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 ... Read review
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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 ... ...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.
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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 leather goods retailers. Hard to pick up a bargain, but ideal for an expresso and a great opportunity for some people-watching.
A great place to visit is the Instituto de Vinho du Porto, or The Portuguese Institute of Port & Wine. Be sure to take Tiago Olivera's taste challenge after being instructed in the taste, hue and aroma of Portugal's finest alcoholic export. I still to this day cannot distinguish the smells of cigar boxes and oranges in the deep red liquid, but perhaps that's not surprising coming from a lager drinker with a penchant for Southern Comfort.
For eating and drinking, head for the Bairro Alto district of the city, where a plethora of bars, cafes and restaurants await. Catering for every taste and every budget, cram yourselves into a local eaterie or indulge the senses with a slightly more intimate culinary experience, the choice is yours. Many of the bars are gay-friendly, but the Portuguese are a tolerant bunch, and those in the minority are they 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.
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 ...
Iceman 14.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lisbon in general
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 ...
Iceman 20.07.2000
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Review of Lisbon in general
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 ...
Iceman 15.07.2000
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Review of Lisbon in general
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 ...
SNINKUM 10.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Lisbon in general
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
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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 inLisbon and ingeneral 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. ...
Advantages: An area filled with beauty, history and is very laid back Disadvantages: None
tram.
Summary
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I love this area but then I love most things about Lisbon and Portugal ingeneral. What I will say about Belem is that it isn't always on everybody's agenda and it is sometimes overlooked by a lot of visitors. Maybe because it isn't central, I don't know. Personally, I find this area alive and kicking. It has a lot of historical buildings and on the river front it has that eerie feeling of a time that once was great but has waned a little. At night it is at its most beautiful when the Torre de Belem and the Monument to the Dicovereries are lit up. Although it is a very historical area it isn't wrapped in mothballs - it is alive, used and loved. What more can you ask for?
Further Reading:
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Summary ...
Praski 16.07.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional Review of Belém, Lisbon
Advantages: modern, good transport infrastructure Disadvantages: airport bus service only runs until 9pm
, the minimum check-in time is an hour.
If you are arriving inLisbon, the airport is very well connected if you are heading on elsewhere, with plenty of cheap hire car companies about, and road connections are exceptionally easy, with well-signed routes to the main motorways both northwards and southwards. If you hire a car, and discover that it is in one of the further away car parks (numbers 3 and 4) then you can make use of the free airport shuttle service, which runs every five minutes. To get into the City Centre, the Aerobus is your best bet if you arrive between 7am and 9pm, and it leaves every 20 minutes from the airport. Taxis are available from the arrivals and departures terminals and are generally reliable, even if the driving is more of the style of Pedro Lamy than a genteel ride.
There is a wide selection of restaurants ...
Morgenhund 23.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lisbon (LIS)
