Mi aventura ibérica: Lisboa

Mi aventura ibérica: Lisboa

What did I get up to in Lisbon? Read on to hear all about my Iberian Adventure!

When I found out Lisboa was a stop on my Iberian Adventure, I was so excited! I first visited back in 2015!, but this time, I’d be staying at Oasis Backpackers Hostel Lisbon! It felt like a full circle moment!

From Porto, I used my Eurail pass and took the 9:00 A.M. train to Lisbon Santa Apalonia Station. The ride was super comfortable, and I had an individual seat! There was also WIFI, which felt like a treat! But I spent a lot of time with my travel book ‘Read This If You Want To Take Great Photographs’ by Henry Caroll.

How To Get to the Hostel

From Santa Apalonia Station, I easily found the hostel! Take the metro to Baixa – Chiado, only three stops on the blue line. Exit towards Largo do Chiado and go up the main road, passing the famous Elevador da Bica. Take a left on Rue Marechal Saldanha towards the beautiful Miradouro de Santa Catarina!

Día 1

As I approached the beautiful yellow building with the signature palm tree in front, I knew I had arrived! Nadia welcomed me and gave a run-down of the hostel and activities, like happy hour and hostel dinners! She signed me in for the Vegan Burger dinner that evening. I went up to my 6 female ensuite dorm and decompressed for about an hour. Let me tell you, my backpack had been kicking my butt!

I made a new friend in the dorm and decided to enjoy some Portuguese wine somewhere. Next to the hostel there’s a great little rooftop terrace called Madame Petisca. I had a Vinho Verde and white sangria. Both drinks were absolutely DELICIOUS. I spent around 11€ but it was great for a little afternoon rest!

After the restaurant I went on a hunt for a nail salon. It may seem ridiculous but after travelling and changing footwear, your toes get caught in the crossfires. Trying to get a pedicure on a Saturday was harder than I thought, and I eventually gave up. I returned to the hostel to find a message from a friend who wanted to check out a bar…in a Parking Garage!

The place is called PARK Lisboa. It was a super chic and PACKED, which makes sense for a Saturday night! We went in and ordered a Caipirinha, and enjoyed the sunset from the rooftop! The drinks were expensive, but it’s worth the experience and view!

After our drink, I went back to the hostel for our Vegan Burger dinner night! The hostel chef was a total whiz! Her vegan burger tasted like a genuine beef patty and was absolutely delicious!

We sat at a long table where staff, volunteers, and guests ate together. I loved this because it made everybody feel at home. Those are the things that make hostels stand out from other accommodations. To top it off the WIFI crashed, which removed us from our phones and allowed us to really converse with one another.

Día 2

I started the day with a delicious breakfast! It’s served from 9 – 11:30 for 3€. You can get everything from chia pudding, croissants, jam, and eggs with farinheira (a type of Chorizo)!

After breakfast, I went for a nice stroll along Barrio Alto and Chiado. The streets were so colourful and rugged, and the stark contrast made the city so charming.

I went back to the hostel to rest a bit before heading to the Out Jazz Festival! The staff encouraged people to check it out, and we had a pretty large crew excited to check it out! I made some new friends, and we cabbed to Belém. Oh, the magic of hostels!

Belém felt nostalgic because I had been there three years prior. This time around, I was with a cool group of new friends. It was so cool to see live music in front of a historical building!

The festival wrapped up at 9 that evening, so we headed to Pastéis De Belém! You can’t visit in Belém and NOT have a custard tart. The Pastéis were as delicious as I remembered them to be! We ended the night with a tram ride back to our hostel. When I got back, I felt like I was getting sick, so I made myself a nice cup of hot tea. You can get it for free at the hostel!

Día 3

I woke up officially sick! Regardless, I decided to join the Free Walking Tour! In hindsight, that might not have been the greatest idea, but I managed nonetheless!

Quin is a volunteer at the hostel and took us on the Walking Tour! The tour took us through Barrio Alto, Chiado, Baixa, the side of Castello, Alfama, and Praça Do Comércio. Walking Tours are the perfect way to get a feel for the area and gives you plenty of ideas of where to revisit.

After the Tour, I was drenched in sweat and exhausted. It had been the hottest day so far and I was pooched. So I went to the pharmacy, grabbed some food, and prepared my laptop for the long train journey ahead.

Looking for somewhere to have a meal, I checked out Ink Farm Food next to the hostel. Oh I was happy I did! Officially, my new favourite falafel place.

After dinner, I showered and got my things together to leave. Monday nights are Petiscos Night at the hostel! I was so sad I couldn’t have anything because I had to leave right when it started! I had a peak in the kitchen to see what the chef was cooking up and it smelled SO GOOD and looked delicious! It was an ‘all you can eat’ menu of Piri Piri Chicken, Chorizos, Cheeses, Tuna Salad, Octopus Salad, and MORE!

I said goodbye to Oasis Backpackers Hostel Lisbon and made my way back to Santa Apalonia Station! Bilbao, the next stop on my Iberian Adventure, was a 16 hour train journey from Lisbon. Thanks to Eurail I got a sleeper cabin for the long journey!

Goodbye Portugal, muita obrigada! Hola España!

Follow Roxana’s Famous Hostels Iberian Adventure during May in our Instagram, Facebook and Blog. Visit Roxana’s Blog My Travelling Backpack for more info.Looking for more information to plan your adventure? Click aquí to find tons of helpful tips and tricks. For all the latest news at Famous Hostels, follow us or subscribe on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, y Youtube.