Lisbon
The 9th most densely-populated city in the European Union, Lisbon is rich in architecture, with its streets providing a guided tour of architectural history. The city predates other capitals such as London and Paris by several hundred years. Today, Lisbon is often described as one of Europe’s ‘alpha cities’ because of its significant cultural, economic and tourism role.
Things to do
If you are looking to explore the depth and breadth of Lisbon’s rich history, you should definitely consider exploring its several excellent museums. The National Museum of Ancient Art, the Museu do Azulejo and the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum all contain interesting examples of ancient and modern art; the Electricity Museum and the National Coach Museum provide a fascinating insight into the city’s civic and engineering history; and the Museum of the Orient, the Roman Theatre Museum and the City Museum are all well worth a visit too.
Transport
Lisbon has superb transport links not only to the rest of Portugal, but also on to Spain and the rest of Europe. The Lisbon metro connects up the city and its outskirts effectively, and a number of new expansion projects will extend the network to reach the airport and the north and west of the city. Traditional yellow trams are one of the iconic images of central Lisbon, and these still operate. Bus services, meanwhile, offer a more speedy way to get around the city, with four bus stations/hubs to choose from. There are four main train lines out of Lisbon, and the major rail stations are Santa Apolonia, Rossio, Gare do Oriente, Entrecampos and Cais do Sodre.
Airport
Portela Airport connects Lisbon to major cities in Europe, Africa, the United States, central America and southern America.
Road network
Lisbon is surrounded by three circular motorways, and other motorway links connect you quickly to the rest of Portugal and into Spain.
Sport
Lovers of sports of all kinds will find plenty to entertain them in Lisbon. It was one of the Portuguese host cities for UEFA Euro 2004, and away from football it has provided the starting point for the Dakar Rally in 2006 and 2007. Sport Lisboa e Benfica is famous worldwide for its football team; the other two major clubs in the city are Sporting Clube de Portugal and Belenenses Lisbon. There are plenty of other sports enjoyed in the city too, such as handball, basketball and roller skating; the city has excellent facilities for other activities such as athletics, sailing and golf.
Food and drink
Some of the best restaurants in the city are Solar dos Presuntos, Magano and Mezzaluna, and Pinoquio is great for seafood. Paparucha, in the Principe Real area of the city, serves excellent steaks with great views over the city; Fidalgo serves, among other things, large, juicy prawns; and Ribadouro is another good choice for anyone in search of seafood.
When best to visit
Lisbon offers plenty of sunshine all year round, so there are no real seasons to avoid. The climate is mild and comfortable throughout the year too. The city centre can be very warm on summer days, but evenings are cooler. If you want to visit Lisbon’s beautiful gardens and take in its historic architecture, spring is a great time to visit. Summer is the season for a beach holiday, and autumn is a great time in which to explore the city’s charming old streets, especially in quarters like Alfama and Bairro Alto.
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