Seven hills, one river, and a city painted in pastel and tile. Lisbon rises from the Tagus estuary in terraces of cobblestone streets and wrought-iron balconies. The yellow trams clatter up gradients that feel impossible. The Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery mark the age of exploration. The Alfama district keeps the soul of the city in its winding alleys and fado music. The Time Out Market feeds the crowds. The Elevador de Santa Justa lifts you from the Baixa to the Bairro Alto. Every viewpoint known as a miradouro offers a fresh perspective on the rooftops and the bridge that mirrors San Francisco’s Golden Gate.
Lisbon is a part of Portuguese culture and heritage. It is the capital city of Portugal. Lisbon always nestles enriched culture. If you check the geographical location of Lisbon, you will come to know that it is situated in western part of Peninsula which further lies in the coastal belt of the Atlantic Ocean. Tagus River also passes through this city.
Lisbon has earned popularity due to natural panorama, marvelous architecture, attractive tourist spots and shopping plaza. If you have already chalked out plans to visit this city to spend your holidays, you will have to prepare beforehand properly to ensure hassle free air trip to this capital city which is situated in Lisbon. In this connection, you must make a short list including the major attractions in Lisbon.
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Major Attractions in Lisbon
The World heritage Belem Tower is the pride of Lisbon as Paris is proud of having Eiffel Tower and Londoners should remember London for Big Ben Tower. However, at the same time, it will be tomfoolery if you forget to mention the name of Jeronimos Monastery which must be enlisted in your travel program as well. Every year numerous visitors arrive at international airports of Lisbon with main objective to visit marvelous monuments, castles, national parks, zoo, heritage buildings and shopping malls which have become indispensable part of Lisbon. Manueline of the Belem and Pombaline styles have made this city more glamorous in terms of architectural charisma. Lisbon always invites foreign visitors cordially. Therefore, there should not be any doubt about the gentle lifestyle in this city.
Keeping in touch with modern technology, Modern architects have upgraded this city into a sophisticated place which houses numerous luxurious hotels, restaurants, spa centers, large and extended shopping plazas and departmental stores. Broad highways with smooth drivable road surface will give you golden chance to undergo long nocturnal car drive through the towns of Lisbon.
Museums, Castles, and Cultural Highlights
Significant Calouste Gulbenkian Museum is devoted to old and modern art. It was established in accordance with the wills of Calouste Gulbenkian, an Armenian businessman and philanthropist who lived between 1869 and 1955 and became one of the richest people in the world. Thus he could make one of the largest private art collections in the world, which is now available to the public right here. The museum is split into two buildings: the Founder’s Collection with over 6,000 pieces spanning Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Islamic, and European art, and the Modern Collection focusing on 20th-century works. Admission costs 10 euros and includes a free audio guide. Finally, you must not forget to set your feet on open ground of Saint George’s Castle. It is a marvelous historical site which you can watch from Bairro Alto as well. The castle sits on the highest hill in Lisbon, with a moat, ramparts, and a camera obscura that projects live 360-degree views of the city onto a concave screen. Entry costs 10 euros. Oceanarium is another point of enticement for travelers and tourists, located in the Parque das Nações district built for Expo 98. It is the largest indoor aquarium in Europe, with a 5-million-litre central tank housing sharks, rays, and sunfish. A combined ticket with the Vasco da Gama Bridge viewpoint costs 19 euros. In this regard, you can buy an informative travel guide book, gifts, colorful pictures, descriptive notes, reviews and feedbacks about Lisbon.
Driving the Vasco da Gama Bridge and Further Exploration
Once you are in Lisbon, do not forget to drive along the longest bridge in Europe and 9th longest one in the world: the Vasco da Gama Bridge. The bridge stretches 17 kilometres across the Tagus River, connecting Lisbon to the southern city of Montijo. The drive takes about 20 minutes and costs 2.85 euros in tolls each way. From the bridge, the views extend across the river to the Cristo Rei statue and the 25 de Abril Bridge. For a deeper exploration of the region, take the A2 motorway south to the Algarve coast, or head east along the Tagus to the wine-producing region of Setúbal, known for its grilled fish and Moscatel dessert wine. If you have already been to Lisboa or just know some of the must visit places, please let us know by commenting below.
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Which Lisbon experience calls to you most: tram 28, pastéis de nata, or a sunset at a miradouro? 🚋
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