In this deliciously travel-filled episode of Wander Every Day, I sit down with my friend Emily — culinary school graduate, owner of @ems_treats, and mom of two — to hear all about her 10-day winter adventure in Lisbon, Portugal.

Emily, her husband Kyle, daughters Spencer (3) and McKenna (8 months), her mom, and her sister stayed in a cozy Airbnb and explored Lisbon’s charm one cobblestoned hill at a time.

From day trips to the stunning Botanical Gardens, seaside Cascais, and the magical castles of Sintra, to soaking up the culture at LX Factory and Time Out Market, they made the most of their family getaway.

Of course, no trip with Emily is complete without a food quest — and this time, it was all about pasteis de nata. Hear how she tried 30 different custard tarts to find the ultimate winner, plus her thoughts on the city’s fresh fish, potatoes, and mouthwatering restaurants. You’ll also get tips for tackling Lisbon’s famously steep, cobblestone streets with little ones.

If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting Lisbon, especially with kids, or simply want the inside scoop from a foodie’s perspective, this episode is packed with inspiration, travel tips, and (of course) plenty of pastry talk.

🎧 Listen now and get ready to fall in love with Portugal!

Timestamp:

0:00 Introduction to Emily and Wander Every Day

3:30 Camping in New Zealand: Bringing Tents, Unpredicted Rain + Wild Animals of the Region

6:54 Pasteis de Nata with a Culinary School Grad, Emily’s Travel Tips and Style + Shareable Google Maps Map

18:06 Day 1: Down Down with Illness + Air B&B

24:35 Day 2: the Best Cafe in Lisbon (spoiler - it’s vegan!), Botanical Gardens + Beautiful Dinner in Lisbon

30:04 Day 3: Beach in Cascais + Best Gelato in Lisbon

33:31 Day 4: Castle Sao Jorge, the Real Facts about Pasteis di Nata + SOL Restaurant (10/10!)

37:26 Day 5: Timeout Market, Pasteis de Belem + Hilly, Hilly Lisbon

45:47 Day 6: Sintra, Castles like Hogwarts + Quinta da Regaleira

50:12 Day 7-10: Wandering the Cobblestone Streets, LX Factory + Baixa

56:38 Trip Reflections

1:00:38 Rapid Fire

1:03:41 Listener Questions: Balancing Sight-seeing + Parenting, Lisbon Stroller Accessible + Public Transportation

Links:
Lisbon Sharable Google Map Locations
Lisbon Air B&B

Recommended Restaurants: Javá, SOL Restaurante e Jardim
Best Café: Gal Café (Vegan Cafe)
Best Gelato: Insano Gelato
Best Pasteis di Nata: Aloma