Explore the historic center of the city. The top ten things to do in Alfama are listed here.
The streets, the people, the views. Alfama used to encompass the entirety of Lisbon, and despite the city's expansion, it remained the center of the capital. Prepare to become lost in its charming streets and discover its best-kept secrets.
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| The Top 10 Activities in Alfama |
Take in live music
Tejo Bar is a more laid-back spot with a few low-stool tables and shelves full of board games and books. The café's Brazilian owner, known by his nickname Mané do Café, oversees daily readings and is also an amateur poet, novelist, and artist. Anyone is welcome to strum the house guitar, but instead of clapping, customers should rub hands together to express gratitude and reduce noise. In addition to its regular clientele of many people who help themselves to drinks and record their intake, the bar also draws in musicians and students. Sometimes Mané closes after 5am because they can't make people leave.
Respect Fado
In 1998, the Fado Museum opened its doors in the center of Alfama, giving some tangible form to the UNESCO-designated Intangible Cultural Heritage of fado. Discover the collections that hundreds of musicians, singers, lyricists, composers, instrument makers, scholars, and enthusiasts have contributed, all of whom came together to share a little bit of their life stories.
Don't overlook the celebration of Santos Populares.
The best time to visit the city is in June, especially if you enjoy grilled sardines and live music everywhere. Alfama is the center of the party—and the mess, of course—but we've prepared a special guide in this publication to help you get through it. The busiest area is Largo de São Miguel, so get there early to secure a seat at one of the makeshift eateries there. The most chaotic night is June 12.
Dine in a fado house.
Pedro de Castro, a guitarist, owns Mesa de Frades, the azulejo-lined former chapel of the Quinta da Dona Rosa, a palace built by Dom João V for one of his lovers. It's known as the canteen for fadistas, and you never know who might show up in the early hours and put on an unexpected show. The food is prettified Portuguese (bacalhau com natas with parmesan and such), but it's not nearly as good as the fado. Dining reservations are required. There is no minimum amount if you can squeeze in or arrive later.
excess use of bacalhau
Although it's not required, starting with cod cakes is always a good idea. The ideal location for a codfish overdose or to dazzle visitors The goal of Casa do Bacalhau, also known as "the cod house," is to honor Portugal's favorite fish, and it succeeds admirably: the menu includes about 25 cod recipes from all over the country. There are the standard fare like cod à la Zé do Pipo, Gomes de Sá, or Brás, but there are also some unusual options like cod curry or cod carpaccio.
Enjoy dinner sans fado.
The old refrigerators from the butcher's shop are still present at this location. Boi Cavalo, a restaurant in the heart of charming Alfama, doesn't play fado—you might even hear some indie rock—and doesn't grill meat or fish unless chef Hugo Brito feels like it. Boi-Cavalo is the eccentric kid in the neighborhood who sticks out from the many other kids just like him. The lab was created by a former design student who, fortunately, discovered that cooking was his true calling. It is used for experiments with unusual Portuguese products as well as Asian and other international influences.
Take a blindfolded tour of Lisbon.
Lisbon Walker came up with the concept of exploring Alfama while blindfolded, working with ACAPO, the Portuguese association for the blind and visually impaired. The excursion
is named Lisboa Sensorial (sensory Lisbon), and its goal is to experience, with your eyes covered and a guide, the tastes, sounds, and scents of Lisbon's most typical neighborhood. The event is an hour and a half long, requires advance reservations (a minimum of ten people are required), and is, in the words of the organizers, "completely safe." Purchase via www.lisbonwalker.com.
Sip a cocktail beside the crimson pool.
Perched atop the Moorish walls, Memmo Alfama is a hotel with some of the best views in the city, recognizable by its signature red swimming pool. Amid all the tourists and tuk-tuks, it's a true oasis where you can enjoy a cocktail in peace. The hotel guests only have access to the pool, but you can still swim in it. However, just the expansive vista of Alfama merits a visit.
Enter a parlor from the fifteenth century.
At Palácio Azurara, everything is a work of art, from the floor to the ceiling. This is the location of the Museum of Portuguese Decorative Arts, which is a part of the Ricardo EspÃrito Santo Foundation. It has amazing tiles, as well as furniture, carpets, china, jewelry, and drawings that depict the intricate tales of beautiful women from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries.
Admire the most breathtaking vista
With a prime view of Alfama and an even better one over the Tagus River, where cruise ships are docking at the city's new terminal, Miradouro de Santa Luzia is a must-see location. The azulejo murals are standing strong against both time and thieves. Among them, one stands in for Terreiro do Paço before the earthquake in 1755. Another, which happened very near to the lookout, was the Christian attack on São Jorge Castle. Since it's open around the clock, try to avoid the hottest and busiest times of day.
The top activities in Lisbon
With its top-notch dining establishments, exceptional seafood, stylish reputation, and rich history in art and culture, Portugal's capital city continues to be a top choice for discerning weekend travelers. Are you unsure about what to do in Lisbon?
Activities in Lisbon: Emphasis on Mouraria
With so much to do in Lisbon, are you still in the planning stages of your trip and unsure about where to go? You don't have time to visit every cool neighborhood you've heard about, is that right? Or have you already arrived here and are eager to see Mouraria but are unsure of where to begin?
The top ten activities in the Graça and Castelo area
You'll fit right in if you play detective, look for tiny villas, eat fresh fish, and sip sparkling sangria on a toast. After that, stroll through the neighborhood and pay a visit to one of the most well-known Lisbon Castles to soak in the atmosphere. This is as authentically Portuguese as it gets. Make sure you go through the list of the top ten things to do in and around Graça and Castelo to avoid getting lost.