Loving Lisbon

Celebrating the range of art and accommodations in Lisbon.

We made our first pilgrimage to Portugal this year, and with no surprise, we began our journey of discovery in Lisbon, the country’s captivating capital city which now boasts a population in excess of 3,000,000 across its metropolitan area. As it was a long journey taking more than 24 hours of travel with the time change and flight delays and connections into account, we choose to spend our first two nights in the lovely Radisson Blu situated nearby Lisbon International Airport. It was a great way to slowly immerse ourselves in the country that was to be our home for the next six weeks. The Radisson Blu has a wide offering of Portuguese dishes, their friendly and knowledgeable staff pointed us to a number of excellent Portuguese wines, and the full-sized king bed was immensely comfortable and prepared us for the amount of walking we would do on cobblestones, up and down cliffs and navigating steps and staircases along our journey of discovery.

Our next stop was for three nights in the Old Town of Lisbon. We stayed at the Solar dos Poetas, a small boutique hotel honouring the local literary community. We loved this place! Our view overlooked the historic central square of Bairro Alto and featured a statue of Luis de Camões, a 16th century master of prose considered by many to be Portugal’s greatest poet. He was so loved by his country that the day of his death (June 10th) is honoured annually as Portugal’s National Day.

We were fortunate to be in Lisbon to witness the Lenten Procession—a tribute to the first day of Lent—in which church officials and parishioners slowly walk down the street that leads to the cathedral located adjacent to our hotel. More than 80% of the Portuguese population are Catholics, so the time leading up to Easter is an important time to declare their faith. The photos below illustrate the pageantry and passion of the procession.

We felt very privileged to witness the Lenten Procession in Lisbon in February, 2024. The middle photo shows the immenseness of the crowd participating in the procession.

As with most European capitals, Lisbon boasts many historic buildings, statues and sculptures that celebrate its heritage. But watch where you’re walking! The amount of dog poo on the streets of Lisbon is phenomenal and so abundant that if you don’t watch the ground where you’re walking, you’re sure to get it on your shoes. But don’t look down too much or you may get hit in a worse way. The traffic in the downtown is crazy and vehicles certainly don’t give pedestrians the right of way in most instances. 

Back on the positive side, what we really loved about Lisbon was the way modern art has been commissioned and erected in strategic places that so effectively blend the old with the new. Here are a couple pieces that inspired us in the area of the Praça do Comércio (the large harbour-facing plaza in the city) where you’ll find museums, shops, and a multitude of restaurants and bars.

We were truly inspired by the effectiveness of combining modern art with the heritage and culture of Lisbon’s iconic Praca do Comercio seaside plaza.

I introduced you to a lovely airport hotel and one that is located right in the heart of Old Lisbon. I’d also like to highlight a noteworthy property where we had a customized tour and enjoyed a fabulous meal. The Torel Palace Lisbon is part of an exquisite family of properties with striking views from the top of Colina de Santana–one of Lisbon’s seven hills. The Torel Palace offers luxurious accommodations, a Michelin-starred restaurant and beautiful grounds. Here’s a look to help you with your travel planning.

The night-time views from the rooftop deck of the Torel Palace offer captivating views of Lisbon, including the illuminated Christ tower off in the distance.

Picture yourself sun or moon bathing on these comfortable beds on the rooftop deck of the Torel Palace Lisbon.

I hope this post has whetted your appetite for the Portuguese capital and helped you understand why we love Lisbon. Its seamless blend of old and new, friendly people, and fabulous wine and cultural offerings are worthy of any seasoned traveller.

And if you’re looking for more info on Portugal outside of Lisbon and the capital region, please visit this post in which I cover several locations within central Portugal as well as the Algarve region.