Lonely Planet Pocket Lisbon (Travel Guide)

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The Rough Guide to PORTUGAL covers:Lisbon and around, Estremadura and Ribatejo, Coimbra and the Beira Litoral, Beira Alta and Beira Baixa, Porto and the Rio Douro, the Minho, Trás-os-Montes, Alentejo and the Algarve. If you haven’t been on the scenic tram 28 yet, this is your chance! Tram 28 will take you on a ride covering some of the most scenic corners of the city, a must do in Lisbon. It rides through the neighborhoods of Alfama, Graça, Estrela and Bairro Alto. In Alfama you can hop on tram 28 nearby Miradouro de Santa Luzia, one of the most beautiful panoramic viewpoints in Lisbon. We ended up in the surprising ‘Este Oeste’ restaurant. They offer a delightful mix of Italian and Japanese cuisine in a beautiful designed area with modern furniture. The staff offered us several free small dishes to taste. All dishes were delicious and I found the mix between Italian and Japanese very surprising. Therefore I recommend Este Oeste as the perfect lunch-spot in Belém. They also have a nice outside terrace overlooking the river. A lovely Lisbon restaurant and a must try on this itinerary. After visiting the highlights of Chiado follow your way to Praça dos Restauradores, the most northern point of Baixa, to enjoy the square and the surrounding buildings like the Eden Theatre. This is another guide that covers the whole of Portugal rather than just Lisbon and starts as it means to go on with a very good overview of the country just inside the cover. A fold-out map color-codes the various regions so as to stop you looking a fool when you don’t know your Alentejo from your Algarve.

At the end of Rua Augusta, you’ll reach Rossio Square; a lively iconic square with two beautiful baroque fountains in literally the center of Lisbon (Rossio neighborhood) where people sit and relax or enjoy the many cozy outdoor terraces of the restaurants and cafés. This is a Lisbon must see! Right next to this square you will find Praça da Figueira, another nice square that is home to Lisbon’s oldest patisserie (Confeitaria Nacional), hotels and cafés. Lisbon’s Bairro Alto, or “upper town” is the place for a lively night out, with its huge selection of vibrant bars, clubs and restaurants. Extensive practical travel information including getting there, getting around, climate information, safety tips, accommodation explanations, food & drink advice and shopping essentialsPrinted on paper from responsible sources verified to meet FSC’s strict environmental and social standards Sintra Music Festival (June/July) Performances by international orchestras, musicians and dance groups in parks, gardens and palaces in and around Sintra.

I recommend riding the tram until the very last stop near Torre de Belém (Belém Tower) and start your Belém sightseeing part from there. Most of the tourists walk the other way around. You can easily spend half a day in Belém it is an amazing thing to do when you visit Lisbon. If you plan to enter most monuments and museums you will probably need more than half a day as there are long queues to visit Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower for example. The other chapters follow in a similar style, giving a clear overview of what the city has to offer. Heavy on images, and light on info, those who don’t mind a little additional research will feel at home with this book.

What to see in Alfama Lisbon

There are several key attractions beyond the centre. The fantastic art collection of the Museu Gulbenkian is just north of the park – a must see when you visit Lisbon – and the Museu de Arte Antiga is west of the centre. Belém, 6km to the west, is the suburb from which Portugal’s great navigators set sail: the sublime Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is one of several monasteries built here to celebrate their achievements. While in Belém you must also set aside plenty of time for the modern art of the Berardo Collection. Whether you have just a day, a weekend – or longer, filling the time won’t be a problem in this beguiling capital. Here are our top tips on what to see and do when you travel to Lisbon. You can wander atmospheric neighbourhoods with historic architecture, visit museums and galleries, and trundle up and down Lisbon’s winding hills in vintage trams. Bookend sightseeing sessions with refuelling stops in wonderful cafés and restaurants. And when the sun goes down over the Rio Tejo – well, there’s a vibrant nightlife just gearing up.

It was given permanent status in 1960 to commemorate the death of Prince Henry the Navigator, responsible for turning Portugal into the leading maritime nation in Europe in the fifteenth century. If you like you can use the lift to the top of this monument for a panoramic view across the Tagus River and Belém. We didn’t take the lift (very crowded and a huge line) but walked through Chiado to the upper Carmo Square instead. In the middle of the shopping-area and cafés of Chiado neighborhood you will find a nice outdoor sculpture of one of Portugal's most famous writers, Escultura de Fernando Pessoa. The statue is located outside 'A Brasileira café’. Lots of tourists take place on the empty chair next to him for a photo together with the writer and pretend listening to one of his famous poems. One of the popular things to do in Lisbon. Historically, Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Under the Phoenicians’ reign, Lisbon was used as a trade port with its strategic location during 1200s BC. The city that spent several centuries under Rome’s reign and then several centuries under Muslims’ reign offers many antique beauties to its guests. Stylish hotel designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira – the architect responsible for the Chiado redevelopment – with Eastern-inspired interior decor. The best rooms have terraces with stunning castle vistas, a view you get from the bar terrace, too. Rooms are not huge but are plush and contemporary. All guides published from January 2021 are printed on paper from responsible sources verified to meet FSC’s strict environmental and social standardsThis travel guide does offer 10 minimal-yet-clear maps at the start that show the locations of every place mentioned. Additionally, the layout is one of the simplest around, and extremely easy to follow. West of the Bairro Alto sits the leafy district of Estrela, best known for its gardens and enormous basílica. To the south are the sumptuous mansions and grand embassy buildings of Lapa, Lisbon’s diplomatic quarter. It’s also home to the superb Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Portugal’s national gallery. Down below, on the riverfront, the regenerated district of Santos is known as “the design district”, with chic shops and bars. This Mini Rough Guide to LISBON covers:Alfama, Baixa (lower city), Bairro Alto (upper city), Lapa, Belém, North Lisbon, Parque das Nações, Across the Tagus, Excursions from Lisbon. This Lisbon travel guide covers the destination's top ten attractions not to miss, including the Bairro Alto, Torre de Belém, the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, Elevador de Santa Justa and a Perfect Day itinerary suggestions.

There are also some of the best Lisbon restaurants in this area and for our Sushi lovers I would like to mention that this hotel has its own trendy sushi restaurant called ‘Confraria LX’. The capital and largest city of Portugal is a beautiful charming city with several characteristic Bairros de Lisboa (neighborhoods) with historical culture and unique architectural landmarks. It’s one of the oldest cities in Western Europe and in the world. Lisbon is situated at the mouth of the Tagus River and is Europe’s only capital city along the Atlantic coast. English is widely spoken so language shouldn’t be an issue if you travel to Lisbon. If you’re after nightlife, Bairro Alto* is your spot. There are more bars and restaurants here than you could possibly try in a single visit. Revellers often mingle outside, enjoying their drinks by the street art for which the area is famous; if you can, book rooms on upper floors to escape the noise.

If you are travelling for business, consider a base in the Parque das Nações district, which contains many modern hotels and is close to the airport.