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If you’ve been following my Portugal series, you’ll know we kicked off our trip soaking in the coastal beauty of Albufeira. But after two days of turquoise waters, golden cliffs, and endless beach walks, it was time to swap flip-flops for comfy walking shoes and head to the heart of Portugal — Lisbon.

We had booked the bus from Albufeira to Lisbon through FlixBus, which I think is hands-down the best option. The fares are cheap, the ride is comfortable, and the journey takes around 2.5 hours. As we left the cool ocean breeze behind and edged closer to the city, the scorching sun reminded us that these were going to be hot couple of days.

We arrived in Lisbon around 4 in the afternoon, with the bus dropping us at Lisbon Oriente, the central station for catching other buses or the metro. From there, it’s really easy to get anywhere in the city. We were staying in the Baixa district, so we grabbed a single metro ticket for €2.50 per person from the ticket machines — super easy, and you can pay by card. After a short ride, we reached our stop and began the walk toward our Airbnb.

And that’s when Lisbon really welcomed us. The city lives up to its nickname “City of Seven Hills” — the streets wind up and down, the iconic yellow trams clatter past, and suddenly dragging your luggage through the hilly paths becomes a full-on workout! But even in that moment, with the sun casting a warm glow over the pastel buildings, I couldn’t help but smile. This was the start of something exciting.

As we got closer to our Airbnb, we discovered a little surprise that instantly lifted our moods — we were staying right next to the street where the Elevador da Bica runs. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it at first. This is one of Lisbon’s most iconic spots, the kind of place people go out of their way to photograph and ride — and here we were, with it practically at our doorstep. It felt like such a lucky find and set the tone for the rest of our stay.

Check-in was smooth, and while the building looked a little old (as many in Lisbon do), climbing up two floors to reach our apartment felt like part of the authentic city experience. We had booked a room in a shared apartment for three nights, which cost around 200 Euros. The place was clean and nice, and the room was simple but comfortable. After our shared hostel stay in Albufeira, we really appreciated having our own private space this time around — it felt like a little upgrade that made us instantly more relaxed.

After resting for a little while, we set out in search of an early dinner. A short walk took us to Casa da Índia, a spot known for its authentic piri-piri chicken. The place was buzzing — completely packed with locals and travelers alike — which is always a good sign. We managed to squeeze in, and let me tell you, the food did not disappoint. The chicken was perfectly spiced, juicy, and just the comfort meal we needed after a long day of travel. With happy stomachs, we wandered toward Miradouro de Santa Catarina to catch the sunset. The walk itself felt magical as the city slowly shifted into its evening rhythm. When we arrived, the vibe was just perfect — lively but relaxed, with people singing, playing music, sharing drinks, and simply enjoying the moment. The view from the top was beautiful too, with the sun sinking over the Tagus River and the whole city glowing in warm tones. It was one of those moments that made us feel instantly connected to Lisbon’s spirit.

After catching that pretty sunset, we weren’t quite ready to call it a night. The city felt alive, and we wanted to soak in more of its energy. So we kept walking — first to the famous Pink Street, which was buzzing with people sipping drinks and enjoying dinner under the neon glow. From there, we wandered toward Cais do Sodré, where, as luck would have it, a festival was happening. The streets were filled with music, dancing, food stalls, and laughter spilling out from every corner.

Eventually, we slipped away to a quieter spot nearby, sat down, and just let it all sink in — the fact that we were really here, living our dream of exploring Portugal. It felt surreal. With that happy thought, we finally decided to head back to our Airbnb and call it a day.

But oh, how wrong we were.

The moment we turned onto our street, we realized we had walked right into the heart of the Santo António Festival — and our street was hosting the party! Earlier, we had noticed a few decorations being set up, but we never imagined it would turn into this. Music was blasting, the whole street was packed with people, and homeowners had set up little stalls right outside their doors selling grilled sardines, snacks, and drinks.

Within minutes, the entire place transformed into a full-on street festival. The DJ was hyping up the crowd, the host kept everyone laughing and clapping, and the energy was infectious. We couldn’t just go upstairs and sleep — no way. So we joined in, dancing, laughing, and enjoying the night with locals. It was one of those magical, unplanned moments that make a trip unforgettable.

The next morning began with a delicious breakfast at The Flat Café. I have a soft spot for trying new breakfast places wherever we travel, and this one definitely hit the spot — the perfect fuel for the day ahead. Lisbon is known for its brunch culture so I world recommend trying cafes when you are there.

We had booked a walking tour of Lisbon with Guru Walking Tours, and honestly, I can’t recommend it enough. Walking tours are one of my favorite ways to get to know a city — you don’t just see the sights, you also get little stories, cultural tidbits, and historical context that make everything come alive.

Our guide was wonderful — full of energy, super knowledgeable, and patient with all the questions from the group. Over the next few hours, we wandered through some of Lisbon’s most beautiful neighborhoods: the elegant Baixa, the lively Chiado, and the soulful, history-filled Alfama, the oldest part of the city.

Along the way, we stopped at the Elevador de Santa Justa, one of Lisbon’s most iconic viewpoints. A quick tip — you don’t have to wait in line or pay to ride the lift. You can simply walk up to the viewpoint and still soak in the same stunning views of the city, spread out like a painting below.

One of the highlights of our walking tour was the free tasting of pastel de nata, and our guide took us to Nata de Lisboa for it. I had been so excited to finally try this famous Portuguese pastry, and it lived up to every bit of the hype. The first bite was heavenly — flaky, buttery pastry with that creamy custard filling that’s perfectly sweet (but not too much). It’s one of those desserts you could easily have two or three of without even realizing! A total must-try if you’re in Portugal.

We also got to taste a local favorite, Ginjinha, in Alfama — a sweet cherry liqueur that packs quite a punch but is surprisingly smooth. Both of these tastings made the tour feel even more special.

Our walk eventually ended at the beautiful Miradouro de Santa Luzia, a viewpoint draped in flowers with sweeping views of Alfama and the river. The tour was a bit longer than we expected, but really, it was worth it. The only tough part was the scorching sun — Lisbon in summer can be hot, and walking uphill in that heat definitely tested us. Still, sitting at the viewpoint afterwards, catching our breath and taking in the views, felt rewarding in itself.

After a short break, we started making our way back, with one destination in mind — the oldest bookstore in the world. As book lovers, it was something we didn’t want to miss. But the walk back also turned into a bit of a shopping adventure, as we popped into several souvenir shops along the way. If there’s one thing I recommend buying in Portugal, it’s their ceramic pieces and tiles — they’re so beautiful and unique, it’s hard to resist.

When we finally reached the bookstore, it was such a thrill to be inside a place with so much history. To be honest, the English book selection was quite limited and the prices were on the higher side, but just being there, surrounded by rows and rows of books, felt magical. It was less about the shopping and more about the experience — and that made it worth the visit.

Once we were done at the bookstore, our plan was to head towards Belém to explore more of Lisbon. But with the afternoon sun blazing down, the heat really got to me — my body just started to shut down. So instead of pushing ourselves, we decided to listen to our bodies, grab something to eat, and call it a day.

If you have the time (and energy!), I’d definitely recommend visiting Belém and trying the world-famous Pastéis de Belém. They’re said to be the original and the best version of Portugal’s iconic pastry. Sadly, we had to skip it this time, but that just gives us a reason to return!

For dinner, we chose Lupita Pizzaria, a cozy spot we had passed the day before. The smell alone had pulled us in then, and this time we couldn’t resist. And wow — it did not disappoint. The pizzas were delicious, but what stood out most were the unique flavor combinations I had never tried before. It felt adventurous yet comforting, and every bite was better than the last.

With full stomachs and tired feet, we finally made our way back to rest. After all, we had something exciting lined up for the next day. Stay tuned for the next part of this series as we did an exciting day trip the next day. So come back to read about that!