Lisbon, Portugal | Photowalk
In January of 2023, I was lucky to spend about a month in Lisbon, Portugal. It was a place that I immediately fell in love with when I first visited back in March 2019. The city left a good first impression on me– perhaps it was the mixture of sunny weather, kind people, and delicious foods. However, since my initial visit was short-lived, I knew I had to return one day.
I stayed in an apartment in Alfama, a neighborhood that is home to many beautiful miradouros (viewpoints), fado music (traditional Portuguese singing played in cafés and restaurants), and mom-and-pop restaurants. The top left picture is the view from the apartment, featuring some of the laundries I had out that day.
On one of my last days in Lisbon, I decided to take my Canon on a walk with me. I wanted to capture the colorful streets and cable cars. The photos from above were taken in the Bairro Alto neighborhood, which is known for its cafés, bookstores, and nightlife. I’ve found myself venturing into this area of Lisbon often because of how central it is. I’ve walked into the oldest bookstore in the world, browsed through antique shops, and came across a miradouro with a live band playing.
Below are two photos that were taken at Miradouro da Graça, my favorite viewpoint in the city. I came here on my last full day and was pleased to notice that I could point out many of the landmarks and streets. For instance, in the second photo, the square is called Praça Martim Moniz. It’s one of the multicultural hubs of the city and is also known as Lisbon’s Little Chinatown. When I was craving Asian food, I walked over to the food court there for a bowl of noodles and some bubble tea.
I’ll wrap up this post with photos from another miradouro. Below are pictures taken from Miradouro das Portas do Sol, one of the most famous viewpoints in Lisbon. It makes sense why it’s so popular — the views are stunning. This spot is only a 10-minute walk away from where I stayed, so I found myself coming here a lot. Pastelaria Santo António is a well-known bakery nearby where I like to indulge in a pastel de nata and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
