Portugal is a great country to visit. Not only will you be able to spend time on some great beaches and see some fabulous scenery inland, but there are also some great cities to explore. However, if you’re only going to see one city while you’re there, then you should without a doubt head for Lisbon – the country’s capital. It’s a beautiful city full of charming buildings and wonderful piazzas.
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| Lisbon, Portugal |
There is plenty to do and see in Lisbon, whether you take an organized tour with a guide or just go for a wander by yourself. The oldest district in Lisbon is Alfama – which stretches from the Castle of Lisbon to the Tejo River. There are lots of meandering cobbled streets which you’re bound to get lost amongst as you travel between attractions such as the Museum of Decorative Arts and Lisbon Cathedral.
The city of Lisbon is quite steep in places, hence the presence the elevadores. When your legs have had enough sightseeing, take a couple of turns on the elevadores. The Elevador da Gloria is a tram that over three million people ride each year. It departs from Praça de Restauradores (opposite the Hard Rock café) and goes to the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcantara. The ride is only 265m long, but the average gradient is 18%, so it’s nice not to climb this stretch.
The Elevador de Santa Justa is an elevator that travels up a 45m tower from the square Praça do Rossio. It’s a quick and easy way to travel from downtown Lisbon to Largo do Carmo. The Elevador de Santa Justa will be reminiscent to the Eiffel Tower to those who have been to Paris – it was built by one of Gustave Eiffel’s apprentices.
Portugal relies on tourism as one of its main industries and so it’s never a problem to find accommodation. You can choose to stay on campsites or at five star hotels, to go full-board or self-catering. If you want to stay near to Lisbon take a look at Jet2holidays.com – villas in Portugal to find a place from where it is easy to travel in and out of this charming city.
It’s good to visit Lisbon in the spring or early autumn. This way you’ll find the weather more temperate for city sightseeing and you won’t have to share the attractions with so many other tourists as in the summer months.
