A wonderful four days in Lisbon

A wonderful four days in Lisbon. It was my husbands 70th birthday at the beginning of March so we treated ourselves to a wonderful four days in Lisbon. This post is about our adventures and some recommendations of sites to see, areas to visit and restaurants to enjoy.

The view from our balcony window at the The Santiago de Aflama. A wonderful boutique hotel situated in the old part of Lisbon.

Above I am wearing my navy padded jacket originally from Arket similar. I purchased it several years ago and find it very useful for travelling. Plus my beige trousers similar below:

What I packed and wore for our trip

As you know I love my berets. I usually buy them in St.Tropez market. Etsy do similar ones.

The Cathedral you can see in the background is the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora. Build in 1147 in the Romanesque style. It survived many earthquakes and has been modified, renovated and restored several times. Nowadays it is a mix of different architectural styles.

The second day in Lisbon we visited The Botanical Gardens. They are considered one of the best botanical gardens in Europe. Created in 1873, and its large collection of subtropical vegetation remains impressive today. Many of the exotic plants are neatly labeled, and one that stands out is the Australian Cycad, an unusually-shaped tree with twisting trunks. Another curiosity is the butterfly greenhouse, which is the only one in Europe that’s open to the public.

We spent an hour walking round this enchanting and peaceful garden. It is a treasure trove of plant specimens from different parts of the world, featuring cycads, gymnosperms, palm trees, tropical fig trees, and much much more.

Me on the second level of the The Jerónimos Monastery. It  is one of the most prominent examples of the late Portuguese Gothic Manueline style of architecture in Lisbon. Erected in the early 1500s near the launch point of Vasco da Gama’s first journey. The tax on the profits of the yearly Portuguese India Armadas paid for the construction of the Monastery.

Above shows a fresco set into the monastery wall. If you want to visit the Monastery I would advise you to buy tickets in advance as there are long queues. More information here.

Belém Tower which is officially the Tower of Saint Vincent. It is a 16th-century fortification that served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers and as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon. This tower symbolises Portugal’s maritime and colonial power in early modern Europe.

Visit to The national palace of Pena

The national palace of Pena is a Romanticist castle in São Pedro de Penaferrim. It is situated in the municipality of Sintra, on the Portuguese Riviera. The castle stands on the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains above the town of Sintra, and on a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon and much of its metropolitan area

We spent about an hour exploring this magnificent palace. You need to book tickets in advance and I would advise getting the free bus to take you up the mountain as it is a very steep climb to get there.

We were sad to leave Lisbon. It was a fantastic whirlwind visit and we would love to go back there again as there is so much to enjoy and explore.

9 Comments

  1. Brenda Chell
    15th March 2024 / 20:32

    What beautiful photos Josephine. We love Lisbon, the squares, the trams and the delicious custard tarts. Great shops, some selling almost anything made of cork. Loved seeing the places you visited, thank you.

  2. João Carvalho
    16th March 2024 / 07:54

    Dear Josephine,
    I’m glad you had a good time in Lisbon. I’m just a city guide who happened upon your article.

    Happy travels.

    Best,
    JLC

  3. Bijay
    16th March 2024 / 09:12

    Nice pics

  4. Fred
    16th March 2024 / 12:26

    Wonderful.. going to Lisbon soon thank you for sharing.

  5. Jyotirmoy Bose
    16th March 2024 / 13:14

    Wanted the contact details of Nuno Morales.
    Can’t access your email address.
    Please email me at jyotirmoybose@gmail.com

  6. Faby
    16th March 2024 / 15:08

    Love Lisbon. Going to the same hotel. Can you foward your drivers email and phone

  7. Anne Thai
    16th March 2024 / 16:29

    Hi Josephine
    I love the details of your trip in Lisbon and your chic wardrobe. You are an inspiration for me and I subscribed to your philosophy of looking chic at any age. I also would like a referral contact of Nuno Morales. We are planning to visit Lisbon and Faro in May.
    Thanks
    Anne

  8. Jonell Hanley
    17th March 2024 / 16:18

    What a wonderful trip to Lisbon! Well be there May 24…. What time of year/ month and what year did you visit?

  9. 30th April 2024 / 09:18

    Chic at Any Age recounts a wonderful four days in Lisbon, capturing the charm and beauty of the city through stylish exploration and cultural immersion.

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