Top Ten Attractions
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The Bairro Alto district
The ‘Upper City,’ the trendiest area of Lisbon. Narrow, cobblestoned streets and ancient buildings. Colourful and lively at night.
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São Jorge Castle
The ancient hilltop citadel that was the palace of Portuguese kings for more than 300 years. http://www.castelos.org/george
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Belém Tower
A miniature castle, built in the early 16th century as a monument to Portugal’s maritime triumphs.
http://www.mosteirojeronimos.pt/index_torre -
Jeronimos Monastery
Regarded as Lisbon’s most important landmark. Survived the great earthquake of 1755, unlike most of the city.
http://www.manorhouses.com/unesco/whjeron -
The Rossio
The square that’s the bustling heart of modern Lisbon. Full of popular old-world cafes where you can sit outside and watch the world go by.
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The Sé
Lisbon’s great Cathedral, begun around 1150 and rebuilt several times.
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Church/Museum of São Roque
Built in Rome, blessed by the Pope, dismantled and sent to Lisbon in three ships in 1750.
http://www.golisbon.com/sight-seeing/sao-roque-... -
Parks
Two in particular: Parque das Nações, which is the main legacy of Lisbon’s hosting of Expo ’98. Within the park is the spectacular Oceanarium. www.parquedasnacoes.pt. The Parque Eduardo VII contains the botanical gardens. http://www.palmasur.com/en/cgi-bin/section.asp?...
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Miradouro da Graça
Tram number 28 takes you up the hill to this viewpoint offering a fine panorama of the castle and central Lisbon. http://www.golisbon.com/sight-seeing/graca
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Convento do Carmo
A 14th century ruined Gothic Carmelite church with a wonderfully eccentric archaeological museum.
http://www.bugbog.com/gallery/lisbon_pictures/l...
Eating and Drinking
Lisbon's port not only brings a wealth of seafood into the city to be enjoyed, but over the centuries it has brought a series of culinary influences from around the world that make eating out in the city far more diverse than expected. Many visitors expect Portuguese cuisine to be similar to Spain’s, but Lisbon’s 2,000 or so restaurants will show they are quite different. Lisbon is famed for its seafood, and with the nation's largest fish market just outside the city the freshness and quality is almost always assured. Lovers of hot food should also be aware that one import to Portugal's cuisine has been the spices of Goa – some food can have a surprising kick.
On Rua dos Correeiros, in the centre of Lisbon, visitors can find a series of good restaurants, from Irmãos Unidos do Minho – offering northern Portuguese specialities – to the sister restaurants Lagosta Vermelha and Marisqueira Popular, which specialise in offering quality food at good prices with friendly service.During the day, the cafes that line the pedestrianised Rua das Portas de Sao Antao, behind the Teatro Nacional, are the best place to grab a bite to eat. Often with tables outside, the cafes offer a good selection of bar snacks and drinks. Rua das Portas de Sao Antao also boasts a good number of fish restaurants, often popular with visitors to the city. The most common Portuguese drinks are, of course, Port and Madeira. However, the country also produces a good selection of wines, to enjoy alongside a meal or in the warm summer evenings. The two big Portuguese beers are Super Bock and Sagres and almost every bar or restaurant in Lisbon will sell one of them.
Shopping
Clothing, jewellery, shoes, purses, perfumes and trinkets are some of things you might look for when shopping in Lisbon. And one recent traveller to the city had some other ideas: “I'm not a shopper, but even I find it hard to resist the azulejo tiles and hand-painted dishes. I also have a prized collection of records and CDs from Portugal, including albums from Madredeus and Mísia. And I wouldn't dream of leaving Lisbon without a kilo or two of Portuguese coffee.”
The area known as Baixa (downtown) is one of the oldest commercial areas in Lisbon. Here you’ll find streets named after the business or job that was once done there. Prata (Silver) Street, Ouro (Gold) Street and Ferreiros (Blacksmiths) Street are some of the examples. Nowadays, you will be able to find some of the best shops, restaurants and theatres there. This is Lisbon’s heart and the place to see names like Armani, Benetton and Levi.
Shopping malls are almost everywhere in the city.
Amoreiras shopping centre, located in the centre of Lisbon since 1985, has 350 shops on two floors. It’s open every day between 1000 and 2300.
Vasco da Gama is situated in the newest part of the city – the Parque das Nações. Inaugurated in 1999 and containing 156 shops and 35 restaurants, it opens between 1000 and midnight every day.
Colombo shopping centre can be found near the Benfica football stadium. Open since 1997, it has 3 floors with 437 shops and 69 restaurants and operates every day, from 1000 to midnight.
There are many colourful markets in Lisbon - some of the largest lie around Cais do Sodre. Lisbon’s main flea market is the Feirta da Ladra, which is located on the edge of the Alfama district around Campo de Santa Clara and is open Tuesday and Saturday mornings.
Night Life
Nightlife in Lisbon can mean anything from a drink in a bar or a meal in a restaurant to an evening spent sipping port or listening to the melancholy strains of fado, the Portuguese music that can be heard coming from a hundred cafes. Traditionally, the centre of the city's nightlife has been the Bairro Alto, with its Casa de Fado (Fado Houses), traditional bars and discos. However, much of the action has now moved to the Docas (Docks) district, east of the 25 April Bridge and close to the Congress Centre. A range of bars occupy converted warehouses, with a crowded promenade and seating outdoors. Back towards the city, the Doca de Alcântara has recently emerged as the new place of choice for Lisbon's professionals and 'in' crowd. For more details on the city's top clubs, restaurants and bars, visit Time Out's online guide to Lisbon: www.timeout.com/lisbon.
