Riverfront terrace restaurant ‘Ponto Final’, Cacilhas, September 2009

As you get off the ferry,  it takes about 15 minutes to walk along the river to Restaurant ‘Ponto Final’, after passing lots of ruinous warehouses.

Abandoned and ruinous warehouses, Cacilhas (Almada), Lisbon

Cacilhas used to be a bustling area for a long long time when shipping and fishing were still major economic activities in Portugal.

Restaurant Ponto Final’s terrace at lunchtime in June

You will love the typical Portuguese menu. Fish, meat and great Portuguese wine. €20/25 a person incl. wine. Quite reasonable prices if you consider the view! If you’re not in the mood for food, just relax, order a coffee or a bottle of wine (from € 7.50) and enjoy the scenery.

‘Ponto Final’, Cacilhas Cais Ginjal 72, Cacilhas , Almada, (00351) 212 732 108. Mail:  pontofinalrest@gmail.com. Closed: Tuesday and December 21 to January 21.

Very good Portuguese cuisine. Especialidade da Casa (specialty of the house): arroz de Tamboril (rice with monkfish), Entrecosto Assado no Forno (roasted ribs) and Peixe Fresco Grelhado (grilled fresh fish). The wine list has a quality assortment of Portuguese wines. Seats: 60.

View 25 April Bridge

It can be rather windy along the river Tagus, so don’t forget a sweater in case you like to have dinner here. Or, order a bottle of wine and a starter, enjoy it outside for at least a glass, then move inside for the main dish.

A warm summer evening while the sun is fading….whow!

Restaurant ‘Ponto Final’ is a perfect romantic location for a great dinner overlooking Lisbon by night. Make sure that you book a table outside in advance.

The nearby restaurant ‘Atira-te ao Rio’, (Portuguese, Brasilian and international cuisine), is also a great place to enjoy your lunch or dinner! Closed: Monday.

Cacilhas and the famous Cristo Rei statue

Both restaurants are nearby the elevator to reach the Cristo Rei monument.

Ferry from Cacilhas to downtown Lisbon

During winter season in Lisbon this place is also worth a visit! But it can be rather cold and windy. (sunset video)

Authentic holiday apartment with patio in the historical part of Lisbon

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Kiosk Camões Square (Praça Luís de Camões)

Just behind Camões’ statue , close to the statue of Portugal’s famous writer and poet Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935),  still mobbed by many tourists nowadays ; nearby great city views from luxury hotel Bairro Alto’s roof terrace  and, one of my favorites, a cheap and traditional Portuguese restaurant ‘Casa da India’.

Small kiosk Park Principe Real

After shopping people like to take a break in this wonderful park with lots of exotic plants and trees, near Bairro Alto, posssibly one of the best (and gay) spots in Europe for a night out! Recommended: Les Mauvais Garçons , popular and ”très-chic” cafe/restaurant.  

Nearby you’ll find the  Botanical garden , one of Europe’s finest.

Kiosk Rua Dom Pedro

Rua Dom Pedro V  is a wonderful avenue for shopping. There’s lots of boutiques, traditional antique shops and art galleries.

Kiosk Largo Trindade Coelho

Small kiosk near ‘Casa da Comida’ (’ the house of food’), a new cafetaria/ restaurant in the wonderful bamboo garden of Museum São Roque. This museum and church is home to Italian art from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Small kiosk Cais do Sodré

A major bus station is sited outside the front of the Cais do Sodré station, with a Carris small kiosk selling transport passes, tickets and guides.

On the background a glimpse of Restaurant Marisqueira ‘Guarda Rio’, overlooking the river Tagus. The marisqueira (seafood) is unfailingly fresh

Cais do Sodré  is Lisbon’s major bus, metro, trainstation (‘Linha de Cascais’ , name of the train line joining Lisbon to Cascais), and ferry terminal. Recommended: beach Restaurant Peixenalinha São Pedro do Estoril

Wonderful 20 minutes ferry trip idea from here : ferry to Cacilhas at the other side of the river Tagus and how to reach the amazing Cristo Rei monument

Viewpont Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.

This wonderful belvedere will give you a unique insight into the city and magnificent views on the old Moorish castle Castelo de São Jorge.

Kiosk above Lisbon’s famous flea market Feira da Ladra .  

The Moorish influence is still present in Alfama and in Mouraria, where the Moors kept on living in the city after the conquist and gathered in this area. Authentic 3-bedroom apartment with patio for rent in this old Moorish quarter

After browsing the market it’s a good idea to have lunch in Restaurant ‘O Panteao de Santa Clara’  just above the market, serving real Portuguese food for a good price.

‘Adamastor’, a popular gathering place in Lisbon overlooking the Tagus river, which is officially called the Miradouro de Santa Catarina.

From this vista point you have the most breathtaking views on the Tagus river, the 25th of April Bridge and the Cristo Rei monument, nearby my favorite cafe/bar Noobai 

Kiosk Rua de São Paulo, near Cais do Sodré  station and, on the other side of the road,  Mercado da Ribeira (famous market near the river, since 1882), topped with a Moorish-style dome.

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But it’s really worth taking a ferry at Cais do Sodré  to Montijo, walk around in this picturesque village, have lunch and take a bus to the centre of Alchochete and walk to the beach called Samouco (ca. 15 min.)

Beautiful views: Lisbon city and the 25 April Bridge. 

The ferry trip to Montijo takes about 20 minutes and give you a chance to enjoy the river and the views of Lisbon and the surrounding areas. Return ticket: euro 5.60.

Montijo, Praça da República

You’re away from the crowds…and it is really a pleasure walking around here.

Montijo , a lazy afternoon, September 2009, Rua Guerra Junqueiro. Not one tourist in sight! Coffee (bica) euro 0,60.

Alcochete , Samouco beach

From Montijo, take a bus to Alcochete centre and walk 15 minutes to Samouco beach  (YouTube).  You can enjoy watching pink flamingos or egrets (white heron) near the Reserva Natural of the Tagus river, which is famous for the birds.

Of course in July and August there are more tourists. On the background: Lisbon and the ‘twin towers’, Parque das Nações.  Alcochete, like Sintra, has in the past been a popular haunt for royalty, coming here to relax and holiday. The town’s foundation dates back to the 7th century, after the Moors conquered Lisbon. Its name derives from the Arabic word for kiln, as there have been many found in the area. Bullfighting also has a history here, and bulls are still let loose in the streets during the Barrete Verde and Salinas Feasts (the second weekend of August).

Fitness exercises at the beach…. ! On de background: Vasco da Gama Bridge

Near the beach there’s a small cafe. Very nice people!  Typical Portuguese snacks and drinks: coffee (bica) 0,60, glass of beer 0,60, Portwine 1 euro. Glass of whiskey 2 euro.

By car it’s ca. 30 minutes from Lisbon to Alcochete beach. The wonderful Vasco da Gama Bridge connects Alcochete and Montijo with Lisbon.

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Cais do Sodré railway station Lisbon to Cascais

Cais do Sodré railway station is serving westbound suburban route to f.i. Estoril, Belém and Cascais, and subway or bus for any spot in Lisbon. It is adjacent to the Lisbon Metro  station (website incl. network diagram & how to use the metro) of the same name which is the terminus for subway’s Green Line (Linha da Caravela).

Statue Duque da Terceira, Cais do Sodré,  Praça do Duque da Terceira 

Cais do Sodré is situated in central Lisbon on the bank of Tagus River. Although the official name is Duque da Terceira Square, everybody knows it by Cais do Sodré. Duque da Terceira was a hero in the Peninsular War (1807-1814) that united Portugal, Great Britain and later Spain against Napoleon.

Ferry to Cacilhas, the river Tagus left bank

From here you can also take a ferry to river Tagus left bank to Cacilhas , for a walk along the river to the elevator of the famous Cristo Rei statue.

Lisbon, ferry Cais do Sodré

 Transtejo (and timetable) is the company responsible for the fluvial crossing of the Tagus River. People from the other side of the river have to cross it every day to work in Lisbon or in the environment. The company offers every 10 minutes a ferry to Cacilhas (Almada, district of Setubal), a return ticket cost 1,20 euro (2008). From Cacilhas you can take the bus to the beaches of Caparica.

Transtejo also offer Tagus cruises, a tourist service with various types of ships as Catamarans and luxury ferry-boats.

A mini cruise on the Tagus River overlooking the city is wonderful, especially at the end of the day the light is unforgettable.

Ferry in Cacilhas. Wonderful views on downtowm Lisbon!

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Cais do Sodré, ferry to Cacilhas (near the railway station). Picture: Martijn Kramers

Cacilhas is a picturesque neighborhood in the banks of the river best known by its Cervejarias (traditional beer houses) also offering shellfish, seafood, and fresh fish.

Restaurant/Cervejaria “Farol” (lighthouse) is just by the ferry-terminal, the food is finger licking good! We enjoyed a fresh dourada (sea bream)

From restaurant ‘Farol’ you can walk along the river to the elevator of the famous Cristo Rei statue and enjoy the wonderful view on downtown Lisbon.

After passing some abandoned and ruinous warehouses and 2 restaurants, ‘Attire-te-ao-rio’, which means ‘throw yourself into the river’, and restaurant Ponto Final, you can go by elevator to reach the Cristo Rei statue.

Restaurant ‘Atira-te-ao-rio’, a Brasilian restaurant and a perfect romantic location for a great dinner overlooking Lisbon by night.

Restaurant ‘Ponto Final’, very good Portuguese cuisine!

Excellent menu, amazing view, especially while the sun is fading.

Elevator to reach the Cristo Rei Statue.

A sweeping view of the city and Ponte 25 de Abril (25th of April Bridge) from the top of the 82m (270ft) high pedestal (by elevator). This enormous monument is built in 1959 in thanks to God for having spared Portugal during World War II, inspired by the famous statue in Rio de Janeiro. ‘God opens his arms to the city’. View from Cristo Rei Movie

You can go back to the Cacilhas ferry terminal by bus # 101 (0,8 euro).

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“I live in a quiet part of the area Bairro Alto, but ’the place to be’ when it comes to nightlife! Bairro Alto means ‘High neighbourhood’, as it is on top of one of the seven hills of Lisbon. It is a maze of narrow streets filled with trendy shops, galeries, charming grocery stores, small restaurants and bars”.

“During the day it feels like living in a small village. Old people with coloured plastic bags are coming back from the market, having a chat with eachother while they slowly climb the steepy streets. The atmosphere is very relaxed. Typical Portuguese is the hanging laundry, drying in the wind. In the shops and in the cafes people take their time to make a friendly neighbourly talk.

For me Lisbon’s Tagus river is a very important part of my life. When I wake up the first thing I do is look out of the window to see the ‘mood’ and the colour of the river: sometimes wild or as smooth as a mirror, sometimes blue or ominous dark grey. In summertime the weather is gorgeous, and, thanks to the nearby river, there’s always a nice breeze!

Lisbon and the Tagus river are inseparable: I like it very much enjoying the calm water’s river on a Cais do Sodré’s terrace, reading a bit while slowly sipping a glass of Sangria and then take a (10-minutes) ferry trip to Cacilhas to the other side of the river”.

Cacilhas is a picturesque neighbourhood in the banks of the river best known by its Cervejarias (popular beer houses) also offering shellfish, seafood, and fresh fish.  How to get there

I can recommend restaurant/Cervejaria O “Farol“ (lighthouse) just by the boat stop, the food is ‘finger licking’ good! From restaurant ‘O Farol’ I like to make a walk along the river, after passing some abandoned and ruinous warehouses you can have lunch or a drink at the outdoor terrace of ‘Atire-te ao rio’, a Brasilian cafe/restaurant, a small paradise with wonderful views!

“The cemetery of São João (Cementerio do Alto de São João) is a very impressive and beautiful old graveyard: the alleys, the graves, the tranquility….one of the most attractive places to admire the river Tagus as well!

“For me, Lisbon is an authentic, unique city!”

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