All About World Heritage Sites
Make traveling more meaningful
Explore Lisbon’s rich history on this half-day bus tour of Belém Tower, the Monument to the Discoveries, Jerónimos Monastery, the Coach Museum, and more. Your informative guide will introduce you to the city’s elegance, including an aperitif of port wine!
Source: Lisbon Half-Day Sightseeing Bus Tour
What we did on our trip to Lisbon, Portugal We’ve returned from our trip to Portugal
Source: Lisbon totally exceeded our expectations! Here’s what we did.
Lisbon Portugal is a city of friendly people, colorful cobbled streets, breathtaking overlooks and fresh, delicious cuisine. There’s a castle, a marina, trolley cars and tuk tuks, dining can be casual and affordable and children are welcomed almost everywhere. In other words, Lisbon with kids is a no-brainer. It’s the perfect kid-friendly European city. Here’s how to spend 2-3 days in the City of Seven Hills.
Getting your bearings in Lisbon with kids:
Often compared to San Francisco, California for its hilly city streets, strikingly similar bay bridge and trolley (cable) cars, Lisbon doesn’t seem to have just one central district or downtown. Rather, several neighborhoods make for a good home base, within walking distance of many attractions. From the Chiado neighborhood, the historic Alfama neighborhood or the Bairro Alto neighborhood, you’ll be central to most sights.
Taking a tuk tuk tour through Lisbon’s winding, narrow streets can be a great way to get your bearings and have fun doing it.
Read more from source: Lisbon with kids: What to do and where to stay in Portugal with the family – Pitstops for Kids
Whether you’re looking for culture, great food or some good old relaxation time, this city has it all
It’s almost time for Europe’s biggest guilty pleasure – the Eurovision song contest !
Playing host this year is the breathtaking city of Lisbon, with crowds descending on the Portuguese capital for the glitzy and bonkers performances.
Often referred to as ‘the city of seven hills’, Lisbon is perched somewhat haphazardly across bumpy landscape on the country’s western coastline.
It’s said to be one of the oldest cities in the world and according to legend Lisbon was founded by Ulysses on his journey back from the Trojan War.
It was chosen by Lonely Planet as one of the world’s top ten cities to see in 2017.
Visitors will fall in love with the views from the picturesque harbour and happily lose themselves in the maze of pastel-washed streets.
The working city is bustling with life, yet still manages to have an uncrowded feel. If you’re looking for an affordable weekend of fascinating culture, tasty cuisine, a Mediterranean climate and therapeutic sea air, leap over to Lisbon.
Lisbon, which is this month hosting the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest, rose ten places to 16th in the World’s Best Cities category at last year’s Telegraph Travel Awards, voted for by more than 90,000 readers. Here’s why it’s been proving so popular…
1. There’s fine dining by the bowlful
In 2015, Lisbon had one Michelin star and by 2016, three more restaurants had been awarded their first – LAB by Sergi Arola, Loco, and Alma – reinforcing Lisbon’s ever-growing culinary reputation. There are currently four one-star establishments in the city, and one – Belcanto – with two.
2. It’s one of the world’s oldest cities
…predating the likes of London, Rome and Paris by hundreds of years. You can feel its antiquity clinging to every corner, especially in the district of Alfama. This makes Lisbon a veritable banquet for history-hungry visitors. It was very nearly destroyed entirely by a massive earthquake in 1755, but was (thankfully) patched together and revived.
3. Your pound goes a long way
The post-Brexit slump hit travellers to Portugal (and the rest of the Eurozone), but sterling has recovered much of the ground it lost since then.
Lisbon, Portugal seems to be on everyone’s travel radar these days. Europe’s second oldest capital is equal parts grit and grandeur with both a timeless appeal and modern allure. Lisbon has centuries of history and tradition but is also fiercely independent with a creative streak which makes it one of the most captivating cities in Europe. With so much to see, do and eat planning to travel to Lisbon can be a little daunting, but armed with these tips you can make your first trip to Lisbon one to remember.
The Lisbon Portela Airport is Portugal’s main international hub and is well serviced by over 30 airlines. For the most direct way to reach your hotel taxis and Uber are plentiful and costs apporoximately 15 Euro. The most affordable ways to get to Lisbon’s city center are the Metro( a 25 minute trip on the red line connecting through Saldanha station) or by bus with multiple bus routes serving the city. Check Lisbon Airport’s site for the lastest route information.
Read more from source: 25 Tips for Your First Trip to Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is one of Europe’s most fascinating capitals with its wealth of museums, art galleries and ancient fortifications. But it’s best known for its iconic yellow antique trams, charming cobbled streets and lively nightlife. Check out our pick of the best things to see and do in Lisbon.
Torre de Belém
One of the city’s most famous landmarks, the Torre de Belém sits on the northern banks of the Tagus River. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old fortification was built in the early 1500s to protect Lisbon harbour from seafaring pirates. Explore the beautiful landscaped gardens surrounding the tower or take a self-guided tour of the fort and climb up to its highest bastion for sweeping views of the city.
Metro/Tram: Centro Cultural de Belém
Open October to May, 1000–1730, May to September, 1000–1830.
Source: 8 of the best things to see and do in Lisbon
If you haven’t been to Lisbon before, I guarantee you will find this city will far exceed expectations, on your Portugal vacation.
When you are compiling your bucket list of major European capital cities to visit, Lisbon should definitely be on it!
Let’s start with a minor cautionary note. Lisbon was built on seven hills which make it a very attractive and scenic city, but this means that one often has to climb up reasonably steep streets if exploring on foot. However, this can be overcome as there is an excellent transportation system which, in many cases, can alleviate the climbing. There is an efficient metro (subway) system and good bus and streetcar services. I believe central Lisbon should, if possible, be explored on foot on a Portugal vacation, as there is so much to see almost on every street and around each corner.
In San Francisco, you have cable cars. In London, you have red double-decker buses.
Source: Explore Lisbon on a Portugal Vacation – One of Europe’s Most Underrated Capitals | Goway
Promising world-class museums, a wealth of historic architecture and a hip bar and dining scene, a weekend in the Portuguese capital should be on everyone’s travel bucket list. Check out our top 10 must-see attractions for your next Lisbon city break.
Jardim Zoológico
Founded in 1884, Lisbon Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals and is another popular family attraction in the city. The strapline, ‘travel around the world without leaving Lisbon’, rings true as it features an extensive variety of animals hailing from Africa, Asia and Europe. It’s also worth taking a ride on the zoo’s cable car which flies over the enclosures offering a bird’s-eye view of the animals. Praça Marechal Humberto Delgado
Metro: Jardim Zoológico
Lisbon Oceanarium
Located in the beautiful Parque das Nações, Lisbon Oceanarium is Europe’s largest indoor aquarium.
/GettyImages-596238752-5a43ac4de258f8003692b2dd.jpg)
Everything you need to know about visiting Lisbon’s Belém Tower, including its history, when to visit, what to expect, ticket prices, and more.
Adorning the cover of numerous postcards and guidebooks, a visit to Lisbon’s beautiful, UNESCO-listed Belém Tower features on almost every visitor’s itinerary. If you’d like to know more about visiting this 500-year-old structure, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to the tower’s history, how and when to go, tips for buying tickets, what to expect once you’re inside, and more.
Here’s everything you need to know.
History
Back in the 15th century, the king and his military advisers realized Lisbon’s existing defensive forts at the mouth of the Tagus river didn’t provide enough protection from sea-based attack. Plans were drawn up to add a new fortified tower on the northern bank of the river.
