Lisbon, Portugal Hotels and City Guide

Grand, glorious, hilly Lisbon is a truly beautiful city sprawls across seven steep hills overlooking the Tagus River (Tejo) where it widens to enter the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Situated on the Atlantic seaboard, Lisbon is the most western capital of Europe and the least expensive. Bathed in luminous light for much of the year, the city sparkles in one of the mildest and most pleasant climates in Europe.

Lisbon is divided into six districts: Baixa (Downtown) characterised by wide squares, 18th century architecture, mosaic patterned pavements and cafés; Bairro Alto and Chiado, Lisbon’s cultural and bohemian heart, offers vibrant nightlife, chic shopping and restaurants; Belém boasts monuments and museums; Alfama is a crowded medieval maze; Uptown has museums and shopping malls; and Parque das Nações has modern 21st century architecture.

History is very much alive in Lisbon. Ruled by the Romans from 205 B.C. and then by a series of Germanic tribes from the 5th to 8th century A.D., it was captured by the Moors. In 1145 the Crusaders under Afonso Henriques reconquered the city for the Christians since when it has been the major political, economic and cultural centre of Portugal. Lisbon was in French hands for two years after Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Portugal in 1807. On 5 October 1910 a republican coup installed the Portuguese Republic. Because Lisbon was a neutral port during the World War II, it became a major gateway for refugees fleeing Nazi Germany.

A massive earthquake and resultant tsunami in 1755 destroyed most of Lisbon, at that time one of the largest cities in Europe, killing 40 000 residents. Prime Minister Sebastiao José de Carvalho e Melo, the 1st Marquess of Pombal, demolished the medieval remains of the city and rebuilt Baixa (Downtown) in a more modern style.

Gothic cathedrals, magnificent monasteries, an imposing castle, palaces, museums, monuments to its great seafaring discoverers of the 15th century, and an 18th century aqueduct attest to its interesting past. Together with shimmering white buildings and red-tiled roofs, brightly coloured trams, fountains, parks and gardens, tree-lined elegant boulevards, the pavements of which are mosaic works of art, and the renowned beautiful tiled façades of most buildings present a colourful cityscape.

The narrow atmospheric lanes of charming backstreets in old quarters like Alfama are an essential part of the Lisbon experience where gossip is still exchanged at the public baths or small pavement restaurants, while the traditional melancholic fado songs about faded glory and romance waft in the air.

Dozens of restaurants and bars line the narrow streets in the hilltop district of Bairro Alto where the air is filled with the sounds of jazz, reggae, electronica and fado. Nightclubs are scattered across the city in all kinds of buildings from dock warehouses to 18th century mansions.

Sip an espresso, munch on a fresh pastry or Portuguese roll on a small leafy plaza, order a plate of delicious succulent, crispy, fresh sardines and a glass of wine at a small pavement restaurant, window-shop in Chiado, the elegant shopping area, or watch the sunset from St George’s Castle on the hill offering stunning views of the city and its two bridges over the Tagus: The 25 April Bridge completed in 1966, Europe’s longest suspension bridge, and Vasco da Gama Bridge opened in 1998, the longest bridge in Europe measuring 17.2km.

Stroll along the seaside promenade in the pleasant and spacious Belém district where you will find Belém Tower. Take a short walk to the Discoverers’ Monument with the stunning wind rose on the paved area in front of it. Across the road and through the park, the architectural masterpiece, Jeronimos Monastery, sparkles.

Take a train along the coast to the delightful traditional fishing village of Cascais, 30km west of the city, to eat fresh seafood at one of the restaurants overhanging the sea and walk along the beach, sand between your toes, to paddle in the clear sea.

Lisbon City Facts

Greater Lisbon Population: 1,977,000 (Source: UN Population Estimate Revision 2003)
Portugal Population: 10,080,000 (Source: UN Population Estimate Revision 2003)
Currency: Euro (€, EUR)
Time Zone: GMT
Language: Portuguese

Hotels in Lisbon, Portugal