Go Lisbon City, Tourist & Hotels Guide
Home | HOTELS | HOSTELS | APARTMENTS | POUSADAS | TOURS | MAPS | TRANSPORT | PRACTICALITIES
SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS | MUSEUMS | BEACHES | ACTIVITIES | EATING & DRINKING | NIGHTLIFE | FADO | SHOPPING
PORTUGAL | ALGARVE | PORTUGUESE CULTURE | LEARN PORTUGUESE | FORUMS | BLOG | PHOTO GALLERIES


GO LISBON DEALS RIGHT NOW:
Modern apartments in the city center for as little as €21.25 per person per night. See Lisbon Apartments.


WHERE TO STAY
-HOTELS
-HOSTELS
-APARTMENTS
-POUSADAS

WHAT TO SEE
-SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES
-TOP10:BEST OF LISBON
-MUSEUMS
-VIEWPOINTS
-ITINERARIES
-KIDS' & FAMILIES
-LISBON VIDEOS
-PHOTO GALLERY

WHAT TO DO
-RESTAURANTS
-CAFÉS
-BARS & CLUBS
-SHOPPING
-BEACHES
-CALENDAR OF EVENTS

LISBON COAST
-SINTRA
-CASCAIS
-ESTORIL

PORTUGAL
-THE BEST OF PORTUGAL
-CITIES & VILLAGES
-ALGARVE
-AZORES & MADEIRA ISLANDS
-PORTO (OPORTO)






Share this info on Twitter:








Share this info on Twitter:




Discovering the City of the Explorers

Europe's Westernmost and Sunniest Capital

Go Lisbon - Sights and Hotels Guide

Observing a breathtaking view from the walls of a millennium-old castle and an odyssey of sea creatures in a state-of-the-art aquarium.
A seemingly endless modern bridge and tiny turn-of-the-century trams. Climbing picturesque hills by day and bar-hopping through vibrant cobbled lanes at night. Legendary cafés and art nouveau shops.
World Heritage monuments and singular museum treasures. Fairytale palaces and sandy beaches nearby. Long dinners and an insatiable appetite for nightlife. Antiquated and trendy; lively and melancholic.
All that is Lisbon. A captivating city. A soulful European capital. This is your guide -- Go Lisbon.

Go Lisbon - Sights and Hotels Guide
You'll love Lisbon if you loved:
The romantic decay of Venice, the emerging hipness of Barcelona in the 90s, the exoticism of Naples or Istanbul, the nightlife of Madrid, or the laid-backness of Rome.


WHAT IS LISBON?


Once the launch pad for many of the voyages of discovery (notably Vasco da Gama's epic journey to India), Lisbon was the first true world city, the capital of an empire spreading over all continents, from South America (Brazil) to Asia (Macao, China; Goa, India). It is forever known as the city of the explorers, and you too will be filled with the spirit of discovery as you retrace the footsteps of Prince Henry the Navigator or Ferdinand Magellan.

Explore World Heritage architectural marvels, the Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower, with their intricate carvings showcasing all the glory and excitement of the age, and discover the treasures from the East and the West inside the world-class Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, or the acclaimed Design Museum and the fantastic Berardo Collection of contemporary art.

The city's legendary seven hills will also seduce you into admiring characteristic mosaic pavements and dazzling tiled façades, and will reward you with strategically-placed miradouros or viewpoints offering breathtaking panoramas over the city after a ride on a charming old tram.
You'll find yourself wandering through colorful 18th century squares downtown and getting lost in the medieval maze of the Alfama district overlooked by an ancient castle. Follow that with a dive into the spectacular Oceanarium and spend your nights indulging in the city's gastronomic delights, listening to the sounds of Fado, or bar-hopping through the cobbled alleys of the shabby-chic Bairro Alto district.

You're sure to become mesmerized by Lisbon's wonderful mix of the old-fashioned and the hip; of the historic and the modern, but you'll also want to go outside the city to the fairytale town of Sintra and to the cosmopolitan shores of Cascais and Estoril.
Whatever you choose to do, you'll find all you need to know here. We present you a variety of restaurants, cafés, and shops, and introduce you to the best of Lisbon's bars, clubs, and much more.

Wondering where to stay? Take a look at our various choices of Lisbon hotels and other accommodation, and take the first step in planning your trip by booking with us! And to start planning your sightseeing, take a look at our Best of Lisbon page for some ideas on what you can not miss in this alluring city. Bem vindo a Lisboa!


Go Lisbon - Sights and Hotels Guide

10 Reasons Why You Should Go to Lisbon

  1. 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.
  2. VALUE: It's one of Europe's best values -- officially Western Europe's least expensive capital.
  3. 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.
  4. 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).
  5. RESORT: It is the only European capital located so close to sandy beaches, enabling visitors to combine culture with fun by the sea.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. GATEWAY: It makes a perfect base to explore many of Portugal's most outstanding towns and villages, from Evora to Obidos.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.

LISBON NEWS:


Follow GoLisbon on Twitter!
+
Lisbon's newest restaurants, shops and more...
...in the GoLisbon BLOG.


Lisbon Hotels
..........

WHERE TO STAY


-HOTELS
Deep discounts; budget, standard, charming, design, boutique, or luxury hotels
-APARTMENTS
Central, stylishly furnished, and cheaper than most hotels.
-HOSTELS
Cheaper lodging for those with a lower budget
-POUSADAS
Staying in ancient castles, palaces, or monasteries
Check in:
Check out:
Persons:
Rooms:
Lisbon Berardo Museum Andy Warhol/Berardo Museum

WHAT TO SEE & DO



-SIGHTS
From Age of Discovery monuments to colorful streets and squares

-TOP 10-The Best of Lisbon:
What not to miss

-MUSEUMS
Masterpieces of the ancient world and world-class modern collections

-ITINERARIES
Suggestions to manage your time

-VIEWPOINTS
Mandatory stops to admire the city from above

-BEACHES
Miles of dunes and world-famous surfing waves

-GOLF
Swinging by the sea in Robert Trent Jones-designed courses

-ACTIVITIES
Major concerts and events, tours, and more

-GAY & Lesbian Lisbon
Where to have a gay old time

-KIDS' & FAMILY Attractions
Fun sights and activities for kids and adults

-Photo GALLERY
"Zooming in" on Lisbon


Lisbon

LISBON NEIGHBORHOODS


-ALFAMA
Medieval Lisbon-
A medieval maze of streets and alleys, spectacular views, an imposing castle, the sounds of Fado

-BAIXA
Downtown Lisbon-
Broad squares, 18th century architecture, patterned pavements, legendary cafés

-BAIRRO ALTO & CHIADO
Bohemian Lisbon-
Vibrant nightlife, picturesque streets, classic and alternative culture, chic shopping and trendy restaurants

-BELEM
Monumental Lisbon-
The Age of Discovery, grandiose monuments, museums

-PARQUE DAS NAÇÕES
Futuristic Lisbon-
The 21st century by the Tagus; stunning architecture

-UPTOWN
Commercial Lisbon-
Masterpieces and museum treasures, shopping malls
Lisbon City and Hotels Guide

What Lisbon Is & What Lisbon Isn't

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:

Antique tiles in Lisbon, Portugal -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.
-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 and you'll love it.
Baroque gilding in Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon Tourist and Hotels Guide
..........
Lisbon Oceanarium Lisbon Oceanarium
..........

PRACTICAL INFORMATION


-WHEN to Go; HOW to get to Lisbon:
What time of the year? Plane or train?

-TRANSPORTATION:
Getting around the city

-MAPS:
Where to find it all?

-WEATHER:
Rain or shine in Lisbon?

-The Portuguese LANGUAGE:
A few Portuguese words to get by

-CURRENCY:
Managing your wallet

-INTERNET Access:
Where to check your email and stay inter-connected

-TELEPHONES:
How to call home

-Public HOLIDAYS:
So you're not surprised to find everything closed

-BLOG:
A few personal notes about Lisbon and Portugal
Lisbon Restaurant Restaurant/25 de Abril Bridge
..........

EATING & DRINKING + NIGHTLIFE


CAFÉS -
The classic and legendary; the trendy and modern spots for coffee or a snack

RESTAURANTS Guide -
Finding the perfect restaurant for you

Portuguese FOOD -
What you'll see on a Portuguese plate

Portuguese WINES -
Wash it all down or toast with this!

Lisbon NIGHTLIFE -
Europe's biggest bar-crawl

BARS -
Laid-back, cozy, or hip places to have a beer, a cocktail, or simply chill out

CLUBS -
Where to dance the night away

GAY & LESBIAN Bars and Clubs -
Gay or straight-friendly; Lisbon's most colorful spots

FADO Houses -
Listening to the "Portuguese Blues"

Calendar of EVENTS -
What's going on in Lisbon
Lisbon Jeronimos Monastery Jeronimos Monastery
..........

SHOPPING



WHAT & WHERE to Shop -
From alternative urban shopping in Bairro Alto to classic luxury down Avenida da Liberdade and Chiado

DESIGNER Fashion-
The creations of the top Portuguese designers

URBAN Wear-
Trendy or retro looks

JEWELRY Stores-
Worth a visit even if only for their decor

HANDICRAFTS & TEXTILES-
Portugal's famous high-quality crafts

DESIGN & Household Goods-
Quirky or classic, quality goods

Ceramic TILES-
The popular souvenirs

BOOKS & MUSIC-
Portuguese or hard-to-find literature and sounds

GASTRONOMIC Specialties-
Products not always found at the supermarket

Shopping MALLS-
The city's gigantic temples to consumption

Lisbon Beaches Cascais Beach
..........

DAYTRIPS


Sintra -
Enchanting atmosphere; romantic palaces; Europe's westernmost point.

Queluz -
Palace mixing Versailles' French grandeur and Portuguese eclecticism

Cascais -
Playground of nobility; picturesque resort; a surfer's paradise

Estoril -
The inspiration for James Bond; Europe's largest casino; spectacular golf courses

Ericeira -
Traditional seaside village; surfing mecca, superb seafood

Mafra -
One of Europe's biggest palaces, the building that bankrupted the nation

Setubal -
Busy port; the birthplace of Manueline; dolphin watching

Sesimbra -
Calm waters in a fishing town; a mystical cape.

Arrábida -
Mediterranean vegetation by the Atlantic

Evora -
A museum-town; a Roman temple; prehistoric sites

Obidos -
"The wedding present town"; Portugal's prettiest medieval village

Alcobaça -
World Heritage Monument: Europe's greatest Cistercian temple

Batalha -
World Heritage Monument: European Gothic masterpiece;spectacular underground caves

Fatima -
One of the Catholic world's most famous shrines
Sintra outside Lisbon Sintra's Pena Palace
..........

PORTUGAL


-The BEST of PORTUGAL:
The country's top sights and destinations

-CITIES & VILLAGES:
Charming cities, picturesque coastal villages, enchanting medieval towns, mystical sites, and magical landscapes

-Around LISBON:
Royal palaces, Europe's westernmost coastline, sandy beaches

-CENTRAL Portugal:
World Heritage monuments, a world-famous shrine, fairytale castles

-COIMBRA and the East:
An ancient university, Roman ruins, charming mountaintop villages

-PORTO and Surroundings:
A majestic port city, the world's first official "wine country"

- MINHO:
Impressive baroque monuments, captivating vegetation

-TRAS-OS-MONTES:
Sleepy medieval villages and countryside

-ALENTEJO & the Marble Towns:
Magical, whitewashed villages & prehistoric monuments

-ALGARVE:
The most sunshine hours in Europe, beautiful beaches and resorts, top golf courses, "the end of the world"

-The Islands of AZORES and MADEIRA:
Volcanic scenery, whale-watching, subtropical flora, luxurious hotels
Lisbon pavement
Lisbon pavement
..........

PORTUGUESE CULTURE


Portuguese HISTORY:
Invasion, exploration, domination, isolation, European integration

The AGE of DISCOVERY:
The Portuguese open new worlds to the world; Vasco da Gama reaches India, Cabral finds South America, Magellan circumnavigates the globe

Portuguese PEOPLE:
What Henry the Navigator, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tom Hanks, and Nelly Furtado have in common

ARCHITECTURE:
Marvelous baroque to flamboyant Manueline

AZULEJOS:
A Mediterranean artform elevated by the Portuguese

The Portuguese CALÇADA:
An authentic Portuguese tradition at your feet

LITERATURE:
From Camões' epic Lusiads to Eça de Queiroz' classic Crime of Father Amaro; Fernando Pessoa's complex genius and Saramago's Nobel.

FINE ARTS:
Flemish-style Nuno Gonçalves to surrealism-influenced Paula Rego

If you are looking for the perfect holiday home in Portugal, check out this land for sale in the magnificent Setubal peninsula, close to the wonderful beaches of Sesimbra and the natural splendour of the Arrábida National Park.

   

About Us | Portugal Tourism Site | Official Lisbon Site | Lisbon Tourism Guide - Guia de Turismo de Lisboa |
Câmara Municipal - Lisbon City Hall | Resources | Contact Us

Copyright © GoLisbon.com -