Are you coming to Lisbon to see the Liverpool vs Benfica Champions League Game in Lisbon, Portugal on April 5? If so, this guide is for you. This blog post is about where to stay near Estádio da Luz, where to eat and what to do in the Benfica area. 
The Liverpool vs Benfica Champions League game is the perfect opportunity to visit Lisbon and enjoy as many things as possible in our this lovely city!
Where to stay
Places to stay near the Stadium
- Upon Prime Residences – walking distance to the Stadium and gorgeous pool
- LX Arts Flats – walking distance to the Stadium
- Comtesse Lisbon Apartments – a short car or metro ride to the Stadium
- SANA Metropolitan Hotel – a short metro ride to the Stadium
- Hotel 3K Europa – a short train ride to the Stadium and in a perfect area to explore the rest of Lisbon
Where to eat
There are only a couple of fully vegan restaurants near the stadium, but there are many restaurants with decent vegan options.
Colombo Mall is within walking distance of Estádio da Luz. Inside the mall, the food court has some vegan options. The most notable is Mother Burger. Mother Burger is a 100% vegan junk food restaurant with catchy names for their offerings such as Kiss my Burger, What the Burger, Your Mama, Burger Queen, etc. The food is affordable, good, and filling.
O Suminho is a highly rated juice bar located inside Colombo Mall. They reportedly have plant-based milks for coffee too.
La Focacceria Pugliese is an omni Italian restaurant with a few vegan options on their menu, including pizza. This is a great choice for a diverse group of eaters.
Cantina Indiana – if you don’t mind traveling a bit, this vegan buffet is delicious and super affordable. It’s run by the Hare Krishna group and they have a daily buffet menu. Just tell them you don’t want the buttermilk that they try to bring to your table. Other than that, it’s vegan.
If you aren’t vegan or too worried about food choices, check out this guide for choices near the Stadium. The amazing thing about Portugal is that almost any restaurant you go into will have at least one vegan choice.
What to do in Benfica
Other than the game that you came to Lisbon to see, there are plenty of other activities in the Lisbon area. Closest to the stadium is Monsanto Park. If you are staying a few days, definitely check out the best of Lisbon.
Monsanto Park – the crown jewel
You can either walk to the park from Benfica, take a bus or take a vehicle via Bolt or Uber. This park is amazing! It’s HUGE and right in the middle of the city. It’s considered the lungs of Lisbon. The park has over 50 hectares and is the largest urban park in Europe. There are plenty of walking trails and viewpoints inside the park. 
If you go on a Saturday morning, you may be able to take a free archery class at Arco Club Ar Livre. It’s a little difficult to find. It’s near that O Clube – Monsanto Secret Spot. Just follow the signs from there. 
Also, I highly recommend a stop at the Interpretation Center where you can learn about the history of Monsanto park. From there, you can take numerous walking trails. While on your walk, try to find the adorable red squirrel. They are the only squirrels you will find in Lisbon.
After walking around Monsanto Park, try to find the Miradouro Panoramico de Monsanto. The building has long been abandoned and there is lots of graffiti and street art on the facade. Outside of the building, you’ll find an old car with a statue of a wolf on top. It makes for a great Instagram photo. 
Monsanto Park is such a huge park that you could spend days there. But, you didn’t just come to Lisbon to spend all your time in a park. Check out more things to do below.
FRONTEIRA palace
Fronteira Palace is a charming, immaculate palace right on the outskirts of Monsanto Park and Benfica. The azulejos are stunning and astonishing. The entry fee for a guided visit to the Palace is 13 Euros. If you only want to see the dazzling, well-maintained garden, the fee is 5 Euros. If you want to see an amazing palace without having to travel to Sintra, then this would be the perfect place to visit.
MORE PARKS IN BENFICA
If you are interested in seeing more parks in the Benfica area, then check out any of the following: Eucaliptal de Benfica, Parque Silva Porto, Parque Recreativo do Alto da Serafina, Parque da Pedra, and Parque Urbano da Quinta da Granja.
LISBON
If you are only planning on spending a few days in Lisbon, I highly recommend the Lisboa tourist card. It’s a really good deal since it’s valid for all public transportation and free entry to most museums! 
Did you enjoy the Liverpool vs Benfica Champions League game? I imagine that the energy was intense, yet exhilarating!
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HOW TO SPEND THE PERFECT WEEKEND IN LISBON
WHERE TO STAY IN LISBON (closer to city center):
- 3 bedroom comfy apartment in the city center
- Awesome location + great price
- Comfy + close to metro and city center
- Luxury + great location and price
- Amaging location + sustainable loft
- Super budget friendly + nice hostel
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OUR MUST-HAVE ITEMS:
- Merrell women’s light hiking shoes – these are amazing because they are lightweight, but are extra grippy and helpful for all the hills in Lisbon! I also have this pair that I always get compliments on: Merrell Rainbow shoes. Fernando loves his Asics trail runners which are also grippy and perfect for walking in Portugal.
- Thermoflask water bottle – like a Hydroflask, but more affordable! We don’t go anywhere without these water bottles full of purified water.
- North Face Aphrodite 2.0 capris – I seriously wear these pants every.single.day! I couldn’t live without these ultra-comfy, lightweight pants that dry so quickly. They are 100% worth the money!
- Osprey Day Pack – this is an awesome lightweight backpack that we can easily put the belongings we need at hand for traveling around the city and on public transportation.
- N95 face mask – we bought a 50 pack of these before moving to Portugal. Until Covid is under control, we will continue to use face masks.
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