I’m so excited to be sharing my first post from Portugal with you guys today! I’ll be doing full travel guides but I also have some outfits at particular locations that made for such pretty backdrops. For today’s post I’m taking you to Lisbon’s Belém neighborhood. You’ll be hard pressed to plan a trip to Lisbon without hearing about Belém. On our last day we set out early to spend the morning in this historic neighborhood.
Most places around this area worth seeing open at 10AM but I’d recommend hitting up the famed Pasteis de Belem before 9AM for the country’s pastel de nata egg tarts that are addictive and then heading over to the Tower of Belém before it opens to avoid crowds. The Tower is one of the most striking monuments in Lisbon. Rising up seemingly out of the water, this tower was built between 1514 and 1520 and is utterly beautiful and intimidating at the same time.
Nearby is the magnificent Jeronimos Monastery which you should be prepared to wait in line to enter. We arrived around 9:40 and finally got in at about 10:20. It is worth the wait though to marvel at the incredibly intact architecture. I was in awe of this monastery that’s over 500 years old and one of the best examples of Portugal’s Manueline style of architecture.
Upon finishing at the Jeronimos Monastery, take a 20 minute hike up the nearby hill to arrive at the Ajuda National Palace. This palace is less popular of a destination but 100% worth exploring. The interiors are spectacular and filled with gorgeous pieces of furniture, chandeliers, china and so much more to marvel at. We practically had the place to ourselves and it was wonderful!
A few hours in this neighborhood (which is about a 12-15 minute cab ride from central Lisbon) was the perfect amount of time to take a lot in and I highly recommend these spots if you’re visiting Lisbon. (If you have a bit more time you can also swing by the Lx Factory, too.)
I bought this romper before our trip and scored it on sale and love the ruffle details on it. Club Monaco has so many good things on sale right now! My shorts from this post, this pretty midi dress, this dress that’s perfect for work or cocktails, this chic trench that I also have (styled here), this versatile top, these darling sunnies and this cute swimsuit (+ much more!)
Romper (on sale! TTS) // Sneakers // Zara Bag (love this similar style, too) // Watch // Sunglasses
Not related, but I’ve been blown away by the feedback in the reader survey. YOU GUYS ROCK! Thank you so much for taking time to fill it out, your suggestions, your kind words…all of it! I was seriously so happy reading through the responses to date yesterday. THANK YOU!
p.s. a guide to Copenhagen and 48 hours in Stockholm.
Oh my goodness, these pictures are gorgeous!! That Tower is incredible!
Thank you!! It was such a cool spot!
I’m so sad we missed these three spots (it was too late in the day and too hot/crowded by the time we made it over to Belem), so I loved reading this!
And it was SO wonderful to see you and Merritt in Lisbon! Have the best time in Nantucket this week!
Briony xx
LOVED our rendez-vous so much! And now you have a reason to go back to Lisbon!