Dear Solo SHE,

I’ve just returned from a long weekend in Lisbon, and honestly — if cities could hug you, this one would’ve given me a bear hug. Portugal still has my heart, but Lisbon? Lisbon has my curiosity.

As soon as I landed, I ran straight into pastel de nata runs (yes, that’s now a daily ritual). The custard was warm, the streets were steep, and somehow — every tile wall felt like a postcard waiting to be photographed. On my second day, I met two other solo travelers — one from Canada and one from Japan — both insisting I join their tram-hopping adventure. Not gonna lie, I didn’t hesitate. Trams are basically the city’s way of saying “Climb aboard; let’s get lost together.”

We ended up at a tiny cafe tucked between azulejo walls where the espresso hit like sunshine in a cup. Later, we wandered down to a miradouro (a lookout with the best view of the city), and all of us just stood there, candidly quiet — no photos, no words at first — just taking in the layers of red roofs and pastel skies as the sun dipped.

If you go, walk everywhere. Your feet will hate you, your heart will thank you, and your camera roll will explode. Also, don’t skip the local markets — food never tastes as good as when you’re sharing bites with newfound friends.