Lisbon travel guide

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The capital of Portugal, Lisbon the city's modern, vibrant and cosmopolitan identity is today much similar to that which it enjoyed in the 15th and 16th centuries during the age of the great discoverers, when Lisbon was the centre of trade with the East and the starting point for maritime exploration of the globe.

Situated on the north banks of the River Tagus, the charm of Lisbon exists in its strong links to the past; renovated palaces, magnificent churches and an impressive castle mirror the city's rich cultural heritage. Its eclectic blend of neighborhoods, culture and architecture distinguish this capital city uniquely from the other European capitals and make it a truly fascinating and comprehensive city to visit.

A city set on seven hills, as the legend tells, with its cobble stoned pavements and narrow streets full of Art Nouveau cafés promises a lot to discover: Its downtown, the Baixa, located around Rossio, Praça do Comércio; situated on the hill around St. George’s Castle, Alfama and Mouraria; Lisbon’s most traditional quarters with their typical streets, Bairro Alto and Madragoa, and set on Tagus River, Belém offer an unforgettable experience of city’s past at the present.

The city fathers of Lisbon elected to invest in some rejuvenation in the 1990s, and this ongoing focus on the future has made the most of the city's attributes and attractions, both old and new. Infrastructure has also been improved, with additions like the impressive Vasco da Gama Bridge across the River Tagus, which links the city's airport to a network of national motorways and has facilitated access to other parts of Portugal.

While much is new, there is plenty of the old left to charm visitors, giving the metropolis a slightly provincial air. The delightful, picturesque medieval section of Alfama skirts the city's Sao Jorge castle, and historic wooden trams ply noisily up and down steep hills past art deco cafes and mosaic-decorated pavements. Many of the relics of the city's golden age were destroyed in an earthquake in 1755, but some survived and are popular tourist attractions, complemented now by modern sights, like the futuristic Oceanarium.


Lisbon also hosts a great number of remarkable museums of ancient and modern art, some of which are the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, National Museum of Contemporary Art, National Coach Museum, and Carmo Archaeological Museum. good way to orient yourself and enjoy a panoramic view is to climb one of the seven hills - Penha de França, Senhora do Monte, Graça, São Jorge, São Pedro Alcantara, Santa Catarina, and Estrela. São Jorge is topped by a famous castle, Castelo de São Jorge, and has the most spectacular picturesque view - especially as the sun sets over the Tagus river.

emperatures in Lisbon range from 7.65 to 29.55 (Celcius).

Lisbon has a warm climate, with sunny spring and summer days when temperatures frequently reach 85ºF (30ºC) or above. Winters are wet and windy, temperatures averaging around 50ºF (10ºC).

Castelo de Sao Jorge ---- The walls of Saint George's Castle, sitting atop a hill guarding the Tagus, date from the Moorish occupation in the 10th century, but the site has been a fortress for centuries, possibly from 500 AD.

Alfama ---- The oldest part of Lisbon, the Alfama quarter sprawls down the hillside from below the Castelo de Sao Jorge, retaining much of the traditional colour and atmosphere from the days when it was the ancient seat of the Saracens.

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum --- Gulbenkian was an Armenian oil magnate who died in 1955 having put together one of the world's finest private art collections.

The Bairro Alto --- The Bairro Alto district (literally the Upper City) is, like the Alfama, an historic enclave dating from 1513, which is reached in a novel way via the Santa Justa Elevator


Monument to the Discoveries ---- One of the most famous sights in Lisbon is the imposing monument, situated on the riverbank in the Avenida de Brasilia in the district of Belem, designed to commemorate the Portuguese Age of Discovery.

Tower of Belem --- The famous Tower of Belem is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of Lisbon's most photographed landmarks because of the decoration on its exterior.

Parque das Nacoes --- Lisbon's exhibition park was upgraded and renamed for the Expo '98 world exposition, which revitalised the city and brought international tourists and interest flooding in.

The Portuguese often eat a quite extensive lunch in the early afternoon, so they won’t get hungry and dine rather late. At lunchtime it is the best to enter one of the small and mostly uncosy narrow restaurants where the tables are crowded with Portuguese workers. Here you will not have a big choice but always get a proper, cheap and huge warm lunch. To have dinner you have to be patient. If you enter a restaurant before eight, they just know you’re a tourist. Portuguese restaurants offer both delicious fish dishes and grilled meat plates, but the vegetables are sometimes cooked to death. Definetely the pastries and sweets are a must: end your meal with a Portuguese espresso “bica” and one of the delicious deserts. For vegetarians the Portuguese cooking does not offer great variations: try the different vegetable soups and a salad and eat a pastry afterwards. Portuguese do not care so much for breakfast, but take coffee with pastry (for example a fluffy “Pão de deus”) around eleven, when most tourists start their day.

Lisbon Marathon ---- The Lisbon Marathon is attracting more and more runners each year as its reputation extends as one of the best marathons in the world, primarily because of the beautiful city in which it is run but also because of the high level of organisation.

Lisbon Village Festival ---- the Lisbon Village Festival showcases music, arts and film for the digital generation. The three main areas are the VIDCF film competition, which awards prizes in various categories and showcases films from Poland and Japan, among other special screenings, Village Art, which features contemporary digital art exhibits, and Village Lounge, which is where the DJs and VJs entertain directors, actors, press and visitors


Lisbon Book Fair ---- The open-air book fair in Edward VII Park has been a popular event on Lisbon's calendar since the 1930s. It offers visitors wonderful browsing opportunities through the dusty covers of old books, to new reads and comic books.

Lisbon has a very active nightlife, offering everything from clubs and bars to traditional Fado music, international concerts and fantastic theatre. The Bairro Alto area is the epicentre of the city's nightlife but there are various other party and entertainment destinations. Classical music can be enjoyed at venues including the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Culturgest, while theatres such as Dona Maria II National Theatre offer contemporary works and classical plays; there is good opera at São Carlos Theatre. Fado is popular in Alfama and Lapa, the best venue being Senhor Vinho. Concerts are held at Atlantic Pavillion and Coliseu dos Recreios, featuring international bands and artists.

Shopping in Lisbon is an all-day affair with plenty of major shopping malls, including two of Europe’s largest, namely Centro Colombo and the Amoreiras Shopping Centre. Some of Lisbon’s smaller independent shops can be found downtown in the Baixa quarter and strolling through these streets, visitors can marvel at the unique exteriors of shops such as Luvaria Ulises and Ourivesaria Aliança.

The most famous market in Lisbon has to be the Feira da Ladra, which is held every Tuesday and Saturday on the Campo de Santa Clara. Here bargain hunters can sift through clothing, hand-made goods, CDs, books, antiques, furniture, second-hand wares and other bric-a-brac. It’s a must when shopping in Lisbon but tourists should beware of pickpockets.

The fastest way to get around is by metro, which covers most of the city, and complementing this is a network of trams, buses, funiculars and a vertical elevator to connect the high and low areas of Lisbon. There is also a modern electric train that links the city to all the towns along the Portuguese Riviera, and ferries across the Tagus River. Trams and buses are very inexpensive and the old trams have become a big tourist attraction. It is best to avoid public transport during rush hours, as the crowded conditions are the perfect cover for pickpockets. Various transport passes are available, including the Lisboa Card that allows unlimited transport, free entry to many museums and several discounted attractions and activities. Metered taxis are plentiful and affordable, and a popular means of transportation, but beware of drivers taking long, indirect routes. A car is not recommended for use around the city and it is best to leave it in a garage for the duration of stay and get around by public transportation.