|
Lisbon is one of Europe's most vibrant
cities. With a personality split between Western Europe and Northern
Africa, the Portuguese capital exudes an inviting warmth and geniality.
A cosmopolitan city steeped in history and tradition, Lisbon boasts
an ultra-modern infrastructure and elegant old-world charm.
Lisbon is the ideal conference destination:
take its convenient location and ease of access (just a two-hour
flight from many European centres), and add in sunshine, continental
flair, exciting architecture, history, the majestic Tagus River
- not to mention long sandy beaches and international-standard
golf courses within half an hour of the city. Lisbon really does
have it all.
Over a thousand years old, Lisbon was once
the centre of a mighty empire spanning 5 continents. As Portugal
reached its zenith as one of the world's greatest maritime nations
in the 15th and 16th centuries, so the port of Lisbon became the
world centre for trade in spices and jewels from the East and
gold from Brazil.
Whilst the Rio Tejo (River Tagus) still dominates
Lisbon life, the city's main industry is now tourism. Other key
business areas include finance, insurance, consulting and telecoms,
with Lisbon very much the hub of Portuguese business, commercial
and political life.
A buzzing city at the best of times, activity
in Lisbon is currently frenetic as the city gears up to play host
to the Euro
2004 football championships. Kick-off takes place on 12th
June 2004, a month after Momentum Lisbon 04, at the new Sporting
Club of Lisboa stadium.
Back
to Top
Sightseeing overview
Spread across seven hills, Lisbon offers
many delightful and distinctive regions to discover. The Alfama
Hill is the oldest part of the city and is crowned by Castelo
de São Jorge (St George's Castle), well worth the walk
for those with the energy! The Baixa is the heart of the city
and offers some of the best shopping and hotels. The Bairro Alto
is the most fashionable district, with trendy bars and restaurants.
To the west of the city is Belém,
boasting two world heritage sites - the Torre de Belém
(Belém Tower) and the Mosteiro
dos Jerónimos (Jeronimo Monastery).
To the north east is the new Parque
das Nações (Nations Park). Developed for Expo
'98, Nations Park is a stunning showcase for Portuguese design
and architecture - an ultra-modern playground which includes Lisbon's
landmark Torre Vasco da Gama (Vasco da Gama Tower), Europe's largest
aquarium, concert halls, bars, restaurants and shopping centre.
Outside the city boundaries, the twin resorts
of Estoril
and Cascais offer a beach escape in the summer months, while the
mountain retreat of Sintra
is a perennially popular daytrip.
Detailed below are just some of Lisbon's
abundant places of interest. Full tourist information is available
through the Lisbon Tourism Association and its excellent web site:
Palácio Foz, Praça dos Restauradores, Lisbon
Tel: +351 (21) 346 3314
Email: alt@alt-turismolisboa.pt
Web:
www.atl-turismolisboa.pt
Open: Daily 09:00-20:00
Other tourist offices are located at Santa
Apolónia station and at Lisbon Airport. There are also
kiosks in many hotels and near all main tourist sites.
 |
The Lisbon
Card offers unlimited travel within the city and free
or discounted entry to more than 27 of its museums and attractions.
Cards can be purchased at Associação Turismo
de Lisboa offices at the following rates: €12.75/24-hour
card, €21.50/48-hour card and €26.55/72-hour card. |
Back to Sightseeing Overview
| Back to Top
Lisbon attractions
Avenida de Brasília, Belém (Tel: 21 362 0034)
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 10:00-18:30
This ornate white stone tower was built in 1515 to defend the
River Tagus and as a monument to Portuguese maritime discoveries
- it was the last site seafaring adventurers saw before setting
off on their epic journeys. Today, the tower is one of the city's
most famous sights and is an excellent example of the Manueline-style
architecture, as well as being listed UNESCO World Heritage site.
Praça do Império, Belém (Tel: 21 362 0034)
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 10:00-18:30
King Dom Manuel started construction on this magnificent monastery
in 1502. It was built to signify Portuguese importance as a world
power at the time and more specifically to celebrate Vasco da
Gama's discovery of a sea route to India and the Spice Islands.
Along with the Torre de Belém, the Monastery is a UNESCO
World Heritage site.
Largo do Chäo da Feira (Tel: 21 887 7244)
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 09:00-21:00
Perched on the highest of Lisbon's seven hills, the site was occupied
by Romans, Visigoths and Moors and was the royal residence until
the last 15th century. From the mighty ramparts of this once powerful
fortress there are spectacular views of Lisbon.
Praça de Afonso de Albuquerque, Belém (Tel: 21 361
0850)
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 10:00-18:00
One of the most popular of Lisbon's 51 museums and perhaps the
finest example of its type anywhere in the world, the Coach museum
offers a magnificent display of opulent coaches built for the
aristocracy, dating from the 17th century.
Avenida de Berna, 45 (Tel: 21 782 3461)
Opening hours: Tues 14:00-18:00, Wed-Sun 10:00-18:00
A treasure house of art covering almost every significant epoch.
Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Islamic and Oriental art comprise half
the exhibition rooms, with the remainder devoted to European art
from medieval times to the early 20th century.
Largo da Sé (Tel: 21 886 6752)
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 08:30-18:30, Sun 10:00-13:00 & 14:00-17:00
Built in the 12th century by Dom Alfonso Henriques, Portugal's
first king, Lisbon's cathedral is primarily Romanesque in style
with later styles incorporated when earthquake damage was repaired.
The cloister dates from the 13th century, while the Baroque sacristy
houses the remains of St Anthony (Lisbon's patron saint) and other
treasures.
This is the old town of Lisbon and is beautifully picturesque,
retaining the old structures of Muslim and medieval origin. Typical
features remain including narrow streets, wrought-iron balconies
and tiled facades. The best way to visit is by 'eléctrico'
(tram).
Campo Ourique-Martim Moniz (Tel: 21 361 3000)
Opening hours: Daily 06:00-01:00
The legendary Tram 28 is a tourist attraction in itself. Vintage
trams still ply the well-worn route from the city centre on sea
level towards the heights of the Castelo de São Jorge (St
George's Castle). En route, the tram slices open Lisbon, providing
insights into its way of life, as well as offering sweeping views
back towards the city and out over the Rio Tejo (River Tagus).
Back
to Lisbon Attractions | Back
to Top
Nightlife
Lisbon's nightlife is generally considered
to be amongst the best in Europe. From sunset until dawn, the
city's wide range of bars, restaurants, theatres and nightclubs
reflect the liveliness of its people. Lisbon is a city that takes
its nightlife seriously!
Traditionally, the centre of the city's nightlife
has been the Bairro Alto, with its Casa de Fado (Fado Houses),
traditional canteen-style bars and discos. Much of the action
has now moved to the Docas (Docks) district, east of the 25 April
Bridge and close 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.
A
form of music developed in Lisbon's sailor bars in the late 18th
century, Fado is a mournful, romantic singing style that fits
somewhere between blues and flamenco: reminiscing Portugal's great
Golden Age. These traditional sounds are best heard at one of
the Casa de Fado (Fado Houses), from about 9pm in the evening.
For more information and lists of 'Fado Houses' throughout Lisbon,
visit the Tourist Board's site:
www.atl-turismolisboa.pt/guide/index_uk_fado.htm.
Back
to Nightlife | Back
to Top
Restaurant guide
Please
refer to the following web sites for information on eating out
in Lisbon:
Time
Out City Guide:
www.timeout.com/lisbon/rest.xml
Lisbon
Tourism Association:
www.atl-turismolisboa.pt/gastronomia/index_uk.htm
Back to Top
City facts
| Location |
West
coast of Portugal
|
Country Dialling Code
|
+351
|
Time
Zone
|
GMT (+1
hour from late March to late October)
|
Population
|
681,063 (city of Lisbon),
2,000,000 (metropolitan area)
|
| Language |
Portuguese |
| Ethnic Mix |
70% Portuguese, 20% smaller
communities from Macau, Brazil & other European countries,
10% African |
Religion
|
Predominantly
Roman Catholic |
Electricity
|
220 volts AC, 50Hz, round
two-pin plugs are standard |
Average
January Temp
|
12°C
(53.5°F) |
| Average July Temp |
24°C (75°F) |
| Annual
Rainfall |
617mm
(24.3 inches) |
Back
to Top
|
