Wedding Activities

Are you ready for the best week of 2018? We have several great events planned leading up to the big day. Read all about the week's itinerary below.

day 1 - monday, 2 july

Depart the night of Sunday, July 1 from the U.S. You'll arrive in Lisbon, Portugal the next morning. After settling in at your hotel or airbnb, take a nap or spend the afternoon enjoying the city. Either way, please join us for welcome drinks in the evening to officially kick off our wedding week of celebration! 

Madame Petisca
Rua de Santa Catarina No. 17, 3rd Floor
5-7 PM

Attire: Smart Casual

day 2 - tuesday, 3 july (DAY)

Explore the romantic palaces and gardens of Sintra on an 8-hour scenic tour from Lisbon with us. We'll drive along the Atlantic Coast to Cabo da Roca, marvel at the breathtaking beaches of Cascais, and follow in the footsteps of poets, exiled kings and more. Optional activity.

Attire: Casual
(there will be walking so please wear comfortable shoes)

Castles not your thing? Feel free to explore the city and surrounding areas on your own during the day.

day 2 - tuesday, 3 july (EVE)

Change of plans! We will be hosting a group dinner at a restaurant in Lisbon. Location and walking directions will be provided on Monday, July 2.

7-10 PM

Attire: Dressy Casual

the big day - wednesday, 4 july

Sleep in. Explore Lisbon until early afternoon. Or just relax. The festivities won't begin until 4:00 pm. We can't wait to celebrate with you at our special venue located near the small village of Torres Vedras, approximately 45 minutes-one hour outside Lisbon depending upon traffic. Because no great party is without some surprises, the location is under wraps for now. But trust us when we say it is wonderful! 

Attire: Cocktail

There is extremely limited parking at our wedding venue. We do not recommended driving to the venue. Therefore, we are providing transportation to and from the venue. The bus will depart promptly at 2:30 pm from Restauradores Square at the southeast end of Avenida da Liberdade near the Hard Rock Cafe. Please ensure you arrive at the meeting point no later than 2:15 pm to check-in.

Pre-Travel Packet

Check out our pre-travel packet with all of the information you need to know before departing for Lisbon.

Please also provide us with your arrival information.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

lisbon international airporT (IATA: LIS)

You will want to fly into Humberto Delgado Airport, the main international airport in Portugal. Also occasionally referred to by its former name, Lisbon Portela Airport, it is conveniently located just 7 km (approximately 4 miles) from the city center.

The airport is the main hub of TAP Portugal and its subsidiary TAP Express (Star Alliance Partners), and a focus city for easyJet, Ryanair, and Azores Airlines making it a great base should you wish to arrive early or extend your trip. The major US carriers also have flights to Lisbon.

TAP Portugal operates nonstop flights from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and Miami International Airport (MIA). We have found thus far, it will be the cost-effective to book two separate flights: 1) between your home city and one of the above hubs, and 2) between LIS and one of the above hubs. This will require you to grab your checked bag(s) and recheck them in with TAP Portugal so allow for plenty of transit time. Doing this can potentially save you hundreds of dollars on your flight. Trust us.

Most international flights arrive into Terminal 1 at the Lisbon airport, including TAP Portugal and its Star Alliance Partners. If you arrive in Lisbon via easyJet or Ryanair from another European city, you are likely to arrive in Terminal 2. 

GROUND TRANSPORTATION

Taxis
Lisbon city taxis are available 24 hours a day outside the departures area. A taxi ride from the airport to the city center takes approximately 15 minutes. Before getting into a taxi within the city center, be sure to negotiate a firm price. It's ideal to have a data plan as well so you can use Google Maps. Any local will tell you taxi drivers are notorious for going the long way when they know they have tourists as passengers.

Shared Ride Services
Uber is readily available in Lisbon and you can request a driver to and from the airport as well as throughout the city. We used Uber extensively during our planning trip and loved the cashless convenience. Another plus--the cost! An average trip in central Lisbon costs less than $8 USD. Our most expensive? $22 USD for a 45-minute mini-tour of downtown Lisbon and detour to a pharmacy for medicine at midnight with the coolest Uber driver ever, Marcio. If you use Uber in the states, you'll love Uber in Lisbon.
Download Uber App - iOS
Download Uber App - Android

Metro
Lisbon airport has an underground Metro de Lisboa station at the southern edge of the Terminal 1 arrivals area. The Aeroporto-Saldanha line takes approximately 20 minutes to reach downtown Lisbon. To use the metro, passengers must purchase a 7 Colinas/Viva Viagem card, which can be topped up and used on the metro and bus network. If you are comfortable on the DC Metro or any other major city metro, you can easily manage the Lisbon subway with its four lines, the blue (azul), yellow (amarela), green (verde), and red (vermelha). 

Train
The train is a great way to travel throughout Portugal if you decide to extend your trip. The Portuguese state railway, Combroios de Portugal (CP), provides an inexpensive country-wide network. Lisbon has six train stations--you will likely only need to be concerned with two of them. Trains to all parts of the country and international destinations are available at Lisboa-Oriente station, the main train station in Lisbon close to the airport. The airport connects to the station via the metro in approximately 10 minutes. The closest train station to Lisbon city center is the Lisboa-Santa Apolonia station. 

CP operates a great website available in English. Tickets can be purchased online up to 60 days prior to departure.

Sample Fares:

North: Between Lisbon and Porto (2.5-3 hours)
$11-21 USD each way

Central: Between Lisbon and Coimbra (2-2.5 hours)
$11-25 USD each way

South: Between Lisbon and Faro (3-3.5 hours)
$24-32 USD each way

Rental Car
Rental cars are readily available at the airport. After clearing customs, follow the signs to Rental Cars, which are a short walk from the main terminal. You can find all the major international companies, such as Avis, Hertz, and Budget. 

Lines can be long in the summer so we recommend joining a customer loyalty program, e.g., Avis Preferred or Hertz Gold Plus, to skip the line and proceed straight to the garage to pick up your car. Both programs are free.

Most rental cars in Europe are manual transmission. If you need an automatic car, it's best to book as early as possible to ensure availability during the high summer season. Additionally, part of Lisbon's charm are its narrow cobblestone streets and alleys. A GPS unit or a smartphone with a data plan PLUS a passenger to help you navigate and call out directions are essential. If you plan on exploring outside of Lisbon, we recommend getting a car with the toll transponder so you can go through their version of EZPass lanes. A word from us: driving here is quite fun but it's also not for the faint of heart.

Flight Search

We recommend using Skyscanner  or Google Flights to begin your flight search. Found a great deal? Let us know so we can spread the word! Having trouble? Email or text Tiffany. She's a magician at finding great deals!

Round Trip Flight Deals to Lisbon:

7/1 - 7/9 (BWI)
Delta - $563
*found  and booked 3/27

 7/1 to 7/8 (EWR)
United - $613

7/1-7/10 (BOS)
American - $633

Accommodations

with a plethora of options, we have elected to allow our guests to secure their own accommodations.
below are our recommendations on neighborhoods to stay in.

This article is a great overview of Lisbon's neighborhoods. We highly recommended reading to get a feel for the area you would prefer. Our favorites thus far?
Belem for its access to museums and the Portuguese culture.  Baixa and Chiado for its convenience to the city center. Barrio Alta for its nightlife (don't plan on sleeping much if you stay here!). 

Price Guide: $$ (up to $150) |  $$$ (over $150)

BELEM

Palacio Do Governador ($$$)
Rua Bartolomeu Dias, 117
1400-030 Lisboa, Portugal
Tel: (+351) 213 007 009

BAIXA, AVENIDA, CHIADO

Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade ($$$)
Avenida Da Liberdade, 127
1269-038 Lisboa, Portugal
Tel: (+351) 213 228 300

Holiday Inn Lisbon ($$)
Av. de António José de Almeida 28
1000-021 Lisboa, Portugal
Tel: (+351) 210044 000

Pestana CR7 Lisboa ($$)*
Rua do Comerico 54
1100-150 Lisboa, Portugal
Tel: (+351) 210 401 710
*World-famous Real Madrid football (soccer) player, Cristiano Ronaldo, has partnered with the Pestana Hotel Group to open a series of hotels in his native Portugal.

airbnb is a fantastic option in Lisbon. Tiffany has used it all over the world and we stayed in an airbnb on our recent planning trip. We have created a private airbnb album withnearly 50 different accommodation options, all of which are located in our favorite neighborhoods. They accommodate anywhere from 2 to 10+ guests depending upon your preferences. Prices range from $75/night for a studio apartment the size of an average hotel room to $200/night for an apartment with multiple bedrooms. The larger airbnbs have several bedrooms for privacy and would be great for families or large groups of friends. Please read the description and amenities list carefully to ensure the airbnb will meet your specific needs.

If you are interested in reserving one of the airbnbs, please click on the link below to gain access to the private album. July and August are the most popular months to visit Lisbon so we encourage you to secure accommodations as soon as possible regardless of your preference.

Here is just a sampling of options available the week of July 2 in the private album*:

Miniflat with a Private Terrace and River View between Belem and Barrio Alta - $59/night

Stylish One-Bedroom Apartment in Barrio Alto - $93/night

Lovely Two-Bedroom Apartment with River View in Estrela (close to Barrio Alto) - $103/night

Historic Belem Apartment with BBQ Area - $145/night

*Prices listed are subject to change based upon availability.

Passports

A valid passport is required for travel to Portugal.  It must be valid for at least three months beyond the intended departure date. U.S. citizens may enter the country for up to 90 days without a visa.  If you plan to rent a car, you may drive with a valid U.S. driver's license as well.

Current Processing Times (subject to change):
Routine       6-8 Weeks
Expedited   2-3 Weeks

Current Fees

Click here to apply for a passport at a passport acceptance facility or renew by mail.

Breeze Through Passport Control

Don't have Global Entry? Expedite your entry process back into the U.S. at the end of your trip with Mobile Passport Control (MPC). Nate uses it on the return from every international trip now.

It is the first app authorized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for eligible travelers with a smartphone or tablet to submit their passport information and answer CBP inspection-related questions prior to CBP inspection. It does not require pre-approval and is 100% free to use at more than 20 U.S. International airports.

HOW DOES MPC WORK?

1. Download the MPC app through Apple iTunes or Google Play.

2. Complete a profile via the app with your passport information. You can do this at any time.

3. After landing in the United States, complete the “New Trip” section by selecting your arrival airport and airline, taking a self-photo, and answering a series of CBP inspection-related questions. A great time to do this is while the plane is taxing to its gate once you can use your cell phone's data plan.

4. Once you submit your trip details through the app, you will receive an electronic receipt with an Encrypted Quick Response (QR) code.

5. Proceed straight to the straight to the “Mobile Passport Control” express lane at the airport.

6. Grab your bags, drop off the MPC card with the CBP agent and head home! 

Click here for more information on the MPC program and the list of eligible airports.

Embassies and Consulates

U.S. Embassy Lisbon

Av. das Forças Armadas, Sete-Rios
1600-081 Lisbon
Portugal

Telephone: +(351) (21) 770-2122

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: 
+(351) (21)-770-2122 or +(351) (21) 727-3300

Fax: +(351) (21) 727-2354

Email: conslisbon@state.gov

CONSULATE

U.S. Consulate Ponta Delgada
Av. Príncipe do Mónaco No, 6-2 F
9500-237 Ponta Delgada, Açores
Portugal

Telephone: +(351) (296) 308-330

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(351) (296) 282-216 (listen for the duty officer's cell phone number)

Fax: +(351) (296) 287-216

Email: ConsPontaDelgada@state.gov