Tours

Lisbon is located in the estuary of the River Tagus, and is linked to the other bank by two bridges. The Ponte 25 de Abril is one of the biggest bridges in Europe and appears similar to the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco. As for the inhabitants, Lisbon is known for the characteristically warm and friendly locals.

Alfama

Alfama is the oldest and most historic district in Lisbon, and throughout the little becos or alleyways you will find historic homes and ancient dwellings that make this evident. Here is where you will find the Castelo de São Jorge which rests upon one of the more daunting hills in the city. Also in the area you will also find the historic churches of Santo Estêvão and São Vicente alongside the Se Cathedral which all offer a glimpse into the religious pomp and circumstance. This district also contains many places to see a Fado show, although many locals say that they are too tourist oriented; try to find a place that is run by the Fado artists themselves for more authenticity. Furthermore, if you happen to be lucky enough to be in the city during the festival of Santo António, usually held in mid-June, this district comes alive as street vendors, impromptu musical acts and culinary delights will all please. The entire district sometimes resembles what an old Alcaçaria (marketplace) would look like, where you can almost hear ancient traders in the bazaar.

Bairro Alto

Located nearby the neighborhoods of Encarnação and Santa Catarina lies the Bairro Alto or “High Neighborhood” due to its picturesque setting on top of one of Lisbon's many hills. This neighborhood is an eclectic bag of locales, where you can find antique shops alongside others with a decidedly more modern flair, and although the area has seen some degradation over the years, it is still a popular place to come and see authentic Fado and has an upbeat nightlife for other events. For excellent views of the city, take the Elevador da Glória to the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara and enjoy a quasi bird's-eye view of Lisbon and its environs. Also of particular interest is the Museu e Igreja de São Roque, a treasure trove of religious art and fervor during the age of discovery. In the past, this neighborhood was filled with houses of prostitution, gambling dens and other sordid places, but today just as with most parts of Lisbon, the archaic mingles with the contemporary.

Chiado/Baixa

If you take the subway and get out at the Baixa-Chiado stop, you will then enter one of the most beautiful and historic neighborhoods in the city. Filled with historic restaurants and museums, there is no doubt that the visitor will want to stay in this area and explore. To start, enjoy some bica (espresso) at the Cafe a Brasileira. Then for some high class entertainment, you could catch a show at the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos (the only opera house in the city) or the Companhia Teatral do Chiado where you can appreciate the color and flair from this contemporary dance company. For those travelers with a more educational proclivity, you can head to the Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea (National Museum of Modern Art) and the Museu do Chiado, as both contain magnificent works. For a leisurely stroll, in this neighborhood you will also find the Largo do Carmo which is a beautiful square filled with Jacaranda trees and their resplendent purple leaves, also nearby is the Convento do Carmo, destroyed by the earthquake of 1755 and now hosts the city's archeological museum, the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo. In the area of Baixa, you will find many historical monuments and buildings alongside many elegant shops and boutiques. This is the only place in Lisbon that has a linear layout of streets, designed and planned by the Marquês de Pombal after the earthquake in 1755 destroyed every other previous edifice. Stroll down the Rua Augusta from the Rossio metro stop until the Praça do Comercio, an area that witnessed the grandeur and decadence during the reign of Portuguese kings for two centuries. The Baixa Pombalina as this district is also known was declared a World Heritage site in 2004, and considering the variety of modernity and tradition, this is a definite must-see while in the capital. After all this, head down to the Restaurante Chapitô, a place with international as well as traditional dishes and also functions as a circus school.

Praça da Espanha to Rossio

At the Praça de Espanha metro station you can visit the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian and the adjacent wide green areas of the eponymously named park. And since you are already there, why not go to Centro de Arte Moderna Jose de Azeredo Perdigão as well?

Further south, in the Parque Eduardo VII you will have the opportunity to see beautiful displays that feature the ubiquitous azulejos (decorative tiles) which represent the major Portuguese discoveries. At the north end of the park, it provides spectacular views of the Avenida da Liberdade and the magnificent structures all around. At the bottom of the park, you will see the monument to Lisboa's benevolent patriarch, Marquês de Pombal; it was he who almost single-handedly reconstructed the city after the quake. You can then walk down the Avenida da República through the center all the way down to Rossio, a square that is truly the heart of the city. Stop by the Cafe Nicola for some coffee and a pastel de natas a delectable little pastry before making the trip across town to the historic district of Belem.

Belem

Grab the tram at the Cais do Sodre to the wondrous district of Belem, this neighborhood is where the religious, economic and political power of Portugal was during the Descobrimentos. Spend a day along the Tagus River and you will be surprised at the many things it has to offer. With a view of the south bank areas of Santos and Almada, as well as the magnificent Ponte 25 de Abril. Belem is one of the most visted places in Lisbon, and if you find cars interesting, visit the Museu Nacional dos Coches. If more museums is what you desire, before coming to Belem, visit the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, situated in Janelas Verdes. In this museum you find a vast collection of paintings from the 16th century, ceramics and goldsmith pieces, among others. The museum also has a variety of international and national art between 12th and 19th Centuries. When you arrive to the Mercado Municipal 24 de Julho (at night it is an area extremely full of people frequenting the numerous bars and discos in the area), use the public transportation mentioned above in order to get to Belem. Once you arrive in Belem, the first thing you will see is the massive Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, a limestone edifice that houses the tombs of the famed explorer Vasco da Gama and the literary heavyweight, Luis de Camões. Right next door is the Fundação Centro Cultural de Belem, a cultural factory which presents all kinds of entertainment, from musicals to art expos. From here, cross the street on one of the overpasses to the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, a huge sculpture representing a ship with all the Portuguese greats, Vasco da Gama, João Gonçalves Zarco and many others. The statue itself is quite massive and inside you can visit the top of the monument which has marvelous views of the entire city, even though it is a little further west from the center. Further west, take a stroll down to the Torre de Belem, which marks the point from which Portuguese sailors departed on their way to discover Brazil and the sea route to India. This veritable monument built in 1551 to protect the city and to hold prisoners. Visit the terrace and you will have an impressive view above Lisbon and the Tagus River.

Guided Tours

Walking Tours Lisbon Walker (+351 218 861 840/ http://www.lisbonwalker.com/) Inside Lisbon Tours (+351 968 412 612 / http://www.insidelisbon.com/)

Biking Tours Inside Lisbon Tours (+351 968 412 612 / http://www.insidelisbon.com/) BTTour (+351 21 478 3153/ http://www.bttour.com/)

Bus Tours Hop-on Hop-off Tours (http://www.hopon-hopoff.com/) City Rama (+351 213 191 090 / http://www.cityrama.pt/) Lisboa Tours (+351 967 086 536/ http://www.lisboasightseeing.com/)

Boat Tours City Rama (+351 213 191 090 / http://www.cityrama.pt/) Transtejo (+351 808 203 050/ http://www.transtejo.pt/)