Lisbon — Day 2 of a 8-Day Trip in Portugal
We were meeting up with some friends on Day 2. They live in Germany and happened to be in Portugal the same time as us – what a coincidence! We explored multiple areas of Lisbon – Belem, Bairro Alto, and Alfama areas. Note many of the activities and the buses were included on our 72-hour Lisboa card.
Day 2
Lisbon
For the morning, we headed to Belem. First stop Pasteis de Belem, a pastry cafe specializing in pasteis de nata. The cafe has a sit-in area, but we took the Portuguese egg tarts to go and ate them outside the cafe.
Across the street from Pasteis de Belem is the Monastery of San Jeronimo. The line was too long and since we were on a schedule, we observed it from outside only. Beside it is the church, Igreja Santa Maria de Belem. The line was short, so we stopped to visit.
Afterwards, we walked to the water, passing by the Padrao dos Descobrimentos and continuing to the Belem Tower. The Padrao dos Descobrimentos is a monument that was built for the World Fair in 1940.
The Belem Tower line was short so we decided to ascend the tower. Our admission was included in our Lisboa card. The Belem tower was built in the early 1500s and was meant to serve as a beacon for Portuguese explorers.
Next, we headed to LX Factory to meet our friends for lunch. LX Factory consists of what once were industrial complexes turned restaurants and hip stores. Since we were early, we stopped at Ler Devagar Bookstore, which has tons of books, a wine bar, and cool art. We then picked up sourdough bread from a local stall.
For lunch, we went to Central da Avenida and ordered vinho verde, porco preto cured meat, toast with mushroom, sardines in olive oil and oregano, and melted goat cheese. Yum!
We then headed to Ginjinha Sem Rival to have ginjinha, a Portuguese liquer infused with cherries and spices. It was an interesting experience, but it reminded me a bit of cough syrup. Ginjinha is served in a small shot glass with a cherry.
Next stop Sao Jorge Castle, a castle built on a hill with great views of Lisbon. It has history dating back to the 1100s!
After we wandered the castle, we walked to the National Pantheon. It was closed when we stopped by however (~5pm), so we snapped photos and took the bus to the Arco da Rua Augusta.
The Arco da Rua Augusta is located at Praca de Comercio, a large open square by the water. Entry to Arco da Rua Augusta is included in the Lisboa card and offers nice views of Lisbon.
We then walked to the Lisbon Cathedral, took a photo, and headed back to our Airbnb to change for dinner.
We had dinner at Cervejaria Ramiro, a very busy seafood restaurant. We waited about 2 hours for a table. The restaurant must be really used to the busyness – it has a specific area for waiting which serves drinks and snacks as you wait. Once we were seated, we ordered wine, shrimps on garlic, clams on garlic, and scarlet shrimps. The scarlet shrimp was really a surprise to me and was as big as my hand! For dessert, the restaurant brought our steak bifanas. Everything was absolutely delicious!
Complete Day 2 Itinerary
*Travel times may vary. Check Google Maps for most accurate travel details.
9:00am: Have breakfast/pastries at Pasteis de Belem (7 minute bus from Bairro Alto area).
10:00am: Visit Monastery of San Jeronimo and Igreja Santa Maria de Belem (3 minute walk from Pasteis de Belem).
11:00am: Visit Padrao dos Descobrimentos (21 minute walk from Monastery of San Jeronimo).
12:00pm: Visit Belem Tower (11 minute walk from Padrao dos Descobrimentos).
1:00pm: Have lunch at Central da Avenida at LX Factory (13 minute bus from Belem Tower). Visit Ler Devager Bookstore and the boutique shops.
2:00pm: Have a drink at Ginjinha Sem Rival (18 minute bus from LX Factory).
3:00pm: Explore the Sao Jorge Castle (17 minute walk from Ginjinha Sem Rival).
4:00pm: Visit Santa Engracia National Pantheon (14 minute walk from Sao Jorge Castle).
5:00pm: Visit Lisbon Cathedral (17 minute walk from Santa Engracia National Pantheon).
6:00pm: Visit Arco da Rua Augusta and explore Praca de Comercio (7 minute walk from Lisbon Cathedral).
7:00pm: Have dinner at Cervejaria Ramiro (5 minute bus from Arco da Rua Augusta).
16-Day Italy and Portugal Itinerary
Click “Download” below for an excel version of my 16-Day Italy and Portugal Itinerary. Feel free to use the excel file as a planning template for your own trip!
Travels with Carolyne 