#1. Lisbon travel Guide to the City and secret Holiday Rentals
Lisbon travel Guide to the City and secret Holiday Rentals
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Europe's western capital Lisbon (Lisboa) is full of surprises and contrasts and is a city with plentifulness of history, culture and energy all waiting to be explored colse to the clock.
Lisbon travel Guide to the City and secret Holiday Rentals
The contrasts in the city are clear and whole modernity in key parts of the city fuses readily with tradition. This can be said of both the buildings, citizen and lifestyles. Lisbon practically absolutely has something for everyone. Escaping the city to the beach is easy with assorted beaches only 30-45 minutes away, but why flee such a bright city?
As a former world power the city is rich in remarkable architecture, commanding views and cosmopolitan residents who have developed cultural highs in cuisine, fashion and nightlife.
The city's metro principles is perfect for tourists and connects all the main city highlights. Elsewhere taxis are cheap by European standards and providing you belt up, you will enjoy magnificent views of Lisbon whilst your driver speeds you around. Driving inside Lisbon isn't recommended as the city's narrow and steep streets are not the easiest to navigate.
Start your visit uptown in the bright Baixa/Bairro Alto area; bright by day with shoppers and citizen lounging in cafes and livelier by night with restaurants, bars and small night clubs. Part of the excitement here is to seek the tiny streets by day- look up at the structure and look straight ahead at the quirky boutiques, salons and restaurants which may not appear in typical guides. seek the faultless transformation of the area by night as all the doorways light up and open up to diners and party goers.
A walk away is the Rossio square- a square to walk straight through and again look at the fountains and buildings. Head up to the Avenida da Liberdade, a leafy boulevard with designer shops. Again keep walking right to the top where you arrive at a roundabout and a manicured park; the 19th century Parque Eduardo Vii which is worth a walk colse to and a photo stop from the top with beautiful views of the city.
Lisbon is home to a castle again gift spectacular, views of Lisbon. The Castelo de Sao Jorge is the best place to see the San Francisco like bridge and statue of Christ on the other side of the river. The castle is also romantic and a beautiful place to watch the sunset- which is probably one of Europe's most extra sunsets- at the end of Europe with the vast Atlantic ahead of you.
The whole Miradouros (View Points) in Lisbon are confirmation that the alleged seven hills - it all the time appears more- are everywhere. You find yourself climbing or descending cobbled streets full of iconic historic structure covered in Azulejos (tiles).
One climb you can't miss is in the Elevador de Santa Justa. After a bica (espresso coffee) or um galao (milky coffee) buy a ticket and ride up this towering homage to Eiffel again with views of the city. Once there take a wander colse to the boutiques and look colse to for those tiny side streets all with views of the river Tagus which you are never far from.
For a touch of contemporary influences spend an afternoon at the Parque das Nascoes (Nations Park) the former location of Expo 98. Here you will find a shopping centre and river side cable cars with views of one of Europe's longest bridges. Prominent architect Alvaro Siza also designed the Portuguese Pavilion here featuring the world's largest suspended roof! Europe's biggest aquarium is also waiting to be explored. For other contemporary references indulge in some Portuguese fashion with designers along with Ana Salazar, the mom of Portuguese fashion gift cutting edge design. For men try Nuno Gama who has cleverly mixed Portuguese influences with sexy, unavoidable and sharp looks. Both showcase each year at Moda Lisboa and both have a following beyond Portugal.
If you haven't yet been hypnotised by the charms of Fado music then Lisbon is the home of this soulful sound. Mariza- Portugal's current queen of Fado has played extensively colse to the world selling out concert halls from La to London to Tokyo and back again. But it is here in Lisbon that you all the time seem to hear a range of guitars with a melancholic voice advent from restaurants where you may catch a live performance. In the Chiado area there is also a small green carriage selling the Cd's and playing it all day.
Try A Baiuca bistro which serves customary Portuguese dishes along with the noted salt cod- Bacalhau com Natas, with background sounds of Fado. Situated in the Bairro Alto it is a spectacular, bistro run by a wife and husband- in that order- who are part of the whole appeal. The food is fine and the location is perfect to start a night out.
Close to Lisbon is Belem which is like a small history museum. Just 10 minutes by tram and Belem offers beautiful architecture and some of the city's most recognisable monuments along with the Torre de Belem. This is also the place where Vasco de Gama set sail seek the route to India. Here you can indulge in the noted Pasteis de Belem (custard tarts) surrounded by unique buildings, green spaces and the river in front of you.
From Belem the train is 20 minutes from the beachside towns of Estoril and Cascais. Both small but with golden sands and intimate city centres full of restaurants. perfect for a city escape.
If you have time left in your itinerary then a visit to the green and mountainous Sintra is a must. The castles, palaces and normal feel of this town- 45 minutes from Lisbon are unique. The climatic characteristic does drop slightly so take a sweater or jacket as you set out exploring and climbing.
By night citizen like to go out and stay out. With an whole whole of cool bars of all sizes and restaurants gift everything from Portuguese to Angolan to Goan influenced cuisine- there is something here for most likes. The nightlife is a fast paced one with citizen bright from bar to bar before ending up at one of Europe's most talked about clubs- Lux. absolutely the trendiest club in Lisbon, the interior is eye catching as are the guests!
Head to western Europe and seek the city that discovered many cities.
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