Lisbon....

mrsnow101

Hi everyone...

I'm off to Lisbon next month to watch some football (Benfica/Sporting, whoever we can get tickets for), and I was wondering if anyone reading this forum has been there before?

Where is the town Centre?
Can you recommend any places to stay/go/do etc??

Any information is greatly appreciated!!

Many thanks...

Felix

Where to stay...Pop into the tourism office in the Rossio sq and they will find you late deals for hotels rooms etc. I got 50% on a hotel in the centre of Lisbon in Mid july.

Loads of places to eat, if you like fish you will be fine (meat too infact!) head to the Restoradores Area, theres plenty of places and all after your business.

If you are into places to visit, try Castle, Belem tower, Jerónimos Monastery, botanic gardens, carriage museum.

I can't remember what the ticket is called but basically it is an all day ticket for the trams and buses.

Heres a map for the trams http://www.carris.pt/downloads/planta_lx.jpg

Don't forget to try a Bolo Belem or Tarte da Natas.

If you still have time, go to the expo park and the aquariums.

nuttywoman

Hi, daughter lived in Lisbon for a while and she said to try Stade de luz - not sure of spellings, its Benficas home ground, Bairro alto is good to go for nights out apart from sunday. Good shopping in Baixa shiado and between there and Rossio.
Lisbon is a very compact city and if you fancy an irish pub there`s a good one on Cais do sodre, history Castello de sao jorge and also the beaches at Cascais, carcavelos and Costa caparica,plus a lot of revolutionary history for example remains of political prison at Caxias.
Hope that helps, if you need more info, let me know, daughter says sorry for spellings but she`s had a glass of wine,lol
val

mrsnow101

Thanks guys

ChemicalBrother_2

The metro is in itself a work of art. Not the trains themselves mind, it's the stations! The trams are nice to look at too (I never bothered using one though!) as are funiculars (which I did use!)

I've forgotten it's name but the lift (IIRC it's Elevador Gloria) in the centre is great. Excellent views of the city, the river, the Jesus statue and the bridges. Get there really early (like 8.30am) and be the only tourist there!

Belem as a whole is a nice place as is the Park of Nations (great cable cars there which hardly anyone uses - when I went there were on three other people and they were in a different car).

I also went to the aquaduct which was pretty amazing, great views and very few other people but it's miles away from anywhere else and when I was there the park on the other side was closed. Did the guys at the entrance think about telling me or the other tourists? Er, no. But it was still worth it (although you'd have to like walking as it's easily a mile round trip!

Felix

Santa Justa Elevator.

from_suffolk

Benfica is a working class suburb of lisbon and can be reached by train.

lily_the_pink

I went to Lisbon about 4 years ago - must be my favourite European capital. Stylish but not pretentious, loads of good food, interesting buildings, museums. Have a good time and enjoy the football.

Try and fit in a visit to the Port Wine Institute - this is the organisation that certifies Port Wine, no freebies but the building is gorgeous and you can try hundreds of different types of port. It is near the Gloria elevator so you can fit in with a day or evening tour of the bars/city sights.

The Oceanarium and the rest of the 1998 expo area (redeveloped docklands - gives you an idea of how the Olympics could transform London..........if the politicians get it right) is worth a visit but would take up a day of your time. Sintra - world heritage site - some miles away is also fantastic but again a full day is needed.


The Lonely planet website gives a fairly good run down of things to do:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/portugal/lisbon/

johnbhoy

Hi, Football fan myself and have been to Lisbon 4 times over the years, watched footie at both old grounds stad da luz and jorg avalades, and was in both new grounds in 2004 for euros champs. Lisbon has a underground system both grounds are very close to each other and are both a short few miles from the main centre of Lisbon. Hotel i stayed in Lisbon and recommend is Hotel Roma they have a website (put it in search) it is located in ave de roma, next to metro 3 min walk, has a lovely restaurant across the road where i tried my first & last lobster, there it was swimming about in it's tank till i walked in, 2 mins later it was in the kitchen, very nice!
Hotel was excellent, few 'irish bars' in city as well as local bars people are very friendly people. Other Hotel i stayed was 'Jorge v' also has a web site not as good as first but ok. Also stayed in Cascais about 15 mile away in hotel baia next to a small beach hotel has a rooftop indoor pool.
Both FOOTIE teams have websites tickets for games are easily bought not unless they are playing each other, olympic stadium is about 7-8 mile away (where my team won european cup in 1967, + worth a visit) has a big bridge going over river called i think 'april 25' well worth driving over. Has one of the biggest shopping centres in europe next to Benficas ground and again worth a visit. good idea to go into your local bookshop and get a 'pop-up' map of LISBON very good and easy to carry about has all landmarks on and a good few hotels. Flights you can now fly to lisbon with easyjet from luton which i would say is cheap, but before i have flown with Monarch airlines and TAP (travel air portugal) Flights i have flown from Heathrow & Gatwick, Monarch been the cheapest of them latter two, a great city to visit you will enjoy.