has anyone been to lisbon portugal any sugesstion what to see?

Answer 1

Hi! I answered this question some weeks ago.
Here's my answer:

"Being from Portugal here are my advices of places you shouldn't miss: (I'll give you the Portuguese names and it will be easier for you to find them)

In Lisbon---- Torre de Belém (Torre=tower) e Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Mosteiro=monastery) (both in a place called Belém where you easily can spend a whole day - lots of history and museums. Don't miss the sweet called "Pastel de Belém" (sort of a sweet cake) sold on a coffee right outside the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos that is the only one in Portugal that makes them. It's like a tradition now, it dates back to the last century when they opened and started selling the cakes and until today in spite of their success this is the only coffee that makes them.
Old Lisbon, the old streets and neighbourhood (Bairro=neighbourhood), like Bairro Alto, Largo de Camões, Avenida da Liberdade and of course do the walking from centre Lisbon (from Rossio (a square) or Praça da Figueira (Praça=square) or even Praça do Comércio) to the top of the hill to the castle (Castelo de São Jorge). You go through some really old fashion streets and in the castle you can have the breathtaking view of all Lisbon.
Visit also the new part of Lisbon - the Expo or Parque das Nações. Built to be the World Exposition of 98 and now it was converted into a huge park=Parque full of sights and things to do. Don't miss the Aquarium (it's really good).

Outside Lisbon----- it's not far and it's worth your trip. Trust me!
Cascais----Take a train from Lisbon (from the station called Cais do Sodré) to Cascais (a village near the sea that is beautiful). Not only the train trip will take you trough the seacoast all the way to Cascais (it's one of the best trips here) but also visiting old fashioned Cascais is a wonderful way to spend a day. If you can, you can even go to one of the several beaches near. If you can visit a beach called "Guincho". The last beach on the coast (to go there you do a good 2 hours walk through some boardwalk passing several places to visit and amazing ocean views).

Sintra---- a village considered a national monument for all the old buildings, gardens, national park, castles and the palace on the top of the hill. To really see it all you should spend at least 2 days there but if you only got a day visit this: Palácio da Pena (Palácio=palace), Castelo dos Mouros (Castelo=castle) and walk around the old village. It's amazing. If you like walking you can do several different hiking trips from the village to the palace through the gardens and natural forest (for me this is the best hiking ever). "

Answer 2

i've got been to South Portugal no longer faraway from Lagos and that i surely like it! pass walk around some little cities: maximum of them are noticeably and that they sell nice pottery and each form and have little cafes and eating places. Exploring little hidden places is exciting (and risk-free) and the form is noticeably. The Portuguese are friendly human beings (maximum communicate some english) and the seashores are great (on west coast too) and a few are sturdy 4 surfing plus the climate is appropriate in spite of the indisputable fact that it could get v warm whether it is so nice in morning and night. Horse driving (if u like that stuff) is likewise sturdy. If u like historic past there are a sturdy variety of previous forts and issues from whilst Portugal substitute into under Arab rule: captivating geometric pattens in tiling and so on. Plus u can study Henry the Navigator. And pass to Cape St.Vincent then u can tell all human beings you have been to the sting of the worldwide (coz that's what portuguese sailers used to think of it substitute into). there's a city called Villamora down the coast from Faro (don't be attentive to if it relatively is going to likely be too far) that has great night existence with a on line casino and each little thing too. It relies upon what you're into. And seeings as Lagos is portuguese for "lakes" there are sure to be some the place you're able to do watersports like crusing, windsurfing or peddle-boats. there's a place like that the place i pass. there'll additionally in all probability be some golf tiers around too if u like that. i desire this enables you. there is often a sturdy variety of stuff to do for all tastes in spite of the indisputable fact that sometime's it relatively is great staying on the coastline all day. Have an impressive trip!! and that i desire u'll delight in your self as much as i'll (going back this twelve months) playstation : take an outstanding variety of solar exhibit plus mosquito repellent.

Answer 3

Lisbon (Portuguese: Lisboa) [1] is the capital of Portugal. Known for the thrilling nightlife, it gained over the last years the recognition as Europes gambling center, due to two huge casino centers.
Like Rome and Istanbul, Lisbon is built on seven hills.

The sparkling new Lisboa Ask Me Centre (Pç. do Comércio, 21 0312815, open 09:00 - 20:00 daily) will help you find accommodation and is happy to dispense advice, maps and brochures. Smaller Ask Me Lisboa kiosks are dotted about the Rossio district and airport and their multilingual staff also have maps and brochures.

The Lisboa Welcome Card, which can be purchased from tourist information outlets, offers free use of all public transport in the city and free or reduced price tickets to many museums, galleries and tourist attractions. They can be purchased in 24 hour (adult / child: €13.50 / €6.00), 48 hour (€23.00 / €9.50) and 72 hour (€28.00 / €11.50) denominations. They are not very good value unless you plan to visit a lot of museums.
By plane

Portugal's largest international air hub is the Aeroporto da Portela (IATA: LIS; Alameda das Comunidades Portuguesas, Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone], web: http://www.ana-aeroportos.pt/) which is linked to the city centre by an Aerobus (line 91) every 20 minutes from 07:00 - 21:00 and bus lines 5, 8, 22, 44, 45, 83.

* A ticket for the Aerobus is €3,50 and is valid on all public transportation lines for one day.
* Taxis cost about €10 from the airport to the city centre. Charge is according to the meter, adding €1.20 per item of luggage. As with many cities, watch out for dishonesty and if you think you are being charged significantly more (paying €45 to get into the city but only €6 back to the airport is not unheard of) ask for their number and a receipt, and make it clear you plan to complain. To avoid fraud you can buy a taxi-voucher in the airport (€13 - slightly more than the average real meter price) which is good to go anywhere in the centre, with luggage.

By train

There are two big train stations in Lisbon: S. Apolónia and Orient Station

* CP - Railways

By car

Lisbon can be accessed from six main highways.

Coming from the south (A2) or east (A6 - the main route from Madrid), there are the two bridges:

The A2 goes all the way to the 25 de Abril bridge, which usually has lots of traffic getting into Lisbon, specially weekday mornings. This is the best option if you want to go to the center of Lisbon or to the west (A5 - Estoril, Cascais, Sintra);

If you branch from the A2 into the A12, you'll get to the Vasco da Gama bridge, the longest bridge in Europe, it usually has less traffic than the older 25 de Abril bridge (but a more expensive toll). This is the best option to go to the eastern/northern section of Lisbon (to the airport and to the Parque das Nações - the former Expo 98 site), and also to take the A1 or A8 going north.

Coming from the north, there is the A1, that connects Lisbon to Santarém, Fátima, Leiria, Coimbra, Aveiro, Oporto. The A1 ends near the airport. There's also the A8, which goes to Torres Vedras, Caldas da Rainha, Alcobaça, Leiria.

From the west, there is the A5, which connects to Estoril, Cascais, and the IC19 that crosses all the suburbs and ends near Sintra.

Lisbon has three ring roads: The 2ª circular, which connects the A1 to the IC19; the CRIL IC17 (still incomplete), which connects the Vasco da Gama bridge with the A1 and A8; and the CREL A9, which connects the A1 with the A8, IC19, A5, and goes all the way to the Estoril coast.

Regarding toll highways - Portugal has a unified electronic toll paying system - it's usually on the one or two left most lanes of the toll booths, marked with a green "V" (Via Verde - "Green Lane"). If you don't subscribe to the system, pay the toll at the manned booths (cash and most debit and credit cards accepted). If you by chance get distracted and go through the Via Verde lane, you have 48 hours to go to a Via Verde office and pay the toll without a fine.
By bus

Basically all cities nearby have buses to Lisbon. Also, most major cities in Portugal have direct buses, just get the information locally.
By boat

You can get a boat from Barreiro to Lisbon.
By bicycle

Due to the relative proximity of Lisbon's airport to the city centre, it is quite easy to cycle from the airport to the centre, and is probably to be recommended if you arrive for a cycling trip. Cycling in Portugal can be a challenge, though Lisbon offers far easier cycling ground than that which you may find outside of the city. The further you get from Lisbon, however, the easier the cycling gets. You may wish to take advantage of certain regional trains that take bicycles in a separate luggage carriage, allowing you to start your cycling some 50 or 100 kilometers outside of the city.

After leaving the airport and negotiating a roundabout, merge onto the long and straight dual-carriageway Av. Almirante Gago Coutinho (you should be able just to follow the "Centro" ("Downtown") signs.) After merging, the route to Baixa is simple and straight. This street later turns into Av. Almirante Reis, and then Rua de Palma, at the end of which you will be right in Baixa.

Cycling within the city is not easy due to traffics and the surprisingly hilly outlet of Lisbon. There are no bike lanes in town and car drivers are not used to bikes so be very careful. Good spots to cycle are along the EXPO coast, between Alcantara and Belém and out of Lisbon along the coast towards the beautiful beach of Guincho.

Bike shops in the centre are rare. You find a SportZone near Rossio or in Amoreiras shopping mall. Ask there for specialist shops if you need, shop assistants are usually very helpful
Get around

Lisbon's recently refurbished metro system (http://www.metrolisboa.pt) is quick and efficient. Single trip tickets within Zone 1 (which covers most of the city) cost €0.70, although you can buy a 10 trip card for €6.50.

Be sure to check out the public transport one- and multiple-day tickets, as most likely you will save a lot of money using them. You can buy a 7 Colinas card for 0.50 euros and charge it for unlimited trips either on one day (3.20 euros) or for five consecutive days (12.10 euros). The 7 Colinas card is rechargeable.

If you plan to be in Lisbon for an extended time, you can purchase an unlimited pass that covers buses, metro, and funiculars at the Carris (http://www.carris.pt/en/index.php) station in Santo Amaro. It's 10 euro for the Lisboa Viva card, plus 25 euro for a one-month unlimited pass. You can also get them in week-long or two-week unlimited denominations. Bring a photo ID (passport) and cash.

Think twice before using a car in the city unless you are prepared to spend hours in traffic jams. Parking in certain areas can also be a pain.

If your accommodation is in the centre of the city, walking is a great alternative. Many of the attractions of the city, such as the Castelo and the Alfama and Bairro Alto districts, are within easy walking distance of the Baixa.

You may also use the funiculars and elevadores. Day passes for public transportation are also valid for those.
See

Instead of paying for a trip in one of the tourist trams, try line 28. It takes you by many of Lisbon's most famous sites, and although it is overrun with tourists, you still get a flavor of the locals.

* The Gulbenkian Museum. Avenida de Berna, 45A. Created from the personal collection of Calouste Gulbenkian, an Armenian who longed to see all his treasures displayed in a museum. A nice assortment of Egyptian artifacts, along with paintings by masters such as Rembrandt, Manet, Monet, Renoir, and Cassat. The museum's gardens are worth a visit in and of themselves, as a little oasis in the middle of downtown Lisbon. Entry to the museum is free for students with ID.

* St Jorge's Castle. Located up the hill, with a great view over the city and the river. If you have the energy, get there by walking from downtown, going through the fantastic old neighborhood of Alfama.

* Santa Justa's Elevator. Located downtown, this elevator was designed by a follower of French engineer Gustav Eiffel and connects the downtown to the Trindade, located several meters uphill.

* Praça do Comércio. This magnificent plaza, facing the river, is the beginning of Lisboa's downtown. It is also known as 'Terreiro do Paço', meaning 'Garden of the Palace', relating to its function before the Great Earthquake of 1755.

* Belém. This monument-packed neighbourhood features the likes of Belem Tower (Torre de Belém), the Jerónimos Monastery, Padrão dos Descobrimentos and the modern Belém Cultural Center. A stroll around its many gardens enjoying the river's bright blue is also a must. In front of the former Royal Palace of Belém, now the Presidential Palace, there is a massive statue looking out to sea, representing Afonso de Albuquerque, first Viceroy of Portuguese India at the early 16th century. Housed in the former ridding school of the palace, don't miss the world's largest collection of coaches and royal vehicles at the Coach Museum (Museu dos Coches). Take tram 15 to the west, which follows the coast line.

* Centro Cultural de Belém

* Chiado. Take a stroll along the historical streets of this elegant shopping district, stopping for a cup of coffee with the statue of Fernando Pessoa, Portugal's great Modernist poet. Head uphill to Bairro Alto, for stunning views of the city and some wild partying in Lisbon's most popular nightclub district.

* Chiado Museum

* Downtown (Baixa). This part of the city was completely rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake by the Marquis de Pombal. The planned layout, greatly different from what you will see in the more ancient neighborhoods, is a testimony to the ideas of the Enlightenment.

* Ponte 25 de Abril. This sister bridge of the Golden Gate in San Francisco was designed by the same architect in 1966 to connect Lisbon with the Setubal peninsula across the Tagus (Tejo) River. Formerly known as the Salazar Bridge, it was renamed after the Carnation Revolution, which on April 25, 1974 ended the dictatorship.

* Cristo Rei. Similar to the Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro, this statue stands over 100 meters tall on the opposite bank of the Tejo River from downtown Lisbon. Views from the top of the statue are breathtaking, although the elevator up will cost you 3 euros.

* Jardim Zoológico. A zoo that is fairly pricey, but with a variety of animals.

* Parque das Nações. Built for the 1998 World Expo, the eastern side of town (take the Metro to Oriente) is a change from downtown and has one of the world's largest aquariums (9 euro admission fee), among other sights.

* Most of the metro system is a free art gallery. You'll find art by contemporary artists inspired by the stations' surrounding area. Check the subway webpage for more details on this curiosity - http://www.metrolisboa.pt/artemetro_uk.htm. The red line is the newest one and has the best pieces of art.

* Fundação Arpad Szenes / Vieira da Silva

* Alfama. This neighbourhood is a sign of the Muslim presence in the city, with the buildings very close to each other, and very irregular streets. It's very atmospheric.

Do

* Cultural Agenda

Buy

Shops open a little later than other places in Europe, and the lunch breaks can be quite long, usually from 1pm to 3pm. They are usually closed on Sundays, but you'll find that some which are open for a couple of hours. Most malls, however, are open on Sundays, such as Colombo (beside the Colegio Militar/Luz metro station), the Armazens do Chiado, Vasco da Gama (beside the Oriente metro station), and Amoreiras (not far from the Marquês de Pombal metro station). Grocery stores are closed on Sundays, except those located inside major malls.

You can buy a Lisbon Shopping Card, which gives you discounts at major stores around the city for a period of 24 hours.

From Praça do Comércio (aka Terreiro do Paço) to the Restauradores, the Baixa is the best shopping district in the city. Stroll along the pedestrian Rua Augusta, with everything from tourist stores to European chain clothing stores like Zara, H&M, Campers and many others.

Eat

Eat dinner out one night at a traditional Portuguese restaurant at the Bairro Alto, preferably one that has traditional fado music.

If it's traditional Portuguese that you're after, then the area of Alfama is the place to go. There, you have plenty of choice, with a street full of restaurants. Try the seafood rice (arroz de marisco).

Try the magnificent pastéis de nata at any pastelaria or the even better, pastéis de Belém next to the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém. Have them warm and profusely showered in cinnamon... Huummmm

Budget

Mid-range
Bairro Alto

* Sul, Rua do Norte 13, [phone]. Delicious mediterranean and south american food. Good wine and drinks list. Helpful staff will translate the menu, which is written on the blackboard, and happily cater for vegetarians. Gets packed in the evenings so bookings recommended if you're eating from 9pm onwards. €30 (2 courses with wine and cocktail).
* PAP'ACORDA, Rua da Atalaia, 57-59, [phone]. Yet another co-owner of Bico do Sapato (there are four) is Fernando Fernandes. A restaurateur with his finger firmly on Lisbon's pulse, he also owns this place, opened in 1981 and full ever since. Unlike its fabulous half-sister, Pap'Açorda offers a modest check, and it reverses the ratio of great food vs. show-off quotient. This is all about real. If you want to try (almost) unreconstructed Portuguese dishes, here's your place—and it's handily located in this month's up-and-coming-back neighborhood, beautiful Bairro Alto. Since the restaurant is named after Açorda Real, a lobster and shrimp dish, it stands to reason that this is a good thing to order.
* Brasuca, Rua Joao Pereira da Rosa 7, 21 322 07 40. Great Brazilian food served by friendly staff.

Drink

Lisbon is known for its lively night. For going out, stroll around the old neighborhood of Bairro Alto ('high neighborhood') for an after-dinner caipirinha or mojito and people-watching. It's located on the top of one of the hills and you can get there by subway (Baixa/Chiado station) or by taking the marvelous cablecar from the Restauradores plaza. Its small streets, full of people, are packed with high variety of bars. Thursdays nights are the busiest, but the Bairro is rocking every night until dawn.

Alcântara, Santos, Parque das Nações, and the castle area are all neighbourhoods with a thriving nightlife. The whole area near the river/Atlantic, known as the docas, is a huge hub for nightlife, as Lisbon has never lost its ties to the sea.
Sleep

If you are in the center, finding a sleeping place should not be a big problem. There are many small, unlisted hostels that will offer you enough comfort, and offer a fair price. Expect to pay between €45 and €60 for a double room.

There is a tourist service center in the airport, where the nice ladies will book a room for you.


Contact

Private international call centres and public telephone booths are common throughout Lisbon. Be warned, however, public phones less generous than slot-machines: many times they'll swallow your change and give you no credit. You're better off purchasing a Portugal Telecom pre-paid card you can insert into the phone, or even a discount calling card which connects you via a toll-free number. These can be purchased from street kiosks and convenience stores. Most payphones also allow you to pay by credit card, although support for this feature is somewhat expensive.

Internet cafes are also abundant in the Rossio and Restauradores districts as well as in the Bairro Alto (opening late there). Expect to pay between €2 - €3 per hour.
Stay safe

Although Lisbon is a relatively safe city by European standards, crime rates are on the rise. The most common crime against travellers is pickpocketing and theft from rental cars or on public transport (especially line 28). Lisbon has also seen some gang-related nightclub violence in recent years. Be careful at late night in the Bairro Alto. Travellers can get mugged being on their own or when they "bond" with a local gang. Also be careful with bank machines in the City Centre.

A lot of the hash and marijuana smuggled into the EU from Morocco is channelled through Lisbon (actually most is through the huge and not well guarded Portuguese coast, from the Algarve, where most of it gets in, to the very north). Chances are you'll be approached at least a few times by certain types offering 'hash' or 'chocolate'. A firm 'no thank-you' should be enough to deter them.
Cope
Get out

* Sintra is a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site village 30 minutes by car/train from Lisbon.

* Praia das Maçãs is a small and surprisingly calm seaside resort about 30km to the west.

* Azeitão some 30km South of Lisbon, this small region consists of a series of lovely villages, of which Vila Nogueira de Azeitão and Vila Fresca de Azeitão are the most well known. Azeitão stands between the Arrábida Nature Park and the coast. In the park you'll meet the last remains of the original Mediterranean flora. Also, there is the famous Convent of Arrábida to visit and the stunning views from its hills and at its peak.
o Vila Nogueira de Azeitão - visit the beautiful Winery and palace "Quinta da Bacalhoa". Visit also the grand estate and winery of "José Maria da Fonseca". Igreja de São Lorenço with hand painted tile pannels, gilded wood chappels and a Lucca Della Robbia medallion. Convent of S. Domingos
o Vila Fresca de Azeitão
Source wikipedia