VEGEFIED started from the bedrooms of two vegetarian girls going to Japan. Anticipating the challenge of meat less food, they decided to start a closed group on Facebook called ‘The Vegetarian Elite’ to ask friends for recommendations.
Completely unaware of the ball they were setting in motion, they had a great trip to Japan and thanked their friends and family for suggestions. In about a year this community became a self sustaining ecosystem of vegetarian travellers, following the lead and actively giving and getting suggestions.
In about 2 years the community grew to 7k members who started pushing for a more organized platform to also get reviews, sort by cuisine etc and thus VEGEFIED was born.
TravelnLiving & Vegefied together bring to you the ultimate, simplified travel guide to Lisbon (Portugal) with a perfectly tailored 5 Night itinerary by our Founder & Travel Expert – Kanan Fotedar
Being one of the oldest cities in Europe, this charming city has a plethora of options & places to explore. Incredible history, lip smacking delicious foods, vibrant neighborhoods stopping you in your tracks every couple of minutes for clicks; Lisbon will draw you right in & we assure you’ll be left wanting a lot more!
Given our obvious fondness for this city, we can endlessly list things to do, foods to consume & places to visit – but if you’re up for a short yet sweet 5 day trip – here’s our lowdown including an ideal itinerary, unique accommodation experiences & highly recommended, personally curated dining experiences (by VEGEFIED) – both local & otherwise.
Are you ready to immerse yourself in this beautiful coastal city yet?
First things first, time to explore Lisbon’s tiled houses, delicious food, and beautiful scenery. Read on for my Lisbon travel guide, which covers some of the best eats and activities that Lisbon has to offer
5 Days
At a glance…
Best time to Visit – March through October, the temperature is perfect!
Getting around – trams, trains, Uber
Currency – Euros, most places take credit cards
Where to Stay
With steep streets and tiled buildings, Lisbon screams being one of the most picturesque destinations to visit but busy, as they attract crowds and have a crazy nightlife. When considering where to stay, decide if you want a quieter part of town or spending those few days experiencing the hustle and bustle of the city life. Here is a list of places put together for you!
The Lumiares Hotel & Spa – this stylish boutique is located in the heart of the fashionable Bairro Alto area in Lisbon. With beautifully designed rooms making it the perfect place to call home away from home; adding a sense of comfort to each room
Martinhal Family Hotel & Resort – an ideal family holiday home to escape to. Right from their baby concierge, kids clubs and leisure activities , here you can spend time together in a five star environment
Tivoli Avenida Liberdade – time to shop till you drop in Avenida da Liberdade and Chiado’s luxury stores, or simply unwind by the oasis of the hotel’s unique swimming pool amidst the fronds of its semi-tropical garden.
When you click through & book your stay with TravelnLiving, you can get a 10% special offer!
Where to eat & drink?
Its often said that food is the ingredient that binds us together. When you put travel and food (and a little bit of drinking) into your equation its a recipe you would not wait to indulge when you go back to your home town. Weather you take a cooking class during your visit to Lisbon or just have a palate that sings to you, Portuguese cuisine is the ONE FOR YOU!
Note: If you’re looking for local cuisine rich in flavor, fun surroundings, and great drinks, you have come to the right place.
Thanks to Vegefied, we have shortlisted some of the best places for you to wine and dine. Look no further, our vegetarian choices are here
Casa Nepalesa – If you have not been to a Nepalese restaurant this is definitely the place to start!
La Trattoria – A perfect Italian restaurant and guess what, its gluten free
O Prego – Keeping local in mind, this beautiful Portuguese dining in Lisbon is a must visit
Os Tibetanos – A vegetarian restaurant offering a unique dining experience you just cannot resisit
Time Out Market – This food hall is packed with a variety of restaurants serving fresh local cuisine. The best place to bring friends so you can try a few different dishes. Also, don’t forget to grab some freshly baked Pastel de Nata pastries on your way out!
Santa Clara Dos Cogumelos – A paradise for mushroom lovers
Pop Cereal Cafe – Enter a cereal paradise and yes, you can make your own sugar rush bowl
Bao Bao – for a top class Asian experience, this is THE place to visit
Gandhi Palace – No, this is not JUST Indian cuisine but a twist – Italian! A cross of cultural cuisines if you cannot decide between the two!
What to do?
Day 1
Arrive into Lisbon and experience the drive from the airport to your hotel. On this day you can enjoy your time exploring the city centre
Day 2
This morning, meet your guide for a full day tour of the city, including old town, Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery. We begin the tour at the top of Marques Pombal to learn about the historic revelation of Lisbon. Travel through the scenic route down Avenida Liberdade, and drop off in Rossio. Begin your walking tour where you can stop and take as many pictures as you feel, continuing through the Baixa and walking to the Sé. After that we will take the 28 Cable Car to Graça and the miradouro where the car will meet us and drive to Jeronimos and Belem Tower.
End your night with a beautiful Fado music Show & dinner. ( refer above where to eat)
Day 3
The day is yours to explore and enjoy the aesthetics of this stunning cobbled streets and colorful houses.
Suggested: walk down to “Armazens do Chiado”, where you will find yourself strolling towards an ice cream vendor “Santini”. Don’t hesitate to ask locals on different things you can explore within the area or even the concierge at the hotel
As for dinner there are many options in the area. ( refer above where to eat)
Day 4 – LISBON / SINTRA / CASCAIS
Visit Sintra, where Lord Byron called “glorious Eden” and Cascais, once a fishing village, and the place where the Kings and Princes from all over Europe came during exile early on the 20th century, today a charming village and one of the best places to live in Portugal.
Amongst these, a visit to Pena National Palace in Sintra which was built by a German architect Baron Wilhelm Ludwig von Schwege in a mixture of architectural styles with richly decorated walls, covered either with tiles or painted walls. The palace still remains as one of the main royal family residencies for decades. In 1889 it was purchased by the Portuguese State, and after the Republican Revolution of 1910, the palace was classified as a national monument and transformed into a museum. The rooms were left exactly as they were when the last royal closed the front door.
In Cascais the idea really is to walk around the marina, the center of the village, and enjoy the sun shining in your eyes. just FYI, James Bond “On her Majesty’s secret service” was shot here in Estoril, the Casino, the Palace Hotel and the road where you will go through were some of the relevant scenarios.
Time to call it a night and return to Lisbon by boat, as you overlook some amazing views as well as beaches
Dinner option again are many in the area. ( refer above where to eat)
Day 5
Enjoy a full day visit to Batalha and Alcobaca and their monasteries, each a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alcobaca is also known for its blue and white pottery. If there is time, you can also enjoy a short stop in Obidos, a small but very beautiful fortified village about an hour from Lisbon, and well worth a couple of hours roaming around. At the end of the day, your driver will drop you back to your hotel.
Dinner will be at your own pace. ( refer above where to eat)
Day 6 – Depart
The morning will be free for you to walk around the city, do some shopping or visit a Museum. There are quite a few options and on the previous day our guide will happily assist you choosing the ideal way to cease the day according to your taste.
You will then head back home with a whole lot of memories!
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