March 7, 2025, 9:24 am | Read time: 4 minutes
TRAVELBOOK author Anna Wengel (Chiodo) has lived in Portugal for several years and continues to spend a lot of time in her adopted country. Lisbon is one of her favorite destinations. Here, she shares seven of her favorite places in the Portuguese capital.
Just reading the word Lisbon fills me with a deep longing. As I always do when I think of Portugal, my adopted home, to which I keep returning. Lisbon stands at the center of the country for me like a melancholy, shimmering reminder that I am far from finished with my experimentation, my search for my final Portugal home. I love this city, which, for me, is by far the most fascinating, beautiful, and attractive European capital and metropolis. Here are seven of my favorite places in wonderful Lisbon.
1. Miradouro da Graça
I already chose this as my absolute favorite place in Portugal’s capital in the TRAVELBOOK podcast on Lisbon — and it has remained so (along with a few others). The Miradouro da Graça viewpoint at the Igreja of the same name is surrounded by colorful tiled houses and offers a fantastic view of southern Lisbon and the Ponte 25 de Abril in the distance.
2. Jardim do Príncipe Real
I love this park at least as much as the Miradouro: Jardim do Príncipe Real. It’s not only enchanting with a special tree, a so-called Mexican cypress, which serves as a shady roof over benches standing in a circle. Personally, I think the park is always a quiet place in the hustle and bustle — a little refuge where I can take a deep breath, read, and relax.
3. Livraria Bertrand
Another favorite place in Lisbon is this bookshop: Livraria Bertrand. It is the oldest continuously operating bookshop in the world, although not always in this very spot in the Chiado district. Opened in 1732 and almost completely destroyed in the great earthquake of 1755, the bookshop was rebuilt in 1773 at Rua Garrett 73-75, where it can still be found today.
4. Alleyways of the Alfama
One of the things I love about Lisbon is its maze of alleyways, especially in the Alfama. Here, you walk up and down hills past charming houses decorated with colorful tiles and past restaurants serving delicious fish dishes, often accompanied by the powerfully melancholy sounds of fado.
5. Alleyways of the Bairro Alto
The small streets of the Bairro Alto are another maze of alleyways that I definitely recommend. Although they are not quite as confusing as those in Alfama, with their various garlanded houses, they are almost as pretty to look at. Here’s a tip: if, like me, you’re not in the mood for bar culture and a party crowd, you should come here during the day. Bairro Alto is known for its various bars, but during the day, it is a little quieter.
6. Blue House at the Igreja de São Roque
The magnificent Igreja de São Roque alone is worth a visit, but, for me, it is always its forecourt that magically attracts me. The reason: the blue-tiled house on the other side of the street, in front of which I stand spellbound time and time again. I can’t really explain it, but the view of the house façade makes the church forecourt with its temporary stalls on the not-so-quiet street a favorite place for me in Lisbon.
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7. Croqueteria in the Time Out Market
There are many cafés and restaurants in Lisbon that are worth a mention. But one place I really do return to every time is the Time Out Market. And that’s because of its infinitely tasty croquettes. They can be found in a corner of the large market hall, in the croqueteria — and they are simply delicious.