By the time I arrived in Lisbon, my heart was full-ish. Porto was lovely in every way (read: 15 things to do in Porto). I took the mid-morning train from Porto to Lisbon. The one-way cost for a first-class ticket was about 30 euros; Considering the number of passengers than tried to upgrade once we were en route; I think you should go for the first-class ticket if you can fit it into your budget. Do not expect luxury, but you will have comfort, and on a 3.5-hour train ride, you cannot trade comfort for a few euros. Word of advice, confirm the number of stops in Lisbon when you buy your ticket. Several other passengers and I did not do that and got off on the first stop in Lisbon. I later found out there are at least two stops (some times three) in Lisbon. I left from San Bento train station and had to switch at Cap station - the ride from Bento to Cap is about 7 minutes. 

Taking Time Off Work: I took this trip over my Christmas holiday, so I had the luxury of time. However, if you are wondering how much time to take off - I recommend a minimum of a long weekend, including taking Friday off. Especially if Sintra is on your itinerary (read here), Sintra can take up a full day of your itinerary and at least two days in Lisbon. I felt rushed through a lot of what I did in Lisbon, and there were several other things I did not get to see and do during my time in the city.

Where to stay in Lisbon. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Lisbon on Ave. Liberdade; it was close to a train station; had free breakfast. I considered other options closer to the city center, but this location had everything I needed, and I was able to get to most places in five train stops or less. While exploring the city, I thought I might want to stay in Alfama on my next visit.

Where to Eat in Lisbon. I did not have to search out breakfast options because the hotel had free breakfast; however, these brunch/breakfast spots came highly recommended: Kafeine coffee and brunch, Heim cafe, and Maria Limao. If you are travel with a group - there are two prominent food markets - Times out food court and the LX Factory market. I will travel for food, so some of these options are not in the city center. If you are willing to make the trip, you should not miss out on the local delicacy - Pastel de Nata! The best ones are from Pasteis de Belem. In the Sao Mamede area, there are several options as well - I had dinner at Taberna Anti Dantas one evening; I cannot recommend it enough; it is a family-run restaurant with incredible food. There is an area in the city center called Sacramento that has several excellent dining options - my last night, I dined at Bairoo Avillez - my mouth still waters just thinking about the meal here. I recommend making reservations; if not, show up around 6 p.m. for walk-in option.

What to see and do in Lisbon. You cannot visit Lisbon without making a trip to Sintra - you have to. That will take up a day of the itinerary. You can find my guide and tips for Sintra here. If you are going to venture to Belem for the Pastel de Natas, make sure you visit the Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, and Belem Palace, which is more museum than a palace. If you only have time for one thing in Belem, make it the Belem tower. If you enjoy street art, then you want to spend some time with the work of Bordalo II, which you will find around the city. Here is a tip for you; head to LX Factory to see one of his most prominent pieces, visit the famous bookstore - Ler Devagar and grab a meal from one of the many food stalls and restaurants at the market.

Visit the Lisbon pink street (aka Rua Nova do Carvalho) lined with restaurants; bars; live music at the Music box and clubs. Keep an eye out for famed streetcar; nothing says Lisbon like a picture with one of these in the background. For an authentic streetcar ride; keep an eye out for Tram 28; there is often a queue to ride one of these which is why I decide to go for the next best thing which ended up being the better option for me - the Elevador da Bica - it was a unique experience. It costs about 3 euros for a roundtrip ride. It beat waiting around for the tram 28.

Praca do Comercio is the best spot to kick off your Lisbon visit; the beautiful waterfront park with the iconic yellow backdrop is one of the most recognizable sights in Lisbon. If you are visiting around the holiday like me, this is where you will find the Lisbon Christmas tree, and they host an incredible New Year's Eve party here. Any other time, you can find food, shopping and even transport here as there is a tram/bus stop nearby. 

Explore Alfama, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city; there are a few viewing spots here that offer a very colorful backdrop. The Lisbon Cathedral and Sao Jorge Castle are located in Alfama. If you can, sign up for the walking tour, I recommend it for exploring Alfama. If you are visiting Sao Jorge, get your ticket online; the ticket line was long; I ended up paying a premium to one of the vendors to get in before they closed. I stopped by just before sunset, and it was an incredible sight to behold. 

You are in Lisbon; you will be remiss if you did not take in Azulejo. There are several places to view the beautiful blue tiles. The most recommended was Palacio dos Marqueses de Fronteira - if it is open on your visit, this is the spot I recommend for Azulejos. The National Azulejo Museum also has a vast collection. If those spots are closed, the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora, which I visited, also has a great display of Azulejos.