My favourite city in Europe that I've visited

The continent of Europe boasts many picturesque cities that are all unique in their ways. When people first think of traveling to Europe they think of its largest, most well-known cities like Paris or London. I have visited both of these cities and while I would not label either as overrated they do not rank as high on my list as another city I have visited. Of all the places I have been to in Europe my absolute favourite city is Lisbon, the capital

of Portugal.

In this article, I will explain what I like the most about Lisbon that made my visits to it so unique.

Getting to Lisbon

To start off getting to Lisbon is very easy and getting to and from the airport is as well. Lisbon is served by an international airport with destinations to many parts of the world including, Europe, North America, and Africa. Both times I visited this airport I had no issue waiting in line at security, and the staff are usually friendly. The other perk to this airport is it fairly close to the city center compared to other European airports. With decent traffic, getting to the city center from the airport should take around 15-20 minutes.

Where to stay?

There are lots of places to stay in Lisbon, both expensive and at budget-level prices. I can comment on both since I have visited Lisbon twice, once with my family at a hotel, and the other in a hostel. The hotel I stayed at was called Hotel Tivoli Lisboa. It is located in the city centre just a 10-minute walk from the waterfront. Many nice hotels are located in the city center of Lisbon, but these hotels are not cheap and are not recommended for budget travelers.

If you are budgeting I'd recommend staying in one of Lisbon's hostels. The one I stayed at was called Impacthouse. Though it is located in the far suburbs and is not within walking distance of many attractions, Lisbon is easy to get around by transit. A major bus transfer station was located a block away from this hostel meaning any well-known spot in Lisbon was simply a nonstop bus ride away. Not only are hostels a cheaper option but they are also easy to meet new people. If you are traveling solo, staying at hostels makes it easy to meet people who are also traveling on their own. This way you could meet others like you that you could plan to explore the city with.

Where to eat?

Lisbon has many great dining options. The city is home to many restaurants, each with its unique taste in Portuguese cuisine. One recommendation I have would be to visit the Pastries de Belem shop. This is a shop located in Belem. It is where the first Portuguese tarts were baked. Though lines at this restaurant take a long time the tarts are worth the wait.

I would also recommend visiting the Time Out Marketplace in Lisbon. This is located in the city center just a block away from Lisbon's famous Pink Street. This was a historic marketplace that recently underwent a major renovation. On one part of the building, you'll find a more traditional market that serves locally grown food and crops from the surrounding area. On the other side of the building, there is a food court. At the food court are over 30 food booths that serve many different meals you could imagine. From Burgers to sushi to tacos there is not one thing your'e heart desires you won't find at this food court.

Attractions to visit?

Lisbon is home to so many attractions. Chances are you won't have time to fit all of the essential attractions of Lisbon in one visit. The best way to determine what you want to do is based on the type of traveler you are.

One destination that I highly recommend visiting is the Castelo de Saint Jorge. This is a castle located on a hill in the city center. It can be hiked up but you can also ride the tramway up to the top. It once served as a fortification for the military to overlook anyone who may attack Lisbon. Today it is a monument with a stunning 360-degree view of the city.

If you are visiting Lisbon you must visit the neighborhood of Belem. This may be somewhat of a distance to get to depending on which part of the city you are staying but hosts many marquee attractions.

The most prominent attraction would be the Belem Tower. This tower is located on the coastline. It served as the point of departure for explorers as they set out to find new lands. Though lines to get into the attraction are typically long, it has phenomenal architecture and many displays with important lessons of history.

The other notable attraction in Belem is the Jeronimos Monastery. At the Jeronimos Monastery, the Portuguese royal family used it as a place of worship till the 19th century. This is the best place to see historic Portuguese Gothic-style architecture. Just walking around this monastery allows you to see decorated pillars, groin vaults with wide arches, and tombs of historic Portuguese rulers embedded in the church.

Belem is also home to many great museums including the Stagecoach Museum and the Berardo collection museum. If you get the chance I would recommend visiting both these museums.

Day excursions

Though Lisbon has lots to offer it would be wrong for me not to mention the small town nearby that produces big numbers in tourism.

Sintra is a village located 45 minutes outside of the city center. To get there I would recommend taking the train from Rossio Railway station. Once you arrive, you can take the bus up the mountain or hike, which usually takes 2 hours.

At the top of the hill are two well-renowned attractions. The first is the Castle of the Moors. This is a medieval castle that was built in the 8th century. The castle is a unique monument and an observation point with a stunning view of the surrounding area.

The other well-renowned attraction is the Pena Palace. This was a summer getaway home for the Portuguese royal family from the 18th to 20th century. The palace is notable for being painted in several different colors and having full displays of what a medieval palace looked like during the Middle Ages.

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed my review.