Lisbon Tourist Information, Portugal

Lisbon is one of the smallest capitals in Europe, although what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in charm. Like Rome, Lisbon is a city built on hills and it is the hills that give the city much of its appeal. Lisbon doesn’t really have many world famous sights – much of its appeal lies in the small details, and a long-term rental or a holiday home here allows you to really experience the city. And Lisbon is fairly inexpensive, compared to say, Paris or Rome.

The oldest and most picturesque neighbourhood in Lisbon is called the Alfama – it’s a maze of alleyways and staircases that don’t seem to lead anywhere. The centre of the Alfama district is the charming Rue de Sao Pedro, lined with small shops, cafes and bars. Overlooking the Alfama district is the Castelo de Sao Jorge, which is mostly a ruin, but gives spectacular views over Lisbon and the river Tagus. The Alfama is also a great place to find a bargain at one of several neighbourhood street markets.

It’s a fairly easy downhill stroll from the Alfama to another of the city’s distinct neighbourhoods, the Baixa. The streets here are laid out in a grid pattern and an apartment in this part of the city allows you to enjoy the stylish shops, cafes and restaurants of the area. At the end of the Baixa is the large open square known as the Praca de Commercia, which has the Tagus literally lapping at its stone steps.

Portugal’s age of exploration is represented in the Belem district, which lies to the west of the city. The 500 year old Tower of Belem stands on the spot where many ships sailed from on their journeys of discovery. It’s worth climbing the steps to the top, just for the spectacular views. Belem was once an area of elegant town houses before the earthquake of 1755 destroyed many of them; today it’s still something of an elegant area and perfect for a house rental.

Nearby are two of the country’s best museums - the Maritime Museum and the small but fascinating National Coach Museum. The Maritime Museum displays Portugal’s maritime heritage from the 1500s to the present day; highlights include hundreds of model ships and a display of Portuguese Naval uniforms. The National Coach Museum contains coaches and carriages which date from the 17th to the 19th century; the highlight here is the trio of ornate carriages used by the Portuguese ambassador during the 18th century.

A rental apartment or house in Lisbon gives you the chance to eat out, which is fairly inexpensive. Seafood restaurants are the speciality of the suburb of Cacilhas, which is a short ferry ride across the river. A reminder of Portugal’s former colonies of Macao and Goa can be found in the many Indian restaurants throughout the city. If you have a rental home in the city, you may get used to late meals – Lisboans tend to eat their evening meal much later than in the UK.

One thing you really must do while enjoying your Lisbon apartment rental is to spend an evening at a Fado club. The Fado is the old seafarers’ song of tragedy and despair, and it was usually sung by women when their husbands were away at sea. Several authentic Fado bars are found in the older neighbourhoods, such as the Alfama.

Many visitors neglect Lisbon and use it as a base for exploring the coast, or as a gateway to the Algarve. But Portugal’s capital has a lot to offer – if you are visiting for a short time, you may be persuaded to take an apartment or home rental in the city, to enjoy all that it has to offer.