You’re definitely right. That is one great difference we provide readers. You get our personal, raw experience (at least some of us bloggers) instead of a white-washed journalistic piece.

Porto was fantastic! Easily my favorite part of Portugal.

People sent me to that market precisely because it’s a place for locals. I’m not interested in the markets for tourists. I like to see local life, and I’m glad they did or else Lisbon would’ve been a total bust for me.

I’m not suggesting people stay near the Rato station. I’m saying look west of there, on that side of the city. Personally, I wouldn’t stay in Baixa or Alfama either.

I also can’t believe people sent you to the Campo de Ourique market. That’s a nice place for locals, mostly for those in the neighborhood to go eat and buy their food, but there’s nothing special about it. It’s a market like so many others. There are so many things to see and do in Lisbon, it seems you were very unlucky. There are also many Lisbons. There’s the old in the downtown Baixa and Alfama areas, there’s the classic in Chiado, the historic in Belém, and the modern in Parque das Nações. It’s a beautiful city with its several hilltop terraces with views and a pleasant waterfront. It also has many cultural attractions, including some one-of-a-kind museums. It’s also a city with its own soul and character (the mosaic pavements, the tiled façades, etc.), and that’s what most people like about it.

As for accommodation, I wouldn’t say to look around west of Rato. In fact, that’s where the least accommodation is found. The best accommodation is around Avenida da Liberdade, Chiado and Principe Real. The waterfront Parque das Nações district would be for those who want to be closer to the airport and prefer to stay in chain hotels.

You’re right that accommodation does often influence our experience in a place and yours just couldn’t have been any worse.

Neighborhoods totally influence city visits, and if I were you two I think I would have felt exactly the same!

Well, there won’t be a next time. I saw everything I wanted to see. Next time I’m in Portugal I’ll be spending that time exploring more of the country and spending more time in Porto.

Yeah, the neighborhood can really make or break an experience sometimes. Overall, though, I think Lisbon is just one of those cities that works for some and not for others.

I know some who really liked it and many who didn’t. Seems to be one of those cities that people can go either way on.

Not every place is going to be loved by everybody. 😉 But having seen other parts of Portugal, I gotta say Lisboa isn’t its best advertisement. 😀