A Padaria Portuguesa
Our brilliant breakfast find. The current breakfast menu starts at €2.75, and buying one also gets you a voucher for a €5.99 lunch menu valid until 3pm the next business day.
Open in Google MapsBefore the Wedding · Explore Lisbon
Lisbonwith love, from us
We cannot wait for you to discover this city we love. Wander the tiled streets, linger in a garden, eat a warm pastel de nata, peek into tiny shops, climb one more hill, and toast the view from a rooftop.
Open & save the full Google MapTwenty cafés, gardens, rooftops, walks, and our wedding palace together
Start with one lovely dayAn easygoing adventure through food, gardens, wandering, and a late dinner
pin by pin
All our favorites, in one place.
Zoom in, tap a pin, and make the day your own. The Lisbon favorites sit together, with Palácio de Seteais marked precisely in Sintra for the wedding weekend.
Includes 20 specific places across Lisbon and Sintra, including Palácio de Seteais. Open the full map to keep the complete collection handy; individual cards below still open directly in Google Maps.
Before you go
A few happy little tips.
Everything you need to arrive ready for sunshine, cobblestones, and a very good time.
Cards + a little cash
Cards work almost everywhere, and a few small euro notes and coins are perfect for tiny cafés, kiosks, and spontaneous treats.
Airport → city
The Metro is easy and affordable, and Uber or Bolt will have you in the middle of the fun in no time.
Wear your favorite walking shoes
Lisbon’s hills and cobblestones are part of its charm. Comfortable shoes mean you can happily follow every beautiful side street.
Save room for surprises
There are tiny cafés and pretty streets everywhere. Leave a little space for the lovely things you find along the way.
Our favorites
Places we’re so excited to share.
These are the cafés, gardens, rooftops, and little Lisbon rituals that make us happiest—and we hope you love them too.
Liberty: brunch, coffee & books
A genuinely great breakfast/brunch spot with very good coffee. It’s small, so earlier is better.
Open in Google MapsLandeau Chocolate · Chiado
The easiest central stop for a slice of the chocolate cake. Pair it with a wander through Chiado and the tiled streets nearby.
Open in Google MapsLandeau Chocolate · Campo de Ourique
A lovely neighborhood option when your day takes you west. Come for the cake, then linger around Campo de Ourique.
Open in Google MapsLandeau · El Corte Inglés
A very convenient cake stop inside the Gourmet Experience on the seventh floor—especially easy from our Lisbon hotel.
Open in Google MapsManteigaria
Our favorite pastel de nata in Lisbon — yes, even over Belém. Best eaten warm, immediately.
Open in Google MapsLandeau Chocolate · LX Factory
Go for the chocolate cake, then wander LX Factory for ceramics, leather goods, design shops and the kinds of things that mysteriously end up in your suitcase.
Open in Google MapsJardim do Torel
One of our favorite little gardens in Lisbon. Find a sunny spot, take in the view, and enjoy having nowhere else to be.
Open in Google MapsJardim Botânico de Lisboa
A calm, shady botanical garden for when you want a break from hills, cobblestones and people.
Open in Google MapsPraça do Comércio
Walk down to the river, sit for a bit, then head west along the water. A very good place to begin without much of a plan.
Open in Google MapsRibeira das Naus
The riverfront stretch just west of Praça do Comércio. Look for the little quiosques — open-air pavilion kiosks with drinks and seating.
Open in Google MapsThe V Rooftop Bar
Small, pretty and relaxed — very good for a sunset drink rather than a giant night out.
Open in Google MapsCatch Me · formerly Le Chat
The Jardim 9 de Abril rooftop we knew as Le Chat is now Catch Me. Same lovely river setting; a fun one for a drink around sunset.
Open in Google MapsMAAT
The museum is fun, but we also love the riverside setting and the walk out toward Belém. Closed Tuesdays.
Open in Google MapsCastelo de São Jorge
A Lisbon classic for a reason. Walk up through the little streets and shops, then celebrate the climb with one of the city’s best views.
Open in Google MapsBairro Alto
Made for wandering, music, tiny bars, and that irresistible Lisbon-at-night energy.
Open in Google MapsAvenida da Liberdade
A beautiful boulevard and the place to go if designer boutiques and high-end shopping are your thing.
Open in Google MapsLocke de Santa Joana
Our Lisbon base from September 1. Worth enjoying rather than treating purely as somewhere to sleep: pool, full gym, breakfast and a courtyard that is especially lovely in warm weather. If you’re arriving early too, let us know.
Open in Google MapsBelém
Beautiful, easy to wander, and lovely paired with MAAT. Come for the riverfront monuments—and save room for another nata afterward.
Open in Google MapsPalácio de Seteais
Our wedding venue in Sintra: a romantic neoclassical palace surrounded by gardens and dramatic hills. We are so excited for you to experience it with us.
Open in Google MapsCascais
Go when you want ocean, beach-town energy and a slower day outside Lisbon.
Open in Google MapsOne easy afternoon
Follow the river and stop whenever something looks cute.
Start around Praça do Comércio, walk west along Ribeira das Naus, keep following the water, and eventually make your way toward MAAT / Belém. Follow whatever catches your eye, stop for a drink, and make the afternoon completely your own.
Open the walk in Google Maps ↗One glorious free day
A very lovely day in Lisbon.
MorningBreakfast somewhere cute, then wander Baixa / Chiado with no particular agenda.
Late morningStop at Manteigaria for a warm pastel de nata.
AfternoonPraça do Comércio → Ribeira das Naus → keep walking along the river until you feel like stopping.
ResetGarden, coffee, hotel pool, or nap. Lisbon rewards breaks.
SunsetHave a drink on a rooftop.
NightHave a joyful late dinner, then follow the music into Bairro Alto.
A few more notes for a brilliant trip
Portugal 101.
A little practical magic so you can settle in quickly and spend more time enjoying every minute.
Bring a European plug adapter
Portugal uses the standard European two-round-pin plug and 230V power. Phones and laptops are usually dual-voltage, so most people only need a plug adapter, not a voltage converter.
If you are bringing a hair dryer, curling iron or other heat tool, check that it says 100–240V before plugging it in.
An eSIM is very easy
Orange Travel and Airalo are both easy options for Europe. Install the eSIM before you leave while you have reliable Wi‑Fi, then use it for data once you arrive.
If you keep your normal SIM active too, just make sure expensive data roaming is turned off on that line.
Yes, Locke has air conditioning
AC is less universal in Europe than Americans may be used to, but Locke de Santa Joana has air conditioning in the guest rooms and apartments.
Bring a layer for Sintra
Sintra can feel noticeably cooler, windier and damper than Lisbon, especially once the sun goes down. Even if Lisbon looks hot, bring a light layer for the wedding weekend.
Tipping is much more relaxed
Tipping is wonderfully relaxed. Rounding up or leaving around 5–10% for especially good service is plenty.
The tap water is safe
You can drink the tap water in Lisbon and Sintra, so there is no need to buy bottled water for the entire trip.
Uber and Bolt both work well
We would have both apps installed. They are easy to use and sometimes one is noticeably cheaper than the other.
The train to Sintra is easy
The train is an easy and scenic way to reach Sintra. It runs regularly from Rossio Station, and the ride is roughly 40 minutes.
Bonus: your adventure begins in the beautiful Rossio Station.
Lisbon is very safe — just mind your pockets
Lisbon feels welcoming and is generally very safe. As in any lively city, keep your phone and wallet secure on crowded trams and public transport, then get back to enjoying the view.
People eat later here
Dinner at 8:30 or 9:00 p.m. is completely normal. If you are used to eating at 6:00, embrace the Portuguese schedule for a few days — it will also make wedding night much easier.
For popular restaurants, making a reservation online is a good idea.
Give Lisbon Airport a little extra time
Lisbon Airport can feel leisurely when a lot of people need to move through at once, and passport control can add time for non‑Schengen departures. We would rather have one last airport coffee than sprint to the gate.
Supermarkets are genuinely fun
Portuguese supermarkets are worth a wander, and many have machines that squeeze fresh orange juice right in front of you. If you forgot something basic, the local shops will usually have you covered.
Coffee should be simple
A neighborhood espresso—ask for a bica in Lisbon—is delicious, quick, and delightfully affordable. Have one at the counter like a local.
Leave a little room in your suitcase
Between ceramics, leather goods, Portuguese textiles, food and small design shops, there is a decent chance you will want to bring something home.
Most important
Embrace the Portuguese schedule.
Sleep in. Have dinner at 9. Stay out late. Then save a little sparkle for Saturday: we intend to keep you very well fed, very well watered, and dancing late into the night. Come hungry, thirsty, and ready to celebrate with us—we cannot wait.