Lisbon Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia

Nobody knows how I love Lisboa. Greetings from the Dominican Republic.

“Try to keep this one to seven minutes, okay." These are the words our production manager routinely dispenses as our team embark on a new destination guide. One look at the footage of Lisbon, however, and we quickly realized there was zero chance of a seven minute video. In fact we had a hard time bringing this one in at under fifteen! Well, there's always next time. Until then, come with us and explore Portugal's incredible capital; a place where beauty, tradition, creativity and adventure knows no limit.

I first visited Lisbon & Porto in 1994, with my - then girlfriend from NYC. Both cities were diamonds in the rough back then...poor, and ramshackle - like Havana. I returned in 1996 - alone, and stayed 6 months. I had fallen under Lisbon's spell, and felt then that the city would be "Discovered" again, and Man! - was that a prescient thought! I returned again in 2008, and 2009, and the changes were Phenomenal! I have not been back since, but from most of my Portuguese friends I hear that the city is firing on ALL Cylinders, and yet - Tourism is beginning to erode the Portuguese Way of Life! Madonna has apparently purchased a small palace in Sintra, and property in Lisbon, so... you know the "Hand of Doom" is looming over Portugal in a way not seen since the 1755 Earthquake! I love the place like no other, and hope to live there again. My suggestion to Travelers who wish to experience this still magical place - DO NOT act like uninformed, spoilt brats!...... 1. Learn some Portuguese! - most Lisboetas under the age of 45 are semi-fluent in English, French, and definitely Spanish, but...do not speak Spanish! - It's seen as an insult! Familiarize yourself with Fernando Pessoa - the great 20th century Poet of Lisbon! He is IMPORTANT as a key to understanding the Portuguese emotional state, aka "Saudades"! 2. Avoid the restaurants with the "Touristas" menus,, and seek out LOCAL places - they're plentiful, and inexpensive, usually. They tend to be in areas like Santa Catarina (Bicos), Mouraria, Principe Real, Lapa, Anjos, Graca (Especially!), and Belem. Bario Alto has a plethora of good restaurants, but it tends towards touristy, and the crowds are massive! Alfama is atmospheric as fuck!, but also caters to tourist. If the "Clown School" - CHAPITO, in Castelo is still open, that's a very nice 'alternative' hang. 3. SUPPORT LOCAL CULTURE!!! - There are quite a few good museums, and that's cool, but try to see the Calouste Gulbenkian, as not only is the collection marvelous, The Foundation supports a wide range of music, theater, and dance with the emphasis on Contemporary. And, although Fado can be heart-breakingly beautiful - it can also be kitschy, and 'meh' if the performers heart's not into it! Explore with caution...go to the Fado Museum and get an understanding, first! Lisbon is the home of CLEAN FEED Records - Europe's premiere Avant-Garde Jazz, and Music label! On some nights you can find more challenging, and experimental music than you can in NYC! The award winning Avant Saxophonist, Rodrigo Amado is from Lisbon, as well as the awesome noise/experimental Guitarist - Luis Lopes. If either is playing (they often work together!) by all means - GO see them! Lisbon has become a Mecca for alternative music - much more so than Madrid, and Barcelona! Bands to keep your ears open for: The Anarchicks (all-girl Punk/Alt Rock), Linda Martini (Post-Rock, ala Sonic Youth, Mogwai...), Alexander Search (kinda Radiohead-ish), and by all means - check-out the music venues - Music Box (Cais du Soidre), ZBD (Bario Alto), Hot Clube du Jazz (Principe Real), and Praca da Prata. If this isn't enough! - there is the music being made my the People from the former Colonies of Portugal - Mozambique, Cape Verde, Angola, and Brazil! Sorry for this long-winded posting, but this is for anyone looking for a unique experience... Obviously - I LOVE LISBON! The People are beautiful, kind, and thoughtful, The Beaches - unearthly gorgeous, and Sintra should not even exist...it's THAT Beautiful! PLEASE! Be incredibly grateful you are THERE! Treat it as if it were your own - with Respect, and Loving Kindness! You will be rewarded in spades with the best trip EVER! I know It's selfish of me, but I want it to still be "Lisbon" when I move back!

The best seafood I've ever had in my life was in Lisbon at the restaurant Ramiro. The freshest ever.

Been away from Portugal for 35 years going back to my roots in less then 5 days with my children and grand children. I miss my family and friends and the way of the Portuguese life, Love from Sydney, Australia.

everyone mentions venice, paris and prague when they think of the most beautiful cities in europe. why didnt i ever hear about lisbon. definitely should be on the top 10 most beautiful cities in europe

Western Europe is so amazing... I wish I was rich enough for all this travel

Visited Lisbon in summer 2019. Was absolutely spellbound by the hilltop views of the city and by the castles in Sintra. And those egg tarts were crazy addictive. The tile work on the walls of the buildings in Lisbon (as well as Porto) are absolutely gorgeous. There's a lot of steep hills to navigate so bring good walking shoes, but so compact that you can cover lots of ground in a short time. And the seafood in Lisbon is top notch (and super affordable). I saw shockingly few American tourists there compared to elsewhere in western Europe, but was warmly received by every Lisboeta I encountered. Portugal is truly the most underrated European country I've been to thusfar.

Portugal looks so divine and beautiful!

Lisbon is treasure of European measures incredible beauty city in Portugal.

This city is so cool wow😍

Lisbon is a beautiful city. My love & respect to "Portugal" from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Having visited Lisbon 5 times. I can understand the tough time video makers might have faced to develop the same. Lisbon is an amazing city really worth for a weeks stay. I would recommend the expedia team to make video's on Porto and Algarve!

I love Lisbon and Portugal!

what a wonderful city with great outback. Europe is my best continent. I'd be more than happy to reside in places such as this.

Lisbon is really beautiful.

Lisbon and Portugal in general are so exotic and I like the narrator's portuguese accent. This is one of the best presentations ever

I am visiting Lisbon right now, it's a truly incredible city, and this video with astounding quality is even bringing it to the next level.

LISBON the queen of the seas. I like it!

Im original from Chile but live in Sweden, and have been to some harbours in Europe, but no ones feels like home and welcome as Lissabon, if you havent been there yet, DO IT i love that city, was there 2015 and i will return to surf around its ALL coast 💕