Visiting Monsanto is experiencing a place that stood the test of time. There, in the mountaintop, houses were built in and around huge 200-tonne boulders that defined the local architecture and way of life. The enormous boulders have been utilised as walls, floors, and most astoundingly, as roofs for houses that date back to the 16th century.

Arriving to Monsanto is like stepping into Medieval Portugal, a true time-travel experience. Monsanto is one of the most ancient fortified villages in Portugal and is even known as ‘the most Portuguese village in Portugal’ since 1938.

How to Get to Monsanto?

Monsanto is located in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, in Eastern Portugal and just 20km from the Spanish border.
Distancing about 3 hours from Porto (and Lisbon) it’s the perfect road trip for those seeking to discover Portugal’s countryside.
The best way to get to Monsanto is definitely by car. You will be crossing the country from one side to the other and experiencing very different landscapes along the way so it’s totally worth it. Alternatively you can travel to Castelo Branco by bus and then get a taxi to Monsanto, but we would definitely recommend to get a rental car and enjoy the drive!

What to do in Monsanto?

The Monsanto Castle

At the very top of the hill, the Monsanto Castle is definitely the village’s main attraction. Built in the 12th century to protect the kingdom borders, it was successively extended during the following centuries. There’s not a lot left from the original castle besides the fortified walls surrounding it, but the views are definitely the main focal point. The castle offers the most outstanding 360º views over the valleys and hills around Monsanto and it’s even possible to see Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain in Portugal.
From the village, there’s a walking path to the castle which is quite steep so don’t forget your comfortable shoes and enjoy the view!

The Village

Besides visiting the castle, we loved to explore the village. Discover its paths trough the narrow stone alleyways and admire the unique boulder houses was a very special experience. We truly felt like stepping into the Middle Ages!
Depending on the time of the year you are going, the village can be very quiet with just a few tourists and friendly locals. The best time to visit is during the Spring or Fall. It can get too warm during Summer and very cold during the Winter months.

Another high point in our trip to Monsanto was definitely the local food. There are not a lot of options around, since it’s such a small place, but we had great experiences. Having an early morning breakfast at Taverna Lusitana and dinner at O Cruzeiro really made our trip special. Have in mind that most of the restaurants in Monsanto close very early (normally at 9pm). It can get pretty full during high season so don’t forget to book in advance.

Since we stayed for a full weekend, we also had the opportunity to visit the nearby village of Idanha-a-Velha. This ancient roman town was founded more than 2000 years ago and is, along with Monsanto, one of the 12 Historical Villages of Portugal.

Where to Stay?

During our trip to Monsanto, we stayed at the amazing Casa da Pedra, an adorable little stone house. It has an amazing terrace with a breathtaking view over the Clock Tower (or Lucano Tower) and the surrounding landscape. This was the perfect place to stay and explore the village, since all attractions are just a few meters away. You really only need one night here to see it all, but it’s a wonderful relaxing stay for even longer if you are looking to unwind from the city bustle.

Looking for more places to stay in Monsanto? Check here!

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Gerês National Park was recognised by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve and is one of Portugal’s most visited natural attractions.
Gerês has over 20 amazing hiking trails that will guide you through colourful paths, breathtaking 360º views, magical waterfalls, valleys and river trails. Some hiking trails can be quite challenging (from 5 up to 20 km) but the reward of swimming in a pristine clear waterfall is totally worth it.
The many waterfalls are definitely the soul of Gerês but there’s so much more to discover – Middle Age castles, ancient villages and of course the local gastronomy!

Gerês National Park is famous for its untouched nature, crystal clear waterfalls, breathtaking views and more than one hundred small villages. The villages were partly renovated in the 1970s but still remained its original character. If you like spending time in nature, enjoy breathtaking views and discover extraordinary landscapes, then Gerês will be perfect for you!

We went to Gerês by car and it was around 4 hours from Lisbon. When we arrived, we directly felt like we’ve stepped into a different time. Some of the ancient villages, like Soajo and Lindoso, will show you exactly how it was back in the days. It was incredible to see how mankind achieved to build those villages and castles on the most epic landscapes.
While exploring Gerês we crossed paths with wild horses, cows, goats and other animals that definitely made our experience better.

The Peneda-Gerês National Park is a vast cross-border florestal area intrinsically connected to Spain. You should definitely try to make a stop in the Spanish village of Torneiro. Here you’ll find Caldas de Lobios, an ancient roman bath where you can enjoy the natural open-air hot waters for free. Since there’s a lot of driving involved, make sure to fill up your gas in Spain. It’s much cheaper and there’s a gas station close by.

Gerês is magical all year, but if you want to explore the river trails and waterfalls, the best time to visit would be in the Spring. During Summer the weather can be too warm and the waterfalls a bit dry.
In Winter you can expect low temperatures and maybe even snow. It’s good if you like to come home after a nice walk through the woods and enjoy the warm fireplace.

Checklist:

• Make sure you get a good pair of waterproof hiking shoes. You will need them for sure!
• Bring a hat for sun protection. And don’t forget your sunscreen!
• Bring water and snacks for the road. You’ll not find anyplace to buy it for miles.
• Try to get up early!

Check out these tour guides to make sure you won’t miss out on anything!

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Parque Florestal de Monsanto

Parque Florestal de Monsanto is definitely my favourite park in Lisbon. It’s the biggest (900 hectares – 10% of the total area of Lisbon) and one of the most beautiful parks I have ever been so far. Monsanto has an amazing natural environment with incredible views over the city. There are great hiking tracks – that really take you through the woods, lots of bicycle routes and many places to have quiet picnics and BBQs (be aware that it’s not allowed to BBQ during the Summer months).
One of my favourite areas in the park is the Keil do Amaral viewpoint, a place where everyone gets together to enjoy the amazing view over the river and have a BBQ with friends and family.

Until the XX century, this entire area was covered by crops and pastures for cattle and only in the 1930s the Parque Florestal de Monsanto was actually projected. It took several years to achieve the current configuration, but quickly became one of the local’s favourite spots and the most important green area in Lisbon.

Panorâmico de Monsanto is one of the spots you should not miss out while visiting Monsanto. This was once a luxury restaurant, nightclub, office space and warehouse. Now, it’s an abandoned building filled up with amazing street art gratify and a breathtaking 360° over the city.

Parque Eduardo VII

Parque Eduardo VII is located next to the emblematic Marques de Pombal square. The name of the park came after a visit of King Edward VII of England to reaffirm the long alliance between England and Portugal. It was projected in the XX century as neo-classical monumental garden surrounded by grass and long sidewalks.

I really like to go here because it feels very calm and spacey, especially from above. There you have a nice view over downtown Lisbon and the river. On the right side of the park, from down the hill, there are tables and benches under the shade of trees, which is very nice to relax on those hot summer days. On the left side, you will find an amazing tropical greenhouse “Estufa Fria” – entrance is €3,10.

Jardim Amália Rodrigues

Jardim Amália Rodrigues lays just a little bit above Parque Eduardo VII, but it has an environment on its own. It’s a great place to sit on the grass, read a book or just relax. It has a huge amphitheater which faces the Marques de Pombal square and the Tejo river. Here you will also find a small restaurant with terrace where you can have lunch or a snack.

Jardim da Estrela

Jardim da Estrela was inspired by the romantic English gardens of XIX century. It’s official name is Jardim Guerra Junqueiro, but it’s more famous as Estrela, by the neighbourhood that names it.
It’s in front of one of most charismatic monuments in Lisbon, the Basílica da Estrela and became an integral part of the recreational activities in Lisbon.
They take very good care of the park and it’s open everyday from 07:00 to 24:00. It’s full of exotic plants and trees, two children playgrounds, a pond with ducks, two kiosks and the iconic iron bandstand that remains active until today. If you love to shop handmade products you should visit Jardim da Estrela during the weekend.

Gulbenkian Garden

Built in the 1960s, the Garden of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is one of the most emblematic gardens of the Portuguese modernist movement and an icon of the landscape architecture. The Gulbenkian Garden surrounds the Calouste Gulbenkian Art Museum and is located next to Praça de Espanha. When I first moved to Lisbon, I lived two blocks away and used to come here quite often to relax. It’s the perfect escape from the busy city life. Once you are inside you feel completely away from city bustle and don’t even the notice all the cars driving around you.

The Gulbenkian Garden was projected with different ambiances and an open-air amphitheater surrounded and partly covered by nature. There are adorable waterfalls, a small lake with grass all around and quiet places to read. This used to be my favourite place to go to relax or read a good book.

Jardim do Torel

Jardim do Torel is located on the hill above the exquisite Avenida da Liberdade. It opened up in the 1960s and has a wonderful view over the city and the downtown area. In order to reach this city hideaway, you can climb up the hill or take Lisbon’s oldest funiculars “Elevador do Lavra”.

Jardim do Torel has a small area where you can lay and relax on the grass, under the tree shades. On the lower terrace you will find a bar where you can have a drink and a small bite. There’s also a huge fountain that, if you believe it or not, was even used as a swimming pool. During summer they also have outdoor events where locals enjoy the sunset with live music and a cold beer.

Jardim do Campo Grande

Jardim do Campo Grande is a beautiful rectangular garden in the neighbourhood of Campo Grande. It’s the biggest garden in Lisbon with over 1.2 km long and 200 meters wide. Since the beginning of XIX century that is used by locals and it was fully renovated in 2018, with even a McDonalds with Drive In.

Jardim do Campo Grande is full of excitement and ideal for everyone! There are walking routes, a lake where you can rent a paddle boat, children playgrounds, paddel courts and enough places to lay down on the grass and enjoy the amazing environment that you are in.

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SEEN Lisboa:

SEEN is located on the top floor of Tivoli Hotel and is definitely one of the best rooftop bars in Lisbon. It has an amazing decor inside and a restaurant with Jamie Oliver’s signature, while the terrace bar has a terrific view over Lisbon.

Food is exquisite and beautifully served, followed by the best selection of Portuguese wines. There’s also a contemporary mix of traditional cocktails to enjoy outside while admiring the big city lights.

Address: Avenida da Liberdade 185, 9th floor (Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon)
Price: €€€€
Opening times: Monday to Thursday from 6:30pm to 1am | Friday and Saturday from 6:30pm to 2am

Park Bar:

As the name might probably imply, Park Bar is actually located at the top of parking lot building. This otherwise lifeless place was turned into a very well decorated bar surrounded by beautiful potted plants. With a magnifient 180º view over Lisbon and the Tagus river, this is the perfect spot to enjoy a drink during sunset time.

Address: Calçada do Combro 58 (Bairro Alto, Lisbon)
Price: €€
Open times: Tuesday to Saturday from 1pm to 2am | Sunday from 1pm to 8pm

Topo Bar:

Topo Bar is based on the 12th floor of a commercial building at the Martim Moniz Square, one of the most multicultural areas of Lisbon. It has an indoor and outdoor space with a view over the São Jorge Castle and Martim Moniz Square. From Tuesday on, you can visit this bar for a nicely made cocktail and to listen a live DJ playing dance music.

Address: Centro Comercial Martim Moniz, 6th Floor (Martim Moniz, Lisbon)
Price: €€
Open times: Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday from 5pm to 12am | Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 2am

Entretanto Rooftop Bar at Bairro Alto Hotel:

Located at the top of one of Lisbon’s best hotels, this rooftop has probably the best view over the river Tagus. Trivago called it the 4th most spectacular rooftop hotel view in the world and that says a lot!
The interior is very chic and modern designed. From 12 o’clock until sunset you can enjoy the sun on the terrace with view over Lisbon’s river and bridge.

Address: Praça Luís de Camões 2 (Bairro Alto, Lisbon)
Price: €€€€
Opening times: Everyday 7am to 12am

Lost In:

Lost In is located in Príncipe Real, one of Lisbon trendiest neighbourhoods. The entrance is a bit hidden so make sure you check it good!
This bar/restaurant is the perfect spot to have lunch, enjoy afternoon drinks or just relax and enjoy the view over downtown Lisbon and the São Jorge Castle. The decoration is deeply influenced by the Indian culture, with a colourful and relaxed atmosphere that I just love to enjoy.

Address: Rua D.Pedro V 58 (Príncipe Real, Lisbon)
Price: €€
Open times: Monday from 4pm to 12am | Tuesday to Saturday from 12:30pm to 12am

Rio Maravilha:

Rio Maravilha is a rooftop bar located in the very cool LX Factory. It’s a gastropub with a great variety of author cocktails, beer and wines, inspired by both Portuguese and Brazilian recipes and ingredients.
The place has an inside bar with a unique decoration and strong design, mixing vintage and industrial. But it’s outside, with a privileged view over the 25 de Abril bridge, that Rio Maravilha really stands out!

Address: Rua Rodrigues de Faria 103 | LX Factory Entrance 3, 4th Floor (Alcântara, Lisbon)
Price: €€
Opening times: Tuesday to Thursday from 12:30pm to 2am | Friday to Saturday from 12:30pm to 3am | Sunday from 12:30pm to 12am

Limão at H10 Duque de Loulé Hotel:

At the top of the luxurious H10 Duque de Loulé Hotel, Limão rooftop has a modern Portuguese style decoration and an absolutely breathtaking view over the city. It’s located in Marquês de Pombal, one of busiest and more exquisite parts of Lisbon. There are a wide range of classic cocktails, Gins & Tonics, wines and even delicious Portuguese tapas!

Address: Avenida Duque de Loulé, 81-83 (Marquês de Pombal, Lisbon)
Price: €€€
Opening times: Open Everyday until 12am

Silk Club

This is definitely one of the major hot spots in Lisbon! It has a restaurant, a club and a rooftop bar with 270º view over the city. At the restaurant, they serve good Japanese food, while at the bar, the author cocktails might surprise you.
Service was very good and fast – it can take a bit longer on busy days but the friendly staff sure compensates for it.
Decoration is not great, but the view is fantastic and the real WOW factor about this place. And trust me, when I say WOW factor, I really meant it – it’s probably the best view of Lisbon you can get!

Address: Rua Da Misericórdia 14 (Chiado, Lisbon)
Price: €€€
Opening times: Tuesday to Thursday from 7pm to 1am | Friday and Saturday from 7pm to 4am

Check out these tours for extraordinary and well organised food and drink tasting tours in Lisbon:

The post 8 Best Rooftop Bars in Lisbon with an amazing view! appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.

São Rafael Atlântico is part of the NAU Hotels & Resorts group which has several hotels and resorts in Portugal, and specially in the Algarve. The hotel has direct access to the beach and is about 10 minutes driving from Albufeira city center.

Hotel and Resort Main Facilities:

• 3 Outdoor Swimming Pools
• 2 Indoor Swimming Pools
• Spa and Wellness Facilities
• Fitness Center
• Conference Rooms
• 2 Restaurants / 3 Bars
• 24 Hours Room Service
• Free Parking

The Room

The room was very spacious and clean. The decoration was a bit plain but had a lot of high quality details, which we really love. The shower was definitely the highlight – it was spacious, had two shower heads and the perfect amount of pressure.

We had a lot of space to storage our clothes and all the other belongings we brought in. This was great to keep the room clean and tidy (we know how easy is to get messy when on holidays…).

The bed was huge and very comfortable, we had 2 great nights of sleep. The duvet could be little a bit thicker since it was cold at night, but there was a bedspread available which was good enough. The bed and bath linen had very good quality and the pillows were excellent.

The central air-conditioning was a great add up and warmed up the room quite quickly. It was very easy to setup the desired temperature and it went automatically off when we opened the balcony door.

Normally we like to go out for dinner, but since we arrived a little bit too late for that, we decided to order room service. It was definitely a great decision! I had grilled chicken with potato and mushrooms and Miguel got a very tasty Carbonara.

Breakfast

Breakfast was good and had all the basic products you should expect from a 5-Star Hotel and even some more. They had a good selection of bread, cereals, sweets, ham, cheese and specially of fruits. There was also boiled eggs, fried eggs, bacon, beans, sausage, etc. The tea and coffee options were good, but the juices were a bit of a disappointment. They had orange, apple, pineapple, multi-fruits, but they were definitely not fresh.
On a positive note, they had sparkling wine available which is a great way to start the day feeling fancy 🙂

The breakfast area itself was big, clean and very well serviced by the staff.

Facilities

As every good beach resort, the highlights are definitely outdoors. There are 3 swimming pools surrounded by palm trees, lavish gardens and direct access to the beach. This was the perfect place to enjoy the natural environment, while relaxing on the sunbeds and catching some sun.
The Spa in the hotel is very well-designed and very nice looking. There were 2 swimming pools, but unfortunately the temperature was not as high as I would like (only 28 and 30 degrees each). The Jacuzzi was small but felt really good. The Turkish Bath and Sauna were good, with the right amount of warmth and steam.

These tour guides will make sure that your holidays in the Algarve will be better than ever!

Overall Experience

Arriving to this hotel felt nice already – the building is surrounded by big palm trees which gives a real vacation feeling. When you enter the hotel, you step into a huge reception space with very minimal decoration, but very warm and welcoming which I totally love.

The front office staff welcomed us in a very friendly and polite manner, giving us all the information about the hotel room and facilities. Unfortunately, we haven’t got a room with sea view, but we were pretty happy with the room we got.

Location - 9/10
Cleaning - 8/10
Comfort - 9/10
Facilities - 7/10
Staff - 9/10
Price - €€€ 

We rate this amazing 5 star Hotel and Resort in Algarve with an Excellent 9 out of 10!

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The best time to travel to Lisbon is from March to October – you can expect great weather and the sun shining every day. From November to February it can get a bit cold and rainy, but still very enjoyable and at potential much lower prices in terms of flights and accommodation.

The best and fastest way to explore the big city’s inside Europe is by train. Check HERE for deals and discounts on your tickets.

There are many ways to get around Lisbon (bus, subway, tram and even tuk-tuk!), but the best way to explore the city is definitely by foot. That’s why I decided to make a walking tour that crosses all the major historical neighbourhoods and landmarks.

This tour is about 6 km by foot (up and down hill) and takes, without stops, around one and a half hour. You will find so much amazing spots on the way, like viewpoints and local restaurants, that this tour will probably take you the entire day! And don’t forget to bring your walking shoes!

Here you see the walking tour on the map:

So Let’s Start:

Old Quarter

We will start at Point A in the lower part of the historical neighbourhood of Alfama. Here we will find the Fado Museum, a tribute to Portugal’s most typical music. From this point, we will walk our way up through a maze of tiny streets, friendly locals and groups of tourists. It’s quite a way up, but definitely worth it, since it’s the oldest and most picturesque part of Lisbon.

On the upper part of Alfama, right at the top of the hill, we will reach Point B, the São Jorge Castle. Initially built more than 2.000 years ago, the castle suffered several reconstructions and offers today one of the most breathtaking views over the city.

After we visited the neighbourhood of Alfama and the São Jorge Castle we will go to Point C, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. This will take us about 20 minutes, up and down the road, but the view is definitely worth the travel. The view from up there is AMAZING! You have a clear sight over a big part of the city (including the Castle) and the river.

Grab a drink, enjoy the view and when you are ready to go, we will continue to the Point D, the Martim Moniz Square. Here we’ll find the most multi-cultural area of the city, with Chinese and Indian restaurants, markets and stores, mixed with the traditional Portuguese flair from the nearby neighbourhood of Mouraria.
While at Martim Moniz, and if you are in for a drink, let’s visit Topo Bar, one of the coolest rooftops in town!

Check out Spotahome if you are planning to stay longer than 30 days in Lisbon, they have some great houses for you to rent.

Downtown Lisbon

From here, we will walk about 6 minutes to the Rossio Square, our Point E. Officially named D. Pedro IV , this square is better known as Rossio due to the monumental building of the same name that is also one of Lisbon’s main train stations. Besides the Rossio train station, we will also find the D. Maria National Theater and other beautiful XIX century buildings that are already part of Lisbon’s landscape.

Point F, Baixa-Chiado will be our next stop! After about a few meters walk, we’ll arrive to the heart and soul of Downtown Lisbon. From Rua Augusta, to the Santa Justa Lift, from Convento do Carmo to Rua Garrett – there’s just so much to see and do here! We will find shops, restaurants, bars, squares and beautifully ornamented buildings all-around. This is definitely the area that definitely better defines Lisbon and its culturally busting atmosphere.

A short walk away from Baixa-Chiado, we will find Praça Luis de Camões also known just as Largo de Camões, the Point G. This square separates the monumental and shopping-orientated area of Chiado and the nightlife district of Bairro Alto. Here’s where locals and tourists meet up and enjoy live musicians, street art performs and freshly-made cocktails. There are great restaurants and bars all around the square and it’s the perfect introduction to Lisbon’s bohemian lifestyle.

After about 6 minutes walking from Largo de Camões, we will find our Point H, the Santa Catarina Viewpoint. You will easily recognise it by the stone stairs and Kiosk at your left. It’s the perfect place to take a picture of Lisbon during the sunset, with the River Tagus and the 25 de Abril Bridge on the background.

Riverside

After so much walking, nothing is better than stop and grab a bite. Just about 10 minutes away, our next stop will be the Mercado da Ribeira, Time Out Market – Point I. In one side of the building we will find a traditional fruits, vegetable and fish market, while on the other side there’s a gourmet food court with a lot of options for Portuguese Tapas – definitively a great place for food lovers like me!

From here, we will walk next to the river to our final destination Praça do Comércio (or Terreiro do Paço), Point J. Since the Portuguese Discoveries, that Praça do Comércio has been the city’s gateway. This was the place where the Portuguese caravelas set sail to the New World and opened the city to new cultures and flavours.
The square was completely rebuilt after the Great Earthquake of 1755, including the Arco da Rua Augusta, a classical arch that borders the square and offers an interesting 360º over Downtown Lisbon.

Now that we came to the end of our tour, you can relax and enjoy your evening next to the river. I hope that you found that walk your way though Lisbon is probably the best way to get to know the city, its history and charm.

If you prefer to explore Lisbon with a guide then these are some great options:

The post Walk Your Way Through Lisbon appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.

Biergarten

Biergarten stands for the quote ‘ Best things in life are simple’ , which perfectly reflects their great atmosphere. It’s an outside bar where you can expect to enjoy a beer with some nice BBQ and music.
This place is very famous between the locals and especially among the students in Rotterdam. Surrounded by the crowd, I’m sure you won’t even feel the cold.

Opening times:
Wednesday to Saturday from 4pm to 1am

HUGH

You will find HUGH next to the Hilton Hotel Rotterdam. It has an amazing industrial look and a cool vibe.
At HUGH, cocktails are quickly made and served in front of you – they also serve High Tea and Brunches on daytime. Before you go just take a quick look at their agenda because they organise late night dinner party’s. If you do a late night dinner party you directly have the entrance ticket for the bar at night.

Be aware that after 23:00 you can only enter if you are 25+ (male) or 23+ (female).

Opening times:
Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm until early hours 

NHOW

NHOW Bar is connected to the NHOW Hotel and probably has one of the most beautiful views over Rotterdam and the river De Maas.

The architecture of the place is modern, with straight lines and well-thought details. It’s a great spot to have a drink at the end of the day, but you can also have lunch or dinner. Just make sure to book a table in advance because it’s usually full.
NHOW Bar has also an outside space where the view completely takes over, but watch out for the cold on Winter days.

Opening times:
Sunday to Thursday from 6pm to 1am
Friday to Saturday from 6pm to 2am

Mad Mick’s Breakaway Café

Mad Mick’s Breakaway is the truly, authentic café of Rotterdam. It opened in 1993 and is still one of the best bars in town! It has a decoration inspired in the 50’s / 60’s style and was renovated in 2004 keeping the same flair. At Mad Mick’s Breakaway you can enjoy your drink while playing pool and listen to great music on the background. They have an enormous choice of cocktails (more than 100!) and shots on the menu.
It’s definitely one of Rotterdam‘s classics – just a great place to have fun.

Opening times:
Monday to Wednesday from 4pm to 1am
Thursday & Sunday from 12pm to 1am
Friday & Saturday from 12pm to 2am

Café Restaurant Floor

Café Restaurant Floor is located on the Schouwburgplein which is a big square right across the corner of the Rotterdam Central Station. This is a great spot to visit if you like to have a special kind of drink. They have 15 different wine options, 40 different brands of beer from the bottle and 7 options of beer from the tap.

There’s a terrace with view over the Schouwburgplein square, an indoor restaurant and a nice outdoor space, which is opened if the weather allows to. It’s the perfect escape from the city’s life, however it can be quite busy during lunch and dinner time.

Opening times:
Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 1am
Friday & Saturday from 10am to 2am

Definitely check out these activities in Rotterdam to make your experience even better:

The post 5 Best Bars in Rotterdam You Can’t Miss Out! appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.

Lisbon is a city full of colours, historical buildings, lively narrow streets, friendly locals and amazing restaurants. Here, I discovered breathtaking viewing points, beautiful parks and charming squares where you can find live music on Summer days.

Take a look at the Lisbon Ultimate Bucket List Challenge that I made for you. Just print it out and explore the city!

Lisbon made it super easy to explore the city by bike with their new bike routes. Want some help with planning your trip? Check out these guides for incredible experiences:

The post Lisbon Ultimate Bucket List Challenge appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.

Take a look at this 5 top list of the best areas to stay in Lisbon. These places are all in walking distance from all the hotspots in the city.

The best and fastest way to explore the big city’s inside Europe is definitely by train. Check HERE for deals and discounts on your tickets.

Baixa-Chiado

This is where it all happens, one of Lisbon’s best areas to stay while in town ‘Baixa-Chiado‘. This is the busiest neighbourhood in Lisbon, where you can find pretty much everything! There are a lot of restaurants, bars and hotels around, as well as vintage and handmade shops. Being in such an hotspot is definitely a privilege but that comes with a price – its’ one of the most expensive parts of town.

This area is mostly known for its monumental buildings and large squares, such as Terreiro do Paço, Rossio and Restauradores. The neighbourhood was fully rebuilt after the Earthquake that almost completely destroyed the city in 1755. The neo-classic architecture extends all the way from the most exquisite avenue (Avenida da Liberdade) until Lisbon’s largest square, Terreiro do Paço.

Baixa-Chiado is the perfect place to walk, shop and enjoy typical Portuguese food. On the way, don’t forget to pass by the Elevador de Santa Justa – an emblematic iron structure built to connect the downtown area to the Carmo Convent in the upper part of town.

Planning to stay longer than 30 nights in Lisbon? Check out Spotahome, they have some great places for you to rent.

Bairro Alto

Bairro Alto is the perfect place to stay if you are looking for a more lively atmosphere. The neighbourhood is built on a hill and has lots of typical buildings beautifully tiled up.

During the day it can look quite peaceful, but at the night it’s totally transformed into the cities’ most exciting area. You will find a lot of cozy restaurants and bars for all kinds of music tastes.

And if the nightlife is not really your thing, you can take this opportunity to explore the beautiful view points around the neighbourhood like Miradouro de Santa Catarina or Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.

Alfama

Alfama is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Lisbon, the only one in the downtown area that was not destroyed by the 1755 Earthquake. Once you are there, you will be amazed with its historical beauty and authentic Portuguese flair. In a maze of really narrow streets, friendly neighbours and ups and downs, it has the most beautiful viewing points you can find.

In Alfama there’s an interesting mix of locals and tourist exploring around. Here, you’ll find many small restaurants with traditional Portuguese food, followed by live Fado music.

Before you book your stay in Alfama, know that it’s not possible to drive in most of the streets. You’ll probably have to walk a bit to get to your accommodation. But since this is an older part of town, it’s normally easy to find budget Airbnbs, specially in the Low Season.

Take a look HERE if you are looking for a place to stay in one of Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhoods Alfama.

Príncipe Real

Príncipe Real is full of excitement, character and fun!
It’s a residential area surrounded with beautiful gardens, like Jardim do Príncipe Real, and cute little squares, like Praça das Flores. There are great restaurants and bars everywhere, as well as antique shops and art galleries. Here you will find the majestic Botanical Garden, the Natural History Museum and the breathtaking Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.

The neighbourhood is also famous for being LGBT friendly. You will find several gay bars, clubs and also accommodations directed only to the LGBT community.

Graça

Graça is one of the Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhoods and it’s famous for being the starting point of the famous 28 Yellow Tram. It’s the place where you just can’t avoid going uphill because it’s the city’s highest point. From Baixa-Chiado it’s about 30 minutes walking, but it’s definitely worth it.

Graça has two of the most amazing viewing points in town, Miradouro da Graça and Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. Here you’ll also find the Jardim da Cerca, a very cool and popular park among the locals with a kiosk that sell cheap drinks.

From my top 5 list of the best areas to stay, this is where you can probably find the best deal. There are not a lot of hotels around, but you can find really great Airbnbs for a bargain. The public transportation is not so easy as in other parts of town, but it’s definitely a great place to stay.

Check out Spotahome if you are planning to stay longer than 30 days, they have some great houses for you to rent.

The post 5 Best Areas to Stay in Lisbon appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.

Senhora do Monte

This is one of the highest viewing points, with a 360º panoramic view over the entire city of Lisbon.

It’s named after the Nossa Senhora do Monte (Our Lady of the Mount) chapel that stands out at the top of Lisbon’s highest hill. On the way up, you’ll find typical Portuguese buildings filled with street art gratifies, a perfect blend of the old and the new.
It’s a tough (well worthily) climb, but if walking is a problem you can always take a Uber or a tuk-tuk.

Up there, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view over the São Jorge Castle, Baixa, the Tagus river and the 25 de Abril Bridge. On Summer days it’s usual to find food trucks and some live music on spot. This is definitely one of the best places to enjoy a beautiful sunset!

Don’t forget to bring your camera, good shoes and maybe a drink just incase the food trucks aren’t there.

Here you find the location of Miradouro Nossa Senhora do Monte.

Santa Luzia

São Pedro de Alcântara

Standing between the charming neighbourhood of Príncipe Real and Bairro Alto, you’ll find the very romantic Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. The view is so breathtaking as it is unexpected, specially after climbing through Lisbon’s narrow streets.

It’s probably the best place to watch the sunrise as the daylight comes over the Castle illuminating the entire city. Here you’ll find a kiosk where you can have a drink and watch the busy city life passing by, while you relax overlooking the downtown area and the Tagus river.

Don’t forget to take a look at the lower part of the viewing point. There’s a park with art subjects of the Greek Mythology such as Minerva and Ulysses.

Here you find the location of Miradouro São Pedro de Alcântara.

Miradouro de Santa Catarina

One of the locals’ favourite, the Miradouro de Santa Catarina has a fantastic view over the river Tagus, the 25 de Abril Bridge and Cristo Rei. It’s located in Bica, a small neighbourhood famous for the yellow tram that continuously strolls up and down the street. Close to Bairro Alto, has a very relaxed atmosphere where locals and tourist blend and share experiences.

Miradouro de Santa Catarina is generally called by locals just as “O Adamastor”, thanks to the large stone statue at top that honours the mythological characters made famous by Portuguese poet, Luis de Camões.

Since Lisbon has many viewing points (and I may get confused sometimes…) I call this one the viewing point with the stone stairs – you will find out why when you see it! There’s a kiosk and live music which makes it super nice to just grab a drink and hang out. The view is amazing across the day and night, but during sunset you will have a beautiful sunlight over Lisbon.

Here you find the location of Miradouro de Santa Catarina

Panorâmico de Monsanto

Abandoned since 2001, this building was once a luxury restaurant, a nightclub, an office space and a warehouse. Now, it’s the highest viewing point in Lisbon with a breathtaking 360º view over the city.

It’s located right in the heart of Monsanto Forest Park, a green oasis just a few minutes away from the city center. The Panorâmico de Monsanto unfortunately is only reachable by car, but the view and experience is definitely worth the effort.

The building itself looks old, but the interesting architecture, and specially the amazing street graffiti art on the walls, makes it the perfect scenario for really special pictures!

You can find the location of Panorâmico de Monsanto here!

The post 6 Best Viewing Points in Lisbon You Can’t Miss Out! appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.