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IN A NUTSHELL
WHAT: Lisbon.
WHERE: Portugal.
WHY: Architecture, monuments, great food, and great
nighlife, all at a great price.
WHEN: Any time of year.
HOW: International flights into Portela Airport (Lisbon).
IF YOU LIKE THIS... Then you should check out
Valletta. |
Lisbon
is known for its thrilling nightlife, its famed monuments, and its
hills. Lisbon lies in Central Portugal at the mouth of the
Tagus River. Since its beginnings as a Phoenician harbor town,
it has been successively ruled by the Romans, Goths, and Moors.
In 1147, crusader knights led by Alfonso I recaptured Portugal and
it became the nation's capital city in 1255.
Lisbon grew in leaps
and bounds over the next few centuries, especially during the rise
of Portuguese seapower. The great moments of this seafaring
nation have been captured by the 16th Century monuments at the
UNESCO World Heritage Site of Belém, located just west of downtown
Lisbon.
Today's Lisbon bears the marks of the massive earthquake of 1755
(followed by a tsunami and fire), which killed between 60,000 and
90,000 people, and destroyed 85% of the city.
The city's downtown area, or Baixa, was planned and rebuilt after
the earthquake by the Marquis de Pombal, who emplaced a grid system
to replace the winding old Medieval streets. This new city of
broad avenues and open plazas (praças in Portuguese) is the Lisbon
that we see today.
The one section of the city to survive relatively unscathed was the
Alfama, or Moorish section of town. This district, occupying
the hill below the Castle of São Jorge, retains much of this lost
Medieval flavor, with windy streets and red tiled roofs and Moorish
architecture.
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Lisbon Highlights and Travel Tips |
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BAIXA AND PRAÇA DO COMERCIO
Praça do Comercio (Commerce Square), on the Tagus
River, is the beginning of Lisbon's Baixa, or downtown
district. |
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BAIRRO ALTO AND
ELEVADOR DE SANTA JUSTA
The Bairro Alto (Upper Quarter) occupies the top of a
steep hill just west of Lisbon's Baixa district. This
area functions as a residential, shopping, and entertainment
district.
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ALFAMA AND CASTEL SÃO JORGE
The Alfama is the one district of Lisbon to survive the
earthquake of 1755 relatively untouched. This district
still retains a Moorish flavor, and is topped by the Castel
São Jorge (St. George's Castle). |
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TORRE DE
BELÉM & MONOSTEIRO DOS JERONIMOS
This monument-packed neighborhood on the Tagus River,
west of downtown, features a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
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PARQUE DAS NAÇÕES
The Park of Nations was built for the 1998 World Expo in
Lisbon, and features shops, restaurants, a riverside
pedestrian area, and one of the world's largest aquariums,
the Lisbon Oceanarium. |
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LISBON PANORAMAS
Take a look at our Lisbon Panorama pictures to fully
experience this vibrant and beautiful capital city. |
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MY TRIP TO PORTUGAL
Read what I did to learn from my discoveries...and
mistakes. |
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LISBON AND SINTRA MAPS
Take a look at our maps
to get
acquainted with the city, landmarks, and public
transportation system.
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My Trip to Portugal |
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Hotel: I stayed with some friends at the
Aparthotel VIP Eden,
which is an apartment-type hotel. Our room included a kitchen
/ living room area, with a mini-fridge, cooking area, and a couch.
The second room had a double bed, desk and chair. The
hotel also has a rooftop pool and breakfast area with views of
downtown Lisbon.
I definitely recommend the hotel; not only was it a great deal
to stay in with some friends, but the location is absolutely
fantastic. It is steps away from the underground metro
station, and a quick walk from the Rossio train station. In
addition, it lies on the edge of the Baixa downtown pedestrian area,
and across a main street from a row of restaurants and outdoor
cafes.
Transportation: The elevadors/funiculars provide a fantastic way
to get up to the Bairro Alto, which is just uphill from the hotel.
Be sure to use this cheap transport to get up the hill -- all the
locals do.
Trains are clean, on time, and generally a great way to get
around town and to the outer sites at Belém, Parque das Naçoes, and
Sintra. Transfer from the underground lines to the above
ground trains at the larger stations.
Taxicabs are surprisingly cheap in Lisbon. The meters go
up slowly and you can get a 15-20 minute ride for a the price of a
few Euro. I only discovered the cheap cab fares as I was
rushing to get to the airport, and immediately wished that I had
made liberal use of them during my trip.
Lisboa Card: Available at the airport and Turismo de Lisboa
offices, Lisboa Cards area a great deal -- they grant cardholders
free use on nearly all public transportation and discounts at
museums and monuments. You can buy them in 24, 48, or 72-hour
blocks. Adult tickets typically cost 12.75, 21.50, and 26.55
Euro for 24, 48, and 72-hour blocks. Tickets for
children aged 5-11 cost 5.70, 8.55, and 11.40 Euro respectively. |
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