Lauren1979

Hi all. Anyone with lots of Lisbon experience who can weigh in on the best area for us to rent: We are heading to Lisbon in Sept to spend 4 nights and are planning to rent an apartment. We've narrowed it down to two places in the Principe Real right by the Praca das Flores (one with views over Lisbon roofotops from every room and the other doesn't have the views but looks lovely inside), and the third is in the Alfama right next to the Se de Lisboa. Just wondering which neighborhood would be best suited to our interests which are:

-Walkable, close to great authentic pastry shops, cafes and restaurants
-Central but slightly off the beaten track and not in the center of all the "noise" and party as we'd like to sleep at night
-not super touristy (like not a lot of tourist knick knack shops)
-A place where we can get a real local feel for Lisbon and see some great architecture, homes, narrow streets, and pretty squares.

We want to wake up and walk down a quaint street to our morning coffee and pastry, and in the evenings be able to eat nearby and drink some great wine.

Thank you!!

Robert2016

With only 4 nights, I'd opt for a hotel, not an apartment. You'll loose half a day just waiting to get into the apartment. Most are not available until mid-afternoon.

If you have a hotel, and the room is not available when you arrive, you can drop off your luggage and go have lunch while you're waiting.

opaldog

On our first and only (so far) trip to Lisbon we stayed in the Alfama in an apartment for four nights. I would recommend it. Here is the link https://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p254095

We loved the location and the apartment and view were beautiful. The landlord was great to deal with.

Lauren1979

Opaldog
Thanks for the link! I can't seem to open it though.

We found a lovely place right by the Se. It's right on the tram 28 line though which makes me worry that it could be noisy?

thursdaysd

You might also consider how you feel about steep streets, some of which are actually stairs. The views may be good, but I prefer to sleep on the flat in Lisbon.

Lauren1979

Which is the flat??
I'm assuming it's alfama/downtown. The place we are considering is by the se de lisboa which isn't exactly in alfama. It's closer to downtown.
The other is the Principe Real. I think that area is hilly?? Not sure. But it's right by the Praca das Flores with cute restaurants and cafes and supposedly the best gelato in Lisbon. Which I wouldn't mind a stroll out of the apartment for a late night gelato

Both neighborhoods seem to have a special charm and I am sure I'll know which one I prefer once I've gone to Lisbon.

thursdaysd

Alfama is hilly. Baixa is flat.

Praca das Flores looks a bit far from the center for me - I sleep just off the Praca dos Restauradores.

opaldog

Lauren - I was able to open the link just now. You could go to the homeaway site and type in the ID number. It is a popular rental and may not be available. Alfama is hilly, but so worth it.

Lauren1979

Thanks! I was able to open the link and that place is nice but it's booked. I think we will go for the rental I found right by the se cathedral, its similar to that one,
2 bedroom 2 bath. It looks to be sort of between alfama and downtown. It's right on the 28 tram line so I hope it's not too noisy but she said it's quiet at night.

massimop

I think you'll be fine. My first trip to Lisbon I rented an apartment for 4 nights. It was great, even though I ate my meals out. Extra space. Cabs are cheap & zippy if you get foot weary. Found it best to write out the names and addresses of where I wanted to go to show to drivers because my guesses at Portuguese pronunciation were creating confusion!

massimop

Also, for others who might find this thread: Praca das Flores is a lovely neighbourhood, as central to everything as any place being mentioned for seeing the most famous sights of Lisbon and enjoying the ambience of Lisbon, with it's cafes, restaurants. There is a corridor of hotels in Lisbon around Restaauradores, and many people like it, but it's not more "central" if you have other things you want to do and see. Plus Praca das Flores, since it is not filled with major hotels, has many lovely features that feel more like native Lisbon than tourist presentations.

jangita

My trip is in March of 2018. What do you think of this location?
http://www.dreamchiadoapartments.com...irections.html

This place seems to tic our boxes, offering the staffing of a hotel with a small kitchen. Our stay will be 4 nights, too.

lreynold1

Like massimop, I love the Praca das flores neighborhood. The main drawback for me is the distance to a Metro stop. I think Rato is the closest, and it would be a bit of a walk. The square itself is in a it of a trough -- steep walk up to Principe Real on one side, and steep walk up in the other direction to Campo d'Ourique and Estrella. But it is really a great neighborhood.

Lauren1979

Thanks everyone for the replies. The Praca das Flores seems like a sweet area and I bet once I go to Lisbon it will be the area I'd like to stay next time.

But we ended up getting the apartment by the Se Catherdral. It looks to be very centrally located, has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. I'm sure we will love that area also.

Jangita
The Chiado I believe is a great central neighborhood! That place looks great have fun!!

massimop

jangita,

If the hotel/apartment set up is a big plus for you, the location gives you good access to transportation options in every direction if you have a heavy duty cultural sightseeing agenda. The actual neighborhood I found to be artificially renovated for tourism, and filled with tourists and filled with international chain stores. I stayed not all that far away on the Rua Alecrim, and after my first foray down the Rua Garrett I avoided thereafter. (That said, there is an historic coffee seller on the Rua Garrett -- a shop with roasted beans and coffee makers -- that I loved and they sold me great ground coffee and I would go there all the time if I lived in Lisbon).

http://www.lisbonlux.com/lisbon-shops/casa-pereira.html

Taxis are very cheap in Lisbon relative to other European capitals so if you end up choosing restaurants out of that immediate area it will simple. There are still neighborhood gems tucked into that area, and you'll get the hang of avoiding the commercialized-for-tourist stuff and looking past it for the real deal. Lisbon, the entire city, is dotted with tourist-type set ups. But it is only dotted with them. Overwhelmingly the city moves to its own rhythm, and any location makes it walkable to something uniquely "Lisboa" and not a tourist stage set. It's an endlessly interesting capital city (including how it deals with its multiple demographics of tourists).