Highlights
History
Unravel centuries of history in the district of Belem, awash with UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the place from which explorer Vasco da Gama and seafaring pioneers set out during the ‘Age of Discovery’. Highlights include Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and Torre de Belém, two impressive monuments portraying Portugal’s proud maritime past. Fast-forward to the Victorian era and hop on an old yellow tram, travelling along the cobblestone lanes of Alfama. With its quirky, village-like ambience, Alfama has been inhabited since the 5th century and was an upper-class neighbourhood of the Moors.
Culture
Lisbon’s museums cover everything imaginable – archaeology, ancient art, fashion, the military, royal coaches, science, electricity, music and more! The Berardo Collection Museum is a top choice for contemporary art, while the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum showcases world-class fine, decorative and applied artworks. The National Tile Museum is another gem, where blue-and-white painted tiles are transformed into art – the star exhibit is a scene of the city in 1738 before the great 1755 earthquake, a masterpiece measuring 53m in length and comprising 1,300 dazzling tiles. Last but not least, the Fado Museum offers a closer look at the history and evolution of this unique musical genre.
Food, Drink & Nightlife
Lisbon’s dining scene is sophisticated and dynamic, with a bounty of fresh seafood (particularly shrimp, sardines, tuna, monkfish, clams, snails) filling Michelin-starred kitchens and corner-side taverns. Sample top-quality Alentejan beef, sun-ripened fruits and organic vegetables, not forgetting highly quaffable wines, produced in local wineries. Along with regional and national favourites, a handful of international eateries also dish up delicacies from all over the world. Lisbon is also a hotspot of vibrant nightlife, with Fado clubs and bustling bars dotted along the cobbled streets. This, along with riverside mega-clubs and cool rooftop cocktail bars, ensures that Lisbon offers something for every taste.
Viewpoints
The city’s iconic seven hills are topped with viewpoints known as ‘miradouros’. Be sure to head to one or more of these wonderful open terraces for an incredible panoramic vista across town, as well as a chance to relax and rejuvenate, basking in the sunshine over a pitcher of sangria and plate of tapas.
Beaches
Lisbon is a gateway to Portugal’s wild and wonderful Atlantic coast, so if you fancy a swim, surf or sunbathe, it’s just a short hop away. Take the train, bus or rent a car and head just outside of Cascais to Guincho Beach, the backdrop of Bond movie ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’. Today, the beach is a haven for sun-worshippers, kite-surfers, windsurfers and surfers, with big rollers, sunny skies and mesmerising sunsets, overlooking golden sand dunes and clean Atlantic sea. Alternatively, stay in the city and head down to the River Tagus, where stripy deckchairs offer urban beach relaxation.