From Lisbon to yoga
a perfect combination
Wandering through the narrow cobbled stone streets of Lisbon, I find a cosy café to have a freshly baked ‘pasteis de nata’ and a ‘bica’. The local Portuguese crispy custard delight with a small strong coffee. I let sink in and enjoy my impressions of this morning.
I stay in the neighbourhood of Bairro Alto, a 10 minute stroll away from basically everything. My hotel is very comfortable and cosy, the staff simply brilliant. They make you feel home away from home and have lots of insider tips. Love it. There is a living room where you can have a rest during the day ánd they serve a delicious breakfast in the morning. And as some of you know me, I LOVE food, so that’s a big plus.
It’s December and the sun is shining. I wear a thick sweater only and enjoy the springlike weather. It’s only a few degrees colder here then in the Algarve, where Wolfs Yoga is located.
Combine your Yoga Retreat with a city trip to Lisbon. As a solo traveller, I found it fun, easy and safe to get around. Add a few days before or after your Wolfs Yoga Retreat and enjoy the cultural experience of the capital of Portugal. It’s a beautiful city worth a visit!
Day 1
Old Town
From Rossio train station, which has a beautiful Art Deco facade, walk to Miradouro de Graça, a beautiful viewpoint surrounded by trees and if you’re lucky, a musician basking on the little square. It all adds up ;) From here, slowly descend into Alfama, the old city, strolling around its narrow windy roads. Forget about your map and follow that what you see, to decide your direction. If you prefer a beautiful fixed route, the old tram 28, passes through the area. You could take the tram or walk part of the route instead. Castelo de S. Jorge has a beautiful viewpoint worth the climb. There are plenty of nice cafes for a coffee or a tea in Alfama. End your walk at the beautiful Sé Cathedral, on the edge of Alfama and the waterfront of the Tagus river.
Close to the Sé Cathedral, lies Praça do Comércia, a beautiful square. Take your time to enjoy the waterfront. Breathe in the atmosphere of old Lisbon. Old ladies sell chestnuts from their small food stalls for a snack. Make your way to ‘Manteigaria’ one of the best ‘pasteis de nata’ cafes in the city. Warm, crispy, perfectly sweet and fresh out of the oven. There is only one place more recommended, which is the birthplace of this local delicacy. I’ll share the address with you below, as well as some nice café’s and restaurants.
If you have time left, make your way to ‘Museu Calouste Gulbenkian’, the Museum of Modern Art or go to Museu de Arte Popular (contemporary & modern art). An alternative option would be the LxFactory area, described in day 2. The day flew by and I make my way to my hotel, to have a rest and a tea before dinner. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, but just to make sure I added a selection of vegan, vegetarian and fish restaurants for you.
Day 2
Bélem and LxFactory
As I only had one and a half day, this is still about to happen, but this is what I wóuld do!
Make your way to Bélem district to visit Museu de Arte Popular (contemporary & modern art), MAAT, the Monastery ‘Mosteiro Jerónimos’ for its beautiful architecture combined with the Santa Maria de Bélem church and the ‘Torre de Bélem’. In between, you can walk to ‘Pasteis de Bélem’, the perfect place to try the most delicious ‘Pasteis de nata’ on earth. Around late lunch time, continue your journey towards the LxFactory, a cultural hub where you can find food, drinks, street art, boutique shops and a cool atmosphere of contemporary Lisbon.
Have a wonderful trip!
Much love, Wolfs Yoga
Getting there and away
There is now a direct bus from Lisbon (Sete Rios Bus station) to Vila (do) Bispo bus station, the village Wolfs Yoga is located in. Duration: 4 hours. From Lisbon there is a metro that brings you directly downtown in only 10 minutes. Costs bus ticket: 20€ Reserve online before departure. It will fill up. Our info is updated December 2019, routes and prices are subject to change.
The Hotel I stayed in
Casa Das Janelas Com Vista, a home away from home, quiet street, central location, very friendly staff. | Google Maps
Tip: The view is said to be better from a small room. There are of course numerous amount of hotels. Prices here start at 55€ per night..
Coffee & Treats
Pasteis de Bélem | Google Maps | Bélem | Pastel de Nata & coffee
Manteigaria | Google Maps | Bairro Alto | Pastel de Nata & coffee
Café’s with plenty of healthy vegan & veggie options
My Mother’s Daughters | Google Maps | Avenidas Novas | Vegan café | Largo de São Sebastião da Pedreira, 49 | 8.30am – 5pm
Fauna & Flora | Google Maps | Estrela | 9am – 7pm
Heim Café | Google Maps | Santos | 9am – 6pm
Comoba | Google Maps | Bairro Alto | 7.30am – 7.30pm
Copenhagen Coffee Lab & Bakery | Google Maps | Alfama | More locations..
Delicious Vegan & Vegetarian Kitchen
Arkhe | Google Maps | Estrela | Reservation! | 7pm – 11pm
Jardim dos Sentidos | Google Maps |Principe Real
Naked | Google Maps | Principe Real | 9am – 10.30pm
O Boteco | Google Maps | Chiado | 4pm – 1am
Fish & Portuguese Kitchen
We Create Food | Google Maps| Bairro Alto | Raw food / Pizza / Tasting menu | 6pm – 11pm
Tapisco | Google Maps | Principe Real | Tapas | 12pm – 12am
Cevicheria | Google Maps | Principe Real | Fish and one option of vegan Ceviche | 12pm – 12am
Bairro do Avillez | Google Maps | Bairro Alto | by Chef José Avillez | Portuguese seafood | 12pm – 12am
O Asiatico | Google Maps | Principe Real | Asian lunch dinner | 7.30pm – 11pm
“We carry inside us the wonders we seek outside us.” ~ Rumi
