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Best Things to Do in Lisbon
Lisbon is hands down one of the best cities in Europe to take a short break, or even a spend a week or two. There is so much to see and do, and the great thing is it is all easy to get to as Lisbon has great transport and is relatively small.
Blessed with a warm, sunny climate Lisbon offers visitors a host of attractions both indoors and outdoors. Many of my favourite activities won't cost you a penny; getting lost in the Alfama, or passear-ing (strolling) along the riverside in Belem are highly recommended. It is also a city of contrasts with things to see both ancient and modern. On the old side there is the castle overlooking the city, churches and monasteries that are both austere and splendid and ostentatious palaces in the outer districts. For those seeking more contemporary attractions there are any number of cultural venues around Lisbon - the Berardo Collection, Gulbenkian Museum or even just some of the city's striking architecture will all oblige.
Lisbon is also a city that families will love with a number of open spaces and parks. There are a number of attractions that will appeal to kids in particular such as the zoo, aquarium and several museums.
In this section you will find all the best things to do in Lisbon and around. And if all this wasn't enough, Lisbon is perhaps the only city in Europe where you will find world-class sandy beaches less than half and hour's train ride away.
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Positioned on Praça do Comércio and acting as a grand opening onto the Baixa's central Rua Augusta, this ornate and imposing archway is also known as the Rua Augusta Arch.
As the name hints, the...
Reputed to be the oldest building in Lisbon, the cathedral (Sé de Lisboa) certainly has the appearance of being built to last. Compared to the frivolous Manueline architecture of the...
The Elevador de Santa Justa (Santa Justa lift) is a 47 metres (145ft) Lisbon's only remaining vertical elevator and connects Rua do Ouro in the Baixa to Largo do Carmo near Bairro Alto. It was built, along with several other cable powered urban...
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Martyrs (Basílica de Nossa Senhora dos Mártires) is one of a trio of Rococo / Baroque churches built within a stone's throw of each other on Chiado's Rua da Garrett. This and the other two strikingly similar...
Mediaeval convent that was ruined in the great earthquake of 1755. Set overlooking the city the ruins provide a poignant reminder of the destruction wrought on Lisbon. The convent is also home to an archaeological museum with exhibits including a Peruvian mummy.
Set in a commanding position overlooking Portugal's capital, the Castelo de São Jorge dates back to Moorish times. The existing citadel is mainly medieval and contains the ruins of the royal palace and gardens
Lisbon’s Igreja de São Domingos church, in the Baixa district, has played a key role in many of the city’s tumultuous historical events. It has seen earthquakes, fires, pogroms as well as royal...
The earliest Jesuit church in Portugal and one of the first in the world, the Igreja de São Roque was built in the 16th century specifically for preaching. When built it was positioned beyond the walls of the city to cut it off from Lisbon and...
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Lisbon travel guide »
Lisbon is one of the most immediately likeable capitals in Europe. Located on the westernmost front of Continental Europe, its mosaic of terracotta roofed buildings cling both majestically and humbly to its seven hills. The Tejo...