LISBON
DAY
0
Hotel Lisboa
Our tour started on March 31, 2025 and Kevin and I arrived in Lisbon one day early. It was an easy and inexpensive ride on the Metro from the airport to downtown, and a short walk from the station to the hotel. We only had the evening to explore the neighborhood scene and cuisine, but were quickly impressed with what we found. The vibrant Portuguese tiles were displayed on the architecture that we strolled past and our hilltop view showcased a castle in the distance. As far as the cuisine, the Brazilian restaurant, A Nasso Cassa, welcomed us in without a reservation. Their yummy small plates and service set the bar high for the rest of our trip!
DAY
1
Hotel Lisboa
Sleep doesn't always come easy after a long flight but it did in Portugal! We were refreshed and ready to use our free time this day to visit the popular and scenic town of SIntra. It's about a 75 minute train ride from Lisbon and our plan was to tour the Pena Palace Park and gardens. While we don't usually dive head first into a strenuous hike on the first day of a tour, we did on this day! My Garmin recorded over 17,000 steps by the time we boarded the train back to Lisbon. We passed the ticket counter for the Moorish Castle on the way up but knew we didn't have time to do both. We also passed some rock climbers but knew we didn't have time to do both. Wink, wink!
We learned when we tried to purchase tickets to the Park that it was temporarily closed due to severe storms which caused damage to the grounds. The Palace tickets are timed entry and there was nothing available for the time we had remaining. So that was pretty much a bust after the effort it took to climb up there. Oh well...we still got our exercise for the day and saw some interesting and scenic views.
Our Tour Begins
Our orientation meet-up began at 4:00 pm at the hotel. Our guide for the tour, Rafael, introduced himself. Instead of rolling the "R" in his name, he suggested you give it a guttural "UrrrrrrRafael!" He was going to be a great guide and our "soon-to-be-friends" displayed a fun vibe, as well. Off we went on a city walk that was laced with Portuguese history and twilight street scenes. The day ended with a delicious group dinner and introductory comradery.
TOURTIDbits
The funicular we rode on was the famous Ascensor da Glória. Tragically, there was a derailment on that line at this spot on September 3, 2025 that killed 16 people and injured 23 others.
DAY
2
Hotel Lisboa
Rafael took us on a informational city walk, passing through the contrasting stone-patterned Rossio Square. Depending on your position, there is almost an optical illusion created under your feet. Near the Rossio Station is the 'Homenagem aos Calceteiros', paying homage to the skilled pavers who so intricately created the distinctive designs underfoot.
We were treated to melt-in-your-mouth Portuguese almond tarts, and teased our taste buds at the Mercado da Baixa. We saw the beautifully gilded woodcarving inside the Church of St. Michael, which is very unassuming on the exterior. (Don't walk on by, take a peek inside!)
Our tour ended at the Lisbon Cathedral and then we had the afternoon free to do as we pleased. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for outdoor sightseeing. Kevin and I checked out the Roman Amphitheater and then walked up to the St. George Castle. This was the beginning of the peacock invasion! I've never seen so many peacocks as we encountered on this trip. Of course you hear them before seeing them--they are a noisy lot! But they are beautiful and intriguing to me, therefore I've included them as my theme for this scrapbook.
Freetime Castle Visit, River View and Fado
Kevin and I lingered at the castle but eventually walked to the Commerce Plaza where we could listen to the lulling river waves. The group dinner at the Nicola Restaurant included a soulful Fado performance, good food and drink, and the opportunity to get to know our tour mates a little bit better. Portugal was being a very welcoming destination.
DAY
3
Hotel Lisboa
The first stop today was Belém, a district located in western Lisbon. It was a rainy day but thankfully the heaviest rainfall held off until we entered the extraordinary Jerónimos Monastery. The church was being renovated but we took a quick look inside. Our local guide, Ju, shared that the monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was constructed in the Age of Discovery. The building is a grand example of Portuguese Gothic, Manueline (ornate) architecture. I found it breathtaking inside and out.
The National Coach Museum
This was a surprising and worthwhile addition to our tour. The museum contains a unique collection of horse-drawn carriages and coaches from the 16th - 19th centuries. Many on display are from the Royal House and other nobility.
Our group of
friendly travelers.
Tropical Botanical Garden
We were given a couple hours of free time and we decided that the custard tarts with cinnamon that Rafael shared on the bus satisfied us enough that we could skip lunch and get some steps in at the Tropical Botanical Garden near the monastery. The clouds were threatening again but we had rain gear so off we went.
We found the grounds to be full of potential after years of neglect. It was peaceful and relaxing and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Well, we did find that we shared it with ducks, geese, swans and, wouldn't you know...PEACOCKS!
At one point, the clouds burst open in a downpour but we were able to take cover by ducking into a coffee tree greenhouse. We discovered dozens of peacocks had the same idea! There was also a grounds employee pruning a coffee tree with music loud enough to drown out the raindrops. So I don't know, maybe the birds were inside for the music!
The Age of Discovery
When free time ended we met back up as a group in front of the Jerónimos Monastery. The rain had stopped and the blue sky was appearing through the cauliflower clouds. Rafael took us to the waterfront where the Monument of Discoveries commands the bank of the Tagus River. There is a fantastic inlaid limestone map on the square as you approach the monument. The compass rose and map show the routes of Portuguese caravels during the Age of Discovery. I had to reach back into the recesses of my brain to recall my high school history lessons!
Not far down the bank sits the iconic Tower of Belém. Rafael was truly in his element as he gave us a crash course in Portuguese maritime exploration. We owe a great deal to the genius and bravery of those medieval explorers.
All that remained at the end of the day was deciding where to eat dinner on our last night in Lisbon. The Restaurante A Gina just around the corner from our hotel was highly recommended so we followed along with some new friends and dined there. If you are looking for a delicious traditional Portuguese dinner that is as yummy in its presentation, this is the place for you!
TOURTIDbits
Did you know that Portugal does not fish for cod (bacalhau) in its own waters? instead, it primarily imports salted cod from Norway and has for centuries.
