Lisbon

About Lisbon

Lisbon, the sun-drenched capital of Portugal perched above the broad estuary of the Tagus River on Europe's Atlantic edge, has transformed in recent years into one of the continent's most beloved and rapidly celebrated travel destinations — a city of timeless charm, extraordinary food and wine, melancholic fado music, and a gloriously authentic character that larger European capitals have long since traded away in the name of modernity. Built dramatically across seven steep hills connected by a network of iconic vintage yellow trams, narrow cobblestone streets, and panoramic miradouro viewpoint terraces draped in bougainvillea, Lisbon rewards explorers with discoveries around every corner: hidden azulejo-tiled stairways, baroque palaces, atmospheric tasca restaurants where the wine flows freely and the salt cod arrives a hundred different ways, and vibrant neighborhood squares alive with the sound of conversation and laughter. The historic Alfama district, Lisbon's oldest neighborhood and former Moorish quarter, winds steeply up from the waterfront to the São Jorge Castle in a labyrinth of whitewashed houses decorated with hand-painted ceramic tiles, where the sounds of fado — Portugal's haunting national music of longing and loss — drift from doorways and dimly lit restaurants in the evenings. The modernist Belém district to the west of the city center tells the story of Portugal's extraordinary Age of Discovery, with the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery, the iconic Tower of Belém, and the Monument to the Discoveries all commemorating the era when Portuguese navigators like Vasco da Gama mapped the world's oceans. Lisbon's food scene is exceptional value for quality: the world-famous pastéis de nata (warm custard tarts) from the original Pastéis de Belém bakery alone are worth the trip. With outstanding year-round sunshine, a low cost of travel relative to other Western European capitals, and an increasingly vibrant arts and startup scene, Lisbon is one of the best value city break destinations in Europe and continues to win hearts from travelers around the world.

Highlights