What is Lisbon?
Lisbon is Europe's second-oldest capital (after Athens), once home to the world's greatest explorers like Vasco da Gama, Magellan and Prince Henry the Navigator, becoming the first true world city, the capital of an empire spreading over all continents, from South America (Brazil) to Asia (Macao, China; Goa, India). The former launch pad for many of the world's greatest voyages is now where modern travelers discover...
...one of Europe's most soulful, captivating and picturesque capitals, built on a series of hills with scenic vistas from every angle.
...the city of the oceans, the only European capital with sunsets on the sea, so close to sandy beaches and with one of the world's largest state-of-the-art aquariums.
...one of the world's greatest natural harbors which attracted different civilizations, now reflected in its architecture and culture recalling Phoenicians, Celts, Romans, Visigoths and Moors.
...a charming visual time-warp with vintage trams and medieval village-like neighborhoods.
...a lively but serene and melancholic place with an insatiable appetite for long dinners, coffee breaks and nightlife.
...World Heritage monuments and singular museum treasures, from international design and contemporary art, to treasures from when the East met West, to the ancient art of tile painting and gilding.
...a reminiscence of the romantic decay of Venice, the exoticism of Naples or Istanbul, the laid-backness of Rome, echos of San Francisco, and Iberian spirit.
...one of Europe's capitals of Romanticism, a real fairytale just minutes from the city center (Sintra).
10 Reasons Why You Should Go to Lisbon
- CULTURE: It's one of the world's great historical cities, with
characteristic and surprising sights, cultural treasures, and a beautiful
setting that make it a paradise for walkers and photographers.
- VALUE: It's one of Europe's best values -- officially Western
Europe's least expensive capital.
- LOCATION: It's the closest European capital to the United States and
just around a 2-hour flight from all the other major European cities.
- CLIMATE: Its mild climate makes it an ideal year-round destination.
Even in winter, when most other European cities are freezing, in Lisbon
high temperatures rarely go below 10C (50F).
- RESORT: It is the only European capital located so close to sandy
beaches,
enabling visitors to combine culture with fun by the sea.
- SIZE: It's a compact and intimate city, ideal for a short city break
or a longer romantic stay, with a lively café culture and a nightlife
that is one of the most vibrant in Europe.
- VARIETY: Its surroundings offer an incredible variety of tourist attractions,
from fairytale palaces in one of Europe's most romantic towns (Sintra), to
world-class golf and fun in Europe's largest casino in
Estoril, to
surfing in Cascais or
escaping to a natural park in
Arrábida,
to dolphin-watching in
Setúbal.
- GATEWAY: It makes a perfect base to explore many of Portugal's most
outstanding towns and villages, from
Evora to
Obidos.
- SAFETY: It's one of the safest European capitals. Tourists are always
automatic targets in all big cities and visitors should beware of
pickpocketing in Lisbon, but serious random violent crime is
practically unheard of in this city.
- WELCOMING: It's a friendly city with a cosmopolitan population,
welcoming to all visitors and families with children, and open to minorities
and alternative lifestyles.
What to Expect from Lisbon
You shouldn't visit Lisbon with the idea of seeing just another European capital with all that is typical of European art and culture. Located on the edge of the continent, Lisbon developed its own strong artistic heritage and you now see things you seldom find elsewhere in Europe. It is a truly authentic city offering one of the most surprising, unique, rewarding and pleasant travel experiences:
-Don't expect the grand boulevards of Paris. Lisbon is a city of incredibly picturesque streets and views from the top of a romantic series of hills.
-Don't look for the great marble sculpture of Rome or Florence. Lisbon instead concentrated on the creation of magnificent golden carvings in its churches, now presenting some of the most impressive gilding in Europe.
-Don't expect the extensive collections of Old Master paintings found in Madrid or Amsterdam. Lisbon's artists painted more on tile instead of canvas. The Portuguese capital fascinates for the variety and originality of antique tiled art, seen in the singular Tile Museum and all over the city, including many of the façades.
-Unlike Berlin or Vienna, there was no great classical music tradition in Lisbon. The city developed its own sound (Fado), a style that is one of the world's few (and oldest) urban folk musical genres.
-Lisbon only became a major tourist destination very recently. It's therefore not as "touristy" as many other European cities, its neighborhoods have a "raw" non-gentrified look that didn't have the massive renovation of most other European capitals after WWII, since Lisbon was neutral and not affected by the war. The oldest neighborhoods like Alfama and Bairro Alto maintain a charmingly antiquated and medieval appearance, now rather rundown but (very) slowly renovating.
-This all means Lisbon is not just another city. You should expect the unexpected during a visit, allowing yourself to explore and be seduced and captivated by what you find -- the views, the tiles, the sounds, the architecture... In doing so, you'll leave with a real appreciation of Lisbon.
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COMPLETE LISBON TRAVEL PLANNER
BEFORE YOU GO LISBON:
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GET A ROOM:
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HOTELS:
Book your room for free (no booking fees) and pay later at the hotel.
ALL LISBON HOTELS »
APARTMENTS:
Central, stylishly furnished, and cheaper than most hotels.
ALL LISBON APARTMENTS »
HOSTELS:
Stylish accommodation in the center of the city has given Lisbon awards for world's best hostels every year.
ALL LISBON HOSTELS »
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GET THE TOURIST CARD:
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Save time and money: Get FREE or reduced admission to most of Lisbon's attractions and ride the city's metro, buses, and trams for FREE with the Lisboa Card »
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GET AIRPORT INFORMATION:
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Arriving in the city, getting to your hotel or apartment and back to the airport: Lisbon Airport »
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CONSIDER A SIGHTSEEING TOUR:
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ALL LISBON TOURS »
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KNOW WHERE TO EAT & DRINK:
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Where to go for coffee or a memorable meal, in our Lisbon Restaurants Guide» (some restaurants offer online booking)
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SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CITY
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Lisbon news and views in the GoLisbon Blog »
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FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK:
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www.facebook.com/GoLisbon
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FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:
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GoLisbon on Twitter »
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