Lisbon, Portugal is an excellent honeymoon destination for
those of us who do not want to spend a week sitting on the beach. (If you do love the beach, then check out our reviews of
Jamaica and
St. Lucia .) Lisbon doesn't have sand, but it's right on
the water, and the cliff-side views are amazing! We've listed a few of our favorite spots, and some tourist traps of which to beware.
Castles
There are castles everywhere! These Castle of Moors ruins
(below) will give you a great workout. In fact, all of Lisbon is a great leg
workout. You saw the hills in the photo above. Well, to get to the best sites,
you have to climb all of those hills.
Castle of Moors
But not all castles are the same. It’s pretty rare to find a
castle that isn’t just made of stone. This colorful castle at Sintra is truly
unique (below), and was so huge that we couldn’t even get a proper picture of
it. And, you guessed it, the castle sits on top of another massive hill.
Sintra
History
The one frustrating thing about Lisbon, Portugal, (for us
history buffs, that is), is that the earthquake of 1755 destroyed a lot of the
records. So much of the time you’ll be standing in front of some fantastic site
and there is almost no information about where it came from or the people who
lived there. The best you get is the history of royals who married out into
royal families from other countries whose records survived.
Tourist Spots
Belem Tower
Finally, there are the obligatory touristy spots, the famous
Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. My advice is to admire from the
outside, but don’t pay to go in the tower. The lines are long and it isn’t
worth your money. Instead, spend your $5 on a couple of hot dogs and fresh
lemonade from the nearby food carts and have a picnic in the sun. Maybe I was just
starving, but those Portuguese hot dogs were seriously the best I’ve ever had.
Monument to the Discoveries
Travel Tips
Some practical tips:
1. Skip the Lisbon aquarium. It’s advertised
everywhere in Lisbon, so you’ll start to think it must be something special.
But those of us from Tennessee are used to the fabulousness of the Chattanooga
aquarium and Ripley’s in Gatlinburg. The Lisbon aquarium doesn’t compare, so
don’t waste your money.
2. Consider staying in a hostel. Lisbon hostels are
so nice! We got a private room with a double bed (shared bathroom) for 40 USD a
night.
3. Use the Lisbon metro. If you’ve never lived in a
big city, study the rail map before your trip. I find the metro in the city and
trains to the outer areas is the easiest and cheapest way to get around. You
can put money on a card and just swipe it every time you take a bus or metro
ride.
Share your tips for traveling in Portugal in the comment
section below!