Who Santos suits
Couples and remote workers who want cafés, galleries and the river rather than tourist crowds, and anyone planning day trips to Belém, Cascais or Sintra. It is less picturesque than Alfama but far easier to live in for a week.
Getting there and around
- From the airport: metro to Cais do Sodré (one change), then a 10-minute walk or two stops on tram 25/15; about 40 minutes. Taxi 20–25 minutes.
- Train: Santos station is on the Cascais line: Belém 6 minutes, Cascais 35 minutes.
- Trams: 25 and 15 along the riverfront; the 28 is a 10-minute walk up to Calçada do Combro.
Within 10 minutes
- Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga and the Jardim 9 de Abril viewpoint above it.
- Time Out Market and the Ribeira das Naus riverside promenade.
- Fauna & Flora and Le Chat for brunch and sunset drinks; Marisqueira do Lis for seafood.
- Zé dos Bois gallery and the Santos Design District showrooms.
Eating
Santos is Lisbon's best brunch neighbourhood. Start at Mila, a few minutes from the apartment: eggs benedict with a beetroot hollandaise, açaí and chia bowls, carrot cake and pink lemonade, on a sunny corner that fills by 11:00 at weekends, so go early or book. Fauna & Flora is the other local favourite. Lunch menus in the neighbourhood's tascas run €10–16; Pink Street and Cais do Sodré cover late-night drinks.
Practical notes
- Noise: residential and calm after 22:00; the party streets are a 10-minute walk away.
- Groceries: Pingo Doce and small markets along Rua de São Paulo and Avenida 24 de Julho.
- Tourist tax: Lisbon charges a municipal tax per adult per night, capped per stay; shown separately at checkout.