Lisbon Facts

Arriving in Lisbon is to embrace one of Europe's most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities.

Celebrated for its welcoming character, unhurried lifestyle and agreeable climate, the Portuguese capital basks in its reputation as one of the most scenic and historic destinations on the Continent.

Unfolding across a series of hills to peer over the vast Tagus estuary, Lisbon is an Atlantic port inextricably linked with the ocean and a rich seafaring tradition. Portugal's intrepid explorers set sail from here in the 15th century on audacious voyages of discovery. Their exploits subsequently charted unknown countries and opened up new sea routes.

Today, visitors can navigate their way around a Lisbon that comfortably melds the traditional with the contemporary.

The ancient, cobbled streets of Alfama – the city's oldest quarter – are in stark contrast to the steel and glass makeup of Parque das Nações, the modern high-tech conurbation east of the city centre. Graceful Chiado with its 19th-century facades and fin de siècle atmosphere is a world away from the buzzing financial district that is Saldanha. Unkempt, delightfully bohemian Bairro Alto casts a mocking eye towards the orderly, commercially driven Baixa. Indeed, Lisbon's myriad neighbourhoods each have their own style, their own personality.

There's a wealth of things to do in Lisbon. Must-sees include a clutch of World Heritage monuments dressed in ornate, Manueline-style architecture, a design signature unique to Portugal. There's also the Oceanário, the second largest aquarium in Europe and the country's most popular tourist draw.

Many of the city's splendid museums and state-of-the-art cultural venues have won awards for design and innovation. Baroque theatres and neo-classical opera houses, minimalist art galleries and even underground archaeological digs are all accessible to an eager public.

Getting around is easy. Resilient, sun-hued trams make light work of some seriously steep hills. The Metro system reaches deep into the suburbs, as do buses and trains. Efficient and inexpensive, the city's public transport network is complemented by a taxi fleet of equally good value.

An astonishing variety of restaurants pepper the sidewalks, and every palate is catered for – anything from Michelin-starred culinary hot spots to unfussy hole-in-the-wall eateries. Menus can be daring and inventive or plain and simple. Choose from regional fare, international cuisine or a fusion of both.

Lisbon nightlife is legendary. The city's bars, clubs and concert halls are festival favourites. Individual tastes and music styles cut across all boundaries but there's still deserved reverence for fado, that most emblematic of Portuguese musical expression.

And where to stay to make the most of Europe's westernmost capital city? Lisbon hotels number luxurious five-star heavyweights, fashionable boutique boltholes, handsome town houses, converted monasteries, quaint inns, budget pensões and spacious, family-friendly apartments.


ALFAMA & CASTELO
The maze of steep narrow streets, winding alleyways and darkened passages lend this ancient district a kasbah quality, and rightly so. This area was once home to the Moors – Muslims from North Africa who made Lisbon their own in the 12th century. Getting lost on purpose is the best way to explore this higgledy-piggledy labyrinth of whitewashed houses, tiny grocery stores and timeworn tavernas. Alfama's soundtrack is delightfully domestic. Housewives' gossip and children's laughter echo across palm-shaded squares while the men folk shout back with football score lines and political diatribes. The mouth-watering aroma of sizzling sardines is often carried on the air, accompanied on occasion by the sombre strains of a fado ballad. Crowning the community is Castelo de São Jorge, the city's landmark stronghold that casts a patriarchal eye over this picturesque and utterly captivating neighbourhood.

BAIRRO ALTO & PRINCIPE REAL
The plethora of bars, boutiques, nightclubs and restaurants that litter this patchwork grid of one-way streets lurch into life after dark and draw a predominantly young crowd. This is pub-crawl territory. Animated watering holes such as Portas Largas compete for the hordes that descend upon this district, particularly during the summer months. Some of the best eateries in Lisbon are located here; just remember, arrive early to bag a table. Artists and designers have set up shop here. The attitude is bohemian, the look retro chic. Squeezed between the trendy stores and minimalist art galleries (some of which are open during the day) are vestiges of another time: look out for the little workshops where locals still produce handmade leather goods and woodwork. Sauntering north visitors reach the quieter and less claustrophobic Principe Real and its verdant park. Nearby is Pavilhão Chinês, one of the most eccentrically decorated bars in the city.

CHIADO & SANTA CATARINA
The 19th-century facades with their wrought-iron balconies, elegant shop fronts, old-style café and bronze statues of eminent writers and poets all help characterise this fashionable and graceful neighbourhood. Centred around Praça Luís de Camões, the Chiado postcode encompasses illustrious addresses like Teatro Nacional de São Carlos and Museu do Chiado. The renowned cafés Brasileira and Bernard are practically next door to each other. And around the corner is the Michelin-starred Tavares Rico restaurant. Some of Lisbon's trendiest boutique hotels are here, and the shopping is excellent. Heading west brings you to Santa Catarina. Actually an extension of Bairro Alto, this area is known for its alternative music scene with clubs like Incógito luring a younger, less affluent crowd. The Miradouro de Santa Catarina affords an impressive river panorama as does the terrace of the nearby Noobai Café.

BAIXA & ROSSIO
The Baixa owes its convenient grid-like pattern to the Marquês de Pombal (1699-1782) who rebuilt the city's downtown district after the devastation caused by the 1755 earthquake. The geometric "Pombaline" design connects the yawning Praça do Comércio with Rossio via a series of intersected, arrow-straight roads one of which, Rua Augusta, is pedestrianised. A busy commercial hub, the Baixa can trumpet a number of prominent tourist attractions including the Museu do Design e da Moda, Núcleo Arqueológico da Rua dos Correeiros and Elevador de Santa Justa. Rossio square is a familiar city-centre meeting point where shops, bars and restaurants thrive. The historic Café Nicola and Pastelaria Suiça are both located here. On the north side of the square is the Teatro Nacional Dona Maria II. Rossio is a major public transport hub and buses from here connect with much of the city, including the airport. The Metro station is located in neighbouring Praça da Figueira.

AVENIDA & MARQUÊS DE POMBAL
Stretching all the way from Restauradores to Parque Eduardo VII, the tree-lined Avenida da Liberdade and its surroundings is the domain of classy boutiques, upscale restaurants and some notable hotel properties including well established five-stars, some new four-stars and one or two excellent budget choices. The boulevard was built in 1879–82 and remains Lisbon's principal thoroughfare. Mid-way along its eastern flank is the 1920's era Teatro Tivoli. On the opposite side of the road is the São Jorge cinema. Both buildings are important performing arts venues. The avenue is closed to traffic every year on the night of 12 June to host the extravagant and colourful Festa de Santo António, a costumed parade of singers and dancers celebrating the city's patron St Anthony. Marquês de Pombal is the huge roundabout that marks the northern end of the boulevard and is within walking distance of the landmark Four Seasons Hotel Ritz.

RATO & AMOREIRAS
Somewhat off the tourist radar, the oddly named Rato (mouse) is nonetheless a distinguished, mostly residential area that has its fair share of good restaurants and a modest number of interesting visitor attractions. It's sandwiched between Principe Real and Estrela so is often walked through in order to get somewhere else. But do stop and check out the Reservatório Mãe d'Água das Amoreiras, a 19th-century reservoir that is one of the city's more unusual tourist sites. It's conveniently situated on one of the roads that snake up towards Amoreiras, well known for the huge, futuristic looking shopping mall and cinema complex and smattering of smart business hotels. One of Lisbon's most iconic historical structures is near here – the imposing 18th-century Aqueduto das Águas Livres the channel of which is linked to the aforementioned reservoir in Rato.

ESTRELA & LAPA
Estrela has one great advantage, the lush green Jardim da Estrela public gardens. Its trim lawns and sub-tropical flora provide solace for overworked residents and weary visitors alike. The park has a small lake full of plump carp and patrolled by a posse of ducks and geese. A waterside café serves drinks and snacks. Drop by on a weekend with a picnic hamper and relax with the locals. Overlooking the park is the impressive 18th-century Basílica da Estrela. Its huge marble-clad dome is a city landmark. The genteel air that defines this district is carried through to Lapa, the most exclusive enclave in Lisbon. This quiet, upscale residential area is pocketed with some glorious 19th-century mansion houses, many occupied by foreign embassies. Offering some distraction are the bijou art galleries and antique shops that tend to congregate on street corners. Otherwise this is a diversion to see how the other half live.

SALDANHA & CAMPO PEQUENO
If in Lisbon on business there's a good chance that the conference or meeting will be hosted by one of the hotels in and around Saldanha, the city's energetic financial district. The busy Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo is alive with suites and ties, pencil skirts and stilettos. The street is endlessly chocked with traffic and the cacophony of commerce ricochets off the glass-panelled facades of bank and company headquarters every weekday. The Atrium Saldanha shopping mall offers welcome retail therapy and the restaurants on the ground floor are excellent value for money. A real treat for urbanites walking east along Avenida da República is the posh 1930s-era Pastelaria Versailles. A beautifully preserved throwback to yesteryear, the café sells a range of scrumptious cakes served by unflappable bowtied waiters. The avenue runs past Praça de Touros do Campo Pequeno, another shopping mall but one that is incorporated within a multi-purpose events arena.

SANTOS & DOCA DE ALCÂNTARA
Santos is the self-styled "Design District". An initiative was drawn up a couple of years ago to turn this area into a centre of style and innovation. A string of studios, workshops, galleries and lofts now showcase the creative output of some of the city's sharpest fashion and interior designers, architects, illustrators and photographers. A number of trendy restaurants nourish this chic collective. For traditionalists, there's still the revered Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga. Neighbouring Alcântara rivals Bairro Alto as the city's premier party zone. The dockside ensemble of bars and clubs has its own point of view – the glittering river and the gaping span that is Ponte 25 de Abril. Laced by a sea breeze, nights out here can be balmy and bewitching. Culture vultures should make a note of visiting the outstanding Museu do Oriente, a museum highlighting Portugal's historic ties with the East.

BELÉM
Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites are within shouting distance of each other in this attractive Lisbon suburb. Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and Torre de Belém are classified as such for their outstanding historical significance and architectural beauty. In fact, the whole neighbourhood pays homage to Portugal's astonishing Age of Discovery, when skilled navigators in flimsy caravels set about charting much of the unexplored world during the 15th and 16th centuries. Belém's verdant parks and wide riverfront promenade make for peaceful, leisurely strolls – particularly alluring when late afternoon light plays off the water's surface. A clutch of museums, cafés, bars and restaurants provide suitable distraction (especially the popular Antiga Confeitaria de Belém) as does the Centro Cultural de Belém, the region's contemporary-styled performing arts centre. For a grand overview of the place, get yourself up to the top of the Padrão dos Descobrimentos from where you can gaze upon a giant pavement map, the Rosa dos Ventos.

PARQUE DAS NAÇÕES
Believe it or not, the "Park of Nations" – the former Expo'98 festival site – was once a dilapidated industrial landscape of disused warehouses, rusting scrap metal and an ageing petroleum refining complex. Cleared and sanitised for the last World Exposition of the 20th century, what you see today is nothing short of incredulous. Located east of the city centre near the elongated Ponte Vasco da Gama, Lisbon's city-within-a-city still retains the ocean theme adopted in 1998. Characterised by striking contemporary architecture – the handiwork of such luminaries as Álvaro Siza, Santiago Calatrava, Peter Chermayeff, Regino Cruz et al – Parque das Nações delivers on numerous levels. Its visitor attractions include the mesmerizing Oceanário, the kid-friendly Pavilhão do Conhecimento and the happy-go-lucky Casino Lisboa. Fashionable restaurants line pavements decorated with mosaic mermaids and exotic fish. Lively bars and cafés reverberate under swaying palms. Lofty hotels afford panoramic views. Walk, jog or cycle the long riverfront footpath or simply try and imagine what all used to look like. © NileGuide2011













































The city on Seven Hills, the birthplace of fado, a maze of dark and narrow streets that date back for centuries, and now, more than ever, Europe's westernmost capital city has quickly become one of the most cosmopolitan. Prized for its seamless mixture of tradition and modernity, Lisbon is like no other place on earth. From Alfama, to the Parque das Nações, to the historical district and the new and thriving business district, Lisbon is one of Europe's most beautiful cities.

Alfama The oldest part of the city is Alfama, which has many tourist attractions. A leisurely tour on the old trams in this part of the city, steeped with an old world charm is an experience of a lifetime. The Castelo de S.Jorge, which was won back from the Moors in 1143, is a must in the itinerary for history buffs. This area of the city, with typical narrow streets and traditional architecture, has a unique and friendly atmosphere. Those who do visit Portugal will certainly notice and enjoy the hospitality of the Portuguese people, which in itself is an attraction of the city.

Barrio Alto Bairro Alto is one of the areas of the city with great nightlife. Here you will find a large number of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. The downtown area of Baixa is traditionally a commercial area, where a number of shops can be found, including tourist gifts shops. The extension of the Baixa, the famous Avenida da Liberdade, mirrors that tradition with a haute couture flair, with many of the best international brands such as Armani, Louis Vuitton, and Trussardi represented on this charismatic avenue.

Belém In Belém, near the Tagus River, there is a variety of monuments and leisure areas. The Torre de Belém is the point from where many expeditions departed, in search of new worlds in the 14th and 15th Centuries. Other beautiful monuments dedicated to Portuguese explorers can also be found in this vicinity such as the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, both of which are definitely worth a visit. Another attraction of the area is the Centro Cultural de Belém, otherwise known as the CCB, which accommodates many international art exhibits and events with the largest auditorium in the city. Also located at the CCB is the Museu Berardo, which has some of the world's most renowned pieces of modern art. Just some of the artists whose works are on display are Dali, Picasso, Warhol, Pollock, and countless others, making this a must see. Close by, you will also find the Docas area, which is great for a scenic stroll through the neighborhood.

City Center The center of the city, apart from being the business and commercial core of the city, also contains many landmarks and shopping locations.

Lisbon also has an Underground network that can take you anywhere in a matter of minutes. Take some time to see the artworks and sculptures made by local artists in most underground stations.

The residential districts of the city sometimes provide the most interesting sightseeing, and even some exciting surprises. If you haven't already done enough shopping, the Benfica area contains the Centro Comercial Colombo. Filled with endless entertaining options and a vast array of shops, this mall is the biggest in the Iberian Peninsula.

Outside the City The towns near Lisbon are just as interesting to visit, and provide for a change of scenery and sights that cannot be found in the city. In around twenty minutes you can go to the beach or to the countryside. West of the city is beautiful Cascais, a town whose rich history is evident in its wealth of historical landmarks and attractions. It also has a large number of beaches. To the south, Costa da Caparica, a fishing village, also has wonderful beaches and allows you to see what a traditional Portuguese fishing village is like.

Lisbon, while a city of contrasts, is more importantly a city of balance. The modern and the traditional, the old and the new, the past and the future all come together here in brilliant unity. In a city whose history and traditions are as rich as its traditional cuisine, it's no surprise that Lisbon keeps travelers coming back for more.