Lisbon – Your Perfect Valentine’s Day City Break
Venice, Paris, and more recently, Prague are the favorite romantic getaways in Europe. While that’s perfectly understandable, couples looking for a special trip this Valentine’s Day should also consider Lisbon. They’ll find that walking around the city’s old quarters, and especially in the town of Sintra nearby, will be just as romantic as those other classic European destinations, but with the advantage that it’s so much cheaper.
Start with looking for the perfect accommodation for two. Consider As Janelas Verdes, a former residence of one of Portugal’s most famous writers, now a quaint hotel with a vine-covered patio garden.
Almost across the street is York House, once a convent but today a boutique hotel mixing antiques with contemporary furnishings and a relaxing courtyard.
By one of the city’s most peaceful and beautiful neighborhoods is Solar do Castelo, sharing the walls of Lisbon’s landmark castle. It’s a beautifully furnished 18th century mansion that includes a tiled terrace for moonlit conversations.
Even better is staying in Sintra at Hotel Lawrence’s. That’s the oldest hotel in the Iberian Peninsula and where British poet Lord Byron stayed during his famous visit that led him to conclude that Sintra was a “glorious Eden” and “the most delightful” town in Europe.
Sintra is also where actor Brad Pitt and former wife Jennifer Aniston spent a large part of their honeymoon, and although the fate of that couple isn’t exactly desirable, you know that a place chosen by Hollywood royalty should be perfect for you too.
When it comes to dining out, Lisbon’s A Travessa is a top choice for a romantic dinner. It’s set in a former convent, and you can try the Belgian-Portuguese specialties around the 17th century cloisters.
For a candle-lit dinner in Bairro Alto consider Cravo e Canela, serving international fusion dishes in an intimate space.
As for sightseeing during the day, go on a horse and carriage ride in Sintra admiring its fairytale architecture, or choose a carriage in Lisbon’s Belem district instead, a recent attraction by the city’s most important monuments. If that’s not enough, feel yourself carried away at the Coaches Museum, presenting the world’s largest collection of extraordinary vehicles once used by European nobility. Elsewhere in the city, a charming ride on the old trams will take you around Lisbon’s most picturesque corners.
