Nuno’s place in Alfama is perfectly situated in the oldest Lisbon neighborhood. There are some steps, but far less than you can find in many living spaces in the same district. The apartment is about a 3-5 minute walk from a main plaza in Alfama, about a 7-10 minute walk to the Santa Apolonia train station where you can catch the metro, a train to other Portuguese towns and cities or to go to the grocery store. It’s also about a 15-20 minute walk to the main areas of Baixa and Chiado.
Nuno and Marieta (she greets you, checks you in and checks on you) are quite simply the type of people you want to rent from. More than anything, they are caring people and will do whatever they can to make your stay pleasant. Two examples are that I was given two bottles of tasty homemade wine from Nuno’s family vineyard to enjoy during my 7 week stay. Also, when I unfortunately got sick, Marieta brought me groceries and medicine and let me pay her back after I was better. When I texted, they always responded in a more than timely manner. Honestly, I felt like I had family I could rely on in my new temporary home. Like I said, they are the kind of people you want to rent from.
The apartment is small (as I expected in Alfama), but equipped with everything needed for a short or long term stay. The kitchen is nicely stocked, the washing machine was a great feature, there are plenty of linens, towels and blankets and everything was in working order. The bed was very comfortable and the couch/futon worked well as a bed when I had a guest stay for a few days.
There are many places to eat near the apartment and my favorite was the little bakery nearby named Alfama Doce. Owned and worked by a father and son, it was an almost daily event for a morning espresso and a Pastel de Nata.
If you want an authentic Portuguese experience, this would be a great choice.