Lisbon City Breaks 2012

Lisbon is a compact, friendly and intriguing city to spend a short break or more extended holiday. In many ways, it is similar to San Francisco. It is perched on the western most part of it’s continent looking out to a vast ocean, it has quaint trams travelling up and down it’s hilly streets and it has suffered the misfortune of a catastrophic earthquake in it’s past. It’s a great place for walking and exploring, particularly in the narrow alley ways and streets of the old town.

The City

Lisbon had a fascinating history, and although most of the city was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755, there are numerous sites of interest to visit including museums and cathedrals. Many millions of euros were invested in the city around the turn of the past century, (Lisbon hosted Expo 98 and the final of Euro 2004 which showcased the city and country to it’s best effects) and it shows.

The main spot to hit for the best night life is Bairro Alto. This area is full of restaurants, cafes and bars and is a lively place to spend your evenings. The local beer is ‘Super Bock’ and is a tasty and potent brew. Try and catch some ‘Fado’ if you can. This is Lisbon’s traditional type of music. It’s melancholy and haunting sounds are sure to be heard among the twisting and narrow streets of the old town. If it’s night clubs you are after, you should head down to the docks area where there are numerous clubs based in old warehouses.

Getting Around

Getting around is easy and you can reach most of the central sites on foot. Trams are also available and are relatively inexpensive. Make sure you purchase a ‘Lisboa Card’ which allows you to travel on buses, trams and the metro as well as offering reduced entry to museums and other attractions.

The Lingo

When you hear the language at first, it can sound more like an Eastern European language rather than a Latin dialect. It can be tough to get the hang of, but a phrase book would be a wise investment as English is not as widely spoken as in other European countries.

Weather

Summers are generally hot and sunny from May right through to October. Beware if you are travelling from December to April though, as this is the rainy season. This particular traveller got caught out one April a few years ago when it rained for the whole week!

Things To See

Cristo Rei is Lisbon’s smaller version of Rio’s Christ the Redeemer and is worth a visit. The statue is over one hundred metres tall and you can take a lift to the top where you can enjoy fantastic views across Lisbon and the Tejo River.

Castelo de São Jorge is a Moorish castle and provides great views over the city. It is an interesting place to visit and is worth the walk up the hill to reach it.

Belem Tower was built in 1515 and harks back to the days when Portugal ruled the waves. This is a real must see and you can climb the tower to get a view of the harbour where so many ships set sail for the new world.