Lisbon

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is built on a series of hills that are all connected by a network of lifts and trams.  A city break to Lisbon will see you experience an exciting and vibrant modern city with fun and frolics coupled with a thoughtful history and the ideal all-year climate.  Within Lisbon is the upper city known as Barrio Alto with its maze of cobbled thoroughfares, impressive mansions and preserved chapels.  Belem, the riverfront area includes some of the city’s famous landmarks, such as the Belem Tower and the St Jerymos Monastery.  The whole city comes alive at night with colourful cafe bars, restaurants and energetic nightspots.

You’ll probably start your Lisbon city break by flying into the Aeroporto da Portela, which is Portugal’s biggest airport and is located between Loures and Lisbon.  From the airport it is best to take the Aerobus or Metro into the city centre.  Try to avoid taking a taxi; sadly Lisbon taxi drivers have a very poor reputation.  If they identify you as a tourist they will take you on a long and winding route into the centre and charge you significantly over the odds for the privilege.

The city is a very compact area and you should be able to spend most of your city break in Lisbon on foot or by using the extensive public transport system.  Amongst the highlights you might like to check out are the ornate city cathedral and St Georges Castle, as well as the palaces in Casa dos Bicos, Ajude and Belem.  Art and history lovers will need to see the Museum of Popular Art and the extensive Maritime museum.

The Portuguese take a huge amount of care and pride in their children and this is reflected by the huge amount of child-friendly activities you’ll discover during your Lisbon city break.  The city is home to a huge tropical aquarium, zoo and planetarium.  With its proximity to the sea Lisbon also has lots of sandy beaches and water-based activities such as windsurfing, sailing and beach sports.  The Portuguese are also golf-lovers, so if you take your clubs along you can enjoy eighteen holes on one of Lisbon’s twelve champion-standard courses.

When you dine out during your Lisbon city break you’ll be amazed by the expanse of unique dishes the city is famous for.  The Portuguese love their seafood and other wholesome foods such as chicken, pork and beans.  They are very inventive when it comes to cooking and love exotic flavourings such as chilli, cinnamon and vanilla.  For a more energetic evening head up to Bairro Alto for dancing and celebrating, or the Docas district which is re-inventing itself from a place of dodgy sailors bars to one full of trendy new nightspots.

For those who like a little retail therapy make sure during your Lisbon city break you visit Baixa, the oldest shopping district in the city.  Avoid the tourist traps though where you’ll pay over-the-odds for cheap imitations.  More upmarket are the areas of Chiado and Avenida da Liberdada.

Lisbon is a perfect reflection of Portugal with its beaches, bars, museums and traditional old buildings, coupled with tasty treats to eat and the perfect Mediterranean climate.  Book a city break to Lisbon today for sun, fun and fond memories.