Winter Wonders in Lisbon: The Ultimate Christmas Travel Guide

Intro

Lisbon, one of the world’s oldest cities and Europe’s second oldest capital, has recently emerged as a must-visit European destination. Known for its rich history, delectable cuisine, and vibrant culture, Lisbon offers a unique blend of old-world charm that captivates every traveler.

For the final stop of our two-week European journey, we arrived in Lisbon on Christmas Eve from Paris, eager to explore its historic streets, savor its culinary delights, and soak in its festive atmosphere. Over four days, we discovered why this city lives up to its reputation.

In this travel guide, we’ll share the top attractions, essential travel tips, food recommendations, and advice for visiting Lisbon during the Christmas season.

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Guides

Christmas!

Before visiting Lisbon, we were worried that many places would be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. However, after some online research, we felt reassured.

We found that while Christmas Eve had very few open stores, there were plenty of options on UberEats, so we ordered pizza and pasta for dinner. On Christmas Day, many cafes and restaurants were open, and we enjoyed brunch at a cafe called “Boa Bon.”

The highlight of Christmas in Lisbon is the Wonderland market at Parque Eduardo VII, a bustling Christmas market open from morning to evening. We visited on Christmas Day after exploring the city and highly recommend checking it out. In the evening, the city also comes alive with festive Christmas lights.

Transportation / Walking Tour

Despite being one of the world’s oldest cities, Lisbon is relatively compact, making it ideal for exploring on foot. We discovered and joined a free (tip-as-you-wish) walking tour through GuruWalk and were thoroughly impressed by our guide, who shared the city’s history with remarkable passion and enthusiasm.

Over three hours, we strolled through central Lisbon, learning the rich history behind its landmarks. Although we had already explored downtown on Christmas Day, the tour deepened our appreciation of the city. The free egg tart tasting included in the tour was a delightful bonus.

For reaching locations slightly outside the city, like the airport and Belém, Uber is a great and affordable option. For longer ventures outside Lisbon, the robust train system is the most convenient choice.

Sintra & Cascais

Sintra and Cascais are two famous towns just outside of Lisbon, both reachable by train in about 30 minutes. Sintra, nestled in the hills, is renowned for its diverse palaces and castles. In contrast, Cascais is a beach town, popular in summer with both locals and visitors.

We visited both towns during our trip, guided by our Portuguese friends. Taking a direct train from central Lisbon to Sintra, we explored Quinta da Regaleira, known for its iconic spiral staircase to the water well. The Castle of the Moors and the National Palace of Pena were also visible during our walk from the train station to Quinta da Regaleira.

After a brief stop in Sintra, we took an Uber to Cascais for a late lunch at the Farol Hotel restaurant. Thanks to our friend’s recommendation, we discovered that this oceanfront 5-star hotel offers a delicious yet affordable lunch special. Visiting in winter, we found the town calmer than expected. We strolled along the coastline, explored the downtown area, and enjoyed gelato from Santini. The return trip to Lisbon was straightforward, taking the train back.

Livraria Bertrand – Chiado

Livraria Bertrand – Chiado is a must-visit spot for picking up a unique souvenir. As the oldest operating bookstore in the world, it offers a piece of literary history with every purchase. Each book comes with a special stamp authenticating the bookstore’s heritage. Whether for yourself or as a gift, we highly recommend getting a book from Livraria Bertrand.

Top Attractions

A trip to Lisbon would not be complete without the following: 

Food

Tapisco

Address: R. Dom Pedro V 81, 1250-096 Lisboa, Portugal

Tapisco is a Spanish-Portuguese fusion restaurant specializing in tapas-style dishes. The Michelin-starred chef, with strong ties to the Catalan region of Spain, offers a delightful mix of Spanish tapas and Portuguese delicatessen. We made a reservation a few weeks in advance, and the small restaurant was fully booked on the day we visited.

The food at Tapisco was truly outstanding. The tapas dishes were appetizing, and the main courses were extraordinary, especially the octopus rice, which blew us away. Our server recommended a bottle of rosé that paired perfectly with the seafood dishes we ordered. The dining atmosphere is more formal than a typical tapas bar, yet still cozy and comfortable.

Pasteis de Belem

Address: R. de Belém 84 92, 1300-085 Lisboa, Portugal

Portugal is famous for its pastel de nata (egg tart). Almost every cafe in Lisbon offers its own version of this beloved pastry. However, the best-known nata store, Pastéis de Belém, is just outside Lisbon. The origins of this store trace back to the early 1800s when monasteries in Portugal were shut down due to a liberal revolution, and the clergy began selling sweet pastries to make a living. You can actually visit the famous Jerónimos Monastery right next to the pastry shop.

Growing up, we ate many Portuguese-style egg tarts and had very high standards since it is one of our favorite pastries. We began our tasting calibration process in Lisbon, trying a few places, including Nata de Lisboa, Manteigaria, and Espressolab Baixa. Unfortunately, we found them average at best, as they were either too sweet or had too much cinnamon.

Pastéis de Belém is definitely superior to the rest. However, we can’t confidently say it’s the best egg tart in the world since the KFCs in Taiwan sell some of the best egg tarts we’ve ever had (seriously, if you haven’t tried them, add it to your bucket list). The store has two lines: one for takeout and one for dine-in. Make sure you stand in the right line, as the dine-in line usually has a long wait.

Bifanas

Address: Praça Luís de Camões 48, 1200-283 Lisboa, Portugal

Bifanas, another well-known Portuguese street food, gained international fame thanks to the late Anthony Bourdain. The most famous spot for bifanas is “O Trevo,” located in the heart of downtown Lisbon. Another popular place is “The Bifanas of Afonso.” Unfortunately, both were closed during our visit to Lisbon. We did, however, try some bifanas from “Beira Gare” but found them mediocre. The sandwiches were a bit dry, so be prepared to wash them down with a beer. We recommend trying the Portuguese beer, Super Bock.

Timeout Market

Address: Av. 24 de Julho 49, 1200-479 Lisboa, Portugal

Launched in 2014, Time Out Market Lisbon is the world’s first editorially curated food and cultural market. Since then, many more Time Out Markets have opened worldwide. The Lisbon Time Out Market offers a variety of food and drink options, from wine bars and beer taps to local cuisines such as seafood rice, croquettes, and cod cake. Conveniently located near the city center and next to the river, it’s an ideal spot to explore.

After returning from Cascais to the Cais do Sodré station, we stopped by the market for some drinks and small bites.

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