SEGWAY TOURS
These two-wheelers are fun to ride anywhere but especially in Lisbon, allowing you to go through alleys and up hills that even the city’s famous trams don’t go through. You’ll tour the medieval district of Alfama in an experience that can be fun as a family and even romantic as a couple.
And if you book online you get a special discount: Lisbon Segway Tours

BUGGY TOURS
Allow these GPS-guided buggies to be your Lisbon tour guides. These vehicles are fun and easy to drive, and the audio guide won’t allow you to get lost. You can explore the center of the city of the historic Belém district in the company of one or three other people, making it a perfect experience if you’re traveling in a group.
Booking here gets you a special discount: Lisbon Buggy Tours

GOCARS
Called “one of the coolest inventions of the year” by TIME magazine, these funny-looking cars look like big toys. They’re very easy to drive and have pre-programmed tours on the GPS, describing the sights in several languages. The audio includes humorous commentary about the local culture and attractions but you can also tour at your own pace and make your own route.
GoLisbon offers you a discount: Lisbon GoCars Tours

SINTRA TOURS
The fun here lies not in the tour itself but on the destination: In Sintra you can imagine yourself in a fairytale, going through Disneyesque palaces and standing on the Westernmost point in Europe! No one can leave Lisbon without a daytrip to Sintra and going on a tour will take you places you may miss on your own.

PHOTOGRAPHY WALKING TOUR
Aspiring photographers will want to walk around the city and capture it forever through photos. Passing by picturesque corners often missed by tourists, this tour will also allow you to see aspects of Lisbon you’d otherwise overlook.

The weekly travel Q&A column of the New York Times travel section will this week answer a question about the holiday season in Portugal.
I have contributed to this report which will be published in this Sunday’s printed edition and is already available on the newspaper’s website.
It highlights the events scheduled for this year in Lisbon, but also tells you about the city’s annual traditions at this time.
Outside the capital, the biggest celebrations in Portugal take place in Obidos and in the island of Madeira.
More specific information about the holidays in Lisbon will be posted here when it’s fully scheduled and confirmed, and you can now read the entire New York Times article here: Q&A Portugal for the Holidays

It’s officially autumn in Europe, but it only gets really cold in Lisbon in December. So, rain or shine, it’s still a wonderful time to walk around the city, and for that reason the Chiado district throws a party every year at this time.
Taking place from the 9th to the 16th of the month, the “Festa no Chiado” is a variety of events and activities which will include special exhibitions in the neighborhood’s galleries and oldest bookstores, outdoor concerts in Praça do Camões and inside São Carlos Theater, and free guided tours of the São Roque Museum and of the Carmo Convent ruins (must be booked in advance to join).
There will also be guided walking tours of the neighborhood which will take participants into the most historical shops and back in time into some of the city’s most historical moments of the last century such as the regicide of 1908.
Everything is free and an excuse to discover little-known or forgotten sides of Lisbon’s favorite neighborhood.
The entire program for each day is found here: Centro Nacional de Cultura

Discover the Treasures of Pagan and Celtic Portugal
It’s a major “temporary” exhibition that’s lasted for eight years, but it’s coming to an end this month. It’s inside Lisbon’s National Archaeological Museum and shows the “Religions of Lusitânia.” Lusitania is pre-Roman and Roman Portugal, when western Iberia or present-day Portugal was a pagan and Celtic territory.
In this exhibition you’ll surely be surprised and impressed by the richness of the archaeological finds, most of them busts and statues of gods and warriors of the time. Some already cover a Romanized Portugal, but most are pieces of a still-enigmatic civilization found all over Portugal.

Join Lisbon in the Celebration of 100 Republican Years
It’s usually open for visits only once a week, but for the first five days of the month you’ll be able to go inside the official residence of the president of Portugal, Belém Palace. That’s part of the 5-day celebration of the Portuguese Republic which is 100 years old on October 5th. The end of monarchy and the beginning of a new republic is also celebrated in the Museum of the Presidency next to Belém Palace.  Other celebrations take place on those first days on the month every night in Comércio Square with a 3D film showing the history of Lisbon and Portugal. That’s from 9:30PM to 11:50PM.

See the City on a River Cruise
They only take place from April to October, so this month is your last chance to cruise the Tagus and get the best photos of the city from a different perspective until next year. The cruise takes you to the modern district of the city, Parque das Nações, to the most historical, Belém, past all of the main landmarks.
It departs at 2:30PM and ends in Parque das Nações at 6:30PM.

Go to the International Documentary Film Festival
This year’s DocLisboa, Lisbon’s international documentary film festival, will take place from the 14th to the 24th of October. Some of the screenings will be inside a couple of theaters in the city (Cinema Londres and City Classic Alvalade), but most of them will be in Culturgest, a cultural center uptown. The opening film will be one about José Saramago, Portugal’s Nobel Prize-winning author who died earlier this year. Most of the other films are from Europe, but there are also many from North and South America.

August is one of the months when Lisbon receives its largest number of tourists, yet it’s when you see the least amount of people on the streets. That’s because many locals are on vacation and have essentially moved down the coast to Algarve, are traveling elsewhere in Europe and around the world, or sunbathing at the beaches of Costa da Caparica. But the city’s cultural and entertainment calendar does not take a break, and those spending their August days in the city will always find plenty to do. Here are some highlights:

WATCH WARHOL TV
The Berardo Museum is one of Lisbon’s most-see attractions, not just for its permanent collection but also because it’s free. There are also temporary exhibitions and this month it has one focusing on works by one of the world’s top contemporary artists, Andy Warhol. Many don’t know that Warhol produced and directed several TV productions between 1979 and 1987, and you can see them here this month and at any time until November 14. These productions reflect the artist’s constant inspiration from the celebrity and entertainment worlds in 1980s New York.

ENJOY JAZZ OUTDOORS
Every August the Gulbenkian Foundation offers a jazz program in its gardens, and this year there is even more outdoor jazz in the city. Every weekend this month you’ll find free jazz concerts in the Belém gardens (next to the Jeronimos Monastery) starting at 5PM. Even if jazz isn’t your favorite music genre, it’s a relaxing soundtrack for a break during your Lisbon sightseeing.

VISIT PORTUGAL ARTE 2010
Leading contemporary artists are showing their works in Lisbon’s Portugal Pavilion, in the city’s squares, and in three other cities in the south of the country. This month-long event is a biannual public art show consisting of installations and sculpture related to contemporary life created by national and international artists. You can check it out until August 15 and get more information on the official website: http://www.portugalarte.org/

SPEND YOUR NIGHTS AT THE URBAN BEACH
The beaches of Cascais will get a lot of extra visitors this month. They’re the ones looking for a refreshing dip in the sea, an escape from the city or a suntan, but when the sun goes down it doesn’t mean your time at the beach has to be over. In the center of Lisbon there is an urban beach that opens in the afternoon and lasts until morning. We told you about it last year (Nightlife’s a Beach), and the news for the summer 2010 season is a new sushi restaurant called “Sakana.” If you don’t like raw fish, there is always the Kobe restaurant on the site, specializing in steak.
But if all you want is to chill out, you can go just for cocktails with your feet in the sand and the Tagus River at your feet.

CULTURE DAYS IN THE CCB
The Belém Cultural Center is currently offering a program of special events in its outdoor spaces lasting until the 31st of the month. This year it’s dedicated to World Music, especially that coming from Iberia and Latin America. But it’s not just about music, as it also presents dance, theater and cinema. It takes place on weekends, and you can see the website for more information: http://www.ccb.pt

It’s now June which means that from now until October, Lisbon will be sunny about 90% of the time. When visiting the city at this time, touring museums feels less appealing and you’ll likely be drawn to the great outdoors. Lisbon is perfect for that, with a marvelous setting: It has a river that many mistaken for the ocean, hills creating an amphitheater-like landscape best admired from the top of its castle, and terraces scattered around offering panoramic vistas. In between you’ll discover charming gardens, monuments offering views, and the approaching breeze of the Atlantic. Here are 10 ideas for what to do in the open air this summer in Lisbon:

1. RELAX IN PRINCIPE REAL’S GARDENS
The Principe Real neighborhood is one of Lisbon’s most charming residential areas, and its main square has just reopened last week after months of renovation. That square is actually a garden and you can sit under a gigantic “umbrella tree,” try one of the city’s traditional drinks at a kiosk café, and admire the architectural details of the colorful buildings of the surroundings. Go down the hill and you reach Praça das Flores, perhaps Lisbon’s most romantic corner. It’s never mentioned in guidebooks, but this small, shaded square has a couple of the city’s most inviting cafés with outdoor tables, including the new “Novamesa Snack Bar,” an extention of the recent Nova Mesa restaurant. Back up the hill is the enchanting Botanical Garden.

2. STROLL DOWN THE BOULEVARD
Avenida da Liberdade is Lisbon’s mile-long “Champs Elysées,” a boulevard know for its luxury shops, theaters, and cafés. A new Prada store is opening this week in one of its most beautiful buildings, and you can do some window-shopping as you go down the avenue admiring the city’s trademark mosaic pavements and stop to take a look at the many scattered statues, all the way to the city’s biggest park. Edward VII Park goes up a hill and once you reach the top you’re rewarded with a postcard-view of the city.

3. STAND IN THE RENOVATED RIVERFRONT COMÉRCIO SQUARE
As GoLisbon reported, Lisbon’s biggest and most monumental square has just been renovated. The planned cafés will only be open in September or October, but you can sit by the river, at Cais das Colunas, a quayside area with two large columns marking the entrance to the city from the Tagus. From here you can admire the square and its triumphal arch, and sit as you watch the ferries cross the river, and see the landmark 25 de Abril Bridge and the Monument to Christ in the distance.

4. CATCH SOME SUN FROM THE ROOFTOPS OF ALFAMA’S MAIN MONUMENTS
The National Pantheon and St. Vincent’s Monastery are both located in Alfama just steps from each other, and besides both being painted in shining white, they both offer rooftop terraces for city views. You can stop to check your guidebook or simply stay admiring the city as you work on your tan.

5. GO MIRADOURO-HOPPING IN ALFAMA
Alfama is Lisbon’s most picturesque neighborhood and it’s always best enjoyed outdoors. It forces even the laziest walkers to go up and down its cobbled streets, and the reward are its terrace viewpoints. Three of the most beautiful viewpoints in the city are located within walking distance from each other, and they allow you to do some sightseeing as you enjoy your sunny summer days. Start in Miradouro de Santa Luzia, go up to Miradouro das Portas do Sol (stop for a drink at its fantastic terrace café), and continue up the hill to Miradouro da Graça where you won’t be able to put your camera down.

6. STAND BY THE LAUNCH PAD OF THE DISCOVERIES
Florida’s Cape Canaveral is the launch pad for the exploration of space today, but five centuries ago the launch pad for the exploration of planet Earth was Lisbon’s Belém district. That’s where you’ll find the city’s three biggest landmarks, the Discoveries Monument, the Belém Tower, and Jerónimos Monastery. Starting at the monastery, walk west along the waterfront to admire the architecture and stone work of the other two monuments, and picture Vasco da Gama departing on his way to discovering the maritime route to the East or Pedro Alvares Cabral on his way to discoverig South America.

7. GO BACK TO THE FUTURE IN PARQUE DAS NAÇÕES
Lisbon’s waterfront is not just about the voyages of the past. At the former site of 1998′s World Fair you now find a modern residential and business district with futuristic architecture. You may see all of it from a bird’s-eye perspective on a cable car ride, or walking along the riverfront from one of the world’s biggest aquariums all the way to a Dubai-like tower, Torre Vasco da Gama. In between you’ll see lawns and gardens inviting you for a picnic.

8. CRUISE DOWN THE TAGUS
With so many walks by the river you’ll probably end up wishing you were in it. You may do that by taking a sightseeing cruise which departs every afternoon from the center of the city and goes all the way to Belém and Parque das Nações. Be sure to take your camera, especially when you pass under 25 de Abril Bridge and see Vasco da Gama Bridge at the end of the journey. Get complete cruise details here: Tagus River Cruise

9. GO ON A PHOTOGRAPHY WALKING TOUR
By now you probably already know that Lisbon is one of Europe’s most picturesque cities which is why it’s so loved by photographers. Even if you have very little talent and don’t aspire to become one, you’ll enjoy a walking tour where photographing the city is the theme. Your attention will be guided to all the details that make Lisbon so special, from the tiled façaded to the cobbled mosaics, to the surprising views along the way.
Complete tour details here: Lisbon Photography Walking Tour

10. TAKE THE CASCAIS-ESTORIL BOARDWALK
Lisbon may have a Mediterranean look and feel, but this is actually a very Atlantic city. Its river opens to the ocean from the Belém district to the seaside towns of Cascais and Estoril. Known as “the Portuguese Riviera,” these are two chic resorts which are connected by a beachfront boardwalk. You’ll find pretty villas, marinas, small coves, and Europe’s largest casino but on a sunny day nothing will make you leave the boardwalk with occasional stops for a drink at a beachfront café or some sunbathing on the sand.

Lisbon’s biggest annual event used to happen only on and around June 12th, but it’s been expanding in the last few years. The “Festas de Lisboa” (the Lisbon Feasts) now take place from May to July with several events around the city, and they’ve just begun. June 12 is still the most important date, honoring St. Anthony who was born in the city, although this is not a religious festival. It’s a day to descend the steep streets at eat and drink around the city before or after attending special events around the corner. This year they include jazz, Fado, and several other special shows:

OUTJAZZ
Five green spaces in the city will be hosting jazz concerts every Sunday at 5PM. In May the chosen site is Jardim da Estrela, the Campo Grande Garden (opposite from the City Museum) will be the stage in June, and in July it moves to Edward VII Park. In August it will be the lawns in front of Belém Tower.

LOUNGE
From now until July 15, Cinema São Jorge on Avenida da Liberdade will host free concerts and DJ sets every afternoon at 3PM until 9PM from Sunday to Wednesday, and from 3PM to 1AM from Thursday to Saturday.

CHIADO IN FASHION
From June 1st to the 6th, the streets of the city’s Chiado district will be the stage for dance performances and fashion-related events.

FADO IN THE CASTLE
Every Friday and Saturday at 10PM from June 4th to the 26th you can hear Lisbon’s music in the city’s most historical site, the Castle of St. George. While most activities related to the Lisbon Feasts are free, this one charges admission (€12.50).

FADO IN THE TRAMS
From June 2nd to the 6th, then again from the 9th to the 11th, 13th, and once again from the 16th to the 20th, you can enjoy more than the ride and the sights from the city’s old trams. There will be live Fado performances on those days at 4PM and 7PM so catch a ride at those times if you can.

MASS WEDDINGS
Join the entire country in crashing a mass wedding celebration on June 12th. Sixteen couples tie the knot in the city’s cathedral in a televised event sponsored by Lisbon’s city hall. The date is special because it celebrates St. Anthony who was known as a matchmaker.

AVENIDA DA LIBERDADE PARADE
The “Marchas Populares” (literally “Popular Marches”) is a parade of colorful costumes and cheerful songs marching down the city’s main avenue on the night of June 12th. Each group represents a Lisbon neighborhood and there is a winner for best song and costumes. Look out for Alfama‘s which seems to win at least every other year.

GAY PRIDE
Lisbon’s LGBT Pride will be in a special celebratory mood this year now that Portugal has just become Europe’s 6th country to legalize gay marriage. The city’s 14th annual gay party will include activities entitled “queer games” and “Gay Village.” This year it all takes place in the renovated Comercio Square on June 26th.

Following on from the May 2009 and October 2009 editions we told you about here, the Lisbon restaurant Week starts again tomorrow in its third edition and goes on until 6th March.

This iniciative, originated in New York 16 years ago and implemented in many other capitals since, allows diners to sample gourmet dishes at Lisbon’s top restaurants for the excellent price of 20 euros per person (drinks not included). For every client, 1€ is then donated to charity.

Thus the objective of Lisboa Restaurant Week is to help different charities and provide easy access to quality dining, and participating restaurants in this edition once again include Casa da Comida, Conventual, Cop’3, Eleven, Gemelli, Mezzaluna, Olivier, and XL, amongst many more (full list below).

For this edition, and to commemorate the Peixe em Lisboa event to be held in April, participating restaurants will also offer a special fish dish option for 25 euros.

See the full list of restaurants below, and if you’re not in Lisbon during the next 2 weeks, don’t worry, you can still check out our Lisbon restaurants guide for other excellent dining recommendations.

1. Ad Lib
2. Alecrim às Flores
3. Associação Naval de Lisboa
4. Brasserie Flo Lisboa
5. Bubbly
6. Casa da Comida
7. Clara Jardim Restaurante
8. Coffee Shop do Real
9. Coisas de Comer
10. Conventual
11. Cop’3
12. Eleven
13. Faz Figura
14. Flores
15. Fontana Park Hotel- Restaurante Bonsai
16. Fontana Park Hotel- Saldanha Mar
17. Gemelli
18. Guarda Real- Hotéis Real Portugal
19. Il Gattopardo
20. Kais
21. L’Appart
22. Lapa
23. Mezzaluna
24. Momento Gourmet
25. Olivier Café
26. Panorama- Sheraton Lisbon Hotel
27. Petra Rio
28. Pratus
29. Quinta dos Frades by Chakall
30. Restaurante Aviz
31. Restaurante El Corte Inglés
32. Sessenta
33. Sofisticato
34. Spot Lx
35. Spot São Luiz
36. Suite- Food and Dance
37. Tágide
38. Terraço
39. Varanda
40. Varanda de Lisboa
41. Vela Latina
42. XL

More info at http://www.lisboa-restaurantweek.com

Lisbon’s yellow trams and funiculars are some of its most iconic images, and some of its most photographed monuments. They’re classified as national monuments and remain popular rides for tourists and locals to go up and down the city’s steep hills. The most photographed of all is perhaps that of Bica, the funicular right outside Bairro Alto that goes down one of the city’s most colorfully picturesque streets. If you’ve been to Lisbon before or are doing your research before you visit, you’ve already seen it — it looks like one huge yellow box going downhill. But it’s yellow no more, at least until June. It’s been covered in mirrors, so now its color is whatever is reflected on it during its journeys. This makeover is part of a special event promoted by the local transportation company Carris that runs these trams and funiculars, called “Arte em Movimento” (“Art in Movement”). Contemporary Portuguese artists have been invited to create a special project for the city’s four funiculars (“elevadores”), and while that of Bica is the most visible, the others (Gloria, Santa Justa, and Lavra) will also offers a few surprises during their short but charming rides…

Lisbon’s biggest New Year’s Eve party usually takes place in Praça do Comércio, the large square that opens to the river. That’s where most go to see the fireworks at midnight, and stay for the music concerts. This year however, the party must be moved elsewhere, as that square is undergoing renovation until at least next April. So the chosen location was Jardim Vieira Portuense, the lawns by Jerónimos Monastery in the Belém district. Before the fireworks at midnight there will be a Beatles tribute concert (don’t ask), while in the first minutes of 2010 there will be a concert by Xutos & Pontapés which is one of Portugal’s biggest rock bands.
On the opposite side of the city, in the Eastern district of Parque das Nações there will also be a fireworks show, this time cascading down Vasco da Gama Tower. As GoLisbon previously told you about, that tower is being turned into a hotel, but despite all the works around it, it will still be able to continue its annual fireworks tradition for the sixth consecutive year.
If you’re not recovering from a champagne hangover on January 1st, head to the city’s cathedral in the afternoon. A free concert by the New Zealand Choir & Orchestra will take place at 5PM, with 50 performers who have offered concerts at most of the great cathedrals of the world since their first international tour in 1990 (check out their website at www.cathedral.org.nz).