Explore Lisbon

First impressions of Lisbon

Lisbon is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric capital cities in Europe — a hillside Atlantic port draped over seven hills above the Tagus estuary, with pastel-painted buildings, azulejo-tiled facades, clattering yellow trams, and a melancholic fado-music tradition that captures the city's soul. The compact medieval Alfama district climbing up to Castelo de São Jorge survived the catastrophic 1755 earthquake (which destroyed two-thirds of the city), and its narrow, steep stone lanes are the most evocative walk in town. Ride the famous Tram 28 from Martim Moniz square as it lurches up through Alfama and the Graca quarter; climb up to the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte for the panorama. Down in the centre, the Pombaline grid of Baixa (the post-earthquake reconstruction, one of the world's first earthquake-engineered urban plans) runs from elegant Praça do Comércio on the riverfront up to Rossio. Don't miss the spectacular Manueline Gothic Jerónimos Monastery in Belém (Vasco da Gama is buried here), the adjacent Tower of Belém, the MAAT contemporary-art museum on the river, the tile-tile-tile Museu Nacional do Azulejo, and a pastel de nata at the original Pastéis de Belém bakery. Lisbon's nightlife now centres on Bairro Alto and the regenerated LX Factory.