Lisbon
Angst-filled artistes will hate Lisbon. It’s very difficult to be depressed in such a vibrant, charming place. Walking through the sinewy streets of Portugal’s capital, navigating the labyrinth of alleyways, you run into kids heading off to school, businessmen rushing to work, and old ladies hanging out their laundry to dry in the warm Mediterranean sun. Warm red terracotta roof tops, white and black mosaic-tiled sidewalks and brilliant blue waters make Lisbon an astonishingly beautiful place to visit.
Lisbon is also a friendly city. The people are helpful and there are wonderful neighborhoods to explore. The Bairro Alto, Baixa, Alfama districts have distinct personalities. At night the Bairro Alto is the place to be for club kids, jazz, aficionados and fado fans. During the day the Bairro has shops, cafes, and ancient churches to explore. In the center of Lisbon you’ll find Baixa. It’s the shopping and commercial district and stretches from the river, to Praca do Comercio, to the top of the Rossio. Street performers and musicians play fado songs to patrons at open-air restaurants. It’s a lively place to wander through en route to other neighborhoods. The Alfama is known for narrow streets and steep hills. It’s worth the hike to see the panoramic view of Lisbon from the Castelo Sao Jorge.
Lisbon is one of the cheapest and most fascinating destinations in Europe. It has an intriguing seafaring past, fun beach resorts, and quaint historic towns nearby. It also boasts a postcard perfect landscape of olive groves, vineyards and rolling fields. It’s hard to find a reason not to visit.
Portugal’s climate is Mediterranean. The country is sunny and pleasant from April to October. The northern regions like Porto and Coimbra are cooler and rainier a bit longer, while the Algarve in the south can get very hot by midsummer.
- Pictures |
- Things to do |
- Nightlife |
- Dining |
- Shopping |
- Travel tips
Lisbon Pictures
Things to do in Lisbon
Lisbon’s seafaring past provides a salty dose of history. There’s the historic seafront to wander around, and you should make a point to see the Torre de Belem and the Padrao dos Descobrimentos.
Lisbon has plenty of museums. They run the gamut from the hands-on Museo da Ciencia, to the interactive history exhibits at the Olissiponia. Near Belem are the Museu da Marinha, Museu Nacional de Arqueolgia, Museu Nacional de Arte Popular and the Museu Nacional dos Coches. There you’ll also find other sights including the Torre de Belem and Mosteiro de Jeronimos. The Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (perhaps the most famous in Portugal), Planetario Calouste Gulbenkian and Museu de Arte Moderna are all in the Saldanha area. Many of Lisbon’s museums, like the Museu Nacional do Azulejo (Tile Museum) or the Museu-Escola de Artes Decorativas (Museum of Applied Arts), are housed in former palaces or other distinguished buildings.
The beach is a big part of Lisbon life. Along the train line between Cascais and Lisbon, locals and foreigners hang out along the sand. The sheltered little beaches around Estoril and Cascais are popular. Day-tripping families, wannabe models, students and surfers cruise the beach, work on their tan and swim in the warm waves. Further down the coast, and across the Tejo River, the beaches are even more beautiful (and cleaner). The resort town of Caparica and areas around Setubal are great places to catch some sun.
Nightlife in Lisbon
The Bairro Alto is hopping all hours of the day and night, as are the Docas and Alcantara neighborhoods. But if clubbing isn’t your thing, there are plenty of cinemas, jazz and fado clubs. You’ll also find live Brazilian music venues, quiet bars where you can grab a glass of port, and even homey Irish pubs with bartenders direct from Belfast.
Dining in Lisbon
Lisbon’s proximity to the sea makes it a good place to sample local seafood. Some famous specialties include sardinhas assadas (charcoal-grilled sardines), pastéis de bacalhau (cod fishcakes) and caldo verde (a soup of cabbage and potatoes). Pastries are also a specialty, as sweets are very popular, and Portugal is known for many wines, particularly port.
Shopping in Lisbon
The Lisbon Tourist Office offers a Shopping Discount Card. The card offers a savings from 5% to 20% at over 200 member shops in Baixa, Chiado and Avenida da Liberdade. Amoreiras Shopping Center is the place to go if you are homesick for a mall. From high-end boutiques and antiques, to cheesy souvenir stalls and t-shirt shops, Lisbon provides a complete shopping experience.
Portugal is getting more expensive, but it is still one of the cheapest places to travel in Europe. Outside major tourist areas, prices are much lower. Check out residencias or pensaos; some of them are very reasonable and are pleasant alternatives to hostels.
Lisbon Travel Tips
- The best way to see Lisbon is on foot–each of the many narrow streets tells a unique story, so wander and enjoy!
- Due to the smaller size of Lisbon, you likely won’t need a car to get around. So just book your cheap student tickets, and get ready to save!
- To get the full effect of Lisbon, grab a freshly-baked pastry, a bica (espresso) and go sit in a plaza. You’ll be delighted by your delicious treats, and entertained by the colorful passerby.
Obrigado! We flew into Lisbon and stayed there for a few days, but the best part of our trip to Portugal was when we drove down to the Algarve – that place is amazing! We spent a few days at the beach in Lagos, partied at night and went on a dolphin safari. The seafood was fantastic and the town is really nice and authentic. You should Google Lagos or the Algarve, it’s absolutely gorgeous. We stayed at Tivoli, which was a little expensive, but pretty nice. Anyway, check it out.
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