far from bairro alto , but more quiet- all of the "streets" were footpaths/stairs for several blocks in each direction, it was awesome
co-sign on Porto-- it is crumbling magical beauty
― gr8080, Tuesday, 5 January 2016 20:25 (eight years ago) link
it's been said upthread but if you eat meat and/or drink alcohol, i strongly suggest getting wasted and getting one of these the next morning:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesinha
filth of the highest order.
think you can prob get them in lisbon, to varying degrees, but porto is the original home.
another thing you could do, thinking about it, is lisbon to porto and then somewhere like vigo, would be really easy, no journey there more than two hours. vigo is p cool too, spanish seaside town, very faintly trendy. it has a japanese themed spa hotel which had really cheap offers when i was there, tho it might have just been a lucky deal as it was majorly posh.
― japanese mage (LocalGarda), Tuesday, 5 January 2016 23:37 (eight years ago) link
aaaaaahhh that sandwich looks insane. i really want to go to portugal.
― big Mahats (mattresslessness), Tuesday, 5 January 2016 23:39 (eight years ago) link
it is totally crazy. i travelled there for a few weeks hence my contributions here - i arrived in porto really hungover, had a nap in my hostel, then found out what a francesinha was and was eating one like five minutes later. as matt says upthread it's not something you'd want every day, but it actually does taste good.
at the time.
― japanese mage (LocalGarda), Tuesday, 5 January 2016 23:47 (eight years ago) link
rent scooters and ride them to Cascais, it's the perfect day trip
― gr8080, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 01:48 (eight years ago) link
also i never thanked sic for his Berardo museum recommendation- it is so great & is free
― gr8080, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 01:52 (eight years ago) link
I'll see if we can fit in Porto, sounds pretty good. Scooter ride too. I'm veg but we are certainly getting wasted a day or two and I'll recommend the francesinhas to my friend, hehe.
― niels, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 07:34 (eight years ago) link
I didn't realise that beer was an ingredient of a frascesinha. That somehow makes it even more incredible/disgusting.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 10:54 (eight years ago) link
yeah it's a beer gravy! i think sometimes you get port in the gravy too. why not?
― japanese mage (LocalGarda), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 11:11 (eight years ago) link
when I was in Lisbon, I went to the Tile Museum which was almost transcendentally boring.
― The Male Gaz Coombes (Neil S), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 11:26 (eight years ago) link
probably an acquired taste
― niels, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 12:04 (eight years ago) link
yes, it certainly depends on how you feel about tiles.
― The Male Gaz Coombes (Neil S), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 12:08 (eight years ago) link
👊 grady
― glandular lansbury (sic), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 14:29 (eight years ago) link
the best meal i had the whole week i was in portugal was here:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-finestra-lisboa
its not very ~portugese~ and is a pretty boring neighborhood a good 10-20min walk from the ~lisbony~ parts of lisbon, but it was a few blocks from the hotel we stayed in our first night and we just stumbled upon it and had a lovely dinner out on the sidewalk
― gr8080, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 15:53 (eight years ago) link
also when i landed on google street view just now and spotted the woman leaning out a 2nd floor window, i felt the urge to go back something fierce
http://i.imgur.com/s22oJYX.jpg
portugal is a nation of people aimlessly hanging out of windows
― gr8080, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 15:54 (eight years ago) link
when in rome porto:
http://i.imgur.com/3FdIXQw.jpg
― gr8080, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 15:58 (eight years ago) link
anyone recommend some good music venues? cinemas?
― niels, Tuesday, 19 January 2016 12:18 (eight years ago) link
p great photo btw
well THAT was a spectacular city, makes you wanna figure out how to make a living there...
will add to general helpful suggestions that:
1) Mezcal (Bairro Alto) is perhaps the best bar in the world2) Fado was great! (went to Café Luso on impulse)3) Those pastries are indeed fantastic, and the confectionery in Belém was a great place to get them4) There seems to be a lot of semi-secret/very discreet nightclubs where you just knock on the right door and there's a cool party behind it?5) The Hot Club Portugal is a cool jazz club
― niels, Saturday, 27 February 2016 20:25 (eight years ago) link
I've going to Lisbon next month with a friend; she's never visited it, I've been there once 5 years ago, so it'd be nice to hear some more recent tips from people. Based on the earlier visit, I think we should at least check out these:
* The Oceanario* The old monastery in Belem + the pastry bakery (I didn't find the pastries that exquisite, but I guess you have to check them out at least once)* Sintra (we didn't go there when we were in Lisbon with my gf, and I afterwards I regretted skipping it, so this time I definitely want to take the trip there)* The Gulbenkian museum* The fortress on top of the biggest hill (I didn't find it super exciting last time, but our apartment is right next to it, so I think she'll want to at least check it out)
So yeah, what else do you think would be the essential places to go to? I'm particularly interested in classical music venus, places where they have fado gigs, and art or cultural history museums. And if you have any tips on vegetarian or vegetarian-friendly restaurants besides the ones I mentioned upthread (PSI and Terra), that'd be appreciated. I don't eat meat nor fish, so finding places to eat was a bit difficult last time, since Lisbon is clearly a fish-loving city.
― Tuomas, Thursday, 10 March 2016 09:41 (eight years ago) link
I'm really into Fernando Pessoa so the stuff related to him was top of my list, and I enjoyed it a lot.
The modern art museum in Belem justified that trip in addition to the pasteis, too.
― Tim, Thursday, 10 March 2016 09:49 (eight years ago) link
There was a great vegetarian/vegan pizzeria in Rua dos Remedios, Alfaman, very friendly Italian owners, I recommend it. Primarily for take-away. Also a proper Indian restaurant called Gandhi Palace in Rua dos Douradores, near Praca Figueira.
― niels, Thursday, 10 March 2016 10:08 (eight years ago) link
* Sintra (we didn't go there when we were in Lisbon with my gf, and I afterwards I regretted skipping it, so this time I definitely want to take the trip there)
definitely do this. it's full of tourists but as i said upthread, quinta da regaleira is amazing.
― japanese mage (LocalGarda), Thursday, 10 March 2016 10:25 (eight years ago) link
if you go to oceanário this vegetarian restaurant in parque das nações is great:
http://www.miss-saigon.pt/?lang=en
the canteen of the hindu temple is cool too:
http://www.comunidadehindu.org/cantina-chp/
it's in an otherwise boring neighbourhood and not very close to the center, maybe worth the trip if you have the time
this one is nice too:
https://www.facebook.com/BIO.RestauranteVegetariano/
― dbs, Thursday, 10 March 2016 12:34 (eight years ago) link
oh and damas in rua voz do operário. if you're near the castle you will be m/l close to it
for classical try to see something at palácio foz if you have the chance: http://www.gmcs.pt/palaciofoz/pt/programacao-cultural
― dbs, Thursday, 10 March 2016 14:52 (eight years ago) link
ty ilx all of the above duly noted for October
― Daithi Bowsie (darraghmac), Tuesday, 3 May 2016 19:14 (eight years ago) link
I kinda wanna move to lisbon, any ilxors hear abt great job opportunities let me know thx in advance
― niels, Wednesday, 4 May 2016 10:02 (eight years ago) link
I was thinking going there too. Not to live.
― (Henry) Green container bin with face (Tom D.), Wednesday, 4 May 2016 10:23 (eight years ago) link
coincidentally i was in lisbon, maryland yesterday ask me anything
― #amazing #babies #touching (harbl), Wednesday, 4 May 2016 11:21 (eight years ago) link
ty ilx all of the above duly noted for October― Daithi Bowsie (darraghmac), Tuesday, 3 May 2016 19:14 (five months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― poor fiddy-less albion (darraghmac), Monday, 3 October 2016 20:33 (seven years ago) link
I you go to Belém, you should visit the Berardo museum of contemporary art, they have a cool collection and entrance is free:
http://en.museuberardo.pt
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 4 October 2016 10:14 (seven years ago) link
This outdoor flea market had people selling loads of useless crap, but also some cool items, like Portuguese softcore erotic magazines from the '70s or self-made designer shoes. Definitely worth a visit if flea markets are you're thing.
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 4 October 2016 10:18 (seven years ago) link
Oh yeah, and if you go to Sintra (which we did in April, and it was well worth it), don't just go to the sights you can reach by foot, also take a bus visit the Pena Palace on top of the mountain... It's one of the most amazing buldings I've ever seen, like straight out of a Disney movie!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pena_Palace
You don't need to take one of the tourist rides that they advertise downtown, there's a regular municipal bus that takes you up the mountain (while stopping at every major sight) and back down for 3 euros.
Quinta_da_Regaleira in Sintra is also an amazing place, but if you go there, don't just visit the main building, spare some time for the various weird and cool things around the palace area... My favourite of those was the secret underground tunnel leading to the bottom of the "Alchemist's Well", where you can then take the narrow spiral stairs way up. The dude who had all this things built for his palace must've been quite the character!
If you take the train to Sintra from Lisbon, be prepared to queue for the train tickets for a while! We went to the station around 10am on weekday, and we still had to wait abour 20 minutes before we got to the ticket machine. But the trains go there every 30 minutes or so, so it's not a big deal if you miss one.
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 4 October 2016 10:31 (seven years ago) link
Thanks T!
― poor fiddy-less albion (darraghmac), Tuesday, 4 October 2016 13:22 (seven years ago) link
going for a week in a couple of weeks. if I want to try a francescinha, can I just find one in Lisbon, or must I go to Porto?
― droit au butt (Euler), Monday, 24 April 2017 17:28 (seven years ago) link
Interested in the answer here, will go there end of May as well. Had some Francescinhas in Porto two years ago, would not hesitate to call it a mindblowing experience.
― the european nikon is here (grauschleier), Tuesday, 25 April 2017 09:04 (seven years ago) link
You'll certainly find places that serve it but they're unlikely to be as good as the ones you can get in and around Porto. It's a specific Porto thing, and there being a Lisbon/Porto rivalry, plus general lack of interest for regional Portuguese cuisines in Lisbon...you can find better examples of francesinha in Stockwell.
The Gulbenkian currently has an exhibit on Almada Negreiros, a Portuguese visual artist, perfomer and poet who was super-important to Portuguese modernism and surrealism, to give a completley unrelated recommendation.
― Daniel_Rf, Tuesday, 25 April 2017 15:40 (seven years ago) link
Thanks for the Negreiros reference, Daniel_Rf!
― the european nikon is here (grauschleier), Thursday, 18 May 2017 13:15 (seven years ago) link
I've relocated to Lisbon, so if any ilxors fancy a pint (or just an imperial) in this beautiful city, feel free to ilxmail me
― niels, Sunday, 1 October 2017 20:36 (six years ago) link
!!! congrats
what part of the city?
― gr8080, Monday, 2 October 2017 16:10 (six years ago) link
thanks! I'm in Arroios, close to the Alameda station - a very nice area imo
― niels, Monday, 2 October 2017 16:34 (six years ago) link
Planning for upcoming spring vacay in April, was in need of a warm-ish European city with a quaint old town center, and I think Lisbon is the answer, with an overnight trip to Sintra and possibly a 20-hour layover in Casablanca on the way?? It sounds unreal tbh.
Will I go to hell for using Air BnB for accommodations in the Alfama area? Are they displacing ppl from affordable housing/disfiguring the historic city?
― There's more Italy than necessary. (in orbit), Monday, 11 February 2019 22:01 (five years ago) link
it is a paradise of a city you will live it
seville is also brilliant
weve airbnbd a few times there. idk about hell im as lapsed as you are.
― ɪmˈpəʊzɪŋ (darraghmac), Monday, 11 February 2019 22:19 (five years ago) link
Are they displacing ppl from affordable housing/disfiguring the historic city?
Well, yes, but such is life.
― Wee boats wobble but they don't fall down (Tom D.), Monday, 11 February 2019 22:51 (five years ago) link