Lisbon Travel Guide With Visit Lisboa
With toasty autumn temperatures and a reputation as one of Europe’s best value cities, there’s never been a better time to visit Lisbon. The region is brimming with culture, heritage, entertainment and culinary delights. Here, the local experts from Visit Lisboa suggest how to make the most of a short break.
1. Baixa
PHOTO: COMMERCE SQUARE
Step back into Lisbon’s past by exploring the Baixa district, where wide avenues, elegant squares and neoclassical buildings were born out of the 1755 earthquake that devastated the city. Today, its traditional shops – some three centuries old – specialise in goods such as wine, dried cod and antiques. At the southern end is the mosaic-paved Commerce Square, dominated by the magnificent Arco da Rua Augusta. Find lunch in one of the many restaurants, where the menu do dia (fixed menu) provides great value, and grilled sardines and bacalhau (salted cod) are a speciality.
2. Alfama
PHOTO: TRAM IN ALFAMA
PHOTO: ALFAMA
From Baixa, hop aboard the canary-yellow no. 28 tram and head to the cobbled streets of the Alfama district, the oldest part of Lisbon. Climb up to the Castelo de São Jorge, a high and mighty fortress built by the Moors, with amazing views from the ramparts of the city and the River Tagus below, before exploring the area’s atmospheric maze of alleys, unique shops and local cafes. Stay for an early evening shot of ginjinha (cherry liqueur) with the locals.
3. Fado
PHOTO: FADO
Lisbon’s dinner choices are endless, from family-run tascas serving local favourites, to Michelin-starred restaurants. For a unique Lisbon experience, the fado houses of Alfama, Bairro Alto and Mouraria combine dinner or petisocos (small plates) with the chance to enjoy the poetic songs of love and fate brought to life by the combination of guitar and emotional vocals. An integral part of the city’s history and culture, fado was born in the streets, houses and riverside areas of Lisbon and is included in UNESCO’s World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
4. Belém
PHOTO: BELEM TOWER
PHOTO: JERONIMOS MONASTERY
Belém is home to two unmissable UNESCO World Heritage sites. The iconic Belém Tower is a symbol of the city, and the nearby Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is an extraordinary monastery built in honour of Portugal’s famed navigators. The Royal Treasure Museum, in the magnificent Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, is the first permanent public display of Portugal’s Crown Jewels and home to a collection featuring more than 1,000 pieces of royal goldsmithery, from rare and precious jewellery to what is thought to be the second largest gold nugget in the world.
5. Sintra
PHOTO: SINTRA NATIONAL PALACE OF PENA
PHOTO: PENA NATIONAL PALACE IN SINTRA
While the city is packed with attractions, there are fascinating sites to explore in the wider region. Sintra, just a 40-minute train ride from Rossio Station, is a town steeped in history and natural beauty. Highlights include the multi-coloured Pena Palace, which was created by King Ferdinand II in the 19th century in vibrant reds, yellows and blues to bring his romantic vision to life. Elsewhere, the intriguing Quinta da Regaleira is designed with hidden tunnels, symbolic gardens and mystical architecture, and the Castle of the Moors, a fortress dating back to the 8th century, offers breathtaking views of the surrounding lush, green hills and the distant Atlantic Ocean.
6. Cascais
PHOTO: CASCAIS BEACH
For a complete switch-off from the busy city locals head to the golden beaches of Cascais, which are only 30-minutes by train from Cais do Sodré station. Known for its stunning coastline, Cascais is a charming old town filled with boutique shops and cafes, along with the scenic Boca do Inferno cliff formation. Nearby Estoril is famous for its casino and gardens.
For the best value visit, the Lisboa Card provides free travel on public transport including the subway, trams, buses and trains to Sintra, Cascais and more, as well as free entry to 51 museums and attractions across Lisbon. For full details, see this link. For more idead and inspiration on Lisbon, visit www.visitlisboa.com.