Lisbon Hotels

But just as bridesmaids can provide the best fun at a wedding – and on a wedding night! – so Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, can show you what you’ve been missing by spending all your time on the other part of the Iberian Peninsula.

From the grandeur of Belem where monuments seemingly occur on every corner to the ancient narrow lanes of Alfama to the pumping dance scene in the hills of Bairro Alto, Lisbon is a city that enchants with its diversity and acceptance of the old and the new. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, it’s easy to see why the population of Lisbon is so obsessed with the sea and its exploration. With glorious beaches on the coast and the unbelievably magical Sintra, with its Moorish castle and trendy inhabitants just a short drive away, Lisbon really is Portugal’s crowning glory.

Lisbon provides all the best elements of Europe, and yet somehow offers a completely unique experience. Happy to thrive on its history and embrace tomorrow at the same time, Lisbon is the perfect blend of tradition and innovation. The Ponte Vasco de Gama is the longest bridge in Europe and proof that Lisbon is a city that is experiencing a new Renaissance, thriving where others are failing, and well worth visiting.

LISBON’S TOP 10

LISBON LOCAL

Baixa (Downtown)

The heart of Lisbon is a place of broad squares and massive pedestrian-only boulevards. The primary shopping and business district was rebuilt after a great earthquake, meaning houses that would have been odd and sprawling are now uniform in design and size.

Comercio Square borders the river and is centred on a grand statue of King Jose I. The cafes and shops that flank the streets create a cosmopolitan vibe, but be sure to check under your feet as the pavement design is very intricate and almost mosaic in its patterns. Rossio Square is the liveliest spot in the city, with so much happening you may miss the two baroque cupid fountains flanking it. Its cobblestone streets lead up to the doorway of the neoclassical Dona Maria II National Theatre.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that you’ve stepped back in time as you enter the Belem district. Here, it’s easy to see how Portuguese explorers and traders once held the world in their palms. Belem and its enormous monuments celebrate the Age of Discovery. Although home to some of Lisbon’s most-famous attractions, there are some lesser-known yet still magnificent sights that are often overlooked. The Ajuda Palace and Coaches Museum are an experience in 18^th century grandeur and lavishness. If you choose to travel by foot, the 25 de Abril Bridge provides a perfect view of the surrounds.

Alfama

While Belem allows you a glimpse of 16^th Century Lisbon, Alfama takes you further back to the days of Roman settlement and medieval occupation. Experience some of the unique art that Lisbon has produced at the Tile Museum. Room after room is lined with beautiful paintings, including the 23-metre-long landscape of Lisbon before the Great Earthquake of 1755.

The narrow streets and white buildings are more reminiscent of Greece then the rest of Portugal. It’s easy to get lost in these maze-like alleyways. The National Pantheon is also a source of local pride, partly because it took several centuries to build!

Parque das Nacoes

Take a step forward in time and realise what the Lisbon of the future will bring, in the trendy and up-and-coming suburb of Parque das Nacoes. Modern attractions include the Vasco De Gama Shopping Centre and the innovative Oceanarium.

Lisbon Casino is both modern and stylish, and is home to restaurants and bars as well as the casino itself. It is also worth taking a life to the top of the Vasco De Gama Tower, the city’s tallest building, and taking in the view.

Uptown

Uptown provides the best of business, art and shopping – all in one convenient location. Colombo provides one of the largest shopping experiences in Europe, with a wide range of international chains as well as local boutique gems. The Fronteira Palace is home to extravagant gardens and a palatial estate. Once summer home to the Portuguese court, its moat is unbelievably deep. The Medieros e Almeda Museum is one of the largest private collections of fine art in the world and houses some unique treasures.

LISBON EAT & DRINK

LISBON EVENTS

In January, the Winter Festival occurs, with a combination of art and music on offer.

In June, Lisbon celebrates the Christian Pantheon of Saints. The city is packed with bright and colourful parades, costumes and streamers. If you can, take in the St. Anthony’s parade every 12 June. Twelve couples get married and parade through the city – then the procession ends with a flourish of folk dancing and samba bands.

On the 9 July every year, over 10,000 people cram the streets in the city centre for the Gay and Lesbian Pride March. The local LGBT community comes out (so to speak) with whacky costumes and bright colours, filling the streets with a lot of happiness and a lot of music.

The best international and local jazz musicians call Lisbon home during the month of August, for the Jazz in August Open-air Festival.

WHEN TO GO

• Lisbon has an extremely mild climate, capturing the heat of Spain but the cool of the Atlantic perfectly.

• Summer (June-September) days can be ridiculously hot, but the nights make up for it by being very cool.

• Autumn (September-December) and winter (December-March) are the coldest and wettest periods, although they are also the perfect time to discover a slower-paced Portugal.
  

  WHAT TO AVOID

  • Avoid ticket hawkers or counterfeit goods sellers. They often double as drug dealers and are everywhere. The police seem to have turned a blind eye to the sale of drugs in public.

  • Beware of small groups of local hooligans lurking around nightspots. Also, pickpockets are rife in the city centre at night, so leave all unnecessary valuables in the hotel safe.

  • Avoid music clubs with good food – it’s a sign that the music won’t be any good! Similarly, avoid restaurants with music. The two don’t seem to mix in Lisbon!
    

  GETTING AROUND

  • Buses are the most convenient way to get around Lisbon. Pre-buying tickets ticket provides discounts.

  • The metro is the most beautiful way to travel around Lisbon as it’s slow enough for you to catch a glimpse of the city passing by, and the insides are usually decorated quite extensively and painstakingly.

  • Linking the upper and lower parts of the city, a series of lifts are favoured over the winding streets. They can however prove quite expensive and aren’t very quick.

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