Lisbon Tourist Information

Lisbon is a beautiful city, one of the most charming not only in Portugal but in the entire world. Lisbon is not only the capital of Portugal, it is also its biggest city, but it is rather unlike most cities of its size. It has a contemporary, cosmopolitan outlook while retaining much of its medieval charm. Many flock to Lisbon to get a glimpse of a time when triumphant kings sent their voyagers to discover the rest of the world.

The best way to arrive is through the Lisbon Airport, also known as the Portela Airport, which now has two terminals, the main international and domestic terminal, and another domestic terminal for departures only. The airport is 7km from the city centre, usually a 20 to 30 minute drive. Strategically built near the airport is the Parque das Nações, which was the site of the 1998 Expo, and houses such attractions as the Oceanarium, as well as being a residential and leisure centre. However, staying your entire vacation in Parque das Nações does not let you experience Lisbon in all its glory.

The city centre itself is divided into different districts, each filled with Lisbon hotels that offer rooms at different, competitive rates. There would be cheap hotels in Bairro Alto, but you will need luck finding one without a reservation. Meanwhile, if you wish to truly enjoy your Portuguese holiday and have the money to spend, you could try any of the designer hotels in Pombaline Baixa or downtown Lisbon. Of course, as many locals will urge, staying in any of the districts will give you a good look at the city, especially as it is quite easy to get around to see what all of Lisbon has to offer.

There is indeed much to see and experience in Lisbon. The list of Lisbon tourist attractions in the city centre ranges from architectural gems, as the Torre de Belem and the Jerónimos Monastery, to majestic monuments, such as the Padrão dos Descobrimentos or the Monument to the Discoveries, to melting pots of art, culture and events, such as the Gulbenkian Museum. There are also many shopping establishments, including both the sixth largest mall in Europe and the largest mall in the Iberian peninsula, as well as flea markets, and restaurants with delicious Portuguese and international cuisine, and the best port in the world.

At night, as soon as the sun goes down, the city turns into a hub of excitement. Lisbon comes alive with cafés, restaurants, and bars playing both popular music of all different genres that you can find all over the world and the more traditional Fado music, which many Lisbon visitors will definitely recommend. The Lisbon nightlife scene is an all-evening event, usually lasting until the sun starts to rise again.

These must-see sights that are mentioned here are only just a handful, and limited only within Lisbon city limits. Surrounding the city is a rich Portuguese landscape that offers excitement at every turn. Lisbon day excursions are available to the surrounding towns and cities, with packages that cover three or four nearby towns in one outing. One excursion may take you on several adventures, inspecting castle ruins or entire medieval towns during the morning, then soaking up the lovely Portuguese coast in the evening, on Lisbon beaches which are great for sunbathing, swimming and surfing.

You may even opt to spend the night at one of these towns, especially in Estoril, home of the famous Casino Estoril, or Fatima, the site of the famous apparitions of the Lady of the Rosary. It may take more than a day to fully experience some of the towns, such as Sintra, which was first popularly celebrated in a poem by Lord Byron, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lisbon is a city built on seven hills, which account for its up-and-down streets, which are, by themselves, already a charming reason to visit one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.