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Sintra

Sintra is undoubtedly one of the most magical places in Portugal and one of its main tourist attractions. Due to its nineteenth century Romantic architecture, it was included on the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Surrounded by mountains and beaches, Sintra has a unique, cool climate in the summer months due to its abundance of tall trees and other vegetation. It was once the summer residence of the kings of Portugal and is today a haven for amateur photographers. The number of beautiful buildings hidden away in the woods and in the town itself is simply astounding.

Sintra can be conveniently reached by train from the Rossio Railway Station in Lisbon. The ride from Lisbon to Sintra is pleasant and takes about 45 minutes, more due to the large number of intermediate stops than the actual distance. Sintra’s two main landmarks are the Moorish Castle and the Pena Palace. To see the castle, you can either climb all the way up to the hill or wait in the city for public transport to take you there. It is advisable to go on foot because there are many hidden gems along the way that may elude you if you take the bus. Once you get to the castle, you will have a spectacular view of the city and the surrounding area. It is well worth the effort.

Lisbon to Cascais and Estoril

Another great day trip includes visiting Estoril and Cascais, two upscale resort towns on the Atlantic coast just outside of Lisbon. To get there, catch a train at Cais do Sodré and enjoy the ride along the bank of the Tagus and watch the river as it transforms into an ocean. First on the route is Estoril, a seaside resort famous for hosting the Estoril Open Tennis Tournament in the month of May and various motorsport events at the Estoril Circuit. Gambling enthusiasts will also be interested to learn that Estoril boasts the largest casino in Europe. Casino Estoril is notorious for having been the favorite hangout place of many secret agents during World War II. In fact, Ian Flemming’s Casino Royale was inspired by Casino Estoril. Even if you are not really into gambling, you should include the casino on your list of sites to see for its architecture and grandeur. In addition to resort facilities, Estoril is also the home of ancient Roman mansions that date back two thousand years.

A couple of train stations away from Estoril lies Cascais, one of the wealthiest municipalities in Portugal. It used to be an ordinary and humble fishing village until the nineteenth century, when the Portuguese royal family decided to use it as their holiday resort, bringing great development to the area. Like Estoril, it also became prominent during World War II for being the home of many exiled European royal families. The town center is a popular destination for foreign and local tourists due to its warm and characteristic appearance. Both Estoril and Cascais also have many sandy beaches, which are popular due to their accessibility. Namely, Costa da Caparica, on the other side of the Tagus, is much farther away from Lisbon and may be frustrating to reach in the summer months due to the high amount of traffic. The most famous beach in Cascais is the Guincho Beach, a particular favorite of surfers, windsurfers and kitesurfers.

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Hotel Britania

Hotel Britania is a three-star Art Deco boutique hotel, the only one of its kind in Lisbon. Conveniently located in a side street that intersects Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon’s most beautiful avenue lined with tall trees, the hotel was built in the 1940s and has recently been refurbished to its original art deco design. While it may seem small on the outside, the hotel boasts large, spacious and luxurious rooms and all the modern facilities. Room rates are in the range of 150 euros. This hotel is particularly appealing due to the combination of its excellent location, unique character and affordable prices.

Hotel Sofitel Lisbon

Nearby, on the Avenida da Liberdade itself, is the magnificent Hotel Sofitel Lisbon. This four-star modern and elegant hotel offers 171 rooms, which range from the classic single-bed to the king-size bed opera suite. The rooms overlook either the city or the park and the average price per night is 170 euros. The hotel also offers splendid leisure and meeting facilities.

Lapa Palace

If you are looking for superior luxury and a quieter location, then Lapa Palace is the perfect hotel for your stay in Lisbon. Situated close to the center, yet in a calm and prestigious residential area on a hill overlooking the river, this five-star palace hotel was built in 1870 and has hosted aristocrats from all over the world. There are 109 rooms on offer, which include 11 signature rooms, 8 palace rooms, 8 deluxe rooms, and 8 suites. This is a truly marvelous hotel with wonderful gardens, river views, a spa, saunas and a business center. It is also the only hotel in Lisbon with outdoor heated swimming pools in its gardens. Golf, tennis, horse riding and sailing facilities are located minutes away from the hotel. The average room rate is 340 euros.

Real Palácio Hotel

Moving back to the center of the city, but still in the spirit of palaces, we find the Real Palácio Hotel. This impressive five-star hotel is located behind the Park of Eduardo VII, just three metro stations away from the downtown, which is also easily reachable on foot along the Avenida da Liberdade. Transformed into a hotel from a seventeenth century palace, the Real Palácio has preserved the building’s original design and adapted it to the needs of modern-day travelers. It is divided into two wings, one of which is the main building boasting 135 rooms. The other part of the hotel is the palace itself and consists of 12 luxuriously decorated majestic bedrooms. The average year-round price of the rooms per night is 170 euros.

Bairro Alto Hotel

Last but not least, we will take a look at a design hotel that was voted one of the 60 best hotels in the world by Condé Nast Traveler Hotlist – the Bairro Alto Hotel. Situated in the very core of Lisbon on the Camões Square and just outside the city’s bohemian quarter whose name it carries, the hotel splendidly combines the old with the new and offers a unique experience to its guests. Boasting 55 rooms and excellent fitness and dining facilities, the Bairro Alto Hotel has a range of different categories of modernly-equipped and stylish rooms, the average price of which runs at 260 euros. Its unbeatable location and tasteful decoration make it a truly one of a kind hotel in the whole of Portugal.

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Lisbon for tourists

Lisbon’s year-round sunny weather means that it is always popular with tourists, who flock to the city to relish in its architecture, small alleys, museums, exciting nightlife and excellent restaurants, many of which serve dishes in the company of local Fado singers and musicians. The old neighborhoods are of particular interest to tourists. They are labyrinths of narrow, steep streets paved in cobblestone, which is commonly known as calçada portuguesa. With tiled building facades on the verge of tearing off and graphite painted walls, they are a stark contrast to the more modern parts of the city and its well developed transport infrastructure.

Lisbon Baixa

The best point from which one can begin exploring Lisbon is undoubtedly the downtown or Baixa. Baixa begins on the banks of the Tagus River and stretches until Rossio Square. This part of the city was completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1775, which brought unprecedented destruction to one of Europe’s most thriving cities. The entire city was virtually destroyed and the amount of devastation and suffering inspired many European works of art and literature, one of which was Voltaire’s Candide. Rising from the ashes like Phoenix, Lisbon was completely rebuilt by the Marquis of Pombal and Baixa thus became known as Baixa Pombalina. Opting not to rebuild the city as it once was, the Marquis ordered the building of Baixa in the form of regular streets cutting at the right angle, pursuant to the latest architectural trends in Europe at the time.

São Jorge Castle

Overlooking Baixa, on Lisbon’s highest hill, is the São Jorge Castle, which is one of the few structures that remained standing after the earthquake. It is situated in Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood, Alfama, and represents one of the most important tourist attractions. Alfama itself is an unspoiled gem for spectators with its narrow streets, clotheslines and elderly ladies observing passers-by from their windows. Walking around Alfama requires a lot of energy due to its steep inclines, but the sights are well worth the effort. In fact, the best way to experience Lisbon is precisely to get lost in one of the side streets and see where the road takes you from there. You will find small typical bars and restaurants called tascas serving cheap local dishes, including fresh fish, beer and wine.

Lisbon Museums

Lisbon also hosts a number of excellent museums, such as the Museum of Ancient Art, Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, National Museum of Contemporary Art, and Carmo Archaeological Museum. The Museum of Ancient Art is particularly interesting because it displays some magnificent and very rare pieces that were either brought by Portuguese explorers or inspired by their voyages. It offers an amazing insight into Portuguese sea-faring history, which played an important role in shaping the mentality and character of the Portuguese nation.

Lisbon Shopping and Entertainment

When you get tired of taking in so much history and culture, Lisbon offers you a wide array of entertainment and shopping possibilities. Centro Comercial Colombo is the largest shopping mall on the Iberian Peninsula and is famous for “having everything and more”. Underwater lovers will also enjoy the Lisbon Aquarium, one of the largest of its kind in the world. It is located in the modern part of the city that was built from scratch to host Expo ’98. This part of the city also boasts funiculars and the Lisbon Casino, which puts on great shows and concerts in addition to being a gambler’s paradise. Last but not least, Lisbon is a city that lives at night. Bairro Alto is the city’s bohemian quarter and is very popular with younger tourists and foreign exchange students. It is teeming with small bars and restaurants that serve cheap alcoholic drinks. The most chic and happening club in Lisbon is undoubtedly Lux Frágil. In addition to electronic music parties, it also serves as a venue for rock and jazz concerts.

Regardless of your reasons for visiting Lisbon, you will not be able to avoid falling in love with this amazing city and will keep coming back, each time discovering new and exciting things.