4 Fun and Unique Things to Do in Lisbon
If you are visiting Lisbon and want to experience something different and local, away from the main attractions with all the other tourists, then keep on reading! These fun things are all recommendations that some of ImpacTrip’s volunteers have experienced in their first weeks here Lisbon and that we really think should not be missed!
1. Salsa Dancing class with Radek
If you want to experience a fun night out, how about some salsa dancing? If you ask nicely, you might be able to convince our lovely team member Radek to come along! He started with us as a volunteer and is now part of the team, and you can find him at our hostel, the Impact House, where he also offers the Yoga sessions three times a week. He is also a passionate dancer and sometimes likes to take the volunteers to salsa dancing to Hawaii Bar on Tuesdays, which is located amongst the other bars at the Docas in Alcântara. On Tuesdays, Hawaii turns into a flashback from a tropical summer night in the Caribbean. The music is a mix of Latin rhythm and African beats. The dance floor is packed with people synchronizing in sweat and salsa dancing. Don’t worry if you don’t know the steps – the person next to you will surely be happy to teach you! The atmosphere is vibrant and people keep dancing until 4 am! The best part? It only costs 3 euros to get in, and Radek is an amazing teacher!
2. Park Bar
When standing outside this concrete building, which holds a carpark inside, you would never guess there is a rooftop bar all the way at the top! Well, if you don’t read this article, you probably wouldn’t find this place without the help of a local, as it is really well hidden. You can choose to walk all the way up through the floors at the carpark, making the experience even more different, or you can also choose to take the elevator to the fifth floor and walk to the sixth. When you walk through the doors, an oasis opens up for you! Among wooden furniture and green plants, you will find yourself being quite mesmerized with this place. It has a lowkey atmosphere and a chill vibe! Outside you have the most amazing view over the city and the Ponte 25 de Abril (the Golden Gate Bridge) and inside you have the house Dj who plays a mix of house, African beats and all the newest hits, making sure the dance floor is full all night. Let it be an experience and remember: if you feel in doubt on your way to get there, you are most likely going the right way!
3. The Doll Hospital
Have you ever thought about visiting a doll hospital? We have one just in midtown Lisbon! The entrance is a little door between cafes, where you will find a small old traditional apartment, in which a family once started this business. Inside, you will be given a small bookmark, shaped like a doll, with some essential information, before you are lead upstairs. First, you will get into a room filled with broken dolls, which will seem a bit scary, because they might be missing an arm, leg or eye. But relax, because all the dolls are there to be fixed up. Yes, it is actually a doll HOSPITAL.. Then, there’s the pharmacy room, with everything needed to restore the dolls you just saw, from arms, legs, hair, heads, eyes in small boxes – whatever might be needed to restore the dolls. Well, once restored, the dolls are moved to the current museum. There, you can see restored dolls in all shapes and sizes and from different decades also. They also have a big collection of Barbie dolls – even the first one ever made! For sure a great and obscure place to discover in Lisbon!
4. Street-Art Tour in Cascais
If you didn’t already plan to include Cascais into your Portugal trip, we highly recommend that you do! There are several reasons why you should visit Cascais! First of all, Cascais is the nicest little fisher town with amazing beaches and beautiful surroundings. But the town also has something very special to offer. Instead of just visiting all the classic tourist attractions, you should visit this amazing project called “Cascais By Art”. But before we can tell you about this project, we have to tell you a story about the formerly dangerous neighborhood Bairro da Torre, where people were afraid to walk alone and the buildings were covered with racist and xenophobic graffiti. One day, the young people in the neighborhood came together and decided to change the image of Bairro da Torre. They decided to paint the buildings with street art in bright colors with real messages and created an urban art gallery. Because of that, the neighborhood changed, reformed its identity and became safe. A complete transformation! After this, the project “Cascais by Art” was born, as a tour to the Urban Art Gallery and through the neighborhood. All funds are used to make improvements and make the neighborhood even better! When you arrive you are welcomed by your guide, a young man raised in the neighborhood, who can tell you breathtaking stories of transformation and overcoming obstacles. And can it get better? Yes! You can even enjoy lunch with the community! This is truly an amazing tour you should not allow yourself to miss!