Prepare to sacrifice some sleep to an authentic experience in a beautiful, historic and vibrant neighbourhood.
The apartment is located in the heart of Alfama, on the second floor of a small house. After a steep staircase you are entering the space which spreads over two floors. The living area is spacious and bright, the kitchen and the eating space are located next to the living room. Upstairs is the bedroom and the bathroom. The apartment provides all the necessary amenities (incl. a hairdryer and even an iron and ironing board) for a pleasant and comfortable stay. We haven't been missing anything during our stay.
It was also a big advantage to have a washing machine so we could get our laundry done. Several small grocery stores and supermarkets are very nearby and a lot of interesting quarters and sightseeing spots are in a very short walking distance.
Diana provided a private transfer from the airport which brought us directly to the house. Having seen other travellers dragging heavy luggage over the cobblestones up the hills has confirmed our decision.
Diana was available all the time and responded quickly to our requests. She welcomed us very kindly and provided us with basic information about the city, the neighbourhood and the usual important stuff when you are new to a country’s capital.
Please note that due to the size and type of the space there is no king/queen sized (>180 cm width) bed in the bedroom but a bed with a single mattress and a width of 160 cm. I haven’t slept much during our stay because I’m sensitive to movement and noise while asleep but if that’s the price for the experiences we had, I am willing to pay it.
Also since you are not staying in a hotel but amongst locals in their neighbourhood prepare to see those people actually live. Walking their dogs, having a chitchat on the street underneath your window, watching TV etc.
Summarizing I can fully recommend Ricky and Diana as hosts and Alfama as a home base to have a great time in Lisbon.