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About C. Domingos
Expertise
I may answer most of the questions about tourist travel, but just in the Lisbon area.
Itineraries, hotels, restaurants, monuments, real estate, etc. My main expertize is just Lisbon (capital).
Please avoid to ask me about the rest of Portugal. I am NOT an expert on Algarve or Spain! Please understand that I will not answer questions concerning any place out of Lisbon.
Also please avoid to ask about visas or other legal matters (employment, driving licenses, etc.)
Experience
More than 30 years experience organizing small group tours in Portugal, now acting in an individual basis (retired).
Education/Credentials
Degree in Sociology (Lisbon University).
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You are here: Experts > Travel > Spain/Portugal for Visitors > Portugal > Christmas in Lisbon
Portugal - Christmas in Lisbon
Expert: C. Domingos - 11/4/2009
Question
QUESTION: Hello! My husband and I are arriving on Christmas Day. We are trying to find a restaurant that will be open. Any ideas? Also, we plan to stay 3 nights (Fri, Sat, Sun) but on Sunday, will many stores/museums/historical sites be closed? Perhaps we should also stay Monday to give us more time to explore Lisbon? We plan to do a day trip to Sintra on Saturday.
Thank you!
ANSWER: Hi Julie
Where will you be staying at Lisbon? In fact, many restaurants close on Christmas Day, but also there is a rising new habit that Portuguese families go out for lunch on that day at a restaurant. As most of the restaurants are closed they use to go to a restaurant of an hotel.
I went with my family many times to Tiara Park Atlantic Lisboa. But other good hotels have that Christmas Lunch as well. Normally a buffet type meal where you can have a good choice of food.
Some stores/museums/historical sites close on Sunday others on Monday (opened on Sunday). Staying on Monday would certainly help to have a good view of the town.
The good thing about Lisbon is that while it is a beautiful, fascinating city, it is quite compact so it's possible to get a feel for it and see most of the top sites in only a few days. Lisbon is the city of seven hills! Most of the nice things to see will force you to go up and down the hills. There's some information about Lisbon on this site http://www.portugal-sport-and-adventure.com/guide-to-portugal.html. Lisbon has lots of historical and cultural things to see but it is also a great city for just sitting outside a cafe and people watching. Please remember that Lisbon(and Portugal as a whole) is very devoted to sea, sun and food.
Use Metro (underground), clean, use to use. Of course, as always take care of your pocket/luggage (during rush hours). Try not to show you are a tourist visitor…
For your first day I'd suggest a trip to the Castle of St. Jorge - as not only is the castle quite interesting but you get to walk up (from the centre) little winding cobbled streets where artists work and from the castle you get a great birds eye view of the old city and river estuary.
Second day, if you fancy doing something different check out the Oceanarium -it's by far the biggest and most beautiful aquarium in Europe. In Parque das Nações - you can get there on the Metro. Also visit that new look of modern Lisbon, walk along riverside, have a look at Vasco da Gama mall and the new big bridge. By the end of the day, may be you still get time to go to the Bairro Alto district (up the hill right from the centre – facing downtown) is probably the most interesting, and coolest place to go out at night with lots of little bars and restaurants.
Third day go for a almost full day at the Belem Area, have a nice meal at Docas (docks) close to the river and the big bridge (the old one). Try Belém cakes (like a custard tart). You will locate the place because of the crowd…
While you're in Lisbon you should eat fish (mainly grilled) and bacalhau (codfish 1000 recipes).
For Fado (local song) go to Club do Fado – a bit expensive but worthwhile (around $150 for the couple…if you do not drink too much)
Don’t worry about English speaking. You will find lots of people speaking reasonable English (like mine).
Sintra is CERTAINLY a great visit. Do not forget to taste the famous cakes TRAVESSEIRO (pillow) at Sintra.
Regards
Joaquim
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you Joaquim for your advice, very helpful! We are staying at the Sofitel. So hopefully there will be something open to eat dinner. Even though it will be quiet on Christmas Day, do you have any suggestions for where to explore, even if many places are closed, perhaps we can still take in some sites, enjoy some parks, or see some architecture even if we cannot go in?
Thank you,
Julie
Answer
Hi Julie
Sofitel is a good hotel (downtown). I guess they do have a Special Christmas lunch or dinner. Close to the hotel (walking distance) you may enjoy an old quarter of Lisbon named Chiado (spell as xiadu). There you have a lot to see of old town, streets, belvedere, narrow streets, small gardens, etc.
The location of this quarter is taking right hand side from the hotel door. You may walk up or take a lift (yellow cabin), not more than 250 mts from the hotel.
Please remember that it is dark now at 5.30PM.
Another walk is going (also right) to the river Tagus (Tejo in Portuguese) border and look at the main square of Lisbon "Terreiro do Paço".
Enjoy it
Joaquim
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