Day 15 -16 Lisbon - Amsterdam - Toronto IN TRANSIT

Portugal 2025 Itinerary

Day 1 Toronto to Lisbon Turim Marquês Hotel

Day 2 April 20 Lisbon  EASTER SUNDAY Turim Marquês Hotel

Day 3 April 21 Lisbon  EASTER MONDAY Turim Marquês Hotel

Day 4 April 22 Lisbon Turim Marquês Hotel

Day 5 April 23 Lisbon Turim Marquês Hotel

Day 6 April 24  Lisbon – Tomar – Fatima – Batalha – Porto  HF Ipanema Hotel

Day 7 April 25  Porto city tour  DIA DA LIBERDADE HF Ipanema Hotel

Day 8 April 26 Douro Valley - Porto  HF Ipanema Hotel

Day 9 April 27 Porto - Aveiro - Nazare - Obidos - Lisbon Turim Marquês Hotel

Day 10 April 28 - Lisbon - Madeira Orca Praia Hotel

Day 11 April 29 - Madeira Orca Praia Hotel

Day 12 April 30 - Madeira Orca Praia Hotel

Day 13 May 1    - Madeira  DIA DO TRABALHADOR Orca Praia Hotel

Day 14 May 2 Madeira - Lisbon Hotel Marquês de Pombal

Day 15 - 16 Lisbon - Amsterdam - Toronto

Destination Amsterdam, Schiphol

Departing 1930

Arriving         2325

The breakfast here was the least impressive of all our hotels. The room was also drab and in the basement.

We were supposed to meet my cousin and husband at 11 in Rossio Square, it was pouring out.

He messaged to say he had woken to a bad case of vertigo and wouldn't be able to make it.

Disappointing.

Check out was noon so we left our bags and went across the street for coffee. The rain had let up.

Walking down Liberdade.

Tram 28 stop on the left.

Tram 28 stop on the right by Restauradores Square. Can you see the line snaking down the street on the left?

A new sign!

And a spring market set up in Rossio Square.

We decide on a snack before heading back.

The skies opened once again as we scurried inside! Shrimps in garlic and patatas batatas. delicious!

Rolex, anyone?

I had said that we should have a glass of wine at a kiosk before we leave. Who knew it would be the most expensive glass of wine yet? In speaking with a Portuguese friend she said "they saw you coming".

We pick up our bags at the hotel and wait for our driver who happens to be last night's driver (and our first driver). He doesn't speak much English but is happy to see John yet again.

Easy check-in and we said we didn't want to see our luggage again until Toronto.

KLM shares the lounge in Lisbon airport. It was pretty crowded but had good tuna sandwiches!!

John's scotch was a blend Charles House.

We skipped the meal as we weren't hungry to the disconcertion of the flight attendant. 

Arrived in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. We've flown through this airport before. In 2012 we spent several days in Amsterdam before a river cruise.

Oct 7 -8 2012 Toronto to Amsterdam

Oct 9 - Amsterdam - Delft - The Hague - Madurodam

Oct 10 2012 - Amsterdam - MS Amadeus Princess

Oct 11 MS Amadeus Princess Amsterdam - Volendam

It was a challenge finding the Mercure Hotel in a deserted airport. There were hardly any signs but we found an agent who told us to go through passport control and we would find it.

Mercure Hotel Schiphol Terminal is a unique 3-star hotel inside Schiphol Airport, located airside (after security), in the transit area of lounge 3 (upper level) at the beginning of the F gates. To stay at the hotel, you need a valid passport and flight ticket for the same or next day. Both day and night rooms are available. Please note: you can only bring hand luggage to the hotel. Transit passengers should not go to the exit/arrival hall, but remain in the Terminal.

SIGNS PLEASE!

THERE IS AN HOUR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LISBON AND AMSTERDAM. IF IT IS 2 PM IN LISBON IT IS 3 PM IN AMSTERDAM. So we also lost an hour. No photos so I stole this one.

We had a decent night's sleep and woke to our alarms at 7:30 checked out and headed to the KLM Crown Lounge.

Where should we go?

We should have gone to the upstairs lounge, it was much quieter.

Being in transit and staying overnight in the hotel meant we did not have to do security again.

Destination Toronto, Lester B. Pearson International

Departing 1120

Arriving         1320

We were delayed taking off as several people had been denied boarding and their luggage had to be offloaded.

Apple celery mousse

The side salad contained these red things that I could have eaten all day. Turns out they are Sweety Drop Peppers are small, tear-shaped delicacies from Peru. They are sweet and tangy with a whisper of heat, and contain small crunchy seeds that provide a lovely textural contrast to salads, pizzas, antipasti plates and more.

We watched several movies to pass the 8 hours flying time.

Just before landing an announcement was made regarding two minutes of silence, if we were still on board we were asked to allow anyone who wished to observe the two minutes of silence.

The national observance of Remembrance Day in the Netherlands takes place on 4 May, at 8pm. At that moment, two minutes of silence are observed throughout the country to commemorate Dutch victims of war. A commemoration ceremony is held on Dam Square in Amsterdam in the presence of the head of state and various representatives of both the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Dutch Parliament. This national observance of Remembrance Day is held simultaneously with local commemoration ceremonies in nearly every town and city in the Netherlands. At 8pm, the entire country is silent for two minutes.

We had already left the plane by 8 PM.

Landed, cleared customs and got an Uber at 2:20 and home by 2:38 $40 with tip.

I had thought we would nap but we managed to stay up until 5 PM (Amsterdam time 11 PM)

Lisbon Portugal Day 2

Day 1 Toronto to Lisbon

Day 2 April 20 Lisbon EASTER SUNDAY

Steps 22,500

Hotel internet was incredibly slow for the entire stay.

We are on our own for the day. We slept the whole night, getting up around 8:30.

Breakfast is included. Non-tour breakfast price is 15€ per person.

Not your North American breakfast included! There is everything, pastries, cold cuts, fruits and vegetables, scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, beans, fresh breads.

It was cool and a little rainy so we relaxed in our room until 1 PM when we headed out with a loose plan in mind. 

This map outlines the first part of our day, from the hotel to the bridge and dock area.

We walked to the Marques de Pombal subway station just behind our hotel.

D. Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal and 1st Count of Oeiras, known as the Marquis of Pombal, was a Portuguese statesman and diplomat who despotically ruled the Portuguese Empire from 1750 to 1777 as chief minister to King Joseph I.

We then changed our minds and walked down Liberdade to get our bearings.

On the axis of Baixa/Liberdade, between Marquês de Pombal Square and Restauradores Square, lies Liberdade Avenue – a leafy road with magnificent historic buildings, concert halls, hotels, terraces and shops of the most prestigious international brands.

Avenida da Liberdade is one of the most expensive streets in Europe. Originating in the Passeio Público, an 18th-century park built for the Portuguese nobility, the avenue was constructed between 1879 and 1886. 

There are many sculptures to famous men and war statues, that we did not photograph, surprise, surprise. 

The stretch all the way to Restauradores Square used to be the old Public Promenade, a fenced garden that was only frequented by the elites of Lisbon in the 1800s and that was closed in 1879 with the opening of the Liberdade Avenue.

Here you’ll find a serpentine pond with a waterfall on its north end. This waterfall features a stone sculpture of a long-bearded masculine figure holding a pot from where the water is flowing. This sculpture represents the Douro River, made by Alexandre Gomes (1772-1775).

Riding tram 28 has become one of Lisbon's most popular activities. It’s a journey back in time, over hills and medieval streets, in vintage trams from the 1930s that are still part of the city's public transportation network. These charming vehicles go past some major attractions, and guidebooks never fail to recommend the experience.

2025 Update: Due to road works in the neighborhood of Estrela, from late 2024 to early 2025, tram 28 is only operating between Martim Moniz and Praça Luís de Camões. The route from Praça Luís de Camões to Campo de Ourique/Prazeres is being operated by a small bus. If you wish to go to the neighborhoods of Estrela and Campo de Ourique, an alternative to this bus service is bus 709, which departs from the eastern side of Rossio Square.

Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon – Housed in a charming theatre space from 1888, the building later became the Condes Cinema from the 1950s to the 90s, then left unused for years until it was converted, the façade restored, and reopened as a Hard Rock Cafe in 2003.

Restauradores (Restorers) Square and Monument – Beautiful square in Portuguese mosaic, with an obelisk-shaped monument in the centre.

Rossio railway station (Estação do Rossio) – Beautiful and imponent central train station with ornate façade.

D. Maria II National Theatre (Teatro Nacional D. Maria II) – One of the most prestigious Portuguese venues.

Rossio Square or King Pedro IV Square (Praça de D. Pedro IV) – One of Lisbon’s main squares since the Middle Ages, with a fountain and monument, plus several traditional shops, restaurants and cafes surrounding it.

The Fantastic World of The Portuguese Sardine

Rua Augusta Arch (Arco da Rua Augusta) – Triumphal Arch and historical building with a viewing platform on the top (tickets available to visit), built to commemorate the city’s reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake.  

Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square) – Also known as Terreiro do Paço (Palace Yard),  this large, rectangular square surrounded by buildings in the shape of a “U”, sits across from the Augusta Arch and opens towards the Tagus river. Around the square, two of the most prominent spots are Baia do Peixe (seafood restaurant) and Museu da Cerveja (beer museum and restaurant).

Cais das Colunas (Columns Wharf) viewpoint, marked by the two white columns from the late 18th century, located at the water’s edge, stunning and expansive views over the Tagus river to the Almada side, the Cristo Rei (Christ the King) monument and the 25 de Abril bridge, and a small sandy beach where we often find children playing and artists making sand sculptures.

I have the bright idea to walk to the bridge, things always look closer than they are!! It was 4.3 KM!

However, we did find some interesting murals along an otherwise uninspiring trip. We stopped a few times wondering if we should go back or get an Uber, but we persevered and were rewarded.

At first sight, the 25 de Abril Bridge seems to have a curious resemblance to the Golden Gate, but it was actually inspired by another San Francisco bridge, the Bay Bridge. It was, however, built by the same company as the Golden Gate, and inaugurated in 1966. It links Lisbon to the south of Portugal, and especially to the beaches of Costa da Caparica. 

My photo as we flew in yesterday.

Docas de Santo Amaro

We headed to the dock below it. It’s home to a number of old warehouses that have been restored and turned into restaurants and bars, some of them serving drinks and meals throughout the day.

And found a spot for lupper (lunch and dinner).  It was crowded with families celebrating Easter.

Easter Sunday lunch and everywhere was packed but we were late in the afternoon so we got a table.

He is looking forward to that beer after that long, long walk.

Octopus for me with turnip greens and boiled potatoes.

John had the Thai shrimp curry.

After a delicious lunch we took a stroll along the dock, returning to the entrance to get an Uber back to Rossi Square. This map sort of outlines our second half of our day.

We walked back to Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square) and then found a seat in the sun for wine and beer.

The sign says "the sexiest WC on earth" by Renova. We meant to go back and visit but forgot!!

Renova is a Portuguese personal paper company, selling tissues and toilet paper. Apparently, their claim to fame is getting a French photographer to take sexy pictures and connect them to going to the bathroom. And so, they’re behind (ha ha) The Sexiest WC on Earth.

Creme brulee, a little pick us up!

We discovered Augusta Street (Rua Augusta) – Lisbon’s main pedestrian street, paved with traditional Portuguese cobblestone mosaics, offering a mix of beautifully restored buildings, restaurants and cafés, traditional shops, souvenir stores, street performers, tourists and locals.

Eventually we arrived back at the hotel and went to the bar for a porto, (1 "um/uma," 2 "dois/duas," 3 "três).

Great bartender who had the art of upselling his product down to an art, he encouraged us to try the late harvest vintage, of course, the priciest. We also got lessons in the Romance languages and the making of port.

A couple sat near us who happened to be from Quebec City so we had an enjoyable time chatting with them.