Seeking input for Cadiz, Lisbon, Azores & Newfoundland - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Seeking input for Cadiz, Lisbon, Azores & Newfoundland
So we just booked the Sept 2017 WB TA on the Magic! I'm super excited, and while we have a year until we sail, I tend to be an uber planner.
So, I'm looking for input from anyone who has been to the ports we'll be doing. What did you like? What was not worth your time? Could you do justice to the port on your own, or is a port excursion neceassry.
Thanks for any info you can give!!
Well you have lots of options and it really will depend on what you like to do. I will give you my top picks although you would not be able to do them all in that time frame, I have been 5 times and still haven't seen everything.
If you want to just see Lisbon and not necessarily go into sites and tour them I would recommend the Hop on Hop off Bus it has two different routes and travels through most of Lisbon giving you a real feel for the city.
Castles St Jorge has beautiful views over the city, there is nothing to view in the castle as it is just ruins, they have lots of artistians selling some very interesting items.
Elevador de Santa Justa, this is near the Castle and is an old lift taking you from the lower part of Lisbon to the higher part, it also offers beautiful views of the city, but it can get quite busy and only fits a handful of people at a time.
Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery are on the water front and close to each other, this is were I would head with the limited time you have. The Monastery is very interesting to tour . There is also a famous pastry shop just down the street call Pasteis de Belem, it sells Pasteis de nata a very delicious custard filled tart that is famous in Portugal.
We have toured the coach museum which I found very interesting as my great grand father use to build coaches in England.
If you are not into museums and history then I would recommend the Ocean Aquarim at the Expo Park, it is huge and really well done.
There really is a lot to see, if you have questions about specific places let me know and I will see how I can help.
Well you have lots of options and it really will depend on what you like to do. I will give you my top picks although you would not be able to do them all in that time frame, I have been 5 times and still haven't seen everything.
If you want to just see Lisbon and not necessarily go into sites and tour them I would recommend the Hop on Hop off Bus it has two different routes and travels through most of Lisbon giving you a real feel for the city.
Castles St Jorge has beautiful views over the city, there is nothing to view in the castle as it is just ruins, they have lots of artistians selling some very interesting items.
Elevador de Santa Justa, this is near the Castle and is an old lift taking you from the lower part of Lisbon to the higher part, it also offers beautiful views of the city, but it can get quite busy and only fits a handful of people at a time.
Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery are on the water front and close to each other, this is were I would head with the limited time you have. The Monastery is very interesting to tour . There is also a famous pastry shop just down the street call Pasteis de Belem, it sells Pasteis de nata a very delicious custard filled tart that is famous in Portugal.
We have toured the coach museum which I found very interesting as my great grand father use to build coaches in England.
If you are not into museums and history then I would recommend the Ocean Aquarim at the Expo Park, it is huge and really well done.
There really is a lot to see, if you have questions about specific places let me know and I will see how I can help.
Wow, thanks, Julia. That's really helpful! As we get into more earnest planning I may take you up on your offer of further input!
Well you have lots of options and it really will depend on what you like to do. I will give you my top picks although you would not be able to do them all in that time frame, I have been 5 times and still haven't seen everything.
If you want to just see Lisbon and not necessarily go into sites and tour them I would recommend the Hop on Hop off Bus it has two different routes and travels through most of Lisbon giving you a real feel for the city.
Castles St Jorge has beautiful views over the city, there is nothing to view in the castle as it is just ruins, they have lots of artistians selling some very interesting items.
Elevador de Santa Justa, this is near the Castle and is an old lift taking you from the lower part of Lisbon to the higher part, it also offers beautiful views of the city, but it can get quite busy and only fits a handful of people at a time.
Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery are on the water front and close to each other, this is were I would head with the limited time you have. The Monastery is very interesting to tour . There is also a famous pastry shop just down the street call Pasteis de Belem, it sells Pasteis de nata a very delicious custard filled tart that is famous in Portugal.
We have toured the coach museum which I found very interesting as my great grand father use to build coaches in England.
If you are not into museums and history then I would recommend the Ocean Aquarim at the Expo Park, it is huge and really well done.
There really is a lot to see, if you have questions about specific places let me know and I will see how I can help.
Thanks! so many choices!!
__________________
Kim
1984 WDW off-site, 2003 WDW ASS, Poly, Wonder, 2006 WDW PC, 2011 Wonder to Alaska,
2012 Wonder EBPC, 2014 Magic WBTA, 2016 WDW CSR
In Lisbon you can take either the Hop on Hop off bus for touring the city or some kind of motor pedicab (they are called tuk tuk) .... its similar to the regular pedicab but as Lisbon is a city of hills its a motorbike instead of bicycle that pull it. They are all over the city and they are a good way to do a sight seen around.
I'm not sure where the port of Lisbon is located but its a easy city to walk on your own. Tram and buses are all over the city, and you can also take them to get to the tourist places.
Belem tower, Discover monument and Jeronimos are a great place to visit but they are a bit far from the city center. Both worth the time to go there. As well a trip to St Jorge Castle (up in town, you'll get a great view from there). The area named Chiado (alto and baixo) is also very charming and a great place to walk around to shop and eat.
Definitely try the "Pasteis de Belem" - its a sweet treat and delicious. Just a side note, you can get it everywhere around Lisbon, but the brand Pasteis de Belem is exclusively from a bakery besides Jeronimos (there will be a huge line impossible to miss). As you don't have much time in port I'd try " pasteis de nata" that is the same treat and you can get in any bakery around the town (if you ask about pasteis de belem they will answer you that they don't have it) - just walk around, see somewhere that you find charming and have a pastel de nata with a coffee (espresso, cappuccino) and its perfect.
Another suggestion - try the "bolinho de bacalhau" its a delicious fried codfish dish.. My favorite is the one served in the " museu da cerveja" (beer museum) located at the end of " rua da prata" and " rua aurea " http://www.museudacerveja.pt
At this place they prepared it mixed with a special cheese from the "serra da estrela" (goat creamy cheese, delicious). This is a great place to have a light lunch and refresh.
If you want to eat something more substancial there are many restaurants around town, the codfish in Portugal is always a good choice as well as the octopus. Local wine (alentejo or douro regions) are excellent, and for dessert a porto wine is perfect.
You'll love Lisbon for sure. It's charming and as purplegal said you can return many times and still there will be something new to see/ visit. So take the time there to walk around, try some local dish, have a glass of portuguese wine and have a lot of fun.
__________________
Tânia
Last edited by ferrazalves; 09-18-2016 at 10:32 AM..
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In Lisbon you can take either the Hop on Hop off bus for touring the city or some kind of motor pedicab (they are called tuk tuk) .... its similar to the regular pedicab but as Lisbon is a city of hills its a motorbike instead of bicycle that pull it. They are all over the city and they are a good way to do a sight seen around.
I'm not sure where the port of Lisbon is located but its a easy city to walk on your own. Tram and buses are all over the city, and you can also take them to get to the tourist places.
Belem tower, Discover monument and Jeronimos are a great place to visit but they are a bit far from the city center. Both worth the time to go there. As well a trip to St Jorge Castle (up in town, you'll get a great view from there). The area named Chiado (alto and baixo) is also very charming and a great place to walk around to shop and eat.
Definitely try the "Pasteis de Belem" - its a sweet treat and delicious. Just a side note, you can get it everywhere around Lisbon, but the brand Pasteis de Belem is exclusively from a bakery besides Jeronimos (there will be a huge line impossible to miss). As you don't have much time in port I'd try " pasteis de nata" that is the same treat and you can get in any bakery around the town (if you ask about pasteis de belem they will answer you that they don't have it) - just walk around, see somewhere that you find charming and have a pastel de nata with a coffee (espresso, cappuccino) and its perfect.
Another suggestion - try the "bolinho de bacalhau" its a delicious fried codfish dish.. My favorite is the one served in the " museu da cerveja" (beer museum) located at the end of " rua da prata" and " rua aurea " http://www.museudacerveja.pt
At this place they prepared it mixed with a special cheese from the "serra da estrela" (goat creamy cheese, delicious). This is a great place to have a light lunch and refresh.
If you want to eat something more substancial there are many restaurants around town, the codfish in Portugal is always a good choice as well as the octopus. Local wine (alentejo or douro regions) are excellent, and for dessert a porto wine is perfect.
You'll love Lisbon for sure. It's charming and as purplegal said you can return many times and still there will be something new to see/ visit. So take the time there to walk around, try some local dish, have a glass of portuguese wine and have a lot of fun.
Wow, thanks so much for all that detail! I'm printing the whole thing and putting it in my trip binder!!