Share this info on Twitter:
Share this info on Twitter:
|
Discovering the City of the Explorers
Europe's Westernmost and Sunniest Capital
|
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.
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!
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.
|
LISBON NEWS:
Follow GoLisbon on Twitter!
+
Lisbon's newest restaurants, shops and more...
...in the GoLisbon BLOG.
..........
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
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 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
|
|
|
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:
|
-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.
|
|
..........
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'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
..........
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.
|
Lisbon Oceanarium
Restaurant/25 de Abril Bridge
Jeronimos Monastery