Travel guide Lisbon
A magnificent bay, the Tagus estuary, spanned by an interminable bridge, the Vasco de Gama bridge, sloping streets climbed by tramway, a visit to Lisbon has the air of a European San Francisco if not the opposite, as a result of its seniority. During your stay in the capital of Portugal, the most western of Europe, you will take advantage of your vacation to discover a rich heritage that goes back to Roman times and that has then crossed the centuries and the influences, Muslims in particular, until today. From theBelem Tower , the ancient port from which Vasco da Gama left in 1497 to conquer the world, to the futuristic Parc des Nations, built for the 1998 Universal Exhibition, from the grandiose Praça do Comercio ( Trade Square ), where the historic heart of the city beats, to the St. George's Castle and its magnificent panorama, ideal for taking pictures of Lisbon or its other neighborhoods, there are many things to see and visit with the help of your Lisbon tourist guide. The Portuguese capital is also ideal for walks through time in the cobbled streets of the old quarters of Alfama and Bairro Alto, or for lazing around in the summer on the many sandy beaches of the surrounding area accessible by public transport, such as Cascais or Estoril, with a warm pastel de nata in your mouth. In the evening, Lisbon transforms itself and takes on more festive tones where you can easily be convinced by the terraces of the small restaurants to taste the typical dishes most often based on cod, have a drink, or party to the tunes of fado or other less melancholic music, in the Bairro Alto or in the Docks district. You will enjoy strolling through the small streets of the historical quarters of this beautiful city in summer.
What to see, what to do Lisbon?
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When to go Lisbon ?
If you have the choice, the best periods for a trip to Lisbon are spring and especially June (popular festivals), early summer (many festivals) before August (the time of vacations for the Portuguese, therefore higher prices) and early fall (before the rains).
Summer is of course the great season of festivals. June is one of the most interesting months for the festivals of St. Anthony, St. John and St. Peter, which are among the main events of the month. Also worth noting are the Santiago de Setúbal fair (end of July, beginning of August), the bullfighting week in Vila Franca de Xira (June), the Almada theater festival (July), the Palmela grape harvest festival, the Seixal jazz festival (October) or the many summer music festivals.
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How to go Lisbon
How to go alone
There are many direct flights to Lisbon for prices ranging from one to four times the price depending on the season. Please note that the price variation depends on the airline used but, above all, on the reservation delay. In order to get good prices, it is therefore often essential to book in advance.
How to go on a tour
Tour operators specializing in Portugal produce their own tours and are generally very good at giving advice, as they know the region inside out. Note that their prices are often a little higher than those of generalists. Organized trips to Lisbon can be combined with the discovery of Porto and Faro. Beware of pickpockets.
How to get around
You have all the necessary means of transportation in Lisbon. The bus serves the whole city, unlike the metro which has only four lines, but whose stations are often magnificent works of art. During your city trip, you will have 5 streetcar lines at your disposal. A classic is to take the streetcar no. 28 which crosses the historical districts of the city (Alfama, Bairro alto, Graça). If you want to get some height, don't hesitate to take the panoramic elevators of the buildings like in Santa Justa in the Baixa district.
Featured articles Lisbon
Discover Lisbon
Because of its geographical location, Lisbon was very early the object of all covetousness and occupied by peoples from all walks of life. The result of these multiple invasions can be seen above all in the architecture and cuisine. Despite everything, the Portuguese were able to appropriate these influences to make them their own traditions and know-how. This is how the Arab mosaics became azulejos, those beautiful earthenware tiles present on the facades and inside the buildings. From popular laments was born the fado, which can be heard all over Lisbon, wandering the streets. Lisbon is as popular as ever today. It is now the artists who come to leave their mark with street art frescoes everywhere. Not forgetting the mythical yellow tramway of the 1930s, a bit of a cliché, but a symbol of the sublime Lisbon
The 12 keywords Lisbon
1. #Alfacinhas
The list of nicknames attributed to Lisboners is long, but"alfacinhas" is certainly our favorite. Literally "little salads" in Portuguese, this is how they've been affectionately referred to since the Middle Ages, when lettuce was abundantly cultivated in Lisbon. The crops have since disappeared, but the name has stuck!
2. #Bacalhau
Bacalhau is the famous cod that the Portuguese are said to cook differently every day of the year. 365 recipes and counting, so you'll never tire of it! Creamed, grilled or stewed, you'll find it on Christmas tables and on the menus of the capital's finest restaurants, as long as it's on your plate!
3. #Colina
Lisbon is known as the city of seven hills, or colina in Portuguese. The promise of exceptional views from every corner of the city! Of course, it can take some effort to get up and down them... No wonder there are so manyelevadores in town. One thing's for sure: it's worth the effort!
4. #Galo
The rooster(galo) is a symbol of Portugal, originating from a famous legend in which a falsely accused pilgrim pointed to a roasting rooster on the judge's table, claiming it would crow to prove his innocence. And the rooster crowed! Many have forgotten this story, but it's part of Portuguese folklore, as it is in France for other reasons!
5. #Azulejos
You'll see them everywhere on the city's colorful facades: the famous Portuguese tiles. They bear witness to the Muslim occupation of Portugal (711-1492). The word "azulejo" comes from the Arabic "az-zulayj", meaning "small polished stone". If you'd like to bring some home, buy them new in specialized stores.
6. #Docas
Born from the desire to make the former Tagus quays profitable, from which caravels and ships once left and returned full of treasures, they now house bars, terraces, restaurants, nightclubs, and a few galleries, at the very place where soldiers embarked for the colonial wars in Africa.
7. #Futebol
There's no escaping it, it's almost a religion here, and the local icon is called... Ronaldo! On match nights, the bars are packed and lively to say the least! Don't hesitate to join in the festivities. The city's two most famous clubs are Benfica and Sporting, so if you haven't already, you'll have to choose sides.
8. #Fado
While the origins of fado are still somewhat hazy, it is generally accepted that it developed in Lisbon, in the taverns of the city's old quarters. As you stroll through the alleyways of Alfama and Mouraria, you'll hear its melancholy tunes accompanied by the guitarra portuguesa that only the Portuguese know the secret of. Get your handkerchiefs!
9. #Tasca
Despite their decaying decor, tascas (Portuguese bistros) are certainly one of the most local experiences you'll have in Lisbon. The food is often very simple but homemade, and it's clearly the best way to discover Portuguese gastronomy. It all starts with a soup and ends with a coffee.
10. #Mourisco
"Moorish" in French. Although Portugal, and Lisbon in particular, is now profoundly oriented towards the Atlantic, the few centuries of Moorish occupation up to the 15th century have left their mark on the city, its architecture, culture and language. Influences can be felt everywhere, so keep your eyes and ears open.
11. #Cravo
On the night of April 25, 1974, Zeca Afonso's song Grândola Vila Morena, broadcast at 0:25 a.m. on Lisbon's Catholic radio station, gave the signal. Army captains, fed up with the colonial wars, overthrew the government with red carnations(cravo) at the end of their rifles, which became the symbols of the Portuguese revolution.
12. #Saudade
Here's a word, or rather a concept, that is truly untranslatable, but oh so felt by the Portuguese! The Portuguese poet Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen wrote:"Saudade - it's the longing for something distant, or lost, but it's even more the essence of a bygone moment." A kind of melancholy, sadness and joy, a little of all these at once.
You are from here, if...
You let people onto the bus in the order in which they arrive at the stop. This means that when you arrive at the station, you identify the people who are already there.
You say hello, good afternoon and good evening, not just "ola". Even in everyday language, the Portuguese use this way of greeting. There's always a moment's hesitation between hello and good afternoon, but by midday you can usually already say "boa tarde".
You cultivate patience. It's not uncommon in a restaurant to be kept waiting for the menu or the bill. Rest assured, you haven't become transparent! It's normal, so don't get nervous.
You stop questioning everything. Being Portuguese also means accepting things as they are and not looking for logic where there is none.
You change your plans at the last minute , adopting the "going with the flow" approach. It's hard to plan anything, but it does give you a certain freedom..