Our first day exploring Lisbon!

After crossing into Portugal yesterday and magically gaining an extra hour, our bodies woke us up way earlier than we planned but honestly, the excitement of being in Lisbon made it easy to get moving. We powered through our usual breakfast-and-get-ready routine and headed out the door buzzing for our first real day of exploring.

To kick things off, we had to catch three trains to get to Belem. Three! After barely touching public transport this whole trip, it felt like a ful on adventure. Hopping on and off, switching platforms, following signs…. by the time we arrived, we felt like Lisbon locals. And then suddenly… there we were in Belem, with sunshine, river views, and the whole day ahead of us.

We strolled along the sparkling waterfront and through a gorgeous park before reaching the Monument to the Discoveries. It’s huge and dramatic and kind of makes you feel tiny in the coolest way. After a few photos and a moment taking it all in, we continued along the river until we reached the Belem Tower. The tower is a beautiful fortress that once guarded the entrance to Lisbon’s Harbour and it looks almost like a fairytale castle rising out of the water. Even though it was wrapped in scaffolding the area was full of life with buskers playing music, people lounging by the water and everyone just soaking in the good vibes.

From there we wandered back toward the enormous monastery, which looked absolutely stunning in the sun. Even from the outside it’s so grand and detailed it almost doesn’t feel real. We kept wandering through the beautiful neighbourhood until by total luck we stumbled across the famous little cafe selling the legendary custard tarts. Obviously we had to try them. One bite and… wow. Sweet, flaky, creamy perfection. We could’ve easily eaten ten.

We poked around some adorable shops afterward, including one entirely devoted to tinned fish which was both random and surprisingly charming before heading to the LX Factory. What a fun place! Colourful murals everywhere, quirky little shops, handmade goodies, cool cafes….. it felt like the artsy heart of Lisbon. We could’ve spent hours exploring, but hunger won in the end.

So off we went to Time Out Market for lunch. The energy inside was incredible, crowds, smells, sizzling pans, endless food options. We each picked something that caught our eye, and everything tasted amazing. It’s the kind of place where you instantly wish you had a second stomach.

By then it was somehow already 3 p.m., so we decided to walk back to our accommodation. It should’ve been a quick 30 minute stroll, but obviously we got distracted with cute shops, a street market, random interesting things along the way. So it turned into an hour long wander, which honestly just added to the fun.

When we finally made it back, we collapsed for a bit to give our legs a break before making dinner and climbing into bed. We were tired in the best possible way. If today was anything to go by, tomorrow is going to be even bigger, and we can’t wait.Read more