Lisbon & Surrounds Region Dos and Don'ts

I, being a spanish speaker, assumed that all Lisbon citizens would know the language. This is the case for older folks, whom I was able to communicate with speaking spanish and they speaking back to me in Portuguese. However, most young people speak English very well and not very fond of Spaniards. I started using it more sparingly in Lisbon....In any case, Lisbon men are far less aggressive at the night/club scene than men in many Spanish cities, which was refreshing...

Make sure you visit the Estufa Fria, lovely tropical greenhouses in Parque Eduardo VII. If you are around on a weekend, make sure you venture into Bairro Alto for a drink in the steep cobbled streets that are lined with bars, and look out for the wandering vegie-burger seller on Rua Da Rosa, for a better after-drink meal than a kebab! Wander around Alfama, for pictures of beautiful traditional houses with laundry hanging off the balconies.

go all the way up the hill to the pena castle. it's a real fairytale castle with great views of the land and ocean :) also, don't forget to eat queijadas :) a local sweet

Have dinner in a Cantina, bright lightning, long tables, many locals, great food and very cheap!

check out the surf there. a real neckbreaking beachbreak is right in front of the restaurant at praia do guincho... meet the locals in the water, have fun but don´t get drowned! enjoy!