What a way to begin our 9 day honeymoon in Portugal! My husband and I had the absolute pleasure of staying in Marta’s beautiful Alfama apartment for three nights, and we wished we could have stayed even longer. We felt truly at home in Lisbon and like real Alfama locals.
Helena greeted us and spoke beautiful French, so we were able to communicate very easily about the apartment’s amenities, location, and check out procedure (which was so easy!). Marta herself provides an incredible guidebook full of perfect suggestions for how to spend your limited time in Lisbon.
On our first day, straight off the plane, we visited the beautiful 11th century Moorish castle, ate whole grilled fish at 7 Bicas, took in a few Miradouros, had dinner at Alfama Too (now under new ownership and absolutely spectacular), and finished off the night with Fado at A Buaca. I believe these were all Marta’s recommendations, and between this excitement and wandering the streets of Lisbon, we were just beside ourselves with joy. We had no idea how the trip could have gotten any better!
Marta was so thoughtful, leaving us coffee, wine, and various liquors to enjoy, as well as a cozy interior so centrally located to everything we could ever want to do! She even made us a special dinner reservation to celebrate our honeymoon, and the waitstaff treated us like royalty - thank you Marta!
We’d like to add the recommendation that other visitors also check out Alfama Cellar on a cool/rainy night to get some authentic Portuguese stew that will leave you feeling comforted and happy down to your bones.
All in all, we could not have asked for anything more. Marta was an exceptional host and her centrally-located home provided us with easy travel around the city through classic cobblestone streets and eclectic local charm. We’re both big walkers and often found ourselves on our feet for 8+ hours a day delighting in the beautiful streets as we made our way too our destinations.
Marta - we are ready to move in permanently! :) haha! Thank you for the best trip of our lives. If you are considering staying in Alfama, please look no further.