This summer, my family and I went to visit Lisbon. Lisbon is the capital city of Portugal and one of the oldest cities in the world. Its history is rich, and the city is filled with enriching museums and dazzling churches. The city is home to brightly colored buildings and the iconic Portuguese tiles that line the charming streets. 

My family and I spent a week in Lisbon, traveling from LAX to Montreal and then to Lisbon. We stayed at the Hotel NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade, located on the famous Avenida da Liberdade. The hotel offered a beautiful view of the city, including St. George’s Castle and the vibrant buildings. After unpacking, we explored the city center and enjoyed a delicious meal at McDonald’s. We then dined at Rubro, a restaurant that I would rate 9/10 for its filet steak and fries.

On the second day, we visited Belem, a historic district in Lisbon, where we saw the Marques de Pombal statue, the Estrela basilica, and the Empire Square Garden. We also visited the Jeronimos Monastery, famous for its intricate architecture and the resting place of Vasco da Gama. The Church of St. Maria of Belem was also a visit. We then visited the Monument of Discovery, where we took photos of the Tagus River and Ponte 25 de Abril bridge. We also visited the Belem Tower, which was closed by the time we arrived. After sightseeing, we returned to the hotel for dinner at a restaurant that served Fado, a traditional Portuguese music genre with a melancholic essence.

On the third day, we visited the Royal Jewelry Museum and the Royal Palace Museum, where we observed the royal palace’s unique rooms and tasks. We then took a hop on hop off bus to Lisbon, visiting the historic Águas Livres Aqueduct, the national park (Parque das Nações), and the National Tile Museum. The tile museum showcased detailed tiles, primarily blue and white, influenced by the Qing Dynasty. We then visited St. George’s Castle, built in the 12th century. We ended the night with dinner at a small restaurant called Taberna Anti Dantas, where we enjoyed sea bass.

On the fourth day, we visited the Lisbon Earthquake Museum, where we reenacted the 1755 devastating earthquake. We had lunch at Pastéis de Belém, a pastry shop known for their famous cream tart, Pastel de Nata. We also visited the National Museum of Ancient Art, which took about 3 hours to explore. We also took the Santa Justa lift to enjoy the stunning view of Lisbon. Lastly we ate dinner at Cafe Niccola, where I had a salmon filet with roasted potatoes.

If you are looking to take a vacation, I highly recommend looking into traveling to Portugal, as I enjoyed my stay heavily!

Travel books about Portugal are available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. They are also available to download for free from Libby.