Seven hills with the city draped like a rich carpet, dazzling architecture full of azulejos, good food and drinks at prices from another era: Lisbon is one of the most relaxed southern European city trips.
3 Lisbon highlights when the sun is shining
- Take the Elevador de Santa Justa (a neo-Gothic elevator from 1902, built by a student of Gustave Eiffel) and enjoy the sun-drenched panorama of the Lisbon skyline from the top.
- Get off the beaten track in the cobbled alleys of the atmospheric working-class district of Alfama, where the Visigoths once lived and the view and atmosphere were determined by the Moors.
- Once night falls, take the tram to the Nossa Senhora do Monte viewpoint and enjoy the sun setting over the city. The enchanting view will be accompanied by bittersweet Fado music.
3 highlights in Lisbon when it rains
- Going to an indoor shopping centre seems a bit of a shame in a southern city like Lisbon, but Embaixada is new, hyper cool and is housed in a 19th-century palace in Moorish style.
- Enter a cosy intimate pub and listen to Fado, heart-breaking Portuguese life songs. There are many bars with live Fado, especially on weekends, but Bela on Rua dos Remédios has music playing almost daily.
- Visit the impressive hilltop Castelo de São Jorge. The view over the city may not be ideal on a cloudy day, but you'll be able to spend a rainy afternoon with the castle visit itself.
And what do we eat afterwards?
Bacalhau + Pastel de Belém
Bacalhau is brined cod - stockfish actually. The Portuguese prepare it in so many different ways that it is said that you can taste a different bacalhau preparation every day of the year. For dessert, order a Pastel de Belém, the national sweet (similar to crème brulée, but in a pastry).
Here's an overview of just a few ISIC benefits
you can score in Lisbon:
Withlocals: 10% discount on your experience.
Withlocals is a peer-to-peer marketplace connecting travellers with locals through unique travel experiences in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
National Tile Museum: 50% off entrance ticket
The museum collection features decorative ceramic tiles or azulejos from the second half of the 15th century to the present-day. Besides tiles, it includes ceramics, porcelain and faience from the 19th to the 20th century. Its permanent exhibition starts with a display of the materials and techniques used for manufacturing tiles. After this brief introduction, the exhibition route follows a chronological order.
Jeronimos Monastery: 50% off entrance ticket
A masterpiece of 16th-century architecture in Portugal, the Monastery of Jerónimos is listed as a National Monument and inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List (1983). It is located in one of Lisbon’s most noble areas, a both historical and monumental setting overlooking the Tagus River. On the monastery’s imposing façade, extending for about three hundred metres, stands the Church’s richly decorated South Portal boasting images of Portugal’s Patron Saint, St. Michael the Archangel (on top) and Our Lady of Belém or Our Lady of Reis (at the centre).
National Pantheon: 50% off entrance ticket
The National Pantheon, housing the tombs of Portugal’s major historic celebrities, is located on the original site of the church of Santa Engrácia.
Cityrama Grayline Portugal: 10% off Hop On Hop Off services
Welcome to Lisbon. Cityrama is the perfect host for the city of the seven hills. Go up to one of our panoramic buses and meet Lisbon and Cascais as best as possible: you can hop on and off the buses in any one of our stops and, along the way, you can use our audio-guides, available in 16 languages. And if you prefer, you can see Lisbon from the Tagus River in one of our boats. All you have to do is choose your route and Cityrama Grayline Portugal will take you there. Your discount: 10% off sightseeing routes and services
Booking.com: Save up to 15% with Genius
and Get 4% Cashback with ISIC.
Booking.com connects travellers with the world’s largest selection of incredible places to stay, including everything from apartments, vacation homes, and family-run B&Bs to 5-star luxury resorts, tree houses and even iglo.
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