Lisbon
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If you will be traveling to
Portugal,
read the information you need to know about public safety, visas, crime,
driving, health care, and more in our section
Portugal:
Travel
Information |
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This
section of our Portugal Destination Guide describes the best places to visit
in Portugal's capital city, Lisbon.
Lisbon, Europe’s
westernmost capital city, is located in southwestern Portugal. The
core of Lisbon occupies seven hills on the northern bank of the Rio Tejo,
near where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean after crossing approximately
700 miles of the Iberian Peninsula.
Lisbon is the fastest growing urban area in Portugal and the
population of the greater Lisbon is approaching three million. The city
itself is the home to approximately half a million Portuguese who are
extremely proud of the economic and social advances that the country has
made since democratic reforms were put in place after a peaceful revolution in 1974.
Legend has it that Ulysses founded the city as part of his Odyssey, but
archaeological records indicate that the city may have been the site of a
Phoenician settlement dating from 1,000 B.C. The Romans, Goths and Muslims
governed the city through much of its history. The Reconquista of Lisbon in
the 12th century marked the beginnings of the Portuguese city. (The
Reconquista is the name given to the re-conquest of the Iberian Peninsula by
the Christians who vanquished the Moors.)
The city is an amalgam of architectural styles, mixing the old and new in a
slightly chaotic manner. A deadly earthquake destroyed the city in 1755,
killing over 50,000 and leveling most of the city’s homes and historically
significant buildings. Rebuilt on the same site, Lisbon lacks the grand
architecture that one expects from a historically important city, especially
one with the wealth reportedly garnered during the “Age of Discoveries.
Getting Around Lisbon
Those visitors who like to
explore new areas by foot will find Lisbon a challenge. The hills are
numerous and steep while terraces and flat paths are rare. On the other
hand, walking is the best way to get to know this city, so wear comfortable
shoes made for walking or hiking.
Those who like driving should abandon all hope of using a car in Lisbon.
Between the hills and the traffic, you will soon lose your zest for driving.
If still not deterred, then perhaps the lack of parking near many of the
important attractions will change your mind about using a car in Lisbon.
The best way to tour Lisbon is to use the Metropolitano
http://www.metrolisboa.pt/Default.aspx?alias=www.metrolisboa.pt/eng,
the city's predominately-underground
rail-based system.
The Metro stations are highly decorated and something of a treat to see. For
shorter hops, consider taking the trams (streetcars) that crisscross
the city. In order to navigate the hilly areas, take advantage of the
funiculars or elevators. Taxis are an economical way to travel when you have three or four companions. Finally, the suburban railways connecting Lisbon to Belém, Estoril and Cascais
are a great way to see the sights during travel along the coast.
You
might want to consider buying a Lisboa Card if you will be staying in town a
few days. The card can be purchased for one, two and three day intervals
and provides free access to public transportation and free entrance to most
museums and discounts on other attractions of interest to tourists.
See this site for more information about the
Lisboa Card. |
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Don't forget that our pictures will
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is shown, click it to see photographs of the attraction. Each camera
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If you are interested in finding out more about
Portugal, its people, history, economy and geography, visit our section
Portugal
Country Facts
| The river called the Rio Tejo
in Portugal enters the country from Spain where it is called the Rio
Tajo. Many mapmakers avoid the controversy and call it the Tagus
River |
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Lisbon is a city of neighborhoods and
each offers exposure to a different aspect of this capital city”. Notable
attractions are limited in Lisbon but there is much to discover. If your time
is limited, see
Belém and the monuments related to the “Age of Discoveries”. If
you have more time, consider visiting all of the areas we describe. If you do,
you will cover the “best places to visit in Lisbon”, although there are a number
of interesting museums and attractions that we have neglected.
Baixa
Baixa, located in the center of
Lisbon, is known for shopping, banking and its many open-air
restaurants. Baixa is a relatively flat area between the hilly Barrio Alto on one
side and the equally hilly Castelo /Alfama neighborhoods on the other side. It is
distinguished from these areas by its unique, regular, gridded street
pattern. To the south, it is meets
the River Tejo.
Baixa is bounded on the north and south by two large plazas. Located on the
River Tejo, Praça do Comércio is a large public square that was once the site of
a royal palace destroyed in the 1755 earthquake. (The Portuguese word praça
translates to “square, public square, or plaza”.) Today the Comércio is a
large plaza, populated by pigeons and dominated by a statue of Jose 1st, who
was king during the rebuilding of Lisbon after the earthquake. (See - it is
"good" to be king). Ornate,
arcaded buildings, which house the offices of a portion of Lisbon’s city
government, surround the square. In addition, the Praça is a public
transportation hub for Lisbon and many trams and busses stop here.
The shopping area of Baixa starts beyond the tall arch (the Arco da Victória)
at the north end of the square. In the past, the arch was the gateway of the
city, as it was the city entrance used by travelers who arrived in Lisbon
by boat. To the west of the square (along the river) you will find a train
station (Estação Cais do Sodré), which connects to Belém, Estorial and
Cascais.
Follow Rua Augusta (the street under the arch) into Baixa for shopping, good
eating and strolling. Take a seat at one of the street-center cafés (the
fish specials are highly recommended) and people watch. Although the area is
popular with tourists, it is, also, where Lisbonites shop.
Many of the walkways in this area are paved using a form of decoration known
as Calçada, which features unusual designs depicting geometric patterns,
flowers and other designs. Some of the Calçada walkways are stunning, while
others verge on being visually disorienting.
At the end of Rua Augusta is the plaza popularly known as the
Praça Rossio, which leads to the Praça dos Restauradores. The Rossio is one
of the most popular meeting areas of Lisbon. It was refurbished several
years ago, adding to its attractiveness. The area also houses an opera house
(Teatro de Dona Maria II) built in the mid-19th century and the Rossio Train
Station where you can catch trains to Sintra or other areas of Portugal (Estação
do Rossio).
The Praça dos Restauradores leads to the Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon’s
famous grand-avenue that ends at the statue of Pombal, the architect of
Lisbon’s rebuilding after the earthquake of 1755. The Avenida da Liberdade, in turn,
leads to the Parque Eduardo VII, a well-manicured pleasant park. Many of the
city’s newer hotels are located to the north of the park.
A little further north, you will find one of Lisbon most treasured art
museums -the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian. Calouste Gulbenkian, a noted
Armenian businessman, made a fortune in oil trading. He arrived in Lisbon
during World War II, taking advantage of Portugal’s neutral stance in the
conflict and fell in love with the city and Portugal. Upon his death, the
city was endowed his magnificent art collection and a financial bequeath to
create a museum to display these treasures.
The museum’s collections are
grouped in two. One section is devoted to Oriental, Classical Egyptian,
Greco-Roman, Mesopotamian, Eastern Islamic, Armenian and Far Eastern art. A
second section covers European art from the 11th to the 20th century. (The Calouste is located at Av. de Berna 45A 1067-001 north of Parque Eduardo
VII. Take the Metro and exit at the S. Sebastião or Praça de Espanha
stations or take buses 16, 26, 31, 46, 56)
If you need information about another travel destination, try Googling our site or the Web
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Most
museums are closed on Monday and some on Sunday and Monday. General
hours are 10:00 to 17:00 but check locally, as many of the less
popular museums are open on limited schedules. |
Best Places to Visit in Portugal
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