Book flights to Lisbon

The oldest neighbourhood of Lisbon is Alfama, a network of streets below the Castelo de São Jorge, but the main restaurants and entertainment venues are in the upper town, or Bairro Alto. Between the two is the lower town or Baixa, a grid of 18th century buildings built after the famous earthquake of 1755 devastated much of the city.

On your trip to Lisbon, don’t miss the ornate Belem Tower, symbol of Lisbon since the Age of Discovery in the 1500s, or the Castelo de São Jorge for brilliant views across the city. The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum has one of the finest private collections of art in the world, whilst the Ancient Art Museum is the equivalent of London’s National Gallery.

The imposing Mosteiro dos Jerónimos was built as a tribute to the great European Age of Discovery, which was spearheaded by Portugal in the 15th century. It’s an UNESCO World Heritage Site and its star features include its elaborate southern gateway and the tomb of the explorer Vasco de Gama, who made an epic voyage to India in 1498. The Oceanário de Lisboa is a magnificent modern aquarium, one of the world’s largest. It’s a great family attraction here and home to a bewildering array of fish and other marine fauna.

The best place for a stroll during your trip to Lisbon is the Praça do Comércio, a riverfront walk packed with 18th century arcades and paved with mosaic cobbles. The square is quite spectacular. See the city up close by walking down the narrow cobbled streets of the Alfama to catch a glimpse of Lisbon’s traditional character.

Pick up a Lisbon City Card to explore the city with ease and get discounts with your pass on entry to museums, galleries and other attractions. This will include a trip on the Elevador da Gloria cable car, for superb views of the city from one of its seven hills, the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.

One of the great pleasures of a visit to Lisbon is eating and drinking. The city has some legendary cafés and its many restaurants offer a great selection of the best, mouth-watering traditional Portuguese cuisine. Trendy as well as Michelin-starred restaurants can be found throughout the city, especially in the Bairro Alto district.

Try Bacalhau, a traditional salt cod dish which is eaten with cream and potatoes, or a strong and unique cheese made from cow’s milk called São Jorge. Pastel de Nata is a delicious custard tart unique to Portugal and is the perfect mid-morning way to refuel, washed down with a cup of strong coffee.

If you’re travelling to Lisbon primarily for shopping opportunities you’ve made a good decision. With their retro interiors and Rococo façades, the shops here offer a unique consumer experience. Colourful and evocative street signs advertise the names of many of the city’s trades, such as button shops in the Bairro Alto district. 

You can find everything from fine perfumes in the Rua da Conceição to a bewildering range of coffee beans in the heart of the Old Town. The number 28 tram has a route that passes most of the best shops in the city, on a hop on and off basis.