Belém

Today was a more relaxed day of sightseeing in Belém. The lines for all the major attractions were incredibly long, and since reviews suggested the best views were from the outside, we decided to take in the sights at a leisurely pace.

We started the day at The Local, as per Aanya’s request, then hopped onto a packed tram for a scenic ride to Belém. The tram passed by some beautiful local spots, though the kids were too absorbed in their e-readers to notice.

The heat was intense as we admired the imposing Belém Tower, built in the 1500s to intimidate any would-be invaders approaching Portugal by sea. Next was the Monument to the Discoveries, a tribute to the seafaring explorers of the 15th century who ventured across the globe, colonizing as they went. There’s a world map there showing where they traveled—it’s pretty much everywhere except Australia!

In the afternoon, we kept our promise to the kids and spent some time relaxing in a park, enjoying the shade, snacking, and playing card games. It was a much-needed break from the heat.

We then strolled past the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery, famously known as the birthplace of the Pastel de Belém. This particular custard tart has a secret recipe and even a patented name. It was delicious, but to be honest, it wasn’t much different from the pastel de nata we had tried before—and after—that!

As we continued to walk, we admired the stunning tiled buildings lining the streets, reminiscent of the country’s Moorish past. I especially love the pastel-colored houses in Lisbon, with their shades of yellow, pink, and blue.

Our last stop of the day was Tram 28, the classic tourist tram. We had hoped to catch Tram 12, which is less crowded and more local, but it never arrived. So, we squeezed ourselves onto the packed Tram 28 instead. Being a Saturday, all the squares were buzzing with activity, and live music filled the air as twinkling lights lit up the evening, creating a magical atmosphere as we chugged along.

In just two days, Lisbon has flown by, but we’ve managed to get a small, yet beautiful, taste of the city.