Lisbon (Nov. 8, 2025):
History of Lisbon in a few lines:
Origins:
Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in Europe, with Phoenician settlements dating back to the 8th century BC. Its strategic location on the Tagus estuary made it a key port.Roman era:
Known as Olisipo, it was an important commercial and military center of the Roman Empire.
Middle Ages:
It passed through Visigothic and Muslim hands until the Christian Reconquista in 1147, when it became the capital of the Kingdom of Portugal.
15th-16th Century:
It experienced its Golden Age during the Age of Discoveries, serving as the starting point for maritime expeditions that led Portugal to create a global empire.
1755:
The great Lisbon earthquake destroyed much of the city, which was rebuilt with the innovative design of the Marquis of Pombal.
Present:
Today it is a cosmopolitan city that blends historic neighborhoods like Alfama and Bairro Alto with modern architecture, maintaining its identity linked to the ocean and Portuguese culture.
opolita que mezcla barrios históricos como Alfama y Barrio Alto con arquitectura moderna, manteniendo su identidad ligada al océano y la cultura portuguesa.
Opinions are divided here... Mamen liked it more than Porto, but José didn't. The difference in size is enormous, but so is the difference in prices and atmosphere. For José, Lisbon is too overwhelming and lacks Porto's charm, and the people are very different too, but to each their own. The coffees are like shots and expensive on top of that; it blew our minds. Although I must say that some of its viewpoints are quite cool.
In this case, we went by car because we wanted to explore many areas, so I won't go into detail about the accommodation since it was far from Lisbon. However, if you want to see it properly, one day might not be enough; we managed to see it all, but we were practically rushing.
It's also worth mentioning that if you stay on the other side of the bridge, you have to pay a toll to cross, just like in San Francisco, although this one is much cheaper at €3.30. Portugal and Spain have an agreement with Via-T for paying the tolls.
Lisbon combines very well with a visit to Aveiro, especially if you're looking to contrast the capital with a quiet town of canals and colorful houses.
In this case we stayed in a distant accommodation (in Alcocer Do Sal) because we wanted to explore other areas as well, so although the place was great, if you're only going to be in this area it's better to get something closer.
Information obtained from the web https://www.exteriores.gob.es
Passport/ID: Valid with either of the 2.
European Health Insurance Card: It's necessary, it's free and very easy to request online and they send it to your home. Request.
Vaccines: There are no mandatory vaccinations for entry.
International driving permit: There's no need.
Payment card/currency exchange: Your regular card, since the currency is the euro.
Roaming: YEAH.
Where to eat: If you want to eat at a restaurant, there's also the app. TheFork which has many discounts. If you book with the code 7C1B79A3 When you are finishing the booking, you will get 1000 Yums = €10 discount at your next meal. In addition to other special offers they often have, or simply to accumulate points and use them for discounts on your next payments.
It operates in several countries, including Spain, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, and Australia.
Other destinations in Portugal: 
