The Portuguese capital of Lisbon is recognized as one of the greatest cities in the world and was voted in 2015 the second best Europe destination in an online poll carried out by the travel site European Best Destinations.
This claim was also confirmed by the “Lonely Planet Guides”, which named Lisbon as one of the top 10 cities in the world to visit. The dramatic stone architecture is stunning and the city has a vibrant buzz to it, with a rich history, lively nightlife and a glorious year-round climate.
The museums of Lisbon celebrate its rich history and culture. The Maritime Museum relives Portugal’s seafaring past, while the Casa-Museu Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves is a hidden gem of colorful artwork. Make sure to visit the Padrao dos Descobrimentos, the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, and the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Torre de Belem.
But the best way to experience Lisbon is by foot, with local guides perhaps, who are educated in History of Art, Architecture, and Cinema, or self-guided tours are also available. There are beautiful public parks and gardens that you can enjoy all year round, given the temperate climate, and Lisbon has 16 official viewpoints, all of them with amazing views over the city’s rooftops, the most important monuments, the Tejo river, and the 25 de Abril bridge.
Try out your Portuguese in the pubs and taste wine with the locals; or go on a stroll accompanied by a Fado singer (fadista) or enjoy in one of the many music venues. Fado, meaning ‘fate’, is a mournful form of music born in the 1800s around the notion of longing. They say that Fado singers perform with such passion that will have you weeping uncontrollably into your porto!
Close to Lisbon is a stunning coast lined with beautiful sandy beaches; there are two easily accessible coastal regions from Lisbon, the Cascais-Estoril region to the west Lisbon and the Costa Caprica to the south of Lisbon.
And there are many other enjoyable day trips from Lisbon, including the charming hill-top town of Sintra and the royal fishing town of Cascais. Other day trips include the beach town of Sesimbra, the huge palace of Mafra and the picturesque walled town of Obidos.
Lisbon has long hot summers, pleasant spring/autumn seasons and mild winters, so it can be considered a year-round destination. But a great time to visit is in the Spring (March- May) when the days are bright and sunny but temperatures are slightly cooler.
Lisboa (as they call it in Portuguese) was absolutely amazing. I enjoyed exploring the city mostly by foot as the streets are completely narrow. I learned the language as I met many locals around where I live. Loved the experience that Language & Luxury put together. You won't regret a language experience with them!
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