Surf, Sun and Stay in Lisbon

Whether you stay on the beachside with the sea nearly in front of your door or in the Lisbon city center, you are now in Portugal! Here the clocks tick a bit slower. Make a stop at a café and get a golden Peastéis de Nata (a pastry with vanilla pudding) and a Vinho Verde (the green and lightly sparkling wine.) One of my favorite cafés is the Janis Cafe near to Cais de Sodre.

You want to put your feet first into sand? From the city center it's easy to take the train to the beach of Carcavelos (20 min) or Cascais (most beautiful, but a bit more far) with the line Lisbon-Cascais. With your rented car or an Uber, you can easily cross the famous red bridge of Lisbon and go to the other side, called Caparica with restaurants directly at the beach.

If you are full of energy and want to discover the city first, I recommend you wear sneakers! Its much easier to walk the hills up to the famous Miradouros (view points over the city.) But no worries, instead of walking you can also use the yellow tram which brings you to the most famous spots. My favorite view point is Miradouro de Santa Luzia.

After a long day, I recommend having dinner at Java. This restaurant is a little bit hidden, but has amazing food and a great rooftop terrace! After that you can find some bars in the side streets, like the pink street (yes the street is really painted pink). But don't stay out too long because tomorrow it's time to surf.

My favorite beaches to surf are Costa da Caparica, Carcavelos and Guincho. Depending on your surf level, you can find a surf school to take a lesson or just rent a board at every beach. You can bring your own surfboard too. If you are a beginner, it's better to call the surf school a day before, so they can tell you what time will be the best to surf depending on the tides. Often the best waves are in the morning and it's less crowded But it's your holiday, if you prefer to sleep long, there's often a second surf lesson in the afternoon and you can see the sunset at the beach!

You can also read a book on a beach lounger under the parasol, play volleyball, discover the beach bars or get a massage at the beach. One of my favorite bars to hang out or get some food after surfing is the Windsurf Café in Carcavelos or Irmão (Caparica.) There are also many beach parties or live music in the summer.

To surf or not to surf, that's the question.

Did you have fun yesterday? Do you want to go surfing again or can you feel it in your muscles and want to relax a bit? Unfortunately, it's already the end of the weekend, so treat yourself today! Start the day with a brunch at Eat Pray Love Lisboa or Flora & Fauna and do a little walk at the riverside near Cais Sodre.

If you have enough time left, you can get a massage at your hotel spa or one of Lisbon's float spas. If you are into art, I can recommend the National Tile Museum and the Museu Coleção Berardo.

A great place to enjoy your last hours in Lisbon is the Quiosque Ribeira das Nau. You can sit on one of the beach chairs with a view over the river and drink a coffee or cocktail.

Take a bit of the Portuguese slow life home and come back soon for another surf session together!