Lisbon was distinguished as the Europe’s Leading City Destination 2023 by the World Travel Awards. Lisbon is a historical city, where the sun shines 290 days a year and the temperature rarely drops below 15 degrees. A city where you feel safe wandering around day or night. Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and the country’s biggest city, located on the estuary of the Tagus river, on the European Atlantic Coast. Around 3 million people live in the Lisboa region, with around 600 thousand living in the capital itself.
Enjoy Lisbon
Lisbon is a city full of authenticity where old customs and ancient history intermix with cultural entertainment and hi-tech innovation. Lisbon is ageless, but it loves company, as you’ll find out if you meet someone and ask them to explain, with lots of gestures and repetition, where the best place is to listen to Fado. After all, Lisbon is famous for its hospitality and the family-like way it welcomes visitors. Lisbon was considered the third most hospitable city in the world by Tripadvisor.
From historic places to the most recent museum and architecture projects, there is much to see in a city which is constantly reinventing itself. From the classic to the contemporary, visual arts to performing arts, listed monuments to new interactive exhibitions, in Lisbon there is always a unique show to see or an impressive monument to visit. And this is the place to find them. https://www.visitlisboa.com/en/c/sightseeing-and-activities/museums-and-monuments
Nonetheless, some of Lisbon’s most popular attractions are not included in the habitual compilations of the top 10 tourist spots. Despite the region having plenty to offer that goes beyond what you will find just in the city, the city itself creates unforgettable moments in unexpected places.
This is also a monthly publication that provides latest info on activities taking place in Lisbon: https://www.visitlisboa.com/en/about-turismo-lisboa/d/964-follow-me-lisboa-11-2023-en/showcase
Sightseeing
Lisboa is a vibrant city that efortlessly blends traditional heritage, with striking modernism creating a city of contrasts and a pure delight to discover at each step.
LISBOA CENTRO Dating from the 19th century, AVENIDA DA LIBERDADE is one of the city´s most elegant and bustling areas in Lisboa. This Avenue is a mecca for shop featuring top national & international brand names, hotels, outdoor cafés and restaurants.
ROSSIO SQUARE is beautiful especially during springtime with the blossoming purple Jacaranda Trees. From here enjoy a stroll down Rua Augusta, take time to be surprised by the unique views from the top of Rua Augusta triumphal arch or just be dazzled by crossing under this amazing piece of architecture framing the entrance to TERREIRO DO PAÇO.
As you walk along the stone-paved, narrow and often steep streets of Alfama and Mouraria, you are literally transported back in time.
Save time to experience Fado music at the Museum or at a local restaurant.
BAIRRO ALTO, BICA AND PRINCIPE REAL are neighborhoods opened to the world, to diversity, to the joy of life. The streets are lled with people from all over the world, all ages, creeds and styles.
BELÉM AND AJUDA Belém is a symbol of the Portuguese Maritime Discoveries. The UNESCO World Heritage sites of Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, both in Manueline style, enhance the atmosphere with their astonishing architecture.
LISBOA ORIENTE Located in the eastern former industrial part of the city, Xabregas, Beato and Marvila are hotspots with warehouses converted into art galleries, start ups, restaurants, bars and cultural spaces. The Nations Park is Lisboa at its most modern. with a prime location just 5 minutes distance from Lisboa´s International Airport and Vasco da Gama bridge. Site to the magnificent Oriente Train Station, including various venues for events, such as the Lisboa Oceanarium, the Knowledge Pavilion, the Altice Arena, the Casino Lisboa, the Marina and many bars and restaurants
Other museums and attractions
MAAT MUSEUM Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology and itself an extraordinary piece of architecture.
CENTRO CULTURAL DE BELÉM Renowned for its contemporary art exhibitions and cultural initiatives
NATIONAL COACH MUSEUM has the world’s most important collection of royal carriages and coaches from the 16th to the 19th century.
SANTA JUSTA LIFT An elevator in the historic center of Lisbon that connects the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Largo do Carmo (Carmo Square).
NATIONAL PALACE OF AJUDA Housing the Royal Treasure Museum which includes the Crown Jewels and the Jewellery Treasures
PASTÉIS DE BELÉM The most popular delicacy of Lisboa
How to get to Lisbon
There are many ways to get to Lisbon and all of them are easy to use. With the airport and the main train stations just a few minutes from the centre of the city, including international rail.
If you land in Lisbon, the international airport is just a mere 7 km from the centre of the city. This infrastructure is served by the main international airlines.
It is just as easy to reach the centre of the city by train. National and international trains arrive every day at Santa Apolónia station, which is very close to all the traditional neighbourhoods and Terreiro do Paço. But if you would like to add a unique architectural experience to your arrival, get off at Gare do Oriente, whose Calatrava-designed lines impress even those who see it every day.
From the Airport to the city
Metro The Lisbon Airport has a Metro (subway) station with a direct line to the city centre. The 'Aeroporto – Saldanha' red line takes you to downtown Lisbon in about 20 minutes.
The 2023 Lisbon metro fare prices are:
- Credit card contactless payment is available
- Single Fare (€1.50)
- Zapping: The fare is charged to the reusable “Viva Viagem” card, which costs €0.50 for the initial purchase. Once you have a Viva Viagem card, you loaded it with credit and you can use it to pay-as-you-go on Lisbon’s buses, trains, trams, funiculars, the metro and ferries. Each trip with Viva viagem is €1,35. (If you’re familiar with London’s Oyster card, Zapping runs on the same principle). Each passenger is required to hold his/her own Viva Viagem ticket.
How to get around in Lisbon
The best way to get around Lisbon is through fast and inexpensive public transport. The city has a well-developed network of buses, trams, suburban trains and metro. You can find more about the bus network here: https://www.carris.pt/en/ and the metro network here: https://www.metrolisboa.pt/en/ . You can also hire the services of Lisbon public bikes, which are scattered across the city.
Other general info
ATM: There are ATM almost every corner and you can pay with cards almost everywhere (if the amount is > 5€).
Daytrip from Lisbon
If you want to stay a few more days and plan some excursions around Lisbon, we recommend visiting Cascais, a small seaside town, or Sintra and its palaces scattered across green hills. Both are half an hour by train from Lisbon.
About Sintra: https://www.sintra-portugal.com/index.html
About Cascais: https://www.visitcascais.com/en
Where to eat in Lisbon, some suggestions
Arroios District
- Harmonia (Rua Actor Isidoro 3, Alameda)
- Maria Food Hub (Rua Maria Andrade 38, Anjos)
- Patuá (Rua da Ilha de Sao Tomé 10A B)
- Ramiro (Av. Alm. Reis 1 H, Intendente) – only seafood
- Tasca do Mercado (Rua Ângela Pinto, Mercado de Arroios, Alameda)
- Trinca (Rua dos Anjos 59C, Anjos)
Alfama and Mouraria District
- Pátio 13 (Calçadinha de Santo Estêvão 13, Alfama)
- Maria da Mouraria (Largo da Severa 1 e 2, Martim Moniz) – live Fado
- Zé da Mouraria (Rua João do Outeiro 24, Martim Moniz)
Campo Pequeno District
- Maria Peixeira (Av. Miguel Bombarda 133B) only fish
- Sauvage (Av. António Serpa 9)
Photos: © Turismo de Lisboa