Alfama is Lisbon's oldest neighborhood, probably founded by the Moors in the 8th century, and…read moreduring my vacation I LOVED spending time here. My husband and I walked around Alfama on two days, and we took a tuk-tuk ride here on one day. We saw a maze of steep narrow cobblestone alleys, houses with terracotta roofs, some small restaurants, courtyards, some shops, a tram, and old buildings such as São Jorge Castle, Lisbon Cathedral, and the National Pantheon of Santa Engracia. We enjoyed eating authentic Portuguese foods. Unfortunately, we missed out on listening to Fado music. I was here during daylight, and unlike some of the other Yelp reviewers, I never got lost, I never felt unsafe, and nobody mistreated me. The buildings were obviously old but were not in bad condition or dirty. I read that the neighborhood has been invested in and spruced up in recent years.

Alfama is a little medieval maze of charm and uphill cardio…read more We landed in Lisbon this June, just in time for the Popular Saints Festival, also known as Peak Grilled Sardine Season. Ha! Locals were out cooking on the sidewalks like they paid rent for the cobblestones, music was blasting from speakers that definitely failed an EU noise ordinance, and everyone was very merry. Alfama is Lisbon's oldest quarter, which is code for don't even try to use Google Maps. The streets are aggressively charming, like they dare you not to fall in love. This is a must walk around in if you're in Lisbon.

Definitely a castle you should visit when you're visiting Lisbon. If you're staying in Lisbon,…read moreyou'll see it when you are in the downtown area. Do you see it? Seeing a piece of Portuguese history in person is something I've always wanted to do. Since this castle is atop the city, it offers some of the best views of this bustling town. You probably just need a couple of hours to tour the grounds.

A must visit! The views, the peacocks, the open air. Can't suggest enough! Glad this was…read morerecommended to me. A must!

We passed by and happened to see the big ferris wheel from the street. The event is held at Parque…read moreEduardo (64 cares) VII with free entry. There are ticketed attractions including the wheel, ice rink, and carousels. We just walked around and looked at the different food stalls and shops. It was a nice way to get into the holiday spirit. Wonderland is open from late November to early January.

This is one of the two main Christmas markets in the city center (ish) of Lisbon. Though not as…read moreextravagant as the ones in Eastern Europe, it's still way better than anything in NYC. They have your typical stalls selling local food (but upcharged of course, and probably doesn't taste good), souvenirs, and some rides for the kids. The market is bigger and has a larger variety of stalls than the one over at Rossio Square. Definitely worth checking out!

We booked to stay at a hotel nearby, and when I saw the words Parque das Nações, I presumed, not…read moreincorrectly, that it means national park. So I was looking for a big swath of greenery and dense wood... and found none. After my Yelp check in, I learned that this used to be an expo location that has been converted to an urban open space for people to chill. It's a nice spot actually, you can walk along the river and enjoy some nice views, although my husband's plan of a daily morning run never materialized, as all the walking in Lisbon took a toll on the legs. Nonetheless, the view is beautiful, and the sculptures along the walk are intriguing. There are plenty of restaurants, as well as some structures that look like concert halls, and at one end there is the shopping center.

Lisboa is known for its old-world charm that is apparent all throughout the city yet this area is…read morenew to the northeastern part of the city and while it's not a green park, it's also not to be skipped. Overlooking the water, it's an open area surrounded by flag staffs and concrete pavers leading to the bay. It's right next to the Vasco Gama Center which has a lot of foot traffic resembling a metropolitan skyscraper-filed zone with plenty of city appeal. If you're looking to hug a tree, you should look elsewhere. If you're into open areas where people can gather and stroll around, this might be your spot. My feet were on fire from climbing all those hills up and down all day so I was actually thrilled to see flat terrain for once...and so were my feet. There's nice sculptures and fresh breeze to soak in while overlooking the boasting new metropolis in Lisboa.

We've been in Lisbon for several weeks, and have by-passed this garden a number of times while…read morewalking to various surrounding eateries in the neighborhood; but, always there's been a line to get in, so we've never stopped. Well, as we close-out 2024, and with this being a slow Monday for us, we decided to give it a try. We arrived at the Jardim Botânica da Universidade de Lisboa--that's a mouthful!--at around 10:00 am, and there was no line. YAY!!! The entry fee of $5 per adult seemed very reasonable (we didn't do the adjoining natural museum next door). I'll start by saying that one needs an open-mind coming here, without too much expectation, because you're not gonna get some kind of spectacularly verdant tropical oasis (especially at this time of year with most deciduous trees having already shed its leaves). What you will get for your 5-bucks is a peaceful oasis amidst the bustling Príncipe Real, especially along the hubbub and trolley clatter that's Rua da Escola Politecnica. No doubt, on a busy day, perhaps it's not quite so peaceful with tourists and kids clammering about; however, on this particular day, it was very peaceful, very calming. If I lived nearby, I'd certainly pay $5 to find me a bench to do some reading, or perhaps people-watching. Yes, the garden does need some tending to; however, in a jam-packed city like Lisbon, any open space devoted to a garden or park gets two thumbs-up from me! And, too, it was really nice to see parrots doing their thing, and the sounds of birds, over nearby construction cranes and such. And, too, some of those trees were spectacularly ancient! The two Northern California sequoias were an awesome surprise!! The cactus garden held some REALLY old specimens, too! The Australian eucalyptus trees were also huge! Without doubt some of these trees are way long in the making and have been here for a VERY long time, indeed! Some areas were a bit unruly, but that's nature! The adjoining pathway gardens behind of the natural museum, which were separate from the main gardens, was a bit sad-looking and unkempt with nothing open; but, perhaps in the summertime it's more lively and appealing. Still, though, it made for a pleasant stroll to pass the time. Overall, despite some exhibits being closed and/or looking dismantled (the "Sensory Garden," for example), I'm still giving Lisbon's Botanical Gardens the full 5-stars just for being alive in a city that's compromising.... Muito obrigado!!! :D

I have seen a handful of botanical gardens in my day, and this one is not particularly spectacular…read more I would love to be able to say more about this place, but it was just not very interesting. There are signs saying what each plant or tree is, but there is no further information about them. There isn't much variation either, or if there is, it isn't apparent. The bed area up top was somewhat nondescript, though there is a fountain. The greenhouse had a special display of plants from the time of dinosaurs, but it wasn't set up to be particularly enthralling. Moving down the hill you come across more trees, a succulent garden, and what is supposed to be a couple of ponds. We were there in May and they were empty. The butterfly house was also closed. It's a nice green area, but the images that come to mind when I think of a botanical garden do not fit what is here, which is really just a glorified shady park-like area. Luckily the entrance fee of €2 per adult is not terrible, so see it if you want. But my tip would be to check out the dozens of other beautiful (and free!) parks throughout Lisbon ahead of this one.