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Lisbon hotels

Overview                    Prepare                    Get Around                    Highlights

Hotels in Lisbon offer a huge range of places to stay, from simple and basic to luxury hotels that are world class.  Lisbon hotels do, however, get very booked up in high season (June to September) so ensure you book well in advance at these times, using our price comparison tool to find cheap hotels in Lisbon.

from simple and basic, to luxury hotels.... 

Lisbon is a popular destination and you can choose your hotel according to your preferred activity or atmosphere.  If you want scenic and beautiful surroundings, choose a hotel in the Baixa or Chaido area, close to the Tagus River and the Praça do Comercio, Lisbon's most magnificent square.  Whilst this is also a convenient area for shopping, the districts of Avenida da Liberdade and Marquês de Pombal also offer good shopping access out of mainly luxury hotels.  Affordable hotels tend to be found in the commercial area of Saldanha / Estefânia, which is also very spacious and fresh. Or choose a hotel in the Lapa district, widely regarded as the smartest area in Lisbon, which is quite a tranquil spot, yet is still close to some fabulous nightlife.  Belem is considered to be the most visited area of Lisbon, but, along with the Alfama area, does not offer much in the way of hotels.  If you wish to stay in these districts, start searching for your hotel early on and book as far ahead as you can.

Overview

Overview

Seductive and fun, but with a sense of yearning, Portugal's eclectic capital city is built on seven hills. Famous for its seafarers and melancholic fado music, Lisbon is a vibrant mix of ancient azulejos tiles and vibrant riverfront bars.

See

St George’s Castle crowns the ancient Alfama district, looking across to the majestic ruins of Carmo Convent. The imposing Comércio Square leads to the neoclassical Baixa district. Belém Tower guards the city's seafaring past, while the Vasco da Gama Bridge takes the city into the future.
Spend

Splash out on designer labels in the Baixa-Chiado and Avenida da Liberdade, buy traditional leather goods and jewellery in the Campo de Ourique and international brands in Vasco da Gama shopping centre. Glimpse local life in the Mercado da Ribeira fish market and rummage for bric-a-brac at the Thieves Market in the Alfama.
Get Out

Lisbon life spills into pavement cafés on every square. Take a seat at classical favourite Suiça in Praça da Figueira, or literary A Brasileira in the Bairro Alto. Marvel at the views from the city's panoramic miradouro look-outs and take in the formal gardens of Edward VII Park. Welcome shade awaits in the tropical cool of the Botanic Garden.
Culture

Unwind to live music over an evening meal at fado houses such as the Adega Mesquita in the Bairro Alto or Alfama favourite Clube de Fado. Don't miss the quality performances by the Gulbenkian Orchestra and Choir or jazz, contemporary dance and performance art at the Belém Cultural Centre. Head to the Camões Theatre for the National Ballet of Portugal.
Eat & Drink

Portuguese cuisine is an all-day experience. Ponder over the secret recipe of the custard tarts (pasteis) in Belém and stop in Bairro Alto for salted codfish with cream (bacalhau com natas). Go upmarket for modern Portuguese cuisine at Michelin-starred Restaurant Eleven in Edward VII Park or choose from Asian and Japanese dishes in Alcântara and Nations Park, but don't turn down the budget bowl of soup or Brazilian buffet in the shopping centres.
New Perspective

Climb the steps to the roof of the National Pantheon for a view over the red rooftops of the Alfama. For even headier vistas, cross the 25 de Abril Bridge and ascend 109m to the Christ the King statue for a panoramic view of Lisbon.

Prepare

Prepare

Pack sun cream and a hat for hot days, but bring long sleeves for cool autumn nights. You'll need flat shoes to walk those Lisbon hills.

Lisbon Year

See athletes run from 25 de Abril Bridge to Belém during the Lisbon Half Marathon in March, and party at the Festas de Lisboa in June. Enjoy the concerts and exhibitions during the Oceans Festival (Aug), catch Europe's top galleries at ArteLisboa at the Lisbon International Fair (FIL) in November. Celebrate with riverfront New Year's Eve parties in Belém and Nations Park.
Public Holidays

New Year's Day (1 Jan), Mardi Gras - carnival (Feb), Easter (Mar/Apr), Liberty Day (25 Apr), Labour Day (1 May), Portugal Day (10 Jun), Corpus Christi – feast of the Eucharist (Jun), Assumption (15 Aug), Republic Day (5 Oct), All Saints' Day (1 Nov), Restoration (of Independence) Day (1 Dec), Day of Our Lady (8 Dec), Christmas Day (25 Dec).
Weather

The warmest months are from May to September (21-28°C) but temperatures can soar to 38°C in July and August. Lisbon's cooling Atlantic breeze is deceptive – make sure you protect yourself with sun cream and a sunhat. October to April are the months when it's most likely to rain but temperatures don't usually drop below 6°C.
Electricity

220V AC, 50 Hz, two-pin plugs are standard.
Dialling Code

+351 (national), 21 + seven-figure number (Lisbon).
Money

Euro (€) is the currency.
GMT

GMT precisely (+1 in summertime).
Lisboa Tourism

Visit Lisbon website

Fit In

T-shirts and summer clothes are fine in most bars and restaurants, but locals look smart to non-Portuguese eyes even when they think they are casual. Team up jeans or trousers with a suit jacket if dining upmarket and dress to impress for the expensive clubs – football shirts and trainers just won't cut it.

Highlights

Highlights

Tackle Lisbon from the riverfront at Comércio Square where the Old City starts. Head from there to the Gulbenkian Museum, the arty Belém area and Nations Park.

Ride Tram 28 through Lisbon's ancient streets from the striking Estrela Basilica to the charming St George’s Castle in the Alfama. See the ruins of Carmo Convent (convent) in the Bairro Alto, or take a bus to the São Sebastião area for eclectic art treasures at the Gulbenkian Museum.

Travel along the banks of the Tagus River to see several major attractions. Spend a day in Belém discovering Manueline architecture at Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, or contemporary art at the Belém Cultural Centre. Head for the religious masterpieces at the National Museum of Ancient Art, go ultra-modern at the Nations Park and venture underwater to the wonders of Lisbon's Oceanarium.
Sightseeing Tips

Buy a Lisboa Card from the Lisbon Welcome Centre for one-, two- or three-day passes to public transport, free entry to 26 museums and discounts on plenty more. Other tourist cards with discounts include Accommodation, Shopping and Restaurant cards. Most museums close on Monday and some shut at lunchtime, including the Chiado Museum.

Content provided by Frommer's Unlimited © 2009, Whatsonwhen Limited.



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