MY 5 DAY SOLO LISBON ITINERARY

When I visit somewhere new, I usually head there with a notes list on my phone of 100001 places I want to visit and then naturally cross off about 2 of those non-tourist landmark areas. Alas, this trip saw me tick off the majority of points on my ‘Lisbon to-do list’ and even add more just to tick them off. Did I actually explore a city where I didn’t talk myself out of visiting everything I wanted to see? Sounds fake but okay.

I have waxed lyrical about Lisbon in the 3 months since I visited the Portuguese capital, so if you are planning to visit Lisbon on a solo trip, or you need convincing further before taking the leap, check out my itinerary below for literally every place I visited/ate/drank whilst into the Portuguese capital (with timings for reference to really see how I spent my time).

Day One

- 7:50am - flight to Lisbon from Manchester airport
- 10:45am - Arrived in Lisbon and waited in line for 2 hours for passport control (the only negative of this trip but I was too excited to care!)
- 1:30pm - Arrived in Arroios (2 metros and 30mins from the airport - just 1.85 euro!)
After a long morning, I stopped for lunch at Josephine Bistro for a delicious bifana (traditional Portuguese sandwich) and a crisp beer whilst devouring my book, before heading to the Airbnb for a 3pm check in
- 4:45pm - Explored the Rossio area before I headed up to Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara for a gorgeous view of the city
Sauntered down towards Cais do Sodre, grabbed snacks from Pingo Doce and walked along the waterfront until I reached Miradouro do Rio Tejo

- It cost me no more than 2 euros for a big bag of Lays and a can of Sagres (cans of beer are so cheap there!) which I enjoyed whilst watching the most beautiful sunset. The most blissful end to a very stimulating first day.

Day Two

- 11am - Heading out through Rossio, I visited Pandora to buy myself a new charm for my bracelet (I want to be able to look at it and smile thinking about Lisbon) and wandered over to see the Santa Justa Lift (I literally just walked passed it a few times because so many people said it wasn’t worth the price of riding the lift, especially with so many incredible Miradouros in the city).
- 12pm - Quick Starbucks break at Rossio station for a peach iced tea and to buy a Lisbon mug (finally a new city ‘bucks mug for my collection!).
- 12:15pm - quick walk through Praça do Comércio before heading off to find Bike Bakery for the most delicious looking pistachio bun (the cutest padaria in a sweet looking area).
- 1pm - first trip to TimeOut Market (to scope out the photobooth that I chickened out of going in) before heading to the TOM Manteigaria for, in my opinion, the best pastéis de natas in the world (I actually ate 10/12 from here over the trip oops).
- 1:30pm - I’d been too busy to eat but finally my stomach growling at me lead me to visit Heim Cafe which was lush and somewhere I’m looking forward to going back to on my next trip! The salted caramel iced latte and raspberry and coffee cream pancakes were divine!
- 2:30pm - Wandered down Green Street, browsed through Mel Studio (like more affordable Astrid & Miyu meets Utility) before having a mooch and then promptly dragging myself back out of Cerâmicas na Linha because I wanted to buy virtually every plate and dish I saw in there! I then stumbled across an incredible city vantage point, it’s at the top of a winding side road by Dear Breakfast but offers one heck of a view of the city and river (opposite Palacete Iglésias).
- 3:30pm - On my way back to the Airbnb I was still debating my whether I should buy my Portugal football shirt yet (that debate didn’t last long) so I headed into Força Portugal in Rossi and ordered my shirt. I walked out of the store wanting to squeal. At 5pm I headed back to pick up my shirt and happily swung it back to the apartment.
- 6:15pm - I headed out to grab a Metro to Alvalade and then walked my way over to Estádio José Alvalade to got to my very first Portugal football game!! There is another metro stop just by the stadium (that doesn’t include a 30 min walk) but I wanted the walk just in case I needed to walk off any nervous energy I had. Result? A cracking 1-0 win over Ireland with a Rúben Neves goal!
- 10:30pm - arrive back at the apartment and bask in the sheer joy of that experience and binge watch The Summer I Turned Pretty.

Day Three

- I had a lazy morning on the Sunday, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but after slowly getting ready and watching more TSITP, at 11am it hit me that I should just head to Cascais instead of leaving it until the Monday. I checked the train times from Cais do Sodre and headed down for a 12:20(ish) train out of the city. For 2.85 euro I took a 40 minute train and tucked into my book for the journey.
- 1pm - Arrived in Cascais and set off to Starbucks for a melon pearl refresha that I’d been craving before starting my wander along the beach front, down the side streets and wandering around the shops for the next hour and a half.
- 2:20pm - After picking up a delicious chicken salad baguette for just 3.50 euro from Pop Sandwich and snacks from a supermarket, I settled onto a park bench in the sunshine for a food break and further book reading - bliss.
- 3pm - Headed out for a meander around the marina and a lengthy beach/boardwalk exploration with the intention of finding one of the most famous, picturesque sights of Cascais, the Casa-Museu de Santa Maria lighthouse. The view absolutely did not disappoint!
- 4:40pm - Quick Manteigaria stop for another couple of natas and then I made my way back to the station after a relaxing few hours outside of the city. The experience was so relaxing and beautiful, next time I’ll definitely make a longer day of it but it was perfect for a first trip.
- 7pm - After a lot of leisurely walking, I stopped by the riverfront to catch another sunset and then had an early night because I was shattered.

Day Four

- 10:30am - The day started with a walk out to find food after skipping dinner the night before, a few places I wanted to try were really busy but then I spied The Folks that I’d pinned on my list and waited in line for a few minutes before being seated. I was right in the middle of the small restaurant on a table for 2 that felt like I had a spotlight on me for being solo, but really it was totally fine. Their pistachio, raspberry and cream pancakes were nice and I picked up my book for a little read too. 
- 11:45am - Finally I stopped by Livraria Bertrand - the oldest bookstore in the world - which was so exciting and incredible to explore. I could have bought a million books but restrained myself, oh the pain. Then I took a cursory walk down Pink Street (not for me at all - sorry!
- 12:30pm - Outfit picture snapping with a cute background (gotta do it for the content obviously) before forcing myself to get the damn photobooth photos from TimeOut Market. Take it from me, you have to take the solo phoobooth photos, they’re the most perfect souvenir, and these were just 5 euro for 3 photos (2 copies of the photo strips and digital copies too). Then I stopped at Comoba for an iced blueberry matcha (really disappointed but maybe that’s just me, I’ve possibly ben too spoiled by the Blank Street ones) for a long walk I knew was coming.
- 1:40pm - 40 minutes of walking later and I arrived at LX Factory, what a cool place! I feel like I just walked around this industrial market with my eyes moving everywhere at rapid rate trying to take everything in - that was pretty much me the whole trip to be honest. The main place I wanted to check out was Ler Devagar bookstore with the famous bicycle suspended from the ceiling. What a place to visit! I picked up some stickers from a cute little stationery/gift store and then started my walk back towards the city centre. 
- 3:25pm - Truly exhausted (and a little bit dehydrated), I wandered down the riverfront and noticed I was just in time for happy hour at Capricciosa, slouched down in a deck chair with a river view and my book, I ordered an Aperol Spritz followed by a beer and relaxed in the baking heat. The fact I could have the best of both worlds on this trip, both the exploration and the relaxation was something I hadn’t experienced on a city break before but was exactly what I’d needed.
- 5pm - A quick detour to Castro to try their Pasteis de Natas (delicious but still not my ultimate faves) on the way back to the apartment to freshen up and online dinner reservations made for sunset at Capricciosa.
- 7pm - solo dining whilst watching her sunset with a bowl of pasta, a large garlic bread and a beer was perfect. I wasn’t nervous or apprehensive, I definitely think it helped that I’d been to the restaurant earlier that day for a drink so it took the daunting ‘new place’ element out of the equation.
- 9pm - Naturally I had to end the night with ice cream so I popped by La Romana which was divine!

Day Five

- 10:00am - Wanting to make the most of my last full day, I was up and out handy to explore the best I could. I couldn’t not visit the second largest Zara in the world, it’s in an incredible building and for the first time in ages I could have bought so much in there but I was not about to test my luggage allowance. Then I visited Pandora to replace a ring I’d lost a few months ago and had to drag myself away before I bought anything else.
- 10:50am - arrived to a surprisingly short queue at Dear Breakfast in Chiado and made myself wait despite my nerves starting to beg me not to. The result? Best decision I made. The food was delicious, I ended up with the iconic window seat that I’ve seen all over Instagram and Pinterest with the road view of the trams and I relaxed with banana and caramel pancakes (yes I ate a lot of pancakes on this trip, oops!), a pistachio latte and started a new book.
- 11:40am - then I set off the hour walk to the Lisbon famous Feira da Ladra flea market (on every Tuesday & Saturday) for an explore, browse and to nab myself a customised charm necklace that kept appearing on my TikTok feed. It took about 30 minutes wandering to find one of the stalls but it was well worth it. For 15 euro you can choose the chain style you want, the metal colour and 5 charms that suit you, then you watch it being made to a length you want. I adore mine and know I’ll be making another one (or maybe a bracelet) next time I go. On the way there, and back, I stopped by the Tunnel of the History of Lisbon and caught one of my favourite viewpoints of the city, Miradouro de Santa Luzia, just behind it. I also wandered by the gorgeous exterior of Casa São Miguel although the queue was long and it was so hot in there so I didn’t end up buying anything.
- 3:20pm - lunch at Capricciosa (again!) to make the most of happy hour and making sure I eat because I know I’ll be out in the evening and won’t have chance to grab food. Then it was back over to TimeOut Market (I sure went there a lot considering I didn’t eat or drink there) to try the photobooth again (another winning set, I’m so happy I could cry) and then Fábrica da Nata to try their natas before I had a little rest at the apartment and got myself ready for the evening
- 6:20pm - time to head back to Jóse Alvalade Stadium for the Portugal v Hungary game!
- 10:30pm - home to finish packing and sleep before my final day.

Day Six

- 9:45am - Drop bags off for storing for the day and wander out for breakfast at Breakfast Lovers in Graça (omelette, toast and salad - yum!).

- 10:45am - seeing as I was in the area, I saw there was a nearby miradouro worth taking a look at - oh boy was that worth the zillion stairs I walked up to get there. Miradouro da Graça (Miradouro Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen) is quite possibly my new favourite spot in the world, the views are incredible and it felt like such a reflective spot I was fighting back the tears up there. I couldn’t believe I was stood in that spot out of everywhere in the world I could have been. After a little walk I unexpectedly ended up at the same Miradouro as the day before so enjoyed that view all over again.

- 12pm - one last stop at TimeOut Market for (more) photobooth photos, I just had to have some in my Portugal shirt, I couldn’t stop thinking about that idea.

- 12:15pm - grabbed some pistachio truffles I just had to bring home with me, some snacks and then sat reading my book on the river front for a while to relax.

- 2pm - my last stop was Manteigaria (of course) for a box of 6 natas to take home with me and then I arrived back at the apartment to collect my bags and make my way to the airport for my 5:50pm flight home. 

This was super lengthy but I managed to pack so much into my 5 days whilst also relaxing, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and hopefully this show you that you can do this too if you’re apprehensive but wanting to do something similar!

Brunch                                                                                Sweet
- Josephine Bistro                                                               - Bike Bakery 
- Heim Cafe                                                                         - Manteigaria (fave Pasteis de Nata’s)
- The Folks                                                                          - Castro  

- Dear Breakfast (Chiado)                                                    - Fabrica de Nata
- Breakfast Lovers (Graça)                                                  - La Romana Gelateria

Shop                                                                                    Food / Drink
- Zara (worlds second largest)                                             - Capricciosa (food & Happy Hour)
- Feira da Ladra market                                                       -  Comoba
- Campo St Clara, Ceramicas                                             - Starbucks

- Ler Devagar bookstore
- Livraria Bertrand
- Ceramicas na Linha

Landmarks/Points of interest
- South Fountain of Rossio                                                - Rossio railway station

- Green Street                                                                     - Pink Street
- Waterfront                                                                        - Santa Justa lift 

- Tunnel of the History of Lisbon                                        - Praça do Comércio
- LX Factory                                                                        - Time Out Market
- Miradouro de Santa Luzia                                                - Miradouro do Rio Tejo
- Miradouro de Graça                                                         - Miradouro do Chão do Loureiro  
- Miradouro de Sāo Pedro de Alcântara                             - LISBOA letters

Cascais

- Pop Sandwich                                                                 - Cascais Marina

- Starbucks                                                                        - Praia da Conceição

- Manteigaria                                                                     - Casa de Santa Maria

- Mirador Casa De Santa Marta                                        - Jardim Visconde da Luz

I'm so desperate to visit again later this year, so where must I visit next time?

S xo

HOW LISBON HELPED ME FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE BEING SOLO

Rambling thoughts ahead, proceed with mild….caution? No, you already know I’m a rambler who can’t tame her words (or scale them down, there’s a reason I almost hit my + 10% word count for my dissertation).

I’ve just returned from my very first abroad solo trip. My very first solo flight, the very first time I’ve been in another country on my own with no one I know and solely with myself as company. It’s the biggest step I’ve ever taken on my own (aside from moving to a new city twice and starting new, but I had someone helping me do that, this felt different). On the first night there I felt so wonderfully overwhelmed and couldn’t stop myself from writing out my thoughts, whether I shared them would be a different matter, but I needed this for me. I needed to be able to look back on this either at the end of the trip, in a few weeks time or a number of years down the line to see how far I’ve come.

I’m usually someone who psyches herself to try somewhere new, dedicating time to going on a day off, feeling excited and then proceeds to walk past it 5 times before leaving and not doing the activity/trying that place. It’s ridiculous and exhausting and I feel like I’m missing out on so much by not doing.

I don’t want to shoot solo content in public (even if it’s just of my cute brunch) because I feel embarrassed, the thought of sitting alone eating a meal makes me nervous and I’d never been on a plane alone…until the day I went to Lisbon.

Something about that trip has altered my brain chemistry. Not just the fact the city is embedded into my soul now because I love it so much, but it’s like the moment I woke up that morning, I felt confident and I wasn’t nervous in the slightest that I was taking a solo trip abroad to Lisbon for 5 nights.

To be honest, it’s absurd. It’s a big step to take when I can barely get around without wearing my headphones, overthinking every last thing and have this annoying habit of wanting to do something and then last minute changing the plan because I’m too nervous and end up staying in.

But Lisbon, good old Lisbon changed me. My initial thought when I got off the plane was “oh sod it, let’s take an Uber”, and then I saw it was literally €1.85 to jump 2 metros to my Airbnb which is craaaaazy cheap. I put my general underground network knowledge to good use and set off like I knew exactly what I was doing. Fake it til you make it, right? It turns out it really is just that easy and I wasn’t stressed or anxious in the slightest. Plus, the view coming up the stairs from the metro and landing on the street, seeing an array of gorgeous tiles and a cute neighbourhood, was unreal.

In true Sam fashion, I had a small wobble and walked right past the food place I’d been intending to go to as my first stop before I could check into my Airbnb, all because it looked a bit busy and I couldn’t find a member of staff outside to see if I could sit there. I ended up about 10 minutes off course, on madly cobbled/tiled streets that are completely un-suitcase friendly, but after nearly pulling my right shoulder out of it’s socket dealing with a poor pavement/wheel combo, I landed back at Josephine’s Bistro and acted like the grown woman I am. As soon as I sat down with the sunshine shining and the tree lined street view, I was suddenly calm, why did I need to make it so difficult? After ordering a sandwich and a wildly cheap bottle of beer, I settled in with my book, listening to the soft Portuguese music playing from the speakers and felt overwhelmed by how happy and proud I was just to have made it to that point.

The whole trip was about pushing myself out of my comfort zone, I just wasn’t expecting how much I’d immediately embrace it.

During the late afternoon, I went for a wander with the intention of hitting a few spots I wanted to see and then grabbing a drink and heading to a miradoura to watch the sunset. I ended up a massively steep hill (I knew they were going to be steep but nothing could have prepared me for how much!) and found the miradoura I was looking for, only a good hour and a half before I intended to be there. It was stunning though and I think it looked beautiful in the bright sunshine. So then I set off walking, any old direction I didn’t care, I had time to be leisurely and to just explore. Heading more downtown, I suddenly saw water between the building at the bottom of the hill - I had no idea I was as near to the waterfront as I actually was!

Oh the peace I felt meandering along the waterfront as the sun slowly began to set, the joy on the faces of the locals and tourists alike that had flocked to the river front walls to take in the views. I felt so content, there’s no feeling like it. So content in fact, I pulled my small tripod from my bag and my camera remote, loaded my phone up and started shooting content. There was a restaurant right across from me, I could feel people looking over but I didn’t care, the thing that usually terrifies me was something I was absolutely fine with doing on my own for the first time ever, in a busy area. I truly surprised myself with that one. Everything about Lisbon felt welcoming and freeing and absolutely the place I needed to be at that time. It's like my self-conscious feelings evaporated and my anxiety slipped away with the sun melting into the waves. The ease with which I've pushed myself to do things since coming home, that would have made me feel uncomfortable or uneasy, is credit to the Lisbon experience.

Feeling so happy, I parked myself on an empty bit of wall, Lays and Sagres opened, and listening to a very spicy audiobook, I took in the beautiful first sunset of the trip. The weight of this year, the heaviness of my heart and shoulders from the last few months melted, even temporarily, I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be.

Just look at that for a sunset!

S xo