Lisbon was the final stop of our European tour and we couldn't have chosen a better
destination.
The city immediately won us over with its cheery pastel buildings, delicious fresh seafood,
and it's unique mix of attractions.
It also didn't hurt that we had clear blue skies the whole week we were there!
The following video will highlight 20 things to do in Lisbon and we hope it will give you
a few ideas of some of the sights this beautiful city has to offer.
Our first stop of the day was São Jorge Castle, which is an old Moorish fortification that
sits on a hill overlooking Lisbon and the Tagus River.
You can get some nice panoramic views of the city from here, and they also have peacocks
roaming the grounds.
Miradouro das Portas do Sol is one of the many look out points in Lisbon that offers
postcard-perfect views of the city.
This particular terrace overlooks the Alfama district and it is always popular with tourists.
Carmo is a medieval convent that was ruined during the 1755 earthquake, and today it is
used as an archaeological museum.
It's a strange feeling walking down the ruined nave of the church and seeing blue skies above
your head, but that's exactly what makes it worth
a visit.
Good morning from Lisbon.
We made it to Portugal and today is our first day out sightseeing.
And our first order of business had to be food of course.
So today we're actually trying this.
And this is called pastéis de nata or pastéis de Belém.
And it is basically an egg custard tart and it looks absolutely delicious.
These actually originated over at the Jerónimos Monastery which is just over there.
And it was a recipe created by the monks.
So it looks like they were good bakers guys.
Pretty tasty looking.
So we picked these up from the original store where they were first produced.
And it was absolutely chaos inside.
And something that is really cool is that the first time we ever tried these was actually
in Asia when we were in Macau.
A former Portuguese settlement.
Yes, and you can find these in Brazil and Hong Kong.
Anywhere where the Portuguese went.
Yeah, exactly.
But now it is time to add this to our little tarts.
Alright, so what we have here is we have a pack of cinnamon and icing sugar.
Yes.
So that is going to give it an extra sweet kick.
Let's sprinkle that on.
I've had these before but never with icing sugar and cinnamon so I think it is going
to be extra special.
The winning combo.
Mmmm hmmmm.
That's nice.
Wow!
It's still warm.
Fresh out of the oven.
And it is really nice.
Have a look.
I really like this because sometimes when you have an egg tart it tastes like cooked
egg.
And that is just wrong.
Dessert should not taste like egg.
But this is like a really nice creamy custard.
Very sweet.
It tastes like a proper dessert.
I'm happy.
So like I mentioned earlier this recipe originated in the Jerónimos Monastery and this is because
apparently monasteries and convents used a lot of egg whites in order to starch their
clothes.
Don't ask me how this is done because I've never used egg whites to starch my clothes.
But apparently this meant that they had a lot of egg yolks leftover and that is how
they started baking and created this wonderful recipe which was eventually sold to the pastry
shop where we picked up our egg tarts.
So we are having the original recipe that the monks came up with here.
Another place to visit is Belém Tower.
The tower was built on the banks of the Tagus River, and it was meant to act as both a defense
system and a ceremonial gateway into Lisbon.
So behind me we have the Monument to the Discoveries which celebrates the age of seafaring and
discovery between the 15th and 16th Centuries.
And there are lots of famous explorers if you take a closer look.
The Jeronimos Monastery is one of the most visited sights in Lisbon.
It's one of the best examples of Late Gothic Manueline architecture, so have a close look
at the intricate detailing when you visit.
So a really cool thing that we've noticed about Lisbon is that there is a big Kiosk
culture and you can find these little kiosks in almost every park you go to.
And here you'll find people just hanging out, enjoying a drink, having a little snack.
And it seems to be a popular afternoon pastime.
So we're going to go to a little kiosk as well and enjoy a little something something.
For a different view of Lisbon, consider taking a ferry to the other side of the Tagus River.
You'll get some great shots of the city and it's a really pleasant ride, especially if
you luck out with blue skies and sunshine.
So it is lunchtime here in Portugal and today we took the ferry over from Lisbon to Cacilhas.
And this is a great place to eat seafood because we're right by the Tagus River and fresh seafood
is available at every single restaurant.
So we found a local little spot, Sam has ordered Salmon, and I've ordered halibut.
So we're waiting for that to arrive and then we're going to show you some Portuguese seafood.
So our food has finally arrived so it is time to take a tour of the plate.
So have a look here.
This is my halibut cooked on the grill and we've got broccoli, carrots and boiled potatoes
with olive oil on top.
It looks delicious.
I'm ready to dig in.
Mmmm.
Nice fresh halibut.
Really juicy and it is so good with the lemon squirted on top.
That's a really nice light dish.
That's good because I've been snacking all morning so I kind of need a light lunch at
this point.
But look at that it's nice and golden but still juicy in the inside.
Mmm.
Really good selection.
And I also really like that the food here in Portugal, whenever you order fish, it usually
comes with boiled potatoes and lots of veggies on the side.
So I feel like I'm being healthy and the flavors are just enhanced when you pour olive oil
over top.
It's just such a simple recipe but it is so good.
Mmmmhhhmmm.
You seem to have a monster meal right in front of you.
Tell us, what did you get?
Yeah, I got the salmon steak.
And if you take a look down here you'll notice it is a very thick cut.
Um, and I've been having this almost every day since I've arrived in Lisbon so this is
my favorite thing to eat in Portugal for sure.
I know, it is so good that we can't get sick of it.
And look at the size of that steak.
It's massive.
It almost takes up the whole plate.
So the only difference between our two plates is that you had the steamed or boiled vegetables
and I have like a little garden salad over here.
So that's nice a healthy.
So that has onions, carrots, a little bit of cabbage, lettuce and tomatoes.
But this is the reason I came here and took the ferry across the river.
For fresh fish.
Fresh fish.
This is my first bite here.
Oh, it looks like I can see a little bit of a bone.
Mmmm.
Well, was it worth the ferry ride over?
Yeah.
That's good.
Glad to hear it.
Cacilhas lies on the south bank of the Tagus and it was once a quiet fishing village.
It makes for a really nice day trip, and they have some great restaurants serving up fresh
grilled seafood, so bring your appetite!
A fun way to get around Lisbon's hilly streets is by riding the trams.
There are different lines across the city, but #28 is the most popular one with visitors.
For another scenic look at Lisbon, you can visit the São Pedro de Alcântara lookout.
Here you'll get some nice views that include the castle.
Rua Augusta is a lively pedestrian street that offers a mix of shopping and restaurants.
Just keep in mind that the prices can be a little higher, since this area is primarily
geared at tourists.
The Commerce Plaza is another one of those iconic sites in the city.
It was once home to the Ribeira Palace, which was sadly destroyed in the 1755 earthquake.
There are a few little cafes on the fringes of the square, and it can be a nice spot to
people watch.
The Santa Justa lift is an elevator that connects the lower streets of Baixa with Carmo Square,
and it is the only remaining vertical elevator in Lisbon.
Though it is meant to serve a functional role, it is also quite popular with visitors who
find the elevator a novel idea.
So for today's lunch video we're eating one item alone.
We are trying Bacalhau which is dried salted cod and this is a fish that is very popular
here in Portugal.
Now the cod used to be salted because that is the method of preservation that they used
before refrigerators were widely available so that meant fish became really hard and
salted.
And then once you actually wanted to cook it you had to soak it in water just to remove
a bit of the salt and also soften it again.
And that is a food tradition that has been passed down.
So today we are trying three different items.
If you want to have a look here.
All prepared with cod - Bacalhau.
Oh la la.
So since I'm being a gentleman over here I'll let you choose the first of the three to try.
Well, I'm going to choose Bolinhos de Bacalhau.
And we actually have two of those so no problem.
We each get one.
So this is actually a little cake made with cod fish.
It's a savory cake not a sweet cake.
Um, it is made with mashed potatoes, fish, parsley and egg.
And it is deep-fried.
Let me show you the inside.
So you can really see the fiber of the fish in there.
Yeah, you can.
It's been rolled into a little ball so it looks good.
That's a monster bite you took.
I'm hungry.
That's quite nice.
So these little fish cakes can actually be served as an appetizer before a big meal but
because we've been kind of overdoing it with the big restaurant meals today we're having
something smaller so it is just going to be a little bit of a snack but I think filling
enough.
Alright, I'm also quite hungry as well.
I went for a really long jog this morning and I had a tiny breakfast so I'm ready for
my big bite.
Have you ever had a fish cake pasty before?
Yeah, I have I'm just trying to remember where it was.
I honestly can't remember.
And the neat thing about this is that of course you taste the fish but it's not overpowering.
It's definitely like a pastry as well too.
So next up we're trying this.
This is a Portuguese empanada.
And it is quite different from the ones I've had in Argentina which are usually half moon
shaped.
This is more like a little miniature pie.
And apparently it is stuffed once again with cod fish.
So I've never had a cod fish empanada before.
Let's see.
Yeah, that's pretty unique.
What does it look like inside?
Have a look in there.
I think there is more than fish in there to be honest.
Perhaps potatoes.
So it looks like and tastes like cod fish, potatoes and maybe even a little bit of spinach.
It's really nice.
And last but not least.
Well something had to be picked last so let's try this one.
So this is something that we just saw on the counter and like hey that's cod.
Let's try it.
Mmmm.
This is my favorite one.
You know what this one tastes like?
It tastes like cod fish Korean jeon.
It's like the Korean pancakes.
It is really crispy and really tasty.
This is awesome.
You're going to like this one.
So is that battered fish or is it breaded?
Yeah, it is battered.
Or is it just fried?
It's battered and fried and crispy on the outside.
So for a nice green escape come to the Tropical Botanical Gardens.
We've been walking around in the shade and we've also noticed there is hardly anyone
here
And I think we just found the shortest bridge in all of Lisbon.
You don't even need the bridge.
Hop to the other side.
And the other side - one more time.
Lisbon Cathedral is the oldest church in the city.
It has survived many earthquakes and seen many modifications, which is why it has a
mix of architectural styles.
Lastly, take a minute to enjoy Lisbon at nighttime.
This is a city where things don't get going until quite late in the night, so don't miss
out by calling it in early.
And that's a wrap for our week in the Portuguese capital!
We hope you enjoyed this video and that it gave you some ideas of things to do in Lisbon.
As always, if you have any other suggestions for travelers of places to visit and things
to do around town, feel free to share them in the comments below.
Wishing you happy travels!