LISBON is a lively and bustling city with an irresistible offer of numerous leisure and cultural events. The Portuguese capital is always evolving, renewing, and re-inventing itself, resulting in a vibrant city that effortlessly blends traditional heritage, with striking modernism creating a city of contrasts and a pure delight to discover at each step!

Spread across the unique Tagus river, seven hills, and overlooking the majestic Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon is a key business center and a top MI (Meetings Industry) destination, with so much to offer. The growing choice of world-class venues, hotels, and incentive options make Lisbon a smart decision for international events.

We invite you to discover Lisbon…

Ribeira das Naus, the riverfront with beautiful green areas expanding into the Tagus river looks like a veranda. Linking Cais das Colunas, in Praça do Comércio, to Cais do Sodré this area is inviting for sunbathing, resting one’s feet after a day of pounding the streets, and enjoying Lisbon’s light and the best sunset in the world.

Lisbon becomes increasingly iconic, the further you delve into its historic and medieval districts. As you walk along the stone-paved, narrow, and often steep streets of Alfama and Mouraria, you are literally transported back in time. Save time to experience Fado music at the Museum or at a local restaurant.

Bairro Alto, Bica, and Príncipe Real neighborhoods are open to the world, to diversity, and to the joy of life. The streets are filled with people from all over the world, of all ages, creeds, and styles. After warming one’s soul it’s worth descending to where the partying goes on at Pink Street.

Belém is a symbol of the Portuguese Maritime Discoveries. It was from here that 500 years ago great adventurers set sail to discover the World in their caravels. The UNESCO World Heritage sites of Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, both in Manueline style, enhance the atmosphere with their astonishing architecture.

On a more contemporary note, the Centro Cultural de Belém is renowned for its exhibitions and cultural initiatives. Before visiting the Coach Museum or the Navy Museum with their quite impressive collections, don’t forget to stop on the way for a Pastel de Belém, the most popular delicacy of Lisbon.

Make time for a visit to the fabulous National Palace of Ajuda, housing the Royal Treasure Museum which includes the Crown Jewels and the Jewelry Treasures, and the extraordinary piece of architecture, MAAT – on the riverfront.

Fado, classified as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO since November 2011, is the purest expression of Lisbon’s “soul”. The internationalization of Fado is greatly due to the charisma and the voice of Amália Rodrigues, the most renowned Fado singer of all time, who from the 1950s took Lisbon’s songs to the most prestigious venues, all over the world. More recently, a new generation of singers /Fadistas has given the song a new vitality, placing it in the circuits of World Music.

Street art is part of Lisbon’s identity, the city – the art canvas, providing the perfect backdrop for Portuguese tile-making where the eras, styles, and resistance to the passing of time are clearly visible. Lisbon has many stunning facades, from antique panels to more modern work, and every neighborhood of Lisbon is a newly added discovery. The Metro is an art gallery showcasing the azulejos tile panels from many artists – a must-visit spot during your trip.

Rebuilt from the ground up for the Lisbon International Exposition – Expo 98 – this is Lisbon at its most modern. On the east side, contemporary architecture now covers a vast area of urban regeneration on the riverfront, with a prime location just 5 minutes distance from Lisbon´s International Airport and Vasco da Gama bridge.

The site to the magnificent Oriente Train Station, this riverside quarter is a world on its own, waiting to be discovered, including various venues for events, such as the Lisbon Oceanarium, the Knowledge Pavilion, the Altice Arena, the Casino Lisbon, the Marina, and many bars and restaurants.

Lisbon is very rich in flavors, with gastronomy quite similar to the Mediterranean diet and featuring a wide variety of healthy, colorful, and aromatic dishes. Due to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, there´s a great diversity of fresh fish and seafood. Bacalhau (salted cod fish) is the king, but grilled sardines rule during the Santos Populares and all summertime.

For dessert, there is the world-famous Pastéis de nata (egg-custard tarts), created before the 18th century by Catholic monks at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos due to their large consumption of eggs. Following the dissolution of religious orders during the Liberal Revolution of 1820, the monks sold the recipe of the tarts to a nearby sugar refinery, named Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém, functioning to this day and still keeping the original recipe of pastéis de nata in a secret room!

To drink is nothing like the vast choice of Portuguese wines, reds, whites, roses, and sparkling wines known as estimates.

People

Around 3 million people live in the metropolitan area of Lisboa.

Language

Portuguese is the 3^rd most spoken European language in the world (250 million speakers).

Climate

The average temperature in the winter is 17ºC (62ºF) & in the summer 26ºC (79ºF).

Visa Info

Visas are not necessary for citizens of EU countries, UK, USA, Canada and the majority of countries. Please contact your local Portuguese Embassy, Consulate or your Travel Agency for further information.

Lisbon Card

Gives you free access to public transport, museums and monuments, as well as discounted admission to many sights of interest.

Tourist Offices

Points of tourist information - Ask me Lisboa - are located in strategic areas around the city and provide specialized assistance & suggestions for the best Lisboan experience.