Portugal holidays usually conjure up images of the beautiful Algarve region or even the pretty island of Madeira. The stunning rocky coastline, beautiful sandy beaches and even a round of golf or two may spring to mind. However, its well worth visiting Portugal's stunning capital city.
Lisbon is a very interesting mixture of old and new. Until the mid 90s Lisbon had a serious problem with image, it looked shambolic, run down and generally tired. Lisbon was announced as the European City of Culture in 1994, and in the World Expo in 1998 managed to persuade the central management and the European Union to invest money in the city and it was quickly regenerated.
The cities infrastructure was resurrected and the area specifically developed for the Exhibition became known as the Parquet das Nacoes. This ultra-modern area is now home to beautiful river walkways, Europes second largest Oceanarium, concert venues and a huge shopping mall.
Lisbon played host to some of the European Football Championships games in 2004, and the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2005, establishing itself as a serious contender for city breaks. You can easily travel the city on foot, but as the area is built on seven hills, using the vintage tram system is probably the easiest way to travel, and is the best way to appreciate the breathtaking views as you look down over the sprawling city to the winding River Tagus.
Alfama is a Moorish section of the city sitting in the hillside just beneath the medieval St Georges Castle with cafes that spill their tables onto sunny terraces offering breathtaking views of the city below. Cosmopolitan Chiado will excite with its traditional bars and cafes, international shops, and modern squares.
Shopping is at a premium in Lisbon with the Baxia area boasting a wonderful shopping centre and the famous Commercial Square which in turn borders the River Tagus. Just nearby you can roam the narrow winding streets of the Biarro Alto, alive with shoppers by day and party goers by night.
Lisbon is well known for its lilting music and dance known as fado, a haunting melody that reaches to the very depths of your soul depicting the passing of the maritime era and devastation caused by the tidal wave, huge earthquake and great fires in 1755.
Whilst still bursting with tradition and history, Lisbon offers a lively modern twist and you can always visit the local beaches at nearby Cascais and Estoril to recharge your batteries and enjoy the old fashioned way of life here.
So if you are thinking of
Portugal holidays why not consider Lisbon, with its history and culture, parks and beaches, bars and restaurants it really does have something for everyone.
