Lisbon in general

Advantages: Nowhere better in Europe for a city break
Disadvantages: Hides its problems almost too well

Lisbon is a city of contradictions. It is both modern and rustic, welcoming yet impenetrable, but quintessentialy Iberian. With the advent of budget flights (I recommend Go! from Stansted), Portugal's capital is a mere hop away, and an affordable one at that. The city centre is typical of Lisbon, or Lisboa as it known by the locals. Shunning western boutiques to a large degree, it is a mish-mash of pavement cafes, street artists and over-priced ...
...who find this uncomfortable, rather than those who dont. Lisbon couldn't be further removed from the tourist hell to be found in the Algarve. It is, like anywhere else, subject to the twin evils of globalisation and Americana, but still retains its own very unique identity, beauty and intrigue. ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent way of examinig Portugese way of Life
Disadvantages: Some may be Tourist traps

Portugal and Lisbon and it's surrounding towns has one of the original cafe cultures. At any given time during the day you will find Lisbon cafes full of office workers on extended ciggerete breaks or just simply full of those watching the world and life go by. The cafes serve a wide variety of drinks the normal cokes and pepsis can always be bought however there are also other drinks such as the Portugese fruit drink Sumol (actuallly the Portugese ...
...popular on the hotter days, for Example Lipton's Iced Tea Com pessego ( Peach Flavoured Iced Tea). Coffee also plays a large part in the life of the Portugese Cafe, the traditional shot-like expresso known as a Bica is the most popular many of the Cafes will serve variations on Caffe Lattes but you will be lucky to find Tall Mochas or Cappucinos. Possibly the most important part of Portugese Cafes are the cakes that are available, these range for ... Read review

Advantages: Massive range of bars, wide choice and cheap choice of drinks,good atmosphere
Disadvantages: some of the darker streets and smaller bars are at times quite dodgy

...as unique especially some in Lisbon have to be some of the best in Europe. The growth in a more independent youth in Portugal and mainly Lisbon over the last 10 years has meant that the youth have been catching up very quickly with their contempories in London and New York. Many bars in Portugal will now have top resident DJ and the dress code will normally be cool or trendy rather than formal, unlike the bars in London and New York whatever they ...
...Lisbon. The best area in Lisbon to go out drinking is Bairro Alto (the high level or high bar), in one of the oldest and most historic quarters of the city, here you will find every bar under the sun and the streets will be full of people untill at least 4 in the morning, this really is the place to party. However one word of warning is that Bairro Alto is situated next to Lisbons old shanty towns and it's medival maze like quality means that at ... Read review

Advantages: Getting better, relativel cheap
Disadvantages: Not big enough to fit the infrastrucure

...tardy at best. However since Lisbon hosted expo 99 there can be noo doubt that there has been a drastic improvement in the public transport system in the city. Lisbon has four modes of transport these are taxis, buses, trams and an underground train system. The taxis in the city are plentiful, and relatively inexpensive in comparison to those in other major cities in Europe. As Lisbon is not the biggest of cities there will be no problems for the ...
...hour. The tram system of Lisbon is pituresque however do not be fooled by this appearance, trams are seen by many of those who live in Lisbon as an essential mode of transport, they are extremely cheap but their routes are often very short. But they can be a useful way of getting to the top of one of Lisbons many hills. the underground system first built 30 years ago in Lisbon for along time ha donly to lines but in 1998 a third line was built giving ... Read review

Advantages: Still Innocent - hardly any english
Disadvantages: The portuguese are not very friendly

Monte Gordo - The Algarve. Ten years ago I chose the hotel Eurotel Altura in Altura/Tavira with the family. This year I took my one remaining teenager and husband back to the Eurotel, which had grown but hardly changed. From Monte Gorda it's a short bus ride or 'road train' to Villa Real de Santo Antonio, where you can hop on the ferry across to Spain. No problem with currency - they willingly take Escudos in Ayamante. This is a lovely border town ... Read review

Advantages: Underground (metro) station inside, buses, taxis, trains, etc.
Disadvantages: None (too much people on weekends).

...This shopping centre located in the ex-EXPO'98 area, is a beautiful place to shop, to lunch or just walk. They have the best shops in town, one of the top restaurants in Lisbon and in general very nice streets and views outside. It is a very modern building, near by the river and other interesting places to visit as Oceanarum, Bowling, outside restaurants - some located in boats in the river. The fast food sector offers an extraordinary diversity, from french rolls to japanese food, icecreams, hamburgers, etc. But, if you are a connoisseure in gastronomy, go to the top flor, left hand side main hall facing river, and enjoy NOBRE Buffet.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Pretty easy to get to from UK
Disadvantages: Lots to see not enough time!

...Starbucks! Shopping Shopping was a strange experience. I expected (wrongly as it happens) to see all the familiar high street names, which seem to dominate globally. There were a few there but not always easy to find – not that we were looking for them (we eventually stumbled across Gap, Levis and Accessorise stores). Instead you had streets and streets full of smallish locally owned stores which sold anything you can buy in the UK and at generally more affordable prices – designer labels included. The one item which was noticeably cheaper than UL (or elsewhere in Europe) was cigarettes. These came in at about £1.80 (2.5 Euros) per pack. So for any smokers looking to get some cheap ciggies, you could do worse than go to Lisbon – and as it’s part of EU, there’s no limit on the amount you can bring back! Sightseeing... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Plenty to see, good food, the trams, nice people
Disadvantages: Can't think of any, unless you count having a really odd-sounding language!

...I’ve been to Portugal before, both the more popular Algarve in the south and some quieter regions in the far north on the border with Galicia in Spain. I’ve even been to Oporto, its other major city, but somehow, the capital, Lisbon, had always eluded me. Up until the weekend of the ‘Glasgow Airport Security Alert’ that is – can I pick a great time to be dependant on planes or what? If there’s one thing more uncertain than how it will affect getting there, it’s wondering how it will affect getting home! Courtesy of some creative accounting at my wife’s school they ended up with a four day break, Friday being a ‘SATS marking day’ (my wife had done hers), and Monday being a bona fide ‘occasional day’, which is not to be sniffed at since it’s an opportunity for those tied to school holidays by marriage, (i.e. me) to take a break when... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful