TRAVEL DIARY: MY LISBON PORTUGAL ITINERARY

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Enjoy my Lisbon Portugal itinerary! We went to Lisbon for my birthday and I fell in love with Portugal. Let me set the scene: cobblestone streets that actively try to ruin your ankles, a city draped in golden light at every hour, and a culture that has decided — correctly — that custard pastries deserve their own pilgrimage. That’s Lisbon. And I was absolutely not prepared for how hard it was going to go. This was not a sit-by-the-pool trip. This was a we are going to experience everything this city has to offer and also possibly nap standing up trip. Here’s how it all went down.

WHERE WE STAYED:

We stayed at Torel Palace and it was beautiful. I would stay there over and over again. The hotel is gorgeous and the grounds are even better. I went to Portugal with my friends and each of our rooms had their own design and charm. There are two pools on site, many lounge areas, bars, and even a Michelin star restaurant on the property. Breakfast is included and its delicious!

WHAT WE DID:

I researched a lot of things to do and came up with a super fun itinerary. Here is a list of the activities we did:

We rode electric cars throughout the city. Fueled up and ready, we hopped into an electric self-driving car for a tour of the city. I know what you’re thinking: “a self-driving car tour, is that not just… parking?” Reader, it is not. It is actually incredibly fun, a little chaotic, and the best way to cover ground without destroying your knees on Lisbon’s hills. Click here to book this activity.
We booked a 4 hour private boat for the day and I love a good boat day! The boat crew sent us a menu with so many options on what we can eat on board. They knew it was my birthday, so they had balloons and other decorations on board too. We had good food, good drinks and music. Click here to choose your boat and book your tour.
We took train for a day trip to Cascais, which is a coastal town about 40 minutes outside Lisbon that is aggressively charming. I highly recommend going to see another city while you’re already in Europe. I wanted to go to Porto but my kids were with us, so I didn’t know if the 3 hour train ride would’ve been ok for them. Cascais was beautiful!! There is a nice beach, lots of shops and restaurants.
We took a tile painting class. This was so cute and fun. Once you get to the art gallery, they have blank tiles, paint brushes, paints and water bowls out for you. The instructor goes over everything and shows you how to use stencils to make traditional Portuguese tiles. You can also just paid free hand if you’d like. Book your tile painting class here.
We made custom fragrances at Next Memory. Omg, this was really cool to do. You do not need an appointment or anything, you can just go to the store. If you’ve never made your own fragrance before, add it to every trip you ever take. Next Memory was one of those “I didn’t know I needed this” experiences that somehow becomes the thing you tell everyone about when you get home.
We also did a lot of walking throughout the city and I recommend doing that as well. They have a huge Zara over there and that was a must see!
We hit Bairro Alto for Lisbon’s legendary nightlife. Bairro Alto works like this: tiny bars, open doors, everyone spills onto the street. It’s chaotic and loud and one of the best nights you’ll ever have.
Must Do: Make time to support Social B. Black-owned, brilliantly run, and one of the best bars of the whole trip. The kind of spot you tell your friends about so they can have the same experience — and then you feel a little smug that you found it first.
Don’t skip: Nisa’s Lounge is a gem. Black woman-owned and operated, with an atmosphere that hits differently from the moment you walk in. Exactly the kind of place that makes you glad you did your research before traveling.

@melrwhite
So much fun! 📍 Spinach Tours LISBON, PORTUGAL
♬ original sound – Mel

@melrwhite Add fragrance making to your list in Lisbon #Portugal #nextmemory ♬ original sound – Mel

WHERE WE ATE:

No matter where I go, I am going to find the best places to eat. Portugal has delicious food and I am not exaggerating. Here are the list of the restaurants we ate at:

Rocco
Faz Frio (a favorite)
Black Pavillion (restaurant at our hotel)
Palacia Chiado
Lisboa Tu e Eu 2 (a favorite)
Jncquoi

WHAT I WORE:

There is a lot of walking in Lisbon, so you want to make sure you are comfortable. I packed flats for the day time and a comfortable heel at for the night time.

OUTFIT LINKS

@melrwhite
Celebrating my birthday in Portugal 🥰
♬ πρωτότυπος ήχος – Spiros Zorpidis

Portugal is now one of my favorite places to visit! The flight wasn’t too long, so it’s easy to get to. It’s beautiful, the people are nice and the food is delicious. We had a ball and will be back to hit up some other cities. Stay tuned for the YouTube vlog.