I recently spent 4 nights at Alex's apartment with two friends, and we absolutely loved our time in Lisbon! Alex's apartment is absolutely ideally located - it's in the heart of Chiado, which is a super trendy neighborhood with lots of great shops, restaurants and bars.
When we arrived, Alex greeted us with a bottle of wine, delicious fresh bread and cheese, that we promptly devoured. Stepping out onto the balcony at sunset with a glass of vinho verde, and looking out at gorgeous Lisbon was the perfect way to kick off our vacation.
Alex gave us an extensive list of personalized recommendations for activities, restaurants, and shops. He also had all sorts of local maps and books that we could use to plan our trip.
A couple tips/comments:
- If you have time, do a day trip to Sintra. It's a 40-minute train ride that departs from nearby Rossio station, and it's absolutely magical. We went to Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleire - so lovely!
- Prepare for LOTS of walking uphill... i didn't feel bad eating all the pastries because we were walking so much. :)
- Be sure to have cash, as many places don't take credit cards.
- We spent some time in nearby Belem neighborhood, at the National Coach Museum, Monastery, and Tower of Belem - definitely worth the visit.
- The TimeOut Market is a must-see, and a great place for lunch.
All in all, an outstanding trip, outstanding host, and outstanding apartment. I highly recommend!