Lisbon
Since we couldn’t check into our AirBnB until 4pm, we arrived into Lisbon early to get in a day’s worth of site seeing. We arrived at 10 am to rainy, cool weather.
We took the bit slower IC train to Lisbon from Coimbra. Arrived at the Santa Apolonia train station and left our luggage at the self-service lockers that are available. They are located on platform 5 and English instructions are posted. The locker was big enough for our two carry on bags but they also had really big lockers that would hold several bigger bags. You deposit € 2 and pay the balance when you pick up your bags. We used them for 6 hours and the total cost was € 6. Put the receipt in a safe place, you need the code to open the locker to retrieve your bags.
We took the metro to the Terreiro do Paço stop to pick up the Lisboa card at the TI. Had to wait in line for about 5 minutes to purchase the Lisboa Card. Since it was the week leading up to Easter, many Europeans had the week off. Expect lines and crowds.
We purchased the 24 hour card for € 20, I had done the research and felt this was a good option for us. Although we probably didn’t use all the value, it did save us some time.
Since it was raining fairly steadily, we decided to take the metro to Cais do Sodre rather than walk. From there we took the local train to Belem. Seven minutes travel time! We saw that tram 15 was packed while the train had seats.
I had downloaded the CP train app and that was helpful for checking train times.
It is about a 10 minute walk to the monastery from the train station. There was a huge line of people waiting to buy tickets for the monastery at self-service ticket machines. Since we had the Lisboa card, we already had our tickets. We went into the church first then the monastery. Crowds were not too bad. Using the Lisboa card, you tap your card on a machine that checks your card and then you can enter the monastery.
If you want to visit the archaeology museum, you can enter in quickly with the Lisboa card but before you enter the exhibits, you have to store your backpack, camera bags etc. in a locker. There was even a line and wait to get a locker!
We were a little tired and hungry after the visit to the church and monastery so we didn’t visit some of the the other museums. (next visit!)
We had lunch on the top floor of the Belem Cultural Center, a little pricey but very calm.
Walked to the Torre de Belem. Had to wait in line for about 15 minutes since only 120 people are allowed at a time. At the ticket booth inside, we had our cards checked. Husband happily took photos.
We had planned on stopping at Casa Pasteis de Belem for a treat but. every.seat.was.taken… I kid you not, signs everywhere stating they have 400 seats, all spoken for… (next visit!)
Retrieved our luggage and headed off to our home for 5 nights. Thought the apartment was in a good location and quiet. Did involve some steep parts to get to it but that means we could drink and eat more.