On this post I will highlight the places we visited and the best things to see and best things to do in Lisbon – Day 2.
We started the second day of our visit to Lisbon early and after breakfast we walked to Praça da Figueira to catch Tram 15E that would take us to Belém neighbourhood to visit Belém Tower. It took us about 45 minutes to get there.
There was a bit of a queue, but nothing too off putting. We joined the queue, and it went quite fast. The ticket to the tower was included on the Lisbon Card. You can book tickets for Belém Tower HERE.
The official name of the tower is Tower of Saint Vincent, and it was built in the 16th century in a Manueline style with Lioz limestone. It is an UNESCO World Heritage monument and an iconic building in Lisbon. The tower was built in a small island next to the shores of the river Tagus, as a fortress, which also served as the gateway for departures and arrivals in Lisbon for the Portuguese explorers. It is a beautiful building with intricate architectural details and offering views across the river from the terraces. It is a lovely visit and should not be missed.
On our way out we walked in the direction of Mosteiro dos Jerônimos, which is very close to the tower. We walked by the river and reached the Discovery Monument. We could have gone in and visited the top with more views of Lisbon, but we had seen a lot of different views of the area already, so to save time for other attractions, we didn’t go inside. The ticket is included on the Lisbon card as well. If you would like to take a full-day tour of Lisboa and if you have the Lisboa Card you can book this one HERE. If your time is short and you can not spend a full-day on a tour or do not have the Lisboa Card, you can book this one HERE.
We arrived at Mosteiro dos Jerônimos; another masterpiece of the Portuguese 16th century architecture, which is also an UNESCO World Heritage monument in the Manueline style. This is another monument worth visiting, but as we had already been inside in another visit, we skipped it this time. Entrance is also included in the Lisbon card, but it is advisable to book online in advance, as there was a big queue when we passed past it. You can book skip-the line tickets HERE.
It was lunch time and as we were close to the famous “Pastéis de Belém”, so we stopped there for a bite to eat. There was a big queue outside, but the queue was for buying the pastéis and take away. There is a door on the side that is for people who want to seat down and eat on premisses. It is a very big space, with enough tables and accommodate many customers. It was easy to get a table, and we ordered a few items to eat and some cold beers, as it was a very hot day. I also ordered some “pastéis” to take away with us to eat later.
From there we walked to Calçada da Ajuda where we took Bus 729 to go up to Palácio Nacional da Ajuda (entrance included on the Lisbon Card). As we hadn’t been there before, we took the opportunity to visit the palace this time.
This is a neoclassic building from the 19th century that was the residence of the Portuguese Royal Family from 1861 to the end of the monarchy in Portugal in 1910. The palace was closed in 1910 following the exile of the Royal Family. It reopened as a museum in 1968 and keeps the 19th century furniture and decorations. This palace is not a popular attraction, being a bit off the beaten track, but very beautiful and worth visiting. Not to be missed when in Belém area, as it is very easy to get to and not very busy. You can book a Tuk-Tuk tour of the Belém area HERE.
After the visit, we took Bus 729 down to Belém again and from there Tram 15E to Praça do Comércio. When we arrived there, I realised something: where was the bag with the pastries I bought at “Pastéis de Belém”? I must have left it at the palace, possibly when I stopped for a toilet break; I can’t remember having the bag with me after that. What a shame, the pastries were really good, and I was hoping to have one for desert after dinner tonight. Never mind, I decided to get some more somewhere else, as they sell those delicious pastries everywhere in Lisbon.
On Praça do Comércio is where the Lisboa Story Centre is. This centre is an interactive experience telling the story of Lisbon from when it started to date. We still had time for visiting before going back to the hotel and getting ready for dinner. Tickets are included in the Lisbon Card, or they can be booked HERE.
When we finished, we headed to the hotel to get ready, as we had booked “Casa de Linhares” for the fado show and dinner for 8 o’clock. You can book a fado show and dinner HERE.
We took a taxi to get to the fado house and it took us about 15 minutes to get there from the hotel.
Casa de Linhares is in what was left of a renascence building that was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake. It is on the shore of the river Tagus and some of its original architectural details from the 16th century were preserved in the building. We were very lucky to be given a table facing the stage, and with no obstructions.
We had dinner first and I chose the “Caldo Verde” (a green cabbage soup) as a starter, and the Iberian Pork Cheek and wild mushrooms as my main. My husband also opted for the “Caldo Verde” and chose the “Casa de Linhares Cod” dish. Both dishes were amazing! We loved everything, including the red wine that we chose to accompany the dinner.
After dinner the fado show started. The house fell in complete silence, except for the sound of the Portuguese guitar, and the music reigned in the dining room.
The Fado originated in the 19th century, and it is infused with sentiments of melancholy, fate, and loss. It can be very sad and dramatic, but the lyrics are very clever and combined with the melody, produces very strong feelings, and captivates your soul in a very pleasant way.
The musicians and singers on that evening were exceptional; so talented and passionate! It was a fabulous evening, and I can’t imagine a better ending to our second day in Lisbon.
We returned to our hotel Residencial Florescente in the clouds and slept very well.
Below you will find a list of what to visit, where to stay and where to eat in Lisbon – Day 2. I classified each place as follows:
BOLD – Visited, tried and recommended
NOT BOLD – Not visited or tried, but planning to visit or try and heard very good reviews
RED – Visited and tried but do not recommend, avoid or be cautious
*** – Excellent
** – Good
* – OK
£££ – Expensive
££ – Fair and affordable
£ – Cheap
WHAT TO SEE IN LISBON – DAY 2
1 – Belém Tower – ***
2 – Mosteiro dos Jerônimos – ***
3 – Discovery Monument
4 – Pastéis de Belém – ***
5 – Palácio Nacional da Ajuda – ***
6 – Lisboa Story Centre – ***
7 – Fado Show – Casa de Linhares – ***
WHERE TO STAY IN LISBON – DAY 2
1 – Pestana Rua Augusta Lisboa – 4* – ££
2 – Look Living, Lisbon Design Apartments – 4* – £££
3 – Patio do Tijolo – 3* – ££
4 – Mouraria Lisboa Hotel – 2* – ££
WHERE TO EAT IN LISBON – DAY 2
1 – Pinóquio – *** – ££
2 – Casa de Linhares – *** – £££
3 – O Velho Eurico – £
4 – A Taberna da Rua das Flores – ££
You can watch a video of the fado show on the Travelling Surveyor’s Instagram account below.
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