Fellow travellers,
We are four senior (67-80 yrs old) travellers spending May 25 - May 28 in Lisbon for the first time. We'll only be using public transportation and/or taxis, ubers and the like. After Lisbon we will travel by train to Coimbra and then on to Porto.
We are debating whether to stay in Baixa or Alfama?
Would anyone have suggestions if Baixa or Alafama would be best to stay for 3 nites?
Please add hotels names if possible.
Any local cuisine hidden spots?
Thanks much!
Alfama is very hilly, like much of Lisbon (and Coimbra and Porto!), but it's an authentic (if now touristy in parts) neighborhood. After the big earthquake a few centuries ago that destroyed most of Lisbon, Alfama was the one neighborhood that wasn't flattened and re-built from scratch - it is partly preserved.
Baixa is flat and convenient. Maybe a little more touristy than Alfama. You can stay in either area and get around by public transportation, but be aware that Lisbon is quite touristy now and sometimes the trams are completely packed with tourists, and it can be hard to get around . If you can stay near a Metro stop, that will work better.
I stayed near Rossio Square in Baixa last May. Convenient to get to Sintra by direct train from Rossio train station. Can't really recommend the dumpy place I stayed (I was alone and it was cheap, so worked for me - location was great). Just hop on Booking.com and use the map feature - check out places on the map and browse the reviews (double check reviews on Trip Advisor).
Stay in Baixa. Alfama would be difficult for older adults. Look at Avenida Palace and Sofitel.
Definitely, Baixa. While Alfama is a great place to visit, the hills plus the uneven cobblestones make it challenging for those of us ‘of a certain age’.
Olá umpymom.
While both bairros are welcoming to visitors, they are very different.
Alfama is made up of a collection of winding roads, small cobblestone alleyways, hills, and stairs. What’s most important for you to know is that most of the drivable roads in Alfama are restricted to permit holders. That means that taxis can drop you/pick you up at your door but Ubers cannot. Instead you have to walk to a pickup point. You should also know that Lisboa’s wonderful metro is a bit of a walk away. Santa Apolonia or Terreiro do Paço are the closest.
Baixa Chiado is more modern. I’d describe it as a crossroad, central to most of Lisboa. There you’ll find paved streets, more upscale shopping and dining than in Alfama, and super easy access to the metro.
Bearing-wise, for inter-country train travel, the Rossio train station is where you’ll catch the train to Sintra, Santa Apolonia will get you to Coimbra and Porto, and Cais do Sodre is where you’ll catch a train to both Belém and Cascais.
Both locations are lovely, you won’t be disappointed either way. Both are close to the river and city squares, have their fair share of tourists, and lots of local culture. One is old-world and the other is a little more commercial.
Hope this is useful. Enjoy our lovely Lisboa!
