Travel Guide > Europe > Portugal > Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal's capital city, is a fascinating city of charming architecture, art and tradition. Set on the Portugese west coast where the river Tagus meats the Antlantic, Lisbon claims the title of mainland Europe's westernmost capital. But geographic location is not what draws most visitors to Lisbon. The city's relaxed atmosphere, cultural diversity, nightlife, casinos and architecture are more likely reasons to attract travellers. As a compact city with narrowly defined boundaries around the historical city, Lisbon is a city that can be explored on foot. Built on seven hills, like Rome and Istanbul, it is pleasant to know that public transport and taxi's are also readily available for when the climbing begins to wear down one's legs.
For those planning to visit a lot of museums, the Lisboa Card, purchasable from tourist information outlets around the city, offers free use of all public transport and reduced price (or free) tickets to countless museums, galleries and tourist attractions. There are 1, 2 and 3 day options available.
Located in Downtown Lisbon, Sao Jorge offers one of the best views available of the city. The castle is filled with old ruins and interesting history and, more recently, a top-class restaurant as well as peacocks that roam freely around the grounds. The walled-in fortress area is square-shaped, and the actual castle is located on the northwest side of the hill.
As you take in the views around the castle, you will notice that this hill is the highest in the center of the city. For thousands of years, military minds have recognized that high ground is easiest to fortify and defend. Archaeological evidence shows that the hill has been the site of a military stronghold in one form or another for hundreds of years. Roman fortifications from 137 BC have been excavated. Other evidence shows that this area has been occupied for at least another 400 years before these Roman walls were built. In the 5th century A.D., the Visigoths, a tribe of Germanic people who sacked the Roman Empire and took control of this area, strengthened the fortress. Their guard towers still remain.
The tall Gothic arches of the ruined Convento do Carmo are visible from a long distance. Today its preserved remains are a museum, but it began as the promise of one man to God. The convent that you see before you was also an outcome of the Battle of Aljubarrota. During the battle lvares Pereira promised God that if this battle was won by the Portuguese, he would build a convent. He kept his word, and the construction of the convent started in 1393.
The construction and design of the convent was overseen by three architects who were also brothers. These architects, Afonso, Rodrigo and Gonzalo Eanes, built the convent in plain Gothic style with some influences from the Monastery of Batalha, which was being constructed at the same time. Today, the Monastery of Batalha is a UNESCO world heritage site located in Batalha about 140km or 85 miles from Lisbon.
Located in an the oldest area of Lisbon, Se de Lisboa is the cathedral of Lisbon and looks like a combination of a fort and a church. The cathedral is a mix of its original Roman construction and later Gothic and Neoclassical styles. A 20th century restoration converted as much as possible of the old church back to its Romanesque look based on old plans of the church.
Sintra is a small village outside of Lisbon that makes for an excellent day trip. It's romantic architecture has been stunning people since the 19th century. Before the 19th century Sintra was a popular sight for the Portuguese royalty. Due to its popularity among the elite many wealthy and royal people built magnificent castles and homes in the area. The Sintra area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List because of its importance to Portuguese culture.
Fish Festival
The Lisbon Fish Festival celebrates the huge gastronomic fish tradition of the city on her diverse recipes and is held in April. Demonstrations from several invited cookers and cpecialist as well as open events for everybody.
Indie Lisboa
Indie Lisboa is Lisbon's biggest film festival. It's goal it's to launch and promote new films and directors on the contemporary international scene. It's held during the end of April/beginning of May.
Festas de Lisboa
The Festas de Lisboa are celebrations that take place in the traditional neighborhoods of the city of Lisbon, held in June. On the streets you find party, popular music and grilled sardines. Three events are the highlight of the party : The "Marchas Populares", the colective Wedding of the brides of Santo António and the gold of walking from the river up to St. Jorge castle.
Lisbon has a great climate with warm summers from June to September when temperatures average between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. Nights are around 17 degrees. Occasionally, temperatures hit 40 degrees. Winters last from December to March, when daytime temperatures are between 15 and 17 degrees and nights slightly under 10 degrees.
Most of the rain falls during the wintermonths while summers are very dry.
International
The national airline of Portugal, TAP Portugal, flies to and from Lisbon. Apart from many European countries, TAP also has flights to destinations in Brazil, like Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Salvador among others. Other former colonies to serve from Portugal are Angola, Mozambique, Guinee Bissau, as well as other African cities such as Dakar, Johannesburg and Algiers.
There are many more airlines serving the capital of Portugal.
Domestic
TAP Portugal and Portugália Airlines both have flights to and from Lisbon and Faro, Madeira, Porto Santo, Porto and the Azores. SATA (the Azores' airline) has flights between the Azores and Lisbon as well.
Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses has an extensive network of train links throughout the country.
There are fast links with speeds well over 200 km/h from Lisbon to the Algarve and from Lisbon to northern cities such as Porto, Braga, Guimarães, Coimbra and Aveiro, but on most routes there are intercity services which still are fast enough and a good alternative to buses or cars. From Lisbon, there are also frequent links to Cascais and Sintra, popular traveller routes.
Contact Rede Nacional de Expressos for more information about prices and schedules to and from Lisbon.
| Property | Address | Type | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.S. Lisboa Hotel | Av. Almirante Reis 188 | Hotel | - |
| AAE Alegria | Praca da Alegria 12 1250-004 Lisboa | Hotel | 67 |
| Albergo Odisseo (Old Albergo Olisipo) | Travessa Larga 1, 3 esq lisboa | Hostel | 93 |
| Alcântara Apartment | Rua do Alvito nº 106 4th floor 1300 061 Lisboa | Apartment | 99 |
| Alface Hostel Lisboa | Rua do Norte Nº 98 1ºESQ. | Hostel | 87 |
| Alfama - National Pantheon Apartment | Travessa do Zagalo nº 19 3rd Floor 1100 622 Lisboa | Apartment | 94 |
| Alfama Apartment | Rua da Cruz de Santa Apolónia nº 62 Ground Floor 1 | Apartment | 100 |
| Alfama Patio Hostel | Escolas Gerais, 3 Patio dos Quintalinhos 1 | Hostel | 93 |
| Almirante Hotel | Avenida Almirante Reis, 68 | Hotel | 83 |
| Amazonia Lisboa Hotel | Travessa da Fabrica dos Pentes,12 | Hotel | 77 |
| Angelina Guesthouse | Rua Angelina Vidal, 52 - 3 Dto. | Guesthouse | - |
| Aparthotel Vip Eden | Praça dos Restauradores, nº 24 | Hotel | 100 |
| Aparthotel Vip Suites Do Marques | Av Duque de Loulé n 45 | Hotel | 85 |
| Apt Alfama Museu do Fado 1 | Travessa de São Miguel nº 24 Ground Floor 1100 546 | Apartment | 100 |
| Apt Alfama Museu do Fado 2 | Travessa de São Miguel nº 14 First Floor 1100 546 | Apartment | 100 |
| Bairro Alto Apartment | Travessa do Terreiro a Santa catarina nº48 3rd Flo | Apartment | 100 |
| Bairro Alto Hotel | 2, Praca Luis de Camoes, Bairro Alto | Hotel | - |
| Bed and Breakfast Suite | Azinhaga do Alto Varejão nº 20 r/ch 1900-055 Lisb | Guesthouse | 76 |
| Black & White Lisbon Hostel | Rua Alexandre Herculano 39, 1º Esq. | Hostel | 88 |
| Casa Zanzibar | Monte dos Nicolaus, CCI 3312 | Guesthouse | - |
| Costta Apartments | Rua Santo Estevão nº25 2 floor Alfama | Apartment | 88 |
| Costta Rooms | Rua São Nicolau 23, 3rd floor 1100-547 Lisboa | Guesthouse | 93 |
| Danubio Hostel | Rua de Salitre, 49 - r/c Eaquerdo | Hostel | 58 |
| Dom Sancho I | avenida da liberdade nº202 | Hotel | 84 |
| Downtown Lisbon Rooms | Rua dos Douradores 134 2 | Guesthouse | 90 |
| Duque - Casa de Hospedes | Calçada do Duque 53 | Guesthouse | 74 |
| Golden Residence | Rua de Santa Marta, n.º 45, 4.º Dto | Guesthouse | 79 |
| Goodnight Hostel | Rua dos Correeiros 113, 2? | Hostel | 95 |
| Guest House Brazil-Africa | Travessa das Pedras Negras Nº8-2º | Guesthouse | 83 |
| Guest House Estrela | Rua Dos Bacalhoeiros Nº 8 - 1º | Guesthouse | 57 |
| Guesthouse Anjos | Av Almirante Reis, nr 29 1 floor | Guesthouse | 87 |
| Guesthouse Beira Mar | Largo Terreiro do Trigo 16 - 4º esq | Guesthouse | 83 |
| Hospedaria Verde Esperanca | R Esperanca no 69 2 | Guesthouse | 75 |
| Hotel do Mar | Rua General Humberto Delgado 10,Sesimbra | Hotel | - |
| Hotel Praia Mar | Rua do Gurué 16,Carcavelos | Hotel | - |
| Hotel Principe Lisboa | Av. Duque de Avila 201 | Hotel | 79 |
| Hotel Real Palacio | Rua Tomás Ribeiro 115 | Hotel | - |
| Hotel Vip Arts | Av. D. João II Lote 1.18 | Hotel | - |
| Hotel Vip Berna | Av. António Serpa, nº 13 1069-199 | Hotel | 83 |
| Hotel Vip Diplomático | Rua Castilho, Nº 74 | Hotel | 87 |
| Hotel Vip Executive Barcelona | Rua Laura Alves, 10 | Hotel | 86 |
| Hotel Vip Executive Madrid | Rua Conde Redondo, 24 Rua Conde Redondo, 24 | Hotel | - |
| Hotel Vip Stª Iria | Estrada Nacional 10, Nº 1260 | Hotel | - |
| Hotel Vip Zurique | Rua Ivone Silva, Nº 18 | Hotel | 49 |
| Johnies Place | Calçada da Graça 18F | Guesthouse | 91 |
| JY Hostel | Rua Morais Soares No. 56 1-Direito | Guesthouse | - |
| LarExport - Chile | Rua Edith Cavel, nº 15 - R/c | Guesthouse | 69 |
| LarExport - Estefânia | Rua Joaquim Bonifácio, nº 22 R/c | Guesthouse | 55 |
| Latina Hostel | R. Gomes Freire 187 | Guesthouse | 74 |
| Lazy Crow & Co. Guesthouse | Rua dos Remédios 141 | Guesthouse | 63 |
| Lisboa Central Hostel | Rua Rodrigues Sampaio Nº160 | Hostel | 95 |
| Lisboa Royal | Av Guerra Junqueiro 13 - 5 | Guesthouse | - |
| Lisbon - Parque das Nações Youth Hostel | Rua de Moscavide, Lt 47 - 101 | Hostel | 70 |
| Lisbon - Sublime Apartment | Rua Álvaro Benamor, Lote 8, 6º E | Apartment | - |
| Lisbon Avenue Hostel | Avenida António Augusto Aguiar, n.11, 5.º Esq | Hostel | 84 |
| Lisbon Camping & Bungalows | Estrada da Circunvalação | Campsite | 75 |
| Lisbon Chillout Hostel | Rua Nogueira e Sousa, nº 8, 1º | Hostel | 87 |
| Lisbon Dreams Guesthouse | Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca 29 | Guesthouse | 95 |
| Lisbon Guests | Rua do Salitre 49 | Guesthouse | 87 |
| Lisbon Lemon Hostel | Rua da Rosa 295 | Hostel | 84 |
| Lisbon Lounge Hostel | Rua de Sao Nicolau, 41st | Hostel | 96 |
| Lisbon Old Town Hostel | Rua do Ataide 26A | Hostel | 95 |
| Lisbon Poets Hostel | Rua Nova da Trindade, nr.2 - 5th Floor Chiado | Hostel | 92 |
| Lisbon Poets Hostel Privates | Rua do Duque, 41, 2nd floor | Apartment | 84 |
| Lisbon Private Rooms | Rua actor taborda, 36-2º Esqº | Apartment | 88 |
| Lisbon Story Guesthouse | Largo de São Domingos, N. 18 (Rossio) | Guesthouse | 90 |
| Lisbon Student House | Av António Augusto de Aguiar nº80 1ºEsq. | Guesthouse | 77 |
| Lisbon Vintage Hostel | Avenida 5 de Outubro 176 | Guesthouse | 86 |
| Lisbon Youth Hostel | R. Andrade Corvo, 46 | Hostel | 75 |
| Lisbonflats4u | Beco Bempostinha, 12 | Apartment | 79 |
| Living Lounge Hostel | Rua do Crucifixo 116 2nd floor | Hostel | 97 |
| Mar dos Açores | Rua Bernardim Ribeiro, 14 | Guesthouse | 87 |
| Mundial Hotel | Rua Dom Duarte 4 | Hotel | 100 |
| Oasis Backpackers Mansion Lisboa | Rua de Santa Catarina, 24 | Hostel | 94 |
| Olissippo Marques de Sa | Av. Miguel Bombarda 130 | Hotel | - |
| Pensão Bom Conforto | Rua dos Douradores Nº83 Lisbon | Guesthouse | 87 |
| Pensao Galicia | Rua do Crucifixo Nº 50 - 4th floor | Guesthouse | 73 |
| Pensão Lafonense,Lda | Rua das Portas de Santo Antão,Nº36,2ºDt Address 2 : | Guesthouse | 77 |
| Pensao Monumental | Rua da Glória, 21 - R/C e 1º | Guesthouse | 53 |
| Pensão New Aljubarrota | Rua da Assunção 53 - 4th floor Lisbon | Guesthouse | 66 |
| Pensao Praca da Figueira | Travessa Nova de São Domingos nº 9- 3º esq | Guesthouse | 85 |
| Pensao Residencia Roma | Travessa da Gloria 22A | Guesthouse | 77 |
| Pensão Residencial Portuense | Rua das Portas de Santo Antão, 149-157 | Hotel | 88 |
| Pensao Royal | Rua do Crucifixo nº50 3floor | Guesthouse | 92 |
| Perola dos Anjos | Rua dos Anjos, 23-2º and 3º | Guesthouse | 63 |
| Pouso dos Anjos | Rua dos Anjos, 31 | Guesthouse | 73 |
| Private Accommodation | Rua de Salitre, 49 - 2ª floor | Guesthouse | 74 |
| Quinta Nova da Conceicao | Rua Cidade de Rabat, 5 | Guesthouse | - |
| Rapture Camps Portugal | Praia do Lizandro 8 | Guesthouse | - |
| Residencia Luena | Rua Pascoal de Melo 9 | Hotel | 75 |
| Residencia Oliveira | Rua dos Caminhos de Ferro, 70-2º | Hostel | 59 |
| Residencial Apolo | Av. Miguel Bombarda, 78 | Guesthouse | - |
| Residencial Castromira | Avenida Almirante Ries, 35-1º | Guesthouse | 74 |
| Residencial Castromira II | Rua Maria Andrade nº62 | Guesthouse | 80 |
| Residencial Italia | Av. Visconde Valmor, 67 | Guesthouse | 78 |
| Residencial Jardim da Amadora | Rua Major Humberto da Cruz 3 | Guesthouse | 70 |
| Residencial Joao XXI | Rua Gomes Freire, 179-1º | Hotel | 79 |
| Residencial Lord | Av.Defensores de Chaves, 23-4D | Guesthouse | 74 |
| Residencial Princesa | Rua Gomes Freire, 130 1150-180 | Hotel | 80 |
| Residencial S. Pedro | Rua Pascoal de Melo ,nº130-132 | Guesthouse | 79 |
| Residencial Sul_Down Town | Praça D. Pedro IV nº 59-2 Esq | Guesthouse | 92 |
| Rituals Backpackers Lisbon Hostel | Rua de São Paulo Nº111 2nd floor | Hostel | 88 |
| Room 4 U | Rua Luciano Cordeiro, 32, 3ºDto | Guesthouse | 83 |
| Rooms For 2 Hostel | Rua de S. Paulo 111, 2nd floor | Guesthouse | - |
| Rossio Hostel | Calçada do Carmo, 6, 2nd floor right | Hostel | 97 |
| Sana Classic Capitol Hotel | Rua Dr. Bastos Gonçalves, 3-B | Hotel | 91 |
| Sana Classic Executive Hotel | Av. Conde de Valbom 56 | Hotel | 77 |
| Sana Classic Reno Hotel | Av. Duque d'Avila 195 | Hotel | 93 |
| Sana Classic Rex Hotel | Rua Castilho 169 | Hotel | 69 |
| Sana Park Lisboa Hotel | Av. Fontes Pereira de Melo 8 | Hotel | - |
| Sana Park Malhoa Hotel | Avenida José Malhoa 8 | Hotel | - |
| Sana Park Metropolitan Hotel | Rua Soeiro Pereira Gomes -Parcela 2 | Hotel | - |
| Shiado Hostel | Rua Anchieta 5 - 3 | Hostel | 91 |
| Smile Hostal | Travesa do Almada Nº 12 3DRT | Guesthouse | 93 |
| Souliver Rooms | Rua Cidade de Liverpool, n.º 6 - r/c Esq. e Dto. | Guesthouse | 76 |
| Spare Rooms | Rua Actor Taborda, 36 | Guesthouse | 80 |
| St.Nicolas (Old Easy Hostel) | Rua de São Nicolau, 13, 2E | Hostel | 92 |
| Sweet Home Hospedagem | Rua dos Correeiros, 161, 4º andar | Guesthouse | 89 |
| Tagus Home | R.Camilo Castelo Branco 22 | Guesthouse | 81 |
| Travel Park Hotel | Avenida Almirante Reis,64 | Hotel | 78 |
| Travellers House | Rua Augusta, number 89, 1st floor | Hostel | 98 |
| Vila Gale Ericeira Hotel | Largo dos Navegantes Ericeira | Hotel | 83 |
| Vila Gale Opera Hotel | da Ponte | Hotel | 68 |
| Village Home | Rua Angelina Vidal .nº6 , 1ºDto Praça D. Pedro ,IV , Nº59 , 2º Esq. | Guesthouse | 56 |
| VIP Executive Veneza | Av. da Liberdade, nº189 | Hotel | 83 |
Casa na Bica in Largo de Santo Antoninho, in the heart of historical Lisbon, right next to Bica's funicular, the apartment is in walking distance to Bairro Alto Baixa, Santos and Cais do Sodré. Near the apartment you have restaurants, bars, markets and typical Portuguese shops and you can really feel the traditional life of Lisbon. You also have the wonderful view of Miradouro of Sta Catarina just 100 mts from the house.
This is version 28. Last edited at 14:04 on Aug 13, 09 by Utrecht (+148). 58 articles link to this page.

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