24HRS IN SINTRA, PORTUGAL | TRAVEL GUIDE

So, from my last post, I think we already established I absolutely loved Lisbon. After spending 3 days there, we spend out last day in Sintra -  a quaint small town near Lisbon in the foothill of the Sintra Mountains.

It used to be a royal sanctuary, which essentially means there are endless castles around the town and in the mountains. You could easily spend a few days just visiting different castles; however, since we only had a day we decided to only visit two and take it easy. 

The first one we visited was Quinta da Regaleira. Whilst there are buses that can take you from the train station to most of the castles, we decided to take an Uber as it was very cheap (genuinely less tan 5€) and much easier! 

Quinta da Regaliera is a massive estate with a castle, a chapel, a lake, grottoes and, most importantly, a really cool well called the Initiation Well. You can walk down it and it looks like something you would fine in Narnia or another fantasy movie. I was expecting to find the Upside Down once I reached the bottom but, unfortunately or fortunately, I only found some spooky underground tunnels. Still cool though. 

After we had walked around the estate and taken all the necessary Insta pics, we headed back to the town centre to have some lunch. We went to this place called Incomum which had some really amazing food - especially if you like seafood and fish. 

After, we walked around the town a bit which was absolutely stunning - it's full of narrow picturesque cobbled streets with little boutiques. We also went to the famous bakery Piriquita, where you have to try the traditional travesseiros, made with puff pastry and almond cream. Definitely a must try if you're in Sintra! 

Once our stomachs were full and content, we took another Uber to what now is my favourite place I have ever visited: Pena Palace. There are no words to describe how beautiful and mind blowing it is. It looks fake and you will definitley feel like you're in some sort of film. 

The palace is at the top of a hill which means that, unless you go on a very clear day, it is very likely to be foggy which adds to the film-like experience. The palace is so colourful and with the most intricate carvings on the stone. It was honestly something out of this world. I would try and describe it better but a picture is worth a thousand words so just see it for yourself! 

Overall, Sintra was absolutely beautiful and definitley worth a visit if you're in Lisbon! 

TRAVEL GUIDE: 48 HOURS IN LISBON

Lisbon was an absolute dream. 

I think I am still in shock by the beauty of it. Stepping into the city felt like being stepping into a complete different world, and definitley not somewhere in Europe. Somewhere only a 2 hours flight away from home. It has such a different vibe to any other European city - so relaxed, so culturally rich and so majestic in an almost antiquated way. 

We spent three days in Portugal, two in Lisbon and one in Sintra (a small town near Lisbon, stay tuned for another post coming your way very soooon!). Realistically,  three days are enough to get to know the city. However, it is the kind of place where you kind of want to stay forever. You know, quit your job and open a hotel à la Mamma Mia.

What I loved the most about Lisbon is that it has so many quirky neighbourhoods that are perfect to wander and get lost in, you never know what's going to be just around the corner. So, get lost with me. Here's where we stayed, what we did and (most importantly) where we ate.

where we stayed

We stayed in a beautiful apartment in the centre of Lisbon, near Praça do Comércio on Rua da Padaria. It was a great location as it was very close to the metro, the tram and within walking distance to many restaurants, markets and also the ocean (which is always an added bonus).

The apartment was very Portuguese - very colourful but not in an obnoxious way, and very modern. It basically looked pretty much like what I want my future house to look like - clean look with a rustic touch and some colour

what we did 

There is a lot to do in Lisbon, but at the same time there isn't. Whilst you could easily spend two days visiting all the touristy sites, the best way to get to know the city is to simply wander around and explore the city by foot.  

That being said, there are a few things you should definitely check out whilst you're there. 

On the first day, we visited Praça do Comércio which was very near where we were staying and then took the tram to Belém, one of the most famous neighbourhoods in Lisbon.

Belém

The main thing Belém is known for is the famous Pastéis de Natas (or custard tarts), which are quite literally heaven on Earth. If you don't know what they are, think of the standard British custard tarts but more cinnamon-y and just a hundred times better.

Whilst you're there, definitley go to the bakery called Pastéis de Belem - you won't miss it, as there is usually a very long queue. Definitely worth the wait. Best custard tarts I have ever tried, and I have tried quite a few.

Near the bakery you will find the Jerónimos Monastery, a stunning white building with very intricate designs. If you have time, try to go inside; it's not cheap, but definitely worth it!

From there, we walked towards the ocean/river and then walked to the Tower de Belém. At that point I had eaten too many custard tarts so I was in a diabetic coma and could barely move. Therefore, I didn't pay much attention but it was a pretty tower... and we also saw some giant jellyfish. And when I say giant I mean bigger than my face. 

LX Factory

If you are into Shoreditch (in London), Berlin and this kind of vibe... what some would call edgy, then LX Factory is your place. 

It's an old industrial complex of house turned into restaurants, shops, libraries, hairdressers, tattoo parlours, everything. A very creative space which can only be described as the Shoreditch of Lisbon. 

Alfama

Again, another very famous neighbourhood in London. Every day they have the so called Feira da Ladra, a massive flea market which I guess it started off being for the locals but has now become very touristy. It is nice to walk around and you might find some interesting stuff, and a lot of people selling tiles, but I don't think it's worth spending too much time there. 

Once you have seen the market, just walk around the streets of Alfama. There isn't anything specific to see except the beautiful tile houses and random colourful streets. 

There is also a great viewing point called Miradouro Santa Luzia, it doesn't only have great views but the place itself is also stunning (and great for photos... because you gotta get that Instagram).

Bairro Alto & Chiado

This was probably one of my favourite areas of Lisbon - probably because it was more "city-like" and lively. It's a very central district, where all the big shops and many restaurants are. Even though it definitely has a city vibe, it is still very picturesque and there is no lack of narrow quaint streets.

It is great to walk around in the evening or late afternoon. It's also a very hilly area and where the classic Lisbon photo is taken. You know the one: uphill street, yellow tram and colourful houses? 

Chiado is another are that is very similar to Bairro Alto but a bit more structured and with bigger wider streets. And also more commercial. It is more modern and what feels "less" like Lisbon if that makes any sense. 

Still beautiful, though. I just can't say no to a house with pretty tiles.

where we ate 

If you're a foodie, Lisbon is your place. They have countless types of pastries (all equally delicious) and so much seafood. 

Breakfast

We had breakfast at the same bakery near our apartment - Portela Cafe. My favourite pastries (which you can find at most bakeries) were pao deus (sweet dough with some sort of coconut-y paste) and, obviously, pasteis de nata. But I honestly didn't try a bad pastry during my entire trip, so everything is delicious. 

Lunch

The only noteworthy place we went for lunch was TimeOut Market. A food hall where every "restaurant" has been chosen by TimeOut - so you know it's good. I was a bit skeptical first because it just looked very touristy but everything we tried was really good and there is so much to choose from.   Anything from oysters to croquettes - the latter being my absolute favourite. 

Dinner

For dinner we went to A Casa do Bacalhau, which is a restaurant that specialises in cod. In Portugal (or Lisbon at least), it is very common to have a few smaller sharing dishes - sort of like tapas - rather than one big dish each. However, they only bring on at a time - they wait until you have finished and then they will bring the next one. It is a bit odd but I kind of prefer it, you get to try so much more food! 

We also went to Taberna Rua dos Flores - a very traditional Portuguese restaurant. It is a very small restaurant and you can't book in advance, instead you have to go to the place at around 6-6:30pm and they will put your name down and tell you to come back in about an hour or so (depending on availability, it is an extremely popular restaurant). So you don't really get to choose when to eat but it's definitley worth the small inconvenience. 

Their menu is very traditional and everything we tried was absolutely incredible. Again, they also serve tapas style dishes for the table to share instead of big plates. I would recommend you try as much fish and seafood as you can as that's what I found to be the best! 

Desserts/Pastries

I have a big sweet tooth, so Portugal was my heaven on Earth - the amount of pastries and little sweet treats that hey have is mind blowing and they are all equally delicious. 

The number one place you have to go to if you're in Lisbon is Pasteis de Belem - I can't even tell you how good their custard tarts are. So good that I had too many too quickly and then felt sick for the rest of the day - but I still don't regret it. Expect a big queue, but 100% worth the wait. 

We were walking around Alfama when we stumbled into this little bakery called Fabrica Pastel Feijao - a very traditional and small bakery that specialises in Pastel de Feijao, a white bean and almond pastry. I was not expecting much of it as I didn't know how I would feel about white beans in a pastry, but it was so good. If you're in the neighbourhood, definitley try one! 

Finally, another dessert worth mentioning is the éclair we had at the TimeOut Market - not very Portuguese but still delicious. I can't remember the name of the stall but there is only one place that sells éclairs so it's hard to miss! 

A DAY IN CAMBRIDGE

Living in London, it can be very easy to feel like you never have to leave, anything you could ever want is probably here - any type of restaurant, park, entertainment and museum. 

However, it can be so nice and refreshing to leave the city for a day and there are so many great places that are so close and so easy to get to! Last week, me and my friend decided to visit Cambridge for the day (as apparently we have run out of brunch places to try here lol). 

Getting there only took a bit over an hour by train from Liverpool Street and it was just over £10 so not expensive at all! 

We left London at around 10AM and got to Cambridge right after 11AM. The train station is very close to the city centre so we just walked towards the main part which is around King's College. Our first stop was, obviously, brunch because what else would I do? 

We went to Hot Numbers Cafe which is this really cute and cosy cafe where I can imagine loads of students go to work in the winter - it had big wooden tables and their food was so tasty! It was also very cheap compared to most brunch places in London which is always a plus. 

After we had fuelled our bodies with carbs, sugar and caffeine, we ventured into the actual town. I had been to Cambridge twice before, once when I was very young with my family and then again when I went to summer boarding school when I was about 16 - so I kind of knew my way around it a bit and knew where I wanted to go. Regardless of how many times I visit Cambridge, my favourite spot will always be right outside King's College. It is such a beautiful college which reminds me so much of Harry Potter and also makes me want to do another degree and go to Cambridge (even though we all know that's never going to happen). 

We tried to go in but decided it wasn't worth the £15 they were asking for, it's simply extortionate especially since you can visit other less famous colleges for free! 

Something worth doing whilst you're there is climbing the Church of St Mary the Great. You do have to pay £5 but the view is definitley worth it! You can see so many colleges and the whole town of Cambridge which is simply stunning. 

After, we wandered around the town centre and browsed the market before spending a good two hours in TK Maxx looking at home decor... whoops. 

Right after we left TK Maxx it started pouring which was beyond annoying as we had spent the last couple of hours of sunshine in a store. We decided to hide from the rain and go to the very well known cafe called Fitzbillies, famous for their Chelsea buns.  Not going to lie, all their pastries looked insane, but obviously we had to try the famous buns. It was my first time trying one so I can't compare it to anything else but it was really good and I can imagine having them as an afternoon snack during autumn with some hot chocolate... so maybe I'll have to get some imported from Cambridge. 

The rain stopped for around half an hour during which we visited one of the free colleges: Pembroke College. It genuinely felt like I was in another world, almost like Hogwarts. I can't imagine actually going to uni there and living in those colleges, I would love to experience it but probably only for a couple of weeks - I'm too much of a city girl.

We were planning to visit a few more colleges and explore the town a bit more but since it was raining so much we decided to leave at around 4PM as we can always go back another day! 

MY TOP 3 FOOD MARKETS IN EAST LONDON

If you follow me on Instagram you’ll know by now I love food - my whole social life revolves around food: brunch, cake, lunch, dinner, drinks, you name it. 

If there is food, I am there. 

Living in London makes it so easy to want to try a different cafe every weekend, Instagram is flooded with food accounts about the best places to eat in the city. And you can’t say no to a mouth watering brunch that’s only a tube ride away. 

I have never been a market kind of girl. I like to sit down at a table and chat with my friends whilst we wait for our food and enjoy the nice decor. Also, London’s weather is not exactly ideal to walk around markets as you never know when it’s going to start raining, hailing or snowing. 

However, since the weather has been so lush recently I have been spending most of my time outdoors. When it’s sunny and warm in London, it is a sin to stay inside. That means, I have been exploring more markets and ditching the Instagrammable overpriced cafes in West London for the equally overpriced food markets in East London. So I thought it was only fair to share y favourite ones

GREENWICH MARKET

I quite literally stumbled upon this market a few weeks ago when I was walking around Greenwich - I had no idea there was a market there, let alone one that sold food. I had a Mexican empanada and a delish iced latte for lunch, which I totally recommend. They also had a great selection of desserts, from refreshing watermelon juice to rich and dense brownies. I tried some Jamaican dessert made with coconut (I wish I could remember what it was!) which was so good! 

VICTORIA PARK MARKET

Okay, if you like cheese and live in London - you have to go to the food market in Victoria Park and try the grilled cheese from Meltsmiths - it is the best thing I have ever tried. It comes with onion jam, which at first I wasn’t too sure about, but oh my actual god it goes so well with the cheese and it is just so incredibly good. No words can explain how good it is, you just have to try it. 

I also had a cheesecake brownie which was fab, and I definitely want to go back and try the giant cookies and the red velvet cake. 

OLD SPITAFIELDS MARKET

One word: pizza. They have the best pizza in London, in my opinion, in London. You do have to wait for a bit as there is usually a small queue but it is so worth it! They also have really good baklava, which is one of my favourite dessert, so I always have to have it when I am around there. 

I do think this market is very hyped up, but if you want good pizza or good baklava definitley worth a visit! 

TRAVEL GUIDE: A DAY IN SALZBURG

Walking around Salzburg was literally like walking around a made up town from and old Disney movie.  Think little boutiques, beautiful little houses, narrow streets and stunning architecture in general. 

It is a pretty small town, so one day is more than enough. We took a train in the morning from Vienna and two hours later we arrived to Salzburg, the place where Mozart was born many years ago. Tickets are not too expensive, we bought them the night before and paid around 40€ so I imagine if you buy them in advance they will be even cheaper.

The first thing we did is walk from the train station to a park/hill called Kapuzineberg. The walk took around one hour (including time for photos...), around 15 min to reach the entrance of the park and 45 min to reach the top. Whilst it is uphill all the time, it is very easy and you don't even need to wear trainers. You get a really nice view of Salzburg on the way and loads of photos opportunities and you know, you gotta get those 10,0000 daily steps in. It is definitely worth it! 

Then we went to the Old Town which was absolutely breathtaking. To be honest, there is not much to do other than walk around, enjoy the cute buildings and indulge in some creamy ice cream. So that's what we did, soaking up the sun. 

Mozart's house is also a must-see, we decided not to go in because, as much as I love Mozart and his music, I didn't really feel like paying to see his piano or his bedroom. But you do you.

Before going back to Vienna, we went to the Mirabell Palace and Gardens which were the most stunning gardens I have ever seen, and I am not exaggerating. If you walk through the gardens and then go up the stairs at the end, you will get a breathtaking view of the gardens, the palace and Salzburg's castle in the distance. It genuinely looks like you are in a movie set. We spent a good hour or so just sitting and enjoying the view - wondering what we had done to deserve something so beautiful. 

Finally, we made our way back to Vienna and had a quiet evening to re-charge for another day of exploring.

TRAVEL GUIDE: A WEEKEND IN VIENNA

If you ever want to feel like a princess, go to Vienna. 

About two weeks ago my friend and I decided to abandon London for the weekend and visit the beautiful city of Vienna. We timed it extremely well in terms of weather, as it was right after the heatwave when apparently it was rainy, cloudy and miserable in the UK. In the meantime, we were lucky enough to enjoy blue skies and 27˚C whilst drinking iced lattes and yummy pastries.

We left on Friday noon and got back on Monday afternoon. However, we spent the entire Sunday in Salzburg (a post about that to come very soon...) so we only spent about two full days in Vienna. Which turned out to be the perfect amount of time to visit everything without being rushed.

WHERE WE STAYED

Vienna is known to be quite an expensive city so I recommend you go for Airbnbs if you don't want to splash the cash. We stayed at a lovely apartment just outside the city centre, it was about 10 min away from the underground station (U-Bahn) and about a 20 min to the city centre. The host, Pietra, was super accommodating and helpful which is always a plus. 

This is obviously not sponsored by Aribnb (I wish lol) but if you are new to Airbnb use my personal link: www.airbnb.co.uk/c/ariadnam173 to get £25 off your first stay! Gotta love a good discount. 

WHAT WE DID & WHAT WE ATE

Vienna is the perfect city to simply walk around and enjoy the beautiful architecture and stunning parks. We arrived in the late afternoon on the Friday so we just dropped our stuff at the apartment and walked to the city centre, where the St. Stephen's Cathedral is. We then just wandered around and had a look at some shops and restaurants. 

We ended up having dinner at a really cute restaurant called Cafe Diglas. I had Viennese Goulash which was absolutely fabulous and also tried the famous Schnitzel (which is basically breaded pork) which was also really good. The restaurant had live music and a really great vibe, you should definitley check it out if you are int he city!

On Saturday we decided to have an early morning and go to the Naschmarkt to have breakfast, they have a wonderful selection of very exotic fruit, great pastries and looooads of baklava. We then walked to the Belvedere Palace, which was about 25 min away walking. This was the first palace we saw in Vienna and it was breathtaking - not only was the palace as majestuous and grand as you would expect but it also had breathtaking gardens with perfect flower arrangements, it even has a small lake.

We then went to a Middle Eastern restaurant in Naschmarkt called Neni. The food was great, and their hummus is simply delicious. However the food is quite heavy and I did feel a bit off for the rest of the day. So make sure you don't overeat if you go! After lunch we went to the famous Sofitel Hotel to have a couple of drinks with the city skyline as our backdrop, this was definitley one of the highlights of my holiday! 

After drinks we had a quick outfit change (gotta keep up with our Instagram) and went to the Hofburg Palace and walked around the surrounding gardens before heading to Cafe Central to have some cake and coffee. We had to queue for a bit, only about 5-10 min, but it was definitley worth it. The cafe was so elegant and beautiful, and they had a great selection of cakes. We had the Cafe Central Cake (orange chocolate cake with marzipan) and the apple strudel, both of which were pretty good. However, you are mostly paying for the venue and the environment rather than the food as it is just slightly above average. Definitley worth a visit though. 

On our way home we walked past the Vienna Opera House and, whilst it was too late to get last-minute tickets (which can be as cheap as 4€!!) they live streamed it outside so we watched it for a bit before going home.

We spent Sunday in Salzburg, I am going to write a separate post on that so stay tuned! 

The most famous palace in Vienna is the Shchonbrunn Palace, which we visited on Monday morning.  I have never seen such a massive and grand palace, probably only topped by Versailles. However, it turns out that if you don't book tickets in advance you will have to wait for literally 4 hours to be able to visit the inside of the palace. Nevertheless, you can still visit the surroundings and the gardens. 

We were SUPER unlucky and they were planting the flowers when we went...like I'm sorry but no just no I did not come all the way to Vienna to see a garden without flowers. Still pretty though. The gardens are massive and you can literally walk around there for hours.

And finaaally, we went to the Sacher Cafe. Literally a lifelong dream. I obviously had the Sacher Torte, which is essentially a chocolate cake with apricot jam in the middle, but better. Apparently the recipe is kept in a safe that only a few people have access to and it hasn't been changed since it was first invented. It is on the pricier side - 7€ per slice is a bit unreasonable, but treat yo' self.

And then sadly headed back to the airport and came back to good old England.