Welcome to Lisbon

An extensive travel & cultural guide to Portugal's capital

Flights      Hotels      Car Hire   Tours        

The Perfect City Break

Portugal's capital city might well be one of Europe's smallest, yet its long dramatic history and rich heritage have resulted in points of interest awaiting your discovery behind each corner. Let MADABOUTLISBON.COM be your indispensable guide to the remarkable monuments that embellish the cityscape. MADABOUTLISBON.COM is also full of friendly advice concerning money-saving travel cards, the best accommodation options to suit your tastes and budget. Here too you can discover the great cuisine Lisbon is famous for and the best places to eat. Discover on this website the most interesting museums Lisbon has to offer and the best locations for memorable days out. Explore, plan and book your trip here; Lisbon is now at your fingertips.


AN INTRODUCTION TO LISBON

As with Rome, Lisbon is spread over seven steep hills containing a network of medieval cobbled streets that are still traversed by rickety old trams and funiculars. Beautiful wide open squares are home to statues commemorating former glories. It is where people come to while away the time in the cafés which line their peripheries, sampling a Pastel de Nata, the famous local sweet custard tart. What Lisbon lacks in size is compensated with charm, beauty, friendliness, temperate weather and offers something for everyone. It only takes a few days to do Lisbon justice. It is even better to make the capital a hub for a week or two's holiday, taking day trips and excursions to the surrounding area.

Lisbon's Top Attractions

Castle of São Jorge

Lisbon's castle stands sentinel over the city and offers amazing views.

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

Built to commemorate Vasco da Gama's epic sea voyage to India.

Torre de Belém

Lisbon's most iconic monument

Oceanarium

A great way for the whole family to spend the day at Europe's largest aquarium.

Rossio

A large square in downtown Lisbon and a hub of activity.

Elevador de Santa Justa

A Neo-Gothic masterpiece carrying people from the Baixa district to the Largo do Carmo on top of the hill.

Tram 28

This rickety old tram is a great way to experience old Lisbon as it traverses steep and narrow streets.

Praça do Comércio

A immersive large square in the lower town which during it's lifetime has played a pivotal role in Portugal's history.

Lisbon Card

BEAT THE QUEUES

Be a savvy traveller and beat the queues at the Tourist Offices in Lisbon. Buy your Lisbon Card online in the comfort of your home before you travel. A voucher will be sent to your email and mobile phone to be redeemed at Lisbon airport as you arrive, saving you valuable holiday time.

Buy Yours Here!

Districts

Booking.com

Lisbon is defined by its distinctive neighbourhoods. They have been shaped, either through design or by the passage of time. The Alfama still maintains it's original street layout from Moorish times, it's narrow alleys echoing the soulful laments of Fado music. The Bairro Alto comes alive at night when the streets take on a carnival atmosphere and revellers party into the early hours. The plush Baixa district, or downtown, is an 18th century reconstruction of the city following the devastating earthquake of 1755. Its smart streets and squares are built on a grid system. It is where you'll find many boutique shops, top hotels and the start/endpoints for many of the city's trams.

A short distance away is the district of Belém which is home to the impressive Mosteiro dos Jerónimos monastery and other iconic monuments dedicated to Portugal's great age of discovery. To the north is the district of Parque das Nações. Once the site of Expo 97. The architecture takes on a more contemporary appearance, each with a nautical theme.

Yellow Bus Tour
Eating out in Lisbon

EATING OUT IN LISBON

For the Portuguese, the day's main meal is at lunchtime. Time is taken to relax and savour great food and good company whilst shading from the midday sun. Lunch usually consists of three courses served between 12h00 and 15h00. Look out for lunchtime set menu deals. Evening meal times are similar to Northern Europe. Most restaurants are closed by midnight.

Lisbon is a heterogeneous city. All of Portugal's different regions are represented, each with its own gastronomy traditions. Resulting in a great richness of aromas and tastes. As all over Portugal, the food is based on a Mediterranean diet, as rich as it is healthy, based on bread, olive oil, cheese, meat, fish and a huge variety of snacks.

The ocean offers up delicious fish and the freshest shellfish. Bacalhau (dried and salted cod) can be found on every menu, a fish that has always triggered the creativity of domestic and professional cooks, leading to 1001 different Recipes. In June and July, sardines come into season and stalls grill them all over the city. In autumn Lisbon’s streets are taken over by the aromas of vendors roasting chestnuts .

New generations of chefs have started experimenting with traditional fare creating more fusion and sophisticated dishes, increasing Lisbon's reputation as a culinary capital.

Lisbon Cuisine ►    Restaurants ►    Cafés ►

SINTRA

North of Lisbon and close to the Atlantic is the fairytale town of Sintra, (formerly "Cintra"). It's beautiful setting amongst the forests of the Serra de Sintra and moderate climate have been a draw for royals, poets, romantics and visitors alike for centuries. Lord Byron once described Sintra as a "glorious Eden". Sintra has more palaces, fine houses, castles and other places of interest to shake a proverbial stick at. There is an aura of playfulness here with a touch of the absurd, eccentricity and kitsch, enough to make architectural puritans shudder‚ yet easy to fall in love with. In 1996 Sintra's uniqueness was recognised by UNESCO and was added to its list of heritage sites. Its proximity and ease of reach from Lisbon makes Sintra a popular excursion and an essential part of a trip to Lisbon. Our sister website MADABOUTSINTRA.COM will guide you there and introduce you to the best places to see and top things to do. | www.madaboutsintra.com

Monerrate Palace

Beautiful eclectic architecture and landscaped gardens.

Moorish Castle

A mighty 10th Century fortification dating from pre-christian times.

Pena Palace

One of the most iconic and eccentric Portuguese buildings.

National Palace of Sintra

Portugal's oldest palace which pre-dates the country itself.

Quinta da Regaleira

A place full of mysticism, romance, wonder and magic.

National Palace of Queluz

An impressive 18th century palace, a homage to the Baroque style.

Capuchos Convent

A beautiful 16th century convent harmoniously blended into the landscape.

Cabo da Roca

The most westerly point in mainland Europe with breathtaking scenery.

DAY TRIPS FROM LISBON

Alcobaça Monastery

Huge medieval monastery 120km North of Lisbon.

Batalha Abbey

Portugal's largest and finest Gothic masterpiece.

Cascais

The gem in Portugal's riviera, the beautiful resort of Cascais.

Fátima

The world famous town of pilgrimage.

Mafra

A vast 18th Century Baroque palace and monestry.

Óbidos

A beautiful medieval village preserved behind it's original town walls.

Sesimbra

In the heart of the beautiful Costa Azul is this fabulous coastal town.

Tomar

The incredible Templar strong hold town full of mysteries and treasures.

TRAVELLING TO LISBON

Lisbon Airport

Lisbon Train

GET A GREAT DEAL ON YOUR FLIGHT HERE:

Booking.com Search FlightsImage

GET A GREAT DEAL ON YOUR CAR HIRE HERE:

Lisbon is served by four separate train stations located across the city:

To/From Oriente Station:
• Trains to the Alentejo – Linha Alentejo: (Intercidade) Train Timetable
• High Speed National Services – (Alfa Pendular) Train Timetable
• Trains to Sintra – Linha Sintra: (Urbano) Train Timetable
• Trains to the Algarve – Porto - Faro: (Regional) Train Timetable

To/From Cais do Sodré:
• Trains to the Estoril Coast – Linha Cascais: (Urbano) Train Timetable

To/From Rossio:
• Trains to Sintra – Linha Sintra: (Urbano) Train Timetable

To/From Sana Apolónia/Oriente:
• Trains to Coimbra – Longo Curso: (Regional) Train Timetable
• Trains to Tomar – Ramal de Tomar: (Regional) Train Timetable

To/From Barreiro (the train station on the opposite bank from Lisbon, refer to ferry times):
• Trains to Sétubal – Linha do Sado: (Urbano) Train Timetable

CP Website

• Rede Expressos: Rede Expressos run comfortable coach services across Portugal connecting most major towns and cities. Website
• Rodoviária do Tejo: runs services in the Lisbon area: Website
• Sul do Tejo: opperates south of Lisbon and the Setúbal area: Website

More In Depth Travel Info [ ► ]

Get a Great Hotel Deal in Lisbon