Among the very many things to experience in Belém, Portugal, there is one that clearly stands out and you absolutely don't want to miss it. It's called "pastel de nata", a pastry made from egg yolks using the original 200-year-old recipe from the nearby Jerónimos Monastery. And while egg tarts can be found in other parts of the world, a flaky pastel de Belém is so tender and delicious, especially with a cinnamon powder on top, you'll love it.
The place is located in the heart of Belém (Belém Street next to the monastery) and is hard to miss. A long line will be a good indicator that you've correctly spotted it.
The most common mistake people make is they are lining up outside the restaurant. In fact, that line is for a take-out. There are plenty of tables inside, you'll be promptly served and have your much-wanted pastel de nata in less than 10 minutes. My advice - go with at least three pastries, you can surely burn those extra calories when you come back to Lisbon or by taking a walk along the Tagus River.
Remarkably, the place is still owned by descendants of those monks who started selling the pastries to the public in 1837.
But Belém is not only about eating those Portuguese egg tarts. Other places are yours to discover as well. The good news about Belém is that it's only 15 minutes train ride from downtown Lisbon. Alternatively, you can take tram #15 if you are ok to wait (we gave up).
I really liked the waterfront along the Tagus River. Very spacey and vibrant.
The view of the 25 de Abril Bridge from there is spectacular.
Although there is very little shade, a gentle breeze and a bit salty smell of the river will keep you refreshed.
I was totally surprised to learn that the Belém Tower is over 500 years old. It honestly does not look that ancient.
The tower was built to safeguard Lisbon from pirates coming from the Atlantic Ocean. It definitely looks nice and is probably very cool inside, but I didn't feel like lining up for hours under the cruel Portuguese sun.
The following pictures were taken on a beautiful beach in Carcavelos, located halfway between Belém and Cascais.
Probably the best place to end your day is by getting your feet wet in the invigorating waters of the Atlantic Ocean while people-watching and listening to the waves.
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