Added: 01/16/2006 |
Get ready for Lisbon travelLisbon's position on seven low hills beside a river once lured traders and settlers, and it's still a stunning site. Add to that its cultural diversity, laid-back feel and architectural time warp, and you have one of the most enjoyable cities in Europe - and also one of the most economical.
At its heart are wide, tree-lined avenues graced by Art Nouveau buildings, mosaic pavements and street cafes. Seen from the river - one of the city's many great viewpoints - Lisbon is an impressionist picture of low-rise ochre and pastel, punctuated by church towers and domes.
If you are going to Lisbon travel with a purpose to ski then February is your month. If you've come to lie on the beach any month will do, but keep in mind a bit of heat is good to complement the brisk Atlantic Ocean beaches. Carnaval around Easter is a draw card but most places know it and prices rise accordingly, until it's much like the later mid-June to August peak season. But you can always find good deals to Portugal, if you buy for example air tickets and book a hotel from one company. Unless you're a football fan or a 'when in Rome' kind of person it's best to check when EFC games are held, as hordes of boisterous supporters descend on the city for various matches.
Lisbon is the kind of place where you can sit at street cafes - sampling food or fado - and watch the world go by. But for the eager there are also plenty of cultural activities. In addition to architectural masterpieces at Belem, Lisbon has over 50 museums to visit.
Portuguese food is cheap, delicious and generous. Classic Portuguese meals include sardinhas assadas (charcoal-grilled sardines) and pasteis de bacalhau (cod fishcakes). Meals can be washed down with Portugal's good-quality vinhos (wines) or port - the drink synonymous with Portugal.
You will remember Lisbon travel for its night. Clubs come and go, and the bar scene is casual. Bairro Alto, where some bars have DJs and open late, heaves with revellers at weekends, as does the booming riverside Doca de Santo Amaro, where the local crowd is dressed-down cool. Even the hipper places are welcoming.
On Lisbon travel you can swim, play golf, tennis, skateboard and do other activities. Being on Lisbon travel don't forget to visit museums and monuments. It is very popular attractions. No visit is complete without a tour of the Jerónimos monastery, where ropes and other maritime themes are carved into stone.
On Lisbon travel take time to explore the Moorish Castelo de Seo Jorge, which looks like a fortress on the outside but is a delightful place of gardens, towers with scenic views, ponds with swans and peacocks, and other attractions within its walls.
Don't miss the Torre de Belim, and spend an hour or two at nearby museums like the Museo Nacional des Coches (coaches worthy of Cinderella), the Museo de Marinha (boats and naval exhibits), and the Museo de Arte Popular (folk arts, exhibited by region, and a "must see" warm-up for shoppers interested in handicrafts).
If you arrive during the warmer months, you can hop aboard a train to suburban coastal resorts like Estoril and Cascais for a day of swimming and sunbathing.
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