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25 de Abril Suspension Bridge<br />
Photo: Dawn Jorgensen<br />
One of the best rooftop views in Lisbon at Portas do Sol<br />
(Right) A delicious and colorful brunch at Dear Breakfast<br />
Photos: finduslost.com<br />
music, and one of the best bookshops I’ve ever seen.<br />
I walked for hours to familiarise myself with the lay<br />
of the land seeking out the best examples of alcada<br />
portuguesa pavements and photographing street art.<br />
I lingered in restaurants and cafes, shopped at local<br />
markets and ate more pasteis de nata than I care to<br />
admit to.<br />
Views across the city from the top of Elevador de<br />
Santa Justa in the heart of the city are unbeatable.<br />
On the popular Praça do Comércio you’ll find the<br />
iconic Rua Augusta Arch, a historical building and<br />
visitor attraction built to commemorate the city’s<br />
reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake. Built to<br />
resemble the shape of a caravel, the massive, the<br />
angular Monument to the Discoveries is a prominent<br />
feature of the Belem waterfront well worth seeing.<br />
I’m already planning my return trip for more, and<br />
could quite easily join the half a million lucky ones<br />
who get to call Lisboa home. This is a city to live in, no<br />
matter the length of your stay, make it your home for<br />
those days and pretend you’re a local soaking up the<br />
old-fashioned laidback of this inviting European city.<br />
The Essential Details for<br />
booking your visit to Lisbon<br />
Getting there: There may not be direct flights<br />
to Lisbon from South Africa, but that shouldn’t<br />
deter as many European airlines service the<br />
Lisbon Airport, and you can get there from<br />
Cape Town or Johannesburg with just one<br />
connection. Alternately, the very affordable<br />
TAAG Angola Airlines offers easy access via<br />
Luanda.<br />
Visas: South African passport holders require a<br />
Schengen Visa to visit Portugal.<br />
Accommodation: A wide variety of<br />
accommodation options exist, be it for a luxury<br />
hotel, or Airbnb apartment. The best areas to<br />
base yourself are historic Alfama, Rossio in the<br />
heart of the city, Baixa for shopping and the<br />
charming Bairro Alto.<br />
Don’t miss: Arguably the best pastéis de nata<br />
in the city can be found at the small bustling<br />
Manteigaria, Time Out Market Lisboa.<br />
SA&BEYOND 35
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