Kristen
Lisbon
Private Tuk Tuk Tour
Since it was our first time in Lisbon, we wanted to kick things off with a tour, and we absolutely nailed the choice. We booked a 4-hour private Tuk Tuk tour through Viator (via Rakuten, which earned us 4,316 BILT points) and our driver Eduardo from www.itookatuktuk.com was just wonderful. He was so knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about his city that the four hours flew by. We still managed to hit all the major highlights, and I honestly can’t recommend this highly enough as a way to start a visit to Lisbon.
LX Factory
During our tour, Eduardo pointed us toward LX Factory, which happened to be within walking distance of our hotel. We never would have found it on our own and it was such a great tip. There were tons of dining options, all of them looking tempting, and we did some shopping before sitting down for a really enjoyable meal. If you’re in the Belém area, don’t skip this one.
Chiado
It was a girls trip, so naturally there was a lot of shopping and eating. Chiado had all the stores my daughter knows and loves — Brandy Melville, Zara, Benetton — but we also found some wonderful local spots for souvenirs. She scored a great leather jacket at a local boutique, and on Eduardo’s recommendation we stopped into a gift shop where everything was made by local artisans. I found a beautiful tile that I know will always take me right back to this trip. We also stopped in the oldest operating bookstore on earth, which was cool and you can ask them to stamp your book with that accolate (another great tip from Eduardo). We also found an adorable spot for lunch. This is a great spot to check out in city center.
The Quake Museum
We’re big museum people, and this one genuinely stands out. The Quake Museum is dedicated to the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and it is remarkably well done. It’s self-guided but uses timed entry for each room to manage crowds. We went early in the day and got turned away due to school groups, so I came back for one of the last slots of the day and ended up practically alone — which was both a little eerie and completely perfect for the experience.
The museum is one of the most immersive I’ve ever been to. The 1755 earthquake was followed by fires and then a tsunami, and it happened on All Saints Day, meaning much of the city was at Mass when it struck. Two rooms in particular were unforgettable: one where you sit in church pews watching a Mass and then feel the building shake, and the next room — smoky, bathed in red light, noticeably warm — simulating the fires that followed. The attention to detail was extraordinary. It would be fantastic for all ages. Highly, highly recommend making the trip to Belém for this one.
25 de Abril Bridge and Sanctuary of Christ the King
If these two look familiar, there’s a reason — Christ the King was inspired by Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, and the bridge is a dead ringer for the Golden Gate. I crossed the bridge on the way to the Sanctuary and the views of the Tagus River were beautiful. I didn’t have time to go up to the observation deck, but I loved wandering the grounds and the views were stunning even from below. I also got to spend some quiet time in the sanctuary lighting candles and praying for friends. You don’t need more than an hour here unless you’re doing the observation deck, but it’s absolutely worth that hour.
The Algarve
After the pace of Lisbon, the Algarve was a welcome change of gears — slower, quieter, and really lovely.
Falésia Beach
A heads up for anyone coming from the US East Coast: Portuguese beaches are going to blow you away, but the terrain is different from what we’re used to and you have to find designated access points, which isn’t always straightforward. We’d read about one at a nearby resort, only to discover that a winter storm had taken out the steps. We pivoted to the access point at Barranco das Belharucas, the starting point of Falésia Beach. The path in is unpaved but our Uber driver handled it without complaint or worry.
There’s one restaurant at the access point — the second one, part of Pine Cliffs, had been damaged by storms and wasn’t operating. Since we were there in March it was a bit cool, but we sat by the water for a long while and soaked up the sun. The cliffs are just gorgeous — so dramatic and so different from anything on the East Coast. In summer you can rent chairs and umbrellas and there are lifeguards on duty.
We walked about 20 minutes along the beach to the next access point, stopped for a drink at the top of the hill, and called our Uber. Search “Snack Bar Falésia” to find that exit point. It was a really lovely afternoon.
Boat Tour Through the Caves of Benagil
I had been so excited about this one, and I hate to say it didn’t quite deliver — though through no fault of the tour itself. We booked through Viator via Rakuten, and both the captain and the guide were excellent. The problem was the water. It was rough. Really rough. We skipped a few of the caves, and the ones we did enter we backed into so we could watch the waves coming at us, which was… not relaxing. On the way back the boat was moving fast and hitting every wave. My daughter, who has a power boating license from summers at Camp Seafarer, held it together pretty well aside from a few rough moments. I will just say that there was more than one person on that boat who needed a bucket, and I have never been so happy to be back on dry land. I didn’t feel truly unsafe, but I also won’t do this again unless the water looks completely calm.
Seven Hanging Valleys Trail
After recovering from the boat situation, we decided to see the same coastline on foot — a much better decision for me personally. We started at Praia de Marinha, which has restrooms and food trucks, and headed down the stairs to the sand for a picnic lunch. The stairs are fairly steep in spots, and there appeared to be a snack bar at the bottom that wasn’t open in March. There was also a second area accessible at low tide, but with the tide coming in and the terrain being unfamiliar, we decided not to chance it.
After eating we started the cliff hike and the views were just stunning. We tried to get a look at the famous Benagil cave from above since my boat view of it had been less than ideal, but I wouldn’t bother — the safety barrier keeps you too far back to really see anything. One thing to know: even on a day in the 60s, this hike gets warm fast, and we both came home sunburned. Bring water and sunscreen and don’t underestimate how long you’ll be out there — the scenery has a way of making time disappear.
Golf
The sheer number of golf bags around our hotel made one thing very clear: golf is serious business in the Algarve. I stopped into The Old Course to pick up shirts for my husband and son and the course looked absolutely incredible. Passing by courses on our Uber rides, they all looked immaculate and beautifully maintained. I’m already planning to bring the family back for a proper golf trip — outdoor activities really are the main event on Portugal’s southern coast.
