With its subtropical Mediterranean climate, postcard perfect beaches, and streets rich with diverse architecture, Lisbon is a breathtaking city. Often overlooked as a stop for travelers heading through Europe, this is one city that is definitely worth adding to your itinerary. Meandering down the alternating black and white limestone cobble streets that have been polished by the years of foot traffic, we quickly discovered all the reasons that makes Lisbon so special.

We stayed in Cascais, about 30 minutes from the downtown Lisbon with Tricia and Patrice, a friend’s aunt and uncle that so graciously housed us for three nights. Even though they had never met us before our arrival, they opened their house and treated us like family. They were two of the nicest and hospitable people I have ever meet, not to mention they can cook a mean dinner! As soon as we arrived at the bus stop, Tricia picked us up and started sharing her love for Lisbon with us. She showed us all the little details we might have missed if we were to explore on our own. We stopped by a bar for our first sweet sample of the town’s famous ginjinha shots, which is a liqueur made by infusing ginja berries in alcohol. That was definitely not the last shot of ginjinha we had. On our way home Tricia made a stop at the town’s world famous pastry shop that has been making pastel de belems daily since 1837. They use a carefully guarded recipe that is often mimicked by others, but never completely replicated. When I first bit into the belem, I felt like if I was to die at that moment, I would have been content with my life. The belem had a flakey crust filled with a warm, creamy custard with slightly scorched top resembling a cream brulee, but lacking the candied hard shell. Though this was the most famous shop with the oldest recipe, I still found myself trying them from every stand around town. I’m confident I could live the rest of my life only eating belems and drinking ginjinha.

Tricia was the best guide I could have imagined to show us around Lisbon. She made sure to show us everything possible during our three days in town. We went to the Western most point of continental Europe, multiple beaches, wandered around the town of Sintra, visited the aquarium, rode around on tram 28, and  had two incredible seafood dinners. Lisbon: you were the perfect little vacation to my vacation.