Meet Our First Travelling Content Creator

Hi Filipa! We can’t wait to see what you’ll be up to on your incredible journey this autumn. Before we dive into travel related questions, let’s do a short intro for our followers, shall we?

Hey! I’m Filipa, I’m a ‘90s child who’s always up for a new adventure; so if you’re looking for a road trip partner, I’m probably already by your side with my seatbelt on! I’m a super friendly, bubbly girl and also a creative mind; I love to express myself through photography, acting and writing. I live in a small village near Setúbal, a seaside city an hour from Lisbon but I’ve spent a lot of time in Lisbon for the last few years as I worked and studied there. I graduated in Social and Organisational Psychology and studied Anthropology, so you can say I’m passionate about discovering and understanding people and cultures.

Some months ago, after spending one year working in a big company, wanderlust gripped me and I quit my job to start traveling. I felt like I couldn’t deny myself any longer the desire to know more about the world, you know? I started to share a bit of my travels and daily life on my Instagram page and found myself increasingly passionate about travel and lifestyle content creation. When I saw that Secret City Trails was looking for a travel content creator I thought this opportunity was made for me! By then I was already following Secret City Trails and was very interested in its “by travellers for travellers” concept. While exploring a new city, I always try to do that “as a local”, by hunting for its lesser known but worth visiting places, as I believe it takes your travel experience to another level. I had that strange feeling that something good was about to change my life, even before applying.

What are the necessary elements for a great city trip for you?

When I arrive in a new place, I don’t really have a specific “to-do” list or high expectations; I have a rough idea of the things and places I would like to see and visit but I like to let the travel flow surprise me. So then, a 20 minute walk between two points may turn into a full-on three-hour excursion, if I get sidetracked seeing “other” things that I discover on the way! And, believe me, sometimes it could end up being the best part of the trip. In short, for me, it’s useful to have a flexible travel plan before you go. I also like to search for some photo location inspiration and helpful local travel tips before arriving at the destination.

How do you hunt for secrets in new cities you are visiting?

In this case, I totally recommend talking to strangers! I challenge you to try this: as soon as you arrive at your destination, turn to a side street and look for some old local coffee shops or a grocery shop. You’ll probably find someone nice who recommends you a place that is not in the tourist guides, where you can try the best local cuisine, for example. Also, I advise you to stay in a central hostel. I often travel low cost, so I’ve been to some hostels and I found them a great place for getting to know new people and to share ideas on how to discover some of the city secret spots and hidden gems. If you’re lucky enough, you can even find a travel partner there.

You’ll get to visit quite a few beautiful and vibrant cities soon. Are there any places you’re particularly looking forward to explore?

Do I really have to choose? Besides Vienna, I will be visiting all those cities for the first time. Amsterdam has been on my list forever and I was planning for it to be one of my next destinations, so I’m particularly excited about this one. I can see myself there already, exploring every inch of the canals, and its countless bridges, historic churches and cute houseboats. Do you know that you can go plastic fishing on the Amsterdam canals? I think this environmentally friendly initiative may be one of the most unusual things to do in Amsterdam and a different way to explore the canals. I would love to try it out.

Can you look in your camera roll and find a photo of something that caught your attention in a city?

Here you can see the Postlingberg tram in Liniz. You may not believe me, but my 20 minute ride from the centre of the city to the top of Linz’s local mountain in this old tram ride was one of the highlights of my trip to Austria, as me and my friend reached the top just in time for sunset! The view was mesmerizing and I almost cried for joy. Postlingbergbahn is the steepest adhesion railway in Europe, so it’s an experience you can’t miss!

Since you know the city so well, what are your top 3 unusual things to see and do in Lisbon?

Listen to stray fado (fado “vadio”) in Clube do Fado Amigos do Fado – CLAF
I believe this fado house in Chelas is the oldest fado house in Lisbon; it is also a fado school. It has a small restaurant inside, so you can go there for trying the typical caldo verde or other typical Portuguese dishes, while listening to fado music. Actually, my first live fado experience happened there. On Sundays, they have fado matinée starting around 16:00, where you can see some young singers taking first steps in their career.

Have a drink in Rio Maravilha in Alcântara 
This rooftop has an unparalleled view of the bridge and river and it’s situated in one of the coolest areas of Lisbon, LX Factory, which is also a must see. It’s known by being the city’s “creative corner” as it shows how portuguese modern urban art has been evolving.

Explore Free Water Aqueduct (Aqueduto das Águas Livres)
Built in the XVIII century, this is a giant stone aqueduct that crosses Lisbon and had provided generations of locals with water. It offers one of the most unusual views of Lisbon.

One last question: do you have any inspirational motto that you keep in mind when you travel and explore new cities?

Yes, expect less, be more open to every possibility. I’m an open minded and flexible person, and I think that’s a plus for having a great travel experience 😊

To stay updated on Filipa’s journey with Secret City Trails, follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and sign up to our newsletter below. You can also follow Filipa on her Instagram. The adventure is just around the corner!