Lisbon

Lisbon is Portugal’s capital and is beautifully situated on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the river Tejo. Throughout history, Lisbon has been Portugal’s most important city. Among other things, it is characterized by Portugal being a major maritime nation 500 years ago.

More than 20% of Portugal’s ten million inhabitants live in Lisbon and the surrounding area. Lisbon itself has 600,000 inhabitants.

From being a sleepy, low-star city among travelers, Lisbon has transformed into a charming metropolis full of life and full of contrasts between old and young. Lisbon is inspired by several European cities. Here, old architecture is mixed with the state of the art.

Lisbon has an intense nightlife, good food (more than bacalao) and pleasant shopping. In addition, the inhabitants are known for their kindness and hospitality. Happy holidays in Lisbon!

Get to know Lisbon

Lisbon seems larger than the population would indicate. It may not be so strange when approx. a fifth of the country’s population lives less than 40 kilometers from the city center. The traffic is intense, especially during rush hour. But as a tourist you don’t have to worry about it. The sights of Lisbon are centrally located, the metro is excellent, the tram and bus connections are good, and there are crowds of taxis.

Lisbon is relatively hilly and was originally built on seven heights (just like Rome). We choose to divide Lisbon into five central areas.

City Profile

• Abbreviation: LSB
• Country: Portugal

Rato, Saldanha and Marques de Pombal

These neighborhoods offer many sights and are also sensible choices when finding a hotel. Especially Avenida da Liberdade street and parallel streets have many accommodation options.

Baixa and Alfama

South of Saldanha and closer to the river Tejo are the districts of Baixa and Alfama. Baixa is a natural center for tourists, and it is teeming with shops and restaurants. Baixa also has a financial and business area that makes life in the district lively during the day, but in the evening it is still quiet.

The oldest and best-preserved district in Lisbon is called Alfama. Alfama is located east of Baixa. On one of Lisbon’s seven heights, the Moorish castle of Castelo de Sao Jorge rests. Below the castle is the medieval settlement. Many of the houses are inhabited to this day. Narrow alleys, stairs, portals, beautiful windows and French balconies, bars and restaurants characterize the area.

Estrela, Lapa and Doca de Alcantara

West of Baixa you will find the districts of Estrela, Lapa and Doca de Alcantara. Estrela and Lapa are aristocratic and pompous. If you visit the neighborhoods, notice the architecture. This is the area where Lisbon’s upper class wants to have their home address. Of course, in this area are also the embassies. The Assembleia de Republica (Portuguese Parliament) is strategically located here in a beautiful building called the Palacio de Sao Bento.

In Estrela you will also find one of Lisbon’s most beautiful churches, the Basilica de Estrela. It is built in the neoclassical style from the 19th century.

Below Lapa, facing the river Tejo and the impressive April 25 bridge, is Alcantara. Less than 20 years ago, this was a dilapidated area that consisted of small factories, warehouses and homes for the least mediated. The houses have been renovated and several of the warehouses have become trendy discos.

Another area is Docas. It is under the April 25 bridge. Here are restaurants, bars, clubs and restaurants close by.

Belem

One kilometer west of Docas you will find the Belem district, which is considered by many to be the most important historical area of ​​Lisbon. This area is popular with visitors and is easily accessible by train or tram. Here you will find among other things the Discovery Monument, the Belem Tower ( Torre de Belem ), the Jeronimus Monastery and several museums.

Parque das Nacoes

A modern part of Lisbon is located in the east of the city, at the foot of the Vasco da Gama Bridge. In connection with the World Expo 1998 exhibition, which was held in Lisbon, the authorities changed an approximate slum area to the center of the exhibition. Today, this area is called Parque das Nacoes.

Here you will find modern, futuristic buildings that have become hotels, conference centers, viewing towers, universities and apartments after the Expo. In addition, you will find a giant aquarium, which is the world’s second largest. Here you can see quantities of fish and animals that live in the water, as well as a variety of bird species.

Facts about Lisbon

Lisbon – the capital of Portugal. Lisbon is the largest (most populous) city in Portugal ! Here you will find among other things the sarcophagus of Vasco de Gama. Portugal was among the world’s largest and most powerful maritime nations between the 15th century and the subsequent three hundred years.

List of Lisbon Acronyms

The most commonly used abbreviations about Lisbon is LSB which stands for Lisbon. In the following table, you can see all acronyms related to Lisbon, including abbreviations for airport, city, school, port, government, and etc.