Lisbon

Situated towards the south of the Portuguese coast, Lisbon is a city with a history that dates back to the days of the Roman Empire. This wealth of history has resulted in a huge range of things for the culture-seeking tourist to see and do, while the leisurely tourist will find a whole host of glorious beaches and beautiful scenery around the city.

Attractions

The Belém Cultural Centre is a modern building that is worth a visit for the architectural design alone. It houses The Design Museum, which is essentially a timeline of design through the twentieth century. The National Tile Museum offers an insight into the history of the tile in Portugal – an essential part of Portuguese trade history. There are many other museums to visit in Lisbon, such as the National Archaeology Museum and museums of theatre and music.

Lisbon is home to many palaces: the Pálacio de São Bento is a must see. A more laid back excursion can be found by visiting the beautiful Ajuda’s Botanical Gardens.

Shopping

Shops around Baixa sell a variety of Portuguese produce; from hand-painted tiles and ceramics to locally made wines and cheeses. The major shopping centres are Colombo, which is one of the world’s largest shopping centres; and Amoreiras. Both centres have a large selection of designer and high-street stores, and various leisure facilities.

Nightlife and Eating out

The most popular nightlife region in Lisbon is Bairro Alto. This is where the most bars and clubs can be found. Bars in Lisbon are typically open until around 2am, when most people head for the clubs (which are open until 6am usually). Docas is a more recently developed nightlife area in the city. Lisbon takes its nightlife very seriously, so there is always guaranteed to be something for the night-owl to do here.

Tourist Information

COMISSAO MUNICIPAL DE TURISMO DE LISBOAPavilhao Carlos Lopes - Parque Eduardo VII1070 LISBOATel: +351 21 (0)3151915www.atl-turismolisboa.ptatl@atl-turismolisboa.pt

Airport

Lisbon Airport is only 7km from the city centre, and being Portugal’s main airport, it serves most major European destinations.