Portugal Travel - City Guide Lisbon

The capital of Portugal has experienced a renaissance in recent years and has reclaimed its rightful place as the 'golden city' of southern Europe. After slumbering for decades, the city's modern, vibrant and cosmopolitan identity is today much similar to that which it enjoyed in the 15th and 16th centuries during the age of the great discoverers, when Lisbon was the centre of trade with the East and the starting point for maritime exploration of the globe.

The city fathers of Lisbon elected to invest in some rejuvenation in the 1990s, and this ongoing focus on the future has made the most of the city's attributes and attractions, both old and new. Infrastructure has also been improved, with additions like the impressive Vasco da Gama Bridge across the River Tagus, which links the city's airport to a network of national motorways and has facilitated access to other parts of Portugal. There is also a new showcase railway hub, the Gare de Oriente, which is the pride of a new modern suburb on the east bank of the Tagus, creating an even better link between Lisbon and the rest of Europe.

While much is new, there is plenty of the old left to charm visitors, giving the metropolis a slightly provincial air. The delightful, picturesque medieval section of Alfama skirts the city's Sao Jorge castle, and historic wooden trams ply noisily up and down steep hills past art deco cafes and mosaic-decorated pavements. Many of the relics of the city's golden age were destroyed in an earthquake in 1755, but some survived and are popular tourist attractions, complemented now by modern sights, like the futuristic Oceanarium.

Within easy reach of the city are the sandy beaches of several coastal resorts, such as Costa da Caparica, Estoril and Cascais, as well as the forested areas of Sintra and attractions like the extraordinary Mafra monastery. The mood of Lisbon is light and bright, confident, fresh and avante garde, ready to welcome the world to the doorstep as one of the great capitals of Europe.

Lisbon Tourist Attractions

Portugal's capital has a unique blend of picturesque old quarters and modern amenities. As a result of hosting the World Expo in 1998, the city has undergone a complete facelift and can now boast having the world's largest oceanarium, as well as one of Europe's largest shopping centers.

The more traditional attractions for the tourist include the St. George's Castle, the Belem Tower, the Jeronimos Monastery, the Gulbenkian Museum and the National Coach Museum. Lisbon is also famous for its nightlife, with entertainment to suit every taste, from the traditional 'Fado' Restaurants to the lively bar and disco scene at the Docks, as well as great floor-shows at the nearby Casino of Estoril. Besides the many attractions Lisbon has to offer, it is also within easy reach of a wide variety of historical places, great beaches and beautiful countryside. more ....

Lisbon Bars & Cocktail Lounges

There's more to Portugal than Port. Away from the occasionally charmless South, Lisbon is stacked with great bars and clubs that seriously threaten to turn you into a fish. Then again, nothing really happens until after eleven and this is when the maze of the wonderfully old Biarro Alto springs into life. The charming and faded old buildings boast hundreds of little bars and eateries making it a great place to start before heading off down to the Avenida 24 de Julho on the river or down to Alcontara and Santo Amaro near the docks. more ....

Lisbon: Metro

The Lisbon Metro is a small system (four lines with 40 stations). Tickets cost 90 Portuguese escudos each in packs of 10 (even cheaper than Madrid at 40 cents each if my math is right). The trains are "wide", left hand running. Some of the trains have the rubber pass-thru joints between the cars. All of the lines (confusingly identified by colors-- red, blue, green, yellow; symbols, and line numbers) are all underground, except the Green/Yellow line's current northern terminal at Campo Grande. The elevated station is mostly to provide easier access to the yards which are at this location. The underground stations are pretty much uninteresting- all side platforms mostly with no walls between the tracks; very plainly decorated, not brightly lit, and many long passages to various entry stairways on the surface made them slightly threatening at late hours. There is also a short surface running stretch on the newest (Red) line but no above ground stations. There is construction going on to extend ALL the lines at least 15 additional stations. The red line is the newest built for the 1998 Expo. This line has some surface running north of Olaias station and very beautiful stations; Olaias station is probably the most beautiful metro station I've ever seen.

Lisbon Golf

Located on the southwestern coast, the sophisticated city of Lisbon boasts warm temperatures during the winter months with fresh, cool summers. Lisbon's resorts include the popular Estoril, with its miles of beautiful beaches, the lively resort of Cascais offering a range of restaurants, shops and bars and in the south, the quieter fishing village of Sesibra. With cultural diversity combined with a laid-back ambience, Lisbon is one of Europe's most enjoyable cities. The quality of the golf on offer can now rival the more popular Algarve but at a significantly lower cost and without the crowds. The area boasts the greatest variety of courses available and offers a real tough test of golf. Once you have visited Lisbon, you will return and that's a guarantee! more ...