A magnificent bay, the Tagus estuary, spanned by an interminable bridge, the Vasco de Gama bridge, sloping streets climbed by tramway, a visit to Lisbon has the air of a European San Francisco if not the opposite, as a result of its seniority. During your stay in the capital of Portugal, the most western of Europe, you will take advantage of your vacation to discover a rich heritage that goes back to Roman times and that has then crossed the centuries and the influences, Muslims in particular, until today. From theBelem Tower , the ancient port from which Vasco da Gama left in 1497 to conquer the world, to the futuristic Parc des Nations, built for the 1998 Universal Exhibition, from the grandiose Praça do Comercio ( Trade Square ), where the historic heart of the city beats, to the St. George's Castle and its magnificent panorama, ideal for taking pictures of Lisbon or its other neighborhoods, there are many things to see and visit with the help of your Lisbon tourist guide. The Portuguese capital is also ideal for walks through time in the cobbled streets of the old quarters of Alfama and Bairro Alto, or for lazing around in the summer on the many sandy beaches of the surrounding area accessible by public transport, such as Cascais or Estoril, with a warm pastel de nata in your mouth. In the evening, Lisbon transforms itself and takes on more festive tones where you can easily be convinced by the terraces of the small restaurants to taste the typical dishes most often based on cod, have a drink, or party to the tunes of fado or other less melancholic music, in the Bairro Alto or in the Docks district. You will enjoy strolling through the small streets of the historical quarters of this beautiful city in summer.

When to go Lisbon ?

If you have the choice, the best periods for a trip to Lisbon are spring and especially June (popular festivals), early summer (many festivals) before August (the time of vacations for the Portuguese, therefore higher prices) and early fall (before the rains).

Summer is of course the great season of festivals. June is one of the most interesting months for the festivals of St. Anthony, St. John and St. Peter, which are among the main events of the month. Also worth noting are the Santiago de Setúbal fair (end of July, beginning of August), the bullfighting week in Vila Franca de Xira (June), the Almada theater festival (July), the Palmela grape harvest festival, the Seixal jazz festival (October) or the many summer music festivals.

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How to go Lisbon

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How to go alone

There are many direct flights to Lisbon for prices ranging from one to four times the price depending on the season. Please note that the price variation depends on the airline used but, above all, on the reservation delay. In order to get good prices, it is therefore often essential to book in advance.

How to go on a tour

Tour operators specializing in Portugal produce their own tours and are generally very good at giving advice, as they know the region inside out. Note that their prices are often a little higher than those of generalists. Organized trips to Lisbon can be combined with the discovery of Porto and Faro. Beware of pickpockets.

How to get around

You have all the necessary means of transportation in Lisbon. The bus serves the whole city, unlike the metro which has only four lines, but whose stations are often magnificent works of art. During your city trip, you will have 5 streetcar lines at your disposal. A classic is to take the streetcar no. 28 which crosses the historical districts of the city (Alfama, Bairro alto, Graça). If you want to get some height, don't hesitate to take the panoramic elevators of the buildings like in Santa Justa in the Baixa district.

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Discover Lisbon

Because of its geographical location, Lisbon was very early the object of all covetousness and occupied by peoples from all walks of life. The result of these multiple invasions can be seen above all in the architecture and cuisine. Despite everything, the Portuguese were able to appropriate these influences to make them their own traditions and know-how. This is how the Arab mosaics became azulejos, those beautiful earthenware tiles present on the facades and inside the buildings. From popular laments was born the fado, which can be heard all over Lisbon, wandering the streets. Lisbon is as popular as ever today. It is now the artists who come to leave their mark with street art frescoes everywhere. Not forgetting the mythical yellow tramway of the 1930s, a bit of a cliché, but a symbol of the sublime Lisbon

Pictures and images Lisbon

Vue sur le vieux Lisbonne, son Monastère de Saint-Vincent de Fora et ses batiments colorés. Lushik - iStockphoto
Monument des Découvertes (Padrão dos Descobrimentos). Jean-Paul LABOURDETTE
Tour de Belém, un des symboles de Lisbonne. Author's Image
Monument des Découvertes (Padrão dos Descobrimentos). Tom Pepeira - Iconotec

The 12 keywords Lisbon

1. #Alfacinhas

In Portuguese, this literally means "little salads", but it is also the term used to describe the Lisbon natives. No, Lisboetes are not born in lettuce or are not all vegetarian. The truth is that the plain that surrounded Lisbon in the past was a market gardening area famous for its salads.

2. #Bacalhau

27_Bacalhau ©  Natalia Mylova - Shutterstock.com.jpg

That means cod in Portuguese. It is cooked according to 1,000 recipes so that you never get tired of it. It is also the traditional Christmas dish that replaces our dear turkey. We will always be surprised by the enthusiasm that this fish has aroused for several centuries. However, as you should know, it is not fished in territorial waters.

3. #Colline

Lisbon is made up of seven hills, which you will have to explore if you want to get to know it. It takes good calves! The views to which you will be entitled, on the other hand, are breathtaking, with a small part of the Tagus at the bottom, some palm trees and an 18th century palace. No wonder the city has so many elevadores.

4. #Coq

Seeing it in all the shops, one would tend to believe that the term "Portugal" comes from Portus Gallus ("the port of the rooster", in Latin for cooking). Not at all. On the other hand, the rooster does have a legend, that of Barcelos, which speaks of a pilgrim wrongly accused and who proved his innocence by a miracle involving... a rooster therefore

5. #Corbeau

28_Corbeaux © Krasula - Shutterstock.com.jpg

An old legend has it that two crows watched over the tomb of Saint Vincent, a medieval martyr buried on the cape of the same name (southwest of the country). When Alfonso Henriques, the liberator of the city of Lisbon, fetched his remains, the two ravens escorted the caravel on its return journey to Alfama.

6. #Docas

Born from the desire to make the former Tagus quays profitable, from which caravels and ships once left and returned full of treasures, they now house bars, terraces, restaurants, nightclubs, and a few galleries, at the very place where soldiers embarked for the colonial wars in Africa.

7. #Football

29_Football ©  Positiffy - Shutterstock.com.jpg

There is no way out, it is almost a religion here and it fuels a lot of debate and even arguments within families. If you understand Portuguese, you will often hear conversations at lunchtime about the performances of Benfica or Sporting players (the most famous clubs), especially in the aftermath of the match.

8. #Fado

30_Fado © Sopotnicki - Shutterstock.com.jpg

For some, fado would derive from the songs of medieval troubadours; for others, it would have been born from the songs of sailors at the time of the great discoveries, imbued with their adventures and their emotional life. Lisbon is one of the cities where Fado has developed. The topics covered are often part of everyday problems.

9. #Rent

In recent years, the liberalization of the real estate market has created a real boom and renewal. Lisbon is back to its former glory and prestige. People here will tell you that the downtown area is unrecognizable. On the other hand, rents have exploded, making it difficult today to rent an apartment at an affordable price..

10. #Moorish

Even if Portugal, and particularly Lisbon, is deeply oriented towards the Atlantic with Celtic features, the few centuries of Moorish occupation have had a profound impact on the city: place names, architecture, garden art. You will be surprised to see how much cinnamon and coriander are used in Portuguese cuisine

11. #Eyelets

On the night of 25 April 1974, Zeca Afonso's song, Grândola Vila Morena, broadcast at 12:25 on the Catholic radio station in Lisbon, was the expected signal. The captains of the army, disgusted by the colonial wars, openly threaten the government. That day, we see the soldiers in the street with carnations at the end of their guns.

12. #Saudade

A word almost untranslatable in French (or any other language for that matter), but oh how much the Portuguese feel! It is the absence, the regret of what could have been or what has been (without the idea of remorse), the resignation to what can never come... It is also the breath of fado, the soul of the whole country.

You are from here, if...

You let people enter the bus in order of arrival at the stop. This implies that when you arrive at the station, you identify the people already there.

You say good morning, good afternoon and good evening and not just "ola". Even in everyday language, the Portuguese use this way of greeting. There is always a moment of hesitation between hello and good afternoon, but usually by noon you can already say "boa tarde".

You cultivate patience. It will not be uncommon in a restaurant to make you wait for the menu or the bill. We reassure you, you have not become transparent! It's normal, so don't get upset

You stop questioning everything. Being Portuguese is also about accepting things as they are and not looking for logic where there is none

You change your plans at the last minute by "going with the flow". It's hard to plan anything, but it allows a certain freedom...

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