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Eurail : Best way to travel in Europe

Here is our list of reasons why you need to consider travelling Europe with the help of Eurail.

Read on and get ready to travel easy!

By Serge Larose & Elisandra Buges

Intro

We purchased a Eurail Global Pass a few years ago and discovered the joys of smooth travelling. In this blog, you’ll discover the reasons we chose the Eurail pass versus many other methods of transportation in Europe.

Previously, we had executed a road trip in Europe which at the time thought gave us flexibility. In contrast now with our Global Eurail Pass experience, we have changed our point of view. Although having a car does offer flexibility, it also comes with extra worries and costs such as traffic, finding and paying for parking to name a few.

Check out this blog for more information on Eurail or click here for their Black Friday sale !

” The main highlights of travelling by train is the centre town access, the ‘no weight’ baggage check and little to no check in required “

Reasons to travel by Eurail train

Here is the list of notable reasons for choosing the Eurail train pass over any other methods of transportation in Europe.

1. Accessibility

When travelling to a foreign city, we usually try to find accommodations in close proximity to the city centres. Obviously this needs to sync up with our budget. When travelling by plane, we noticed that we need to plan for a lift or shuttle to our accommodation. Additionally, when travelling by car, we needed to navigate through the congested city centres and hope to find parking upon arrival.

However, when travelling by train, most European cities have a centre town train station. It’s even possible to plan your accommodation within walking distance from the train station. This is something which worked great for us in Salzburg. We were but a short 5-10 minute walk from the train station to our hotel.

Easy accessibility gave us tremendous peace of mind as it eliminated all the usual worries we had to deal with in the past. Consider the time investment of being centrally located and walking distance to your centre town accommodation!

2. Smooth and Spacious

The train rides we experienced we very smooth. Many of them had a free wifi connection which allowed us to work on blogs and photo editing while travelling. No airplane mode for the phone and no extra cost for the wifi connection!

Many of trips didn’t require reservations, which meant we could sit anywhere. Having the ability to choose our own seats, we usually picked the two seater with a great window view. We never had so much space while travelling, especially when you compare a crammed car or airplane seat! You’re also able to get up and stretch your legs anytime.

3. Quick access & little reservations

We were surprised to find out that no pre-checkins were required at the train station. The only requirement was to arrive 20 minutes prior to train departure. This shocked us since we were used to the 3 hour pre-boarding checkins at the airports. It also helped us plan trips on the fly.

For example, we planned to visit the Volkswagen Wolfsburg factory one Saturday. Once in Wolfsburg, we discovered that it was closed on weekends. Since we had the Global Eurail pass, we quickly planned a visit the following Monday. We simply hopped on the train and made our way back without a sweat.

One thing that worried us prior to buying the Eurail pass was the ‘extra reservation costs’. However, we found a trick on how to avoid taking trains that required reservations which brought more value to our pass. Check out our 2nd Eurail video which explains how to use the ‘Rail Planner’ app.

4. Inclusions & Value

The main advantage to the Eurail pass is the ability to swing from one European city to another. However, it didn’t stop there.

In certain cities, our Eurail pass included local transportation also. We particularly enjoyed visiting the Andechs Monastery from centre town Munich, Germany. Particularly when we discovered we could use our Global Eurail pass to access the S-bahn trains. Although the metro, bus and underground were not included, we felt at ease to be able to travel from one local town to another without having to pay extra money.

If and when you get the Eurail pass, be sure to download the ‘Rail Planner’ app!

5. Limitless

At number 5, we have limitless.

Besides pre-checkins at airports, it’s also required to check your bags. This means we needed to adhere to baggage weight limits. Some airlines allow up to 2 bags of 32 kilograms, however the standard is more likely to be 2 x 23kg. Surprisingly, baggage check and weight limits was not necessary prior to boarding the train. In our case, this allowed us to ‘not hold back’ when we felt like purchasing gifts or souvenirs.

As you’ll notice at the 1:38min mark of our first Eurail video, Serge clearly demonstrates the baggage flexibility of travelling with Eurail 🤣.

Plan your spending wisely

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Where to sleep ?

We chose to book with Hotels.com because they have a large network of hotels. However, it doesn’t stop there Hotels.com now has access to BnB’s, Motels and much more. Additionally, accumulate 10 nights and get one free !

Want to know why we systematically use Hotels.com to book our accommodations ? Click here to find out.

Save time in line with Get your Guide

If there’s one thing that takes up a lot of time in new cities, it’s waiting in lines for special attractions. Also, there’s much time lost trying to find the right places plus not knowing how to navigate the city efficiently.

This said, we recommend Get Your Guide to fix your timing issues. Not only will you skip the queue, Get Your Guide also provides a tour guide who will help you along your discovering quest.

Help us help you!

We hope this blog helped you better understand the Eurail pass. Additionally, we’ve made a couple of Eurail videos:

one video to explain the advantages of travelling by train and
another to demonstrate how to use the Eurail pass once purchased.

Please let us know if you have any questions about this location and we’ll gladly help you.

To show your appreciation for the information we’ve mapped out for you, kindly use one or many of our affiliate links to plan your trip. There are no additional costs to you the end user, however we receive a small commission. In turn, we take this money and reinvest it to create a better user experience.

A great way to give back is to help us by using our ‘carefully selected’ affiliates. We now have affiliates for Car Rentals (Hertz), Accommodations (Hotels.com) and Attraction planning (Get Your Guide)! This not only motivates us but allows us to carry on with our Discovering Destinations project!

Hope you enjoy, one city at a time !

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The Fatima Sanctuary & the powerful story within

The Fatima Sanctuary

On May 13 1928, the first foundation stone was laid in the construction of the basilica and colonnade of the Fátima Sanctuary.
It was a process that continued until 1954.

By Serge Larose & Elisandra Buges

Intro

In 1916, on three separate occasions, Lúcia dos Santos (and her two cousins) began reporting apparitions of an angel. According to the children, they believed it was the Virgin Mary, and began doing penance and self-sacrifice to atone for sinners.

These visitations culminated on October 13th 1917, with the public Miracle of the Sun event. The children imparted that the apparition of Virgin Mary divulged three secrets. First was the vision of the fire on earth (possibly WW1), the date that WW1 would end and lastly that John Paul II would be attacked by firearm (this would occur in 1981).

The sanctuary includes various buildings, shrines and monuments to the religious, political and social consequences of the event. They are dispersed throughout a complex of open panoramas and vistas dominated by the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Basilica of the Holy Trinity.

Check out our Fatima Vlog

” According to Lucia dos Santos, apparitions began on May 13, 1917. While tending their family’s sheep in Cova da Iria, Lucia and her two cousins said they witnessed the apparition of what they later wholeheartedly believed was the Virgin Mary “

Getting there

Located roughly 110 kilometres from Lisbon, it takes 90 minutes to reach Fatima city. As you might already know from our Eurail YouTube videos, Lia and I enjoy the smooth sailing train rides. We desperately wanted to visit the Fatima Sanctuary but couldn’t find a train station around. Resultantly, we decided to rent a car to plan a road trip instead.

We managed to cut car expenses in Lisbon by sticking to the Transit Pass. Ultimately, we rented a car the day we left Lisbon. Check out our affiliate link for Hertz car rental to plan your road trip!

Also, feel free to have a look at our other blog about getting around in Lisbon and where to buy the Transit pass.

Driving inside Lisbon city can feel a little intimidating, however once on the highway it’ll be smooth sailing!

Alternatively, if you don’t want to spend money on a car rental, we’re happy to tell you that it’s possible to book a tour from Lisbon city! This way you can visit great neighbouring cities like Nazaré, Obidos, Batalha and Fatima without having to rent a car ! Check out the Get Your Guide link below.

Where to stay ?

We preferred staying in Lisbon since everything is well accessible. Our apartment was called ‘Lisbon Calling rooms and studios‘, 5-minute walk from Cais do Sodré metro station. This made it so convenient for our day trip to Belém and LX Factory !

Lisbon Calling rooms and studios

We recommend Hotels.com

Plan your night at the Lisbon Calling rooms and studios in Lisbon City with the help of our Hotels.com affiliate link.

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Plan your time

Portugal has many neighbouring cities like Obidos, Batalha, Nazaré and Fatima to name a few. These locations are located short distances from Lisbon and perfect for road trips because you won’t be spending entire days travelling. As mentioned earlier, Fatima is roughly 80-90 minutes driving from Lisbon city.

We think you should plan a minimum of 1-2 hours visiting the Fatima Sanctuary. This will give you sufficient time to visit the chapel, the inner square and the flea market just outside the sanctuary. It’s possible to stay longer and even plan an overnight in one of the many well-rated hotels surrounding the Sanctuary. We also noticed many RV’s in the parking lot, in case this is your style.

Additionally, Fatima is the perfect segue to discover the north of Portugal. For instance, the city of Coimbra is a short 50-60 minute drive from the Sanctuary.

What to do when visiting The Fatima Sanctuary ?

First

There’s no need to be religious to enjoy the Fatima Sanctuary. It’s possible to explore the grounds with an open mind, listen to the various stories and enjoy the architecture.

You can start by visiting the basilica at the main entrance. There are great details such as the main altar and stained glass which will definitely distinguish this church from others. There’s also a map of the Sanctuary grounds on the way to the square.

Second

Check out the square in front of the Basilica of the Rosary with the Chapel of the Apparitions. There are large corridors, also called colonnades, branching off on both sides of the basilica. Consisting of 200 columns and half columns and 14 altars, the Colonnade includes a Way of the Cross in ceramic. There are 17 statues, some are of saints (whose congregations exist in Fatima), others are of saints who, were “Marian apostles.”

Inside the square there is also a place to purchase various candles to make promises.

Lastly

Located outside the square is a type of flea market with many vendors selling religious goods. You’ll find them in Google under, “Loja Paz de Fátima”, Peace store of Fátima.

There are also many restaurant options to choose from, all within walking distance from the sanctuary.

Our recommendations

Upon arrival at the Fátima Sanctuary, check out the basilica’s architecture and walk the inner square. Then, plan a lunch near the sanctuary and visit the local shops to encourage the workers.

Great for religious and non-religious individuals

Fátima is a small city with few attractions. We would say, the Fátima Sanctuary is one of the main attractions to visit. As mentioned earlier, there’s no need to be religious to admire the sanctuary.

Recommended circuit

It really depends on your allocated time, whether you’ve planned a group trip or rented a car.

As for visiting the Fátima Sanctuary, we recommend visiting the basilica, then making your way to the inner square. We also recommend paying a visit to the local shops on ‘Praceta de Santo Antonio’. There’s a kind of flea market where they sell various religious goods.

A little more time

Once you’ve gone around the Fátima Sanctuary, you might grow to like it and want to discover more. If this is the case, feel free to see the Chapel of the apparitions and the Basilica of the Holy Trinity.

There’s also a guided museum tour where you can see objects left behind by past visitors in exchange for promises. Additionally, it’s possible to purchase candles and make your own promises.

What to bring / wear ?

Perhaps a thin long sleeve shirt to protect your arms and some sort of hat.

Feel free to bring a refillable bottle of water to stay hydrated and perhaps snacks.

Clothing

For your trip to Fátima, we recommend very casual clothing yet something clean and dressy. You might want to wear comfortable running shoes or sandals.

Where to eat ?

There are many restaurant options in Fátima. We ate at a per kilo restaurant called Restaurante International Shopping and felt it was mediocre. Having a look on Google now, we would choose ‘Manhãs’ Restaurant or Codfish Tavern which have great ratings are a short 10 minute walk from the Sanctuary.

Other local places to visit

The city of Fátima is quite small and you might simply make your way there to discover the Sanctuary. That being said, there are a few other attractions that you might want to visit while you’re there.

If you’re interested by our recommendation, feel free to save them to your list of ‘places to visit‘ in Google Maps. That way you’ll remember once you arrive onsite.

Wax Museum of Fátima
Interactive Museum – The Miracle of Fatima
City of Batalha (20 minute drive away)

Help us help you!

We hope this blog helped you better understand the Fátima Sanctuary and how to better compliment your day with other activities. Please let us know if you have any questions about this location and we’ll gladly help you.

Hope you enjoy, one city at a time !

Helpful tools to plan your Trip

Rebates when renting a car with Hertz

Book 10 nights get one FREE with Hotels.com

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The Santa Justa Lift, beautiful views of Lisbon

Santa Justa Lift

Come here to see the magnificent lift structure, the ride up to Carmo Square and the gorgeous views of Lisbon.

By Serge Larose & Elisandra Buges

Intro

The Santa Justa Lift connects the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Largo do Carmo (Carmo Square). The lift almost immediately became a tourist attraction. Having seen a few YouTube videos with the Santa Justa Lift, we knew we wanted to get a closer look!

It’s possible to go up the lift for free when you get the Lisbon transit pass since it’s also operated by Carris, the city transit provider. Then you have the choice to go up another level and get an unobstructed view of Lisbon (which costs roughly 1e50).

” The hills of Lisbon have always presented a problem for travel between the lower streets of the main Baixa and the higher Largo do Carmo (Carmo Square). Civil and military engineer Roberto Arménio presented a project to the Lisbon municipal council in 1874 and the bridge was finally inaugurated in 1901.”

Getting there

The Santa Justa Lift is located 7 minutes walking from the Praça do Comercio. It’s possible to access via Áurea Street, Prata Street or the famous Augusta Street.

Alternatively it’s a 3 minute walk from Baixa-Chiado metro station.

Where to stay ?

We stayed a few nights in a beautiful apartment called ‘Lisbon Calling rooms and studios‘, 5-minute walk from Cais do Sodré metro station. We loved the convenient location since we could walk to a variety of locations, we were also a 5 minute walk to the famous Pink Street !

Overall, there are many ideal locations to book your hotel in Lisbon. Especially if you plan to purchase the Lisbon transit pass allowing you to take busses, trams, metros, trains and bondinhos (street car elevators). Check out our other blog about getting around in Lisbon and where to buy the Transit pass.

Lisbon Calling rooms and studios

We recommend Hotels.com

Plan your night at the Lisbon Calling rooms and studios in Lisbon City with the help of our Hotels.com affiliate link.

Remember, book 10 nights = get one free

Plan your time

The ride up the lift takes a whole minute, it’s the wait in line that will gobble your time. Just like your typical city attraction, it’s quiet in the early morning and late at night.

We spent a good hour at the Santa Justa Lift, from the moment we arrived at the base, time spent waiting in the queue, going up the elevator plus taking pictures at the very top.

What to do when visiting Santa Justa lift ?

We arrived close to the end of the day on a Wednesday yet there was a buzz in the air. A band was on site and playing some great music. They managed to make the wait time a little more enjoyable and also drew a crowd who sat on the steps.

Go up the elevator to get the amazing view. Once at the top, you’ll already get a great view of Lisbon. It is however gated which makes it tough to get an unobstructed view of the city.

It is possible to pay a small fee to go up another level and get an even greater view !

Our recommendations

Like most attractions, you’ll find fewer tourists early in the day and later at night. The advantage with these timelines, in addition to the smaller crowds is the light for picture taking. You’ll get the best lighting and perhaps a sunrise or sunset – depending on the time you visit.

Great for the family

Yes, there was a couple in front of us with a small child. It might be difficult to kept young ones quiet for an extended period of time, however if there’s a band playing when you visit it’ll make the time go by quicker.

Recommended circuit

Based on our experience, we think you can start on either side of the castle grounds. Get a feel when you enter and perhaps try to gravitate toward or away from the crowds, depending on your preference.

In order to get a good appreciation for the entire grounds, we recommend that you visit all corners.

The Belvedere
São Jorge Fortification
Ruins of the former Royal Palace of the Alcáçova
Garden with Native Forest Species
Archaeological Site

A little more time

We recommend that you spend the extra cash (1E50) in addition to the lift ticket to get the beautiful view at the top.

What to bring / wear ?

Since the Santa Justa Lift is strictly an elevator, there’s no need for specific clothing. However, walking around in Lisbon City can get demanding, so for a full day out exploring the city, we’ll recommend some comfortable sneakers. We usually recommend sunscreen and a water bottle for hydration.

You can also bring snacks to keep your energy up.

Clothing

Lisbon can surprise you with it’s weather, we visited in mid-October and were pleasantly surprised with 25 degree sunny days. However, once the sun went down, the temperature dropped immediately. Bear that in mind if you’re planning to visit in the early spring and fall.

The best advice we can offer is to plan clothing variety offering layers depending on the temperature. For sure, we recommend that you bring caps for protection from the sun.

Where to eat ?

This is a prime location for restaurants so it’ll be easy to find a place to eat. Along Augusta street are rows of patios if you like to sit and watch the action outdoors. Otherwise you can extend a little further and find something closer to the Commercial place (Praça do Comercio).

A few recommendations:

Jardim das Cerejas great vegan options
Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau (R. Augusta 106)
As Bifanas do Afonso great traditional bifanas

Other local places to visit

You may want to consider adding some of these destinations to your list of discoveries before or after visiting the Santa Justa List.

Additionally, we recommend that you save these to your list of places to visit in Google Maps. That way you’ll remember once you arrive in Lisbon.

Praça do Comercio
The Beer Museum
Augusta Street
São Jorge Castle
Santa Luzia miradouro (belvedere)

Help us help you!

We hope this blog helped you better understand the Santa Justa Lift, it’s surroundings and how to better compliment your day with other activities to tack on.

Please let us know if you have any questions about this location and we’ll gladly help you.

Also, a great way to give back is to help us by using our ‘carefully selected’ affiliates. We now have affiliates for Car Rentals (Hertz), Accommodations (Hotels.com) and Attraction planning (Get Your Guide)! This not only motivates us but allows us to carry on with our Discovering Destinations project ! Hope you enjoy, one city at a time !

Helpful tools to plan your Trip

Rebates when renting a car with Hertz

Book 10 nights get one FREE with Hotels.com

Cut the lines with Get Your Guide

Get $50 with our Orange Key 47826980S1

Praça do Comercio, the commercial centre of Lisbon

Praça do Comercio

Lisbon’s old entry port for all goods arriving by boat. Today it’s a highly touristic spot bustling with restaurants and patios!

By Serge Larose & Elisandra Buges

Intro

After the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, the square along with many other historical landmarks, were destroyed. The square was completely remodeled as part of the rebuilding of the Pombaline Downtown.

Later the square was named Praça do Comercio, the square of commerce, to indicate its new function in the economy of Lisbon. The U shaped square was then filled with government buildings controlling customs and port activities.

” Lisbon is a city that has historically been hit by many earthquakes. However, on November 1st 1755, an estimated 8.4 magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami and fire destroyed most of Lisbon. This included the Ribeira Palace and other buildings by the river. “

Getting there

Praça do Comercio is easily accessible by foot or public transport. Many busses and trams pass in front via Arsenal Street (as shown in the image below). There’s also the Terreiro do Paço metro station located closer to the water, leaving you with a 3 minute walk to the square. On a beautiful sunny day, it’s lovely to walk along Augusta Street, through the Triumphal Arch and toward the Square of Commerce!

Where to stay when visiting Lisbon ?

Lisbon Calling rooms and studios

We recommend Hotels.com

Plan your night at the Lisbon Calling rooms and studios in Lisbon City with the help of our Hotels.com affiliate link.

Remember, book 10 nights = get one free

Plan your time

Praça do Comercio is a great transition spot, meaning it’s great to pass through as you make your way from one attraction to another. Additionally, there are many restaurants and terraces overlooking the square, which makes it perfect for few drinks and a snack!

It’s conveniently located close to public transport access and very accessible by foot.

We think you should plan 30-40 minutes to walk around the square, admire the centrepiece statue and also visit Cais das Colunas, which is a small sandy beach beyond the square and in front of the water.

What to do when visiting Praça do Comercio ?

First

Check out the Triumphal Arch, located at the corner of Arsenal and Augusta Street. This Arc reminded us of similar landmarks in Belgium and France. The Augusta Triumphal Arch was completed in 1875, with sculpted figures & views over the city centre.

Second

Visit the inner square, statue and shops / restaurants on both sides of the square. The plaza is home to the oldest café in Lisbon, Martinho da Arcada, which was established in 1782!

Lastly

Continue on walking beyond the square to a place called Cais das Colunas. Across the Ribeira das Naus avenue is an old pier with a small sandy beach. It’s not part of Praça do Comercio but in our opinion part of the charm.

Our recommendations

Great for couples

It’s a nice place for a stroll. Get a little more romantic with a walk in front of the water at Cais das Colunas.

Recommended circuit

Start exploring at the Augusta Triumphal Arch, then make your way to the Praça do Comercio centre square and check out the equestrian statue of King José I.

Then make your way toward the water and discover Cais das Colunas to dip your feet in the water (if the temperature allows it) otherwise sit and enjoy the sound of the waves.

It’s also an ideal spot to witness the sun setting, the sky changing colors and the clouds floating by.

A little more time

We recommend to grab a pint inside the Lisbon Beer Museum, it’s beautifully decorated inside. You have the option of ordering a pint at the bar or plan a tour of the Beer Museum (2nd level) which also comes with a pint of beer (5E for the pint and visit).

What to bring / wear ?

Walking around in Lisbon City can get demanding, so for a full day out exploring the city, we’ll recommend a pair of comfortable sneakers. We usually recommend sunscreen and a water bottle for hydration.

You can also bring snacks to keep your energy up.

Clothing

Lisbon can surprise you with it’s weather, we visited in mid-October and were pleasantly surprised with 25 degree sunny days. However, once the sun went down, the temperature dropped immediately.

You might want to bring flip flops or sandals if you plan to dip your feet in the water.

Check out our Praça do Comércio Vlog

Where to eat ?

This is a prime location for restaurants so it’ll be easy to find a place to eat. However we felt many of the Praça do Comercio’s restaurants’ Google ratings weren’t high enough to plan a visit. All but Terreiro do Paço and the Beer Museum had low ratings.

Alternatively, along Augusta street are rows of patios if you like to sit and watch the action outdoors. Otherwise there is so much selection on the neighbouring streets.

A few recommendations:

Grab a pint at the Beer Museum
Great vegan options at Jardim das Cerejas
Get your codfish cakes at Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau (R. Augusta 106)
Traditional pork sandwiches at Bifanas do Afonso

Other local places to visit

You may want to consider adding some of these destinations to your list of discoveries before or after visiting the Praça do Comercio.

Additionally, we recommend that you save these to your list of places to visit in Google Maps. That way you’ll remember once you arrive in Lisbon.

Santa Justa Lift
The Beer Museum
Augusta Street
São Jorge Castle
Santa Luzia miradouro (belvedere)

Help us help you!

We hope this blog helped you better understand the Praça do Comercio, it’s surroundings and how to better compliment your day with other activities to tack on.

Please let us know if you have any questions about this location and we’ll gladly help you.

Helpful tools to plan your Trip

Help renting a car with Hertz

Find affordable lodging with Hotels.com

Plan attractions in advance with Get Your Guide

São Jorge Castle, one of Lisbon's top attractions

São Jorge Castle

Come here for the spectacular views of Lisbon city through various lookouts and be sure to explore the empty fortification.

By Serge Larose & Elisandra Buges

Intro

São Jorge Castle should be on your list if you’re planning to visit Lisbon city. We can’t think of just one reason to visit the castle, so read on to find out why we highly recommend this tourist attraction.

“Human occupation of the castle hill dates to at least the 8th century BC. Since the 12th century, the castle has served as a royal palace, a military barracks, home of the Torre do Tombo National Archive, and now as a national monument and museum.”

Getting there

As mentioned earlier, São Jorge Castle sits atop the highest hill in Lisbon. Despite that, it’s possible to hike the entire way there, however we recommend that you save your legs for later.

Streetcar number 28, or Tram 28, will get you all the way to São Jorge Castle. We especially liked it because it’s a very scenic route and rides in front many of Lisbon’s main attractions.

Where to stay ?

Lisbon Calling rooms and studios

We recommend Hotels.com

Plan your night at the Lisbon Calling rooms and studios in Lisbon City with the help of our Hotels.com affiliate link.

Remember, book 10 nights = get one free

Plan your time

We spent a good half day walking around the São Jorge Castle. Actually, our day started with the bondinho number 28. We exited at the Santa Luzia lookout to explore around, then made our way to the São Jorge Castle by foot.

Combine a few of these other sights along with your São Jorge Castle visit.

Santa Luzia Mirador (lookout) / 5-10 minutes walking
Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau /
(in front of São Jorge Castle)

Other local places to visit

You may want to consider adding some of these destinations to your list of discoveries once you’re done visit the São Jorge Castle. We recommend that you save these to your list of places to visit in Google Maps. That way you’ll remember once you arrive in Lisbon.

Praça do Comercio
The Beer Museum
Augusta Street
Santa Justa Lift plus Carmo Convent

Where to eat ?

It was mid-day when we finished visiting the São Jorge Castle, and we were famished. Luckily we found Casa do Bacalhau as we exited the castle grounds. They make codfish cakes filled with CHEESE and it’s possible to pair it with wine.

There were quite a few restaurant options along the way to the castle. We ended up eating in front of our tram stop and the other side from the mirador, in a restaurant called Tendinha da Santa Luzia. The food was good and cheap yet we found the ratings on Google to be mediocre. Alternatively, look into a restaurant called Farol de Santa Luzia, they show great ratings on Google.

What to do along the Castle ground ?

First

The castle sits on the highest point in Lisbon which allows for the most spectacular views. Just beyond the main entrance is a huge belvedere with a 180 degree view of Lisbon. You’ll enjoy taking many pictures or perhaps sitting down on a bench admiring the view.

Second

More spectacular views await as you make your way along the edge of the castle grounds. We loved gazing at the the red 21 de março bridge contrasting with the orange roof tops and calm blue water filled with sailboats.

Lastly

Roam the empty fortification. You’ll cross the main castle entrance with a stone bridge over the moat. Once inside you’ll be impressed with the tall walls and the upper deck with gorgeous views of Lisbon and the castle fortification below.

There is also a cafe inside the castle ground, where you’ll find many peacocks! As for the food however, we recommend that you hold off for a tastier treat.

If you like fish cakes, then you’ll absolutely need to try the Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau!

Our recommendations

There are a few ways to visit the São Jorge Castle. It’s possible to start exploring the fortification first or the lookout (like we did).

Great for the family

We noticed people of all ages inside the castle, from kids ages 9-10 years old to senior and retired people. This is a great activity for everyone to enjoy.

Recommended circuit

In order to get a good appreciation for the entire grounds, we recommend that you visit all corners.

The Belvedere
São Jorge Fortification
Ruins of the former Royal Palace of the Alcáçova
Garden with Native Forest Species
Archaeological Site

A little more time

If you want to spend a little more time exploring the fort, amuse yourself by visiting each tower on the upper deck.

What to bring / wear ?

Bring comfortable shoes with a good grip because you’ll be walking on various terrain and at times uneven cobblestone. Also be sure to bring sunscreen and a water bottle for hydration.

You can also bring snacks to keep your energy up. Also very important bring a plastic or garbage bag for your trash!

Clothing

Lisbon can surprise you with it’s weather, we visited in mid-October and were pleasantly surprised with 25 degree sunny days. The best advice we can offer is to plan clothing variety offering layers depending on the temperature. For sure, we recommend that you bring caps for protection from the sun.

Ideally you could wear hiking type pants that turns into shorts and a breathable t-shirt or long sleeve shirt.

Help us help you!

We hope this blog helped you better understand the São Jorge Castle, it’s surroundings and how to better compliment your day with other activities to tack on.

Please let us know if you have any questions about this location and we’ll gladly help you.

Helpful tools to plan your Trip

Help renting a car with Hertz

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We spent 4 full days Discovering Lisbon in 2019. Please consult our list of top places to visit in Lisbon and let us know which you preferred ! Lisbon – Portugal: TOP Places to visit in Lisbon according to US. Portugal is a country that colonized Brazil a long time ago. Yet, still today we Brazilians feel…

Belém Lisbon - Things to do in one day plus Happy Hour at the LX Factory

In this Blog we will describe our Day Trip to Belém (a Lisbon District). Plus we'll also show our surprise pit-stop for a Happy Hour at the LX Factory ! Plus, check out our Professional Vlog of this Day Trip at the very end of this BLOG. Customize your Day Trip First…

Discovering Mur des je t'aime, Paris

Lovely place to discover !! Paris is well described as "The city of Love" yet often overshadowed by larger landmarks such as l'Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. After visiting all the mainstream and famous places in Paris, we were down to discovering various arrondissements. On our list was…

Countryside of São Paulo

São Paulo, the most populous city in Brazil and one of the largest populate city in the world, is not consider the hot tourist destination in Brazil, but Why not? Well, lot’s of people consider São Paulo for business purposes only, however what they don’t know is that São Paulo…