How to get around Lisbon, Portugal

 

Lisbon is a beautiful, hilly city. Seriously, so many hills.

A typical Lisbon street

A typical Lisbon street

While walking everywhere will give you legs of steel, the metro system is another alternative. On a recent vacation, I stayed in Lisbon and took day trips to both Sintra and the Belem area outside of Lisbon. If you plan on staying in the Lisbon area for any length of time, I strongly recommend getting a re-loadable metro card. These cards are used for the metro, the buses, and the local trains.  They are called Via Vivagem cards with Zapping.  Zapping seems be mean re-loadable and gets you a discounted price on your fare (1,25 Euro vs 1,40 Euro).

The Lisbon Metro system is divided into four main lines: Blue, Yellow, Green, and Red.

Courtesy of GoLisbon http://www.golisbon.com/maps/lisbon-metro.html

Courtesy of GoLisbon
http://www.golisbon.com/maps/lisbon-metro.html

 

Most tourist maps include metro stops and it is highly likely that your hotel will be near one. The metro is clean, punctual, and safe. It is an excellent and easy way to get around the city.

Notic the gray lines on the map? Those are local trains. The trains connect to/at subway stations, however the trains are a different price around 2,15 Euros rather than the 1,25 Euros for a metro journey. The metro card will also work for the trains, just make sure you have enough cash on it. I took the train from Entrecampos station to Sintra and back during a weekday. From Lisbon to Sintra took about 36 minutes. It was about the same amount of time for the return train ride. During the weekdays the trains run frequently. Less so on the weekends. Double check departure and return times on the pdf timetable located on the Comboios de Portugal site.  If you click under Lisbon Urban Services you can download the correct train timetable. Belem is located in the Cascais table and Sintra is marked as its own. When you are looking at the Sintra table, note that the different colors correlate with the appropriate metro stop. Yellow times are for Entrecampos, Blue for Rossio, etc. Best bet? Ask an attendant at the train station. Everyone I encountered in Portugal spoke some English and it was very easy to communicate.

What to skip?  The tram. For some reason, everyone raves about the tram. After a week in Lisbon, I still don’t understand why. The metro system can take you anywhere you need to go in downtown Lisbon. The local trains easily make up for areas outside of the metro. I took the tram from Lisbon to Belem and promptly decided to take the train back. The trams are crowded, poorly ventilated, notorious for attracting pickpockets, and drive on the streets so they have to obey traffic laws and brake for lights. Don’t bother.

Taxis are abundant in Lisbon and reasonably priced. However since the metro is even cheaper and very easy to use, I only took taxis to and from the airport. The only other time you may want to use a taxi is if you go clubbing. The metro does close at 1AM so if you’re out after that time it’s either a taxi or walking.

What to do in Tucson, AZ

Tucson is a great town for tourists who enjoy the outdoors. While there are a few excellent museums located on the University of Arizona campus, the best activities are the ones that incorporate the outdoor activities and beautiful desert scenery.

 

The Sonoran Desert Museum

This is my all-time favorite Arizona activity. Located west of downtown Tucson and situated in the Saguaro National Park, this establishment is a cross between a zoo, botanical garden, and natural history museum.

A view of the Saguaro National Park

A view of the Saguaro National Park

Visitors can spy on animals such as mountain lions, javalinas, big horn rams, or wander through a hummingbird aviary.

This guy loved the camera.

This guy loved the camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most of the exhibits are located outdoors with a few subterranean or indoor displays. Guests follow paths which wend through the open desert and showcase a variety of flora and fauna.

The desert in bloom.

The desert in bloom.

I recommend budgeting a good three to four hours for this – especially for first time visitors. There is so much to see and you’ll want to take your time soaking it all in.  There are a number of restaurants onsite, however most close by 3PM. After that, there is one option open located by the museum entrance. The museum gift shop is one of the best places in Tucson to buy souvenirs. From Native American pottery to upscale southwestern jewelry, this shop provides a wide range of possible mementos.

 

 

One of the many varieties of blooming cacti.

One of the many varieties of blooming cacti.

Adults: $19.50 Children: $6 Discounted pricing for Seniors, Youths, and Students available

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sabino Canyon

A kickin’ hiking destination located in the Catalina Foothills of northeastern Tucson, Sabino Canyon is a must see. Trails range from beginner to advanced, and the entire Sabino area features diverse wildlife and ecosystems. If you enjoy the outdoors, this is worth a full or half day trip. Just remember to stock up on sunscreen and water and eat a good meal beforehand, as vending machines are the only food options onsite. Be forewarned, some of the trails include dizzying heights (along with fantastic views) so vertigo is a definite possibility for those used to lower elevations. If hiking isn’t your thing, the Sabino Canyon visitor center offers an educational, narrated tram tour of the Sabino Canyon area. As with hiking, visitors taking the tram will have the opportunity to view different ecosystems and wild animals. The last time I visited, I was lucky enough to see a wild gila monster!

Entrance fees: $8 for adults, $4 for kids

 

The University of Arizona

A beautiful desert campus (although surprisingly green in some areas) with unique architectural elements and an enormous student union, make for an excellent visit. The University has a number of museums such as the Arizona State Museum (anthropological), Museum of Art (student and professional), Center for Creative Photography (exhibits and events are open to the public), and Mineral Museum (located inside the planetarium building). You can easily spend one or two days bumming around campus and taking in all the U of A has to offer. Just off campus, on E. University Boulevard, there are a number of lively restaurants and stores. Frog n Firkin and Gentle Bens are both considered institutions and the food is pretty solid pub fare. I’m especially partial to Sinbad’s located in Main Gate Square, for fantastic Middle Eastern food at very reasonable prices. While you’re in this area, make sure to grab an iced tea from the Scented Leaf Tea House and Lounge. Brewing practically any variety of tea you can imagine, this shop will definitely quench your thirst (iced lemon hibiscus green tea, anyone?) and offers a discount on refills.

Campus is free and open to public, admission varies by museum

 

Mission San Xavier del Bac

San Xavier exterior

San Xavier exterior

Known as the “white dove of the desert” this is a really unique establishment. The mission is located on the Tohono O’odham reservation slightly south of Tucson. The gleaming white exterior stands in stark contrast to the bright blue Arizona sky creating wonderful photo opportunities. San Xavier Tours are offered at set times throughout the week. The tours are very informative, covering the history of the church and describing its architectural elements and artwork.

The interior of the church is a rare melding of European and Latin American Catholicism with Native American tradition and design elements. I can honestly say that I’ve never seen anything quite like San Xavier, and consider it a must see for the Tucson area.

Free

 

 

 

Tucson also functions as a great base to explore other towns in southern Arizona. Tombstone is an hour and thirty minute drive away and a quintessential old west experience. Bisbee is also an hour and a half away and a former copper mining town. Today, Bisbee is well known for its eclectic arts scene and mine tours. There are several cave tours available around the Tucson area as well. While these are very interesting and fun activities (and a great way to escape the desert heat) they are not recommended for claustrophobic tourists. Also, make sure to take your tour with a licensed professional outlet. Two well-known tours are the Colossal Cave Mountain Park and Kartchner Caverns State Park. Hopefully your Tucson hotel has a pool. In my opinion, a day spent by the pool is one of the best activities in this hot and dry climate!

Where to Eat in Tucson, AZ

Contigo

Amazing Latin food in a lively atmosphere, this is a great restaurant. I dined alone and sat at the bar which allowed me to chat with the super friendly bartenders and other restaurant patrons. The food was fantastic, especially the featured tuna ceviche and the elote.

Tuna ceviche with Peruvian potato chips

Tuna ceviche with Peruvian potato chips

Be advised, the ceviche is huge.

This dish was amazing.

This dish was amazing.

Their elote (grilled corn with lime aioli and contija cheese) is a necessity.

The arepas sampler.

The arepas sampler.

Continuing the trend, the arepas were good, but enormous.

 

 

 

 

 

Although Contigo offers a (slight) discount for three arepas, you really only need one if you’ve had an appetizer. The pollo arepa would be my first choice, featuring a great meat to condiment ratio, and the right amount of spice. A great place to get Latin food that is not the typical “Tex-Mex” variety.

Price: $$$

 

Feast

A great restaurant, it looks a little tacky on the outside thanks to their neon sign. Do not be dissuaded. The food is delicious and well-prepared. Their menu changes fairly frequently and I opted for the specials on the night I dined: savory lobster bread pudding, venison steak, and lemon madeleines.

The lobster bread pudding was epic.

The lobster bread pudding was epic.

The lobster was a great choice, but very rich and heavy.

Medium rare venison loin.

Medium rare venison loin.

Luckily the venison was lean and served with simple yet delicious grilled vegetables.

Delicious madeleines.

Delicious madeleines.

The lemon madeleines with blueberry curd were fantastic. Light and fluffy yet crispy and chocked full of sweet and tart flavor, they were the perfect way to end the meal.  This is a very solid restaurant serving a European fusion style fare that is a bit hard find elsewhere in the Tucson area.

Price: $$$

 

 

 

 

Poppy Kitchen

Great for brunch or dinner with fantastic views of Tucson and attentive service, this restaurant is a winner. Again, the menu changes frequently as it’s based off seasonal availability – a good indicator of fresh locally sourced food.

Heaven on a plate.

Heaven on a plate.

While dining there, the Seared Filet of Beef is not optional. This decadent dish includes a six ounce filet topped with melted brie and served with an amazing lemon potato gratin and balsamic drizzle. The flavor combinations are stellar.

A solid start.

A solid start.

My beet salad was an excellent start to the meal and the beignets were a delightful end.

A nice way to end the meal.

A nice way to end the meal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The real star of the show was the beef filet. This restaurant is located on the Westin La Paloma property. While fantastic for hotel guests, it is a bit of hike for anyone based in downtown Tucson; though this does provide a great excuse to get out to the foothills and soak up the desert ambiance.

Price: $$$

 

Prep & Pastry

Although they don’t serve dinner, Prep & Pastry is a good choice for all your other meals. I stopped in for lunch and fell in love with the space.

My future home may look like this.

My future home may look like this.

The interior is filled with light and decked out in a modern-rustic design scheme. Luckily, the food lives up to the local hype. My Cuban sandwich was fantastic – as any sandwich with duck confit should be.

Delicious.

Delicious.

Salty, juicy, and savory with a little tartness from the mustard and pickles, this sandwich has my number. Combined with a good glass of iced tea – I was in heaven. Most locals that work or live in the northeast area of Tucson (Catalina foothills) rave about Prep & Pastry. Stop in and see why.

Price: $

 

 

 


 

Pricing key based off one course for lunch and three courses plus two alcoholic drinks for dinner all including tax and 20% tip:
$ – under 20     $$ – 50 and under      $$$ – 75 and under     $$$$ – 100 and under          $$$$$ – Over 100 – Break out the high limit credit cards – this is a special occasion restaurant