We booked to stay at a hotel nearby, and when I saw the words Parque das Nações, I presumed, not…read moreincorrectly, that it means national park. So I was looking for a big swath of greenery and dense wood... and found none. After my Yelp check in, I learned that this used to be an expo location that has been converted to an urban open space for people to chill. It's a nice spot actually, you can walk along the river and enjoy some nice views, although my husband's plan of a daily morning run never materialized, as all the walking in Lisbon took a toll on the legs. Nonetheless, the view is beautiful, and the sculptures along the walk are intriguing. There are plenty of restaurants, as well as some structures that look like concert halls, and at one end there is the shopping center.

Lisboa is known for its old-world charm that is apparent all throughout the city yet this area is…read morenew to the northeastern part of the city and while it's not a green park, it's also not to be skipped. Overlooking the water, it's an open area surrounded by flag staffs and concrete pavers leading to the bay. It's right next to the Vasco Gama Center which has a lot of foot traffic resembling a metropolitan skyscraper-filed zone with plenty of city appeal. If you're looking to hug a tree, you should look elsewhere. If you're into open areas where people can gather and stroll around, this might be your spot. My feet were on fire from climbing all those hills up and down all day so I was actually thrilled to see flat terrain for once...and so were my feet. There's nice sculptures and fresh breeze to soak in while overlooking the boasting new metropolis in Lisboa.

We passed by and happened to see the big ferris wheel from the street. The event is held at Parque…read moreEduardo (64 cares) VII with free entry. There are ticketed attractions including the wheel, ice rink, and carousels. We just walked around and looked at the different food stalls and shops. It was a nice way to get into the holiday spirit. Wonderland is open from late November to early January.

This is one of the two main Christmas markets in the city center (ish) of Lisbon. Though not as…read moreextravagant as the ones in Eastern Europe, it's still way better than anything in NYC. They have your typical stalls selling local food (but upcharged of course, and probably doesn't taste good), souvenirs, and some rides for the kids. The market is bigger and has a larger variety of stalls than the one over at Rossio Square. Definitely worth checking out!