Monday, 14 March 2016
Sunday, 6 March 2016
Lisbon
From the airport
Bus: the Aerobus leaves every 20 minutes from 7.45am-8.45pm.
Shop
The Rossio was once renowned for its hat shops. Most have bitten the dust but a couple cling on to old traditions. The oldest is Azevedo Rua, on the corner by the National Theatre.
Lidija Kolovrat is a Bosnian-born designer who sells her original creations and accessories at her atelier in Lisbon.
If you do not feel like splashing out on one of the open-tops bus tours, the best way round the city is on one of the old yellow trams. August is quiet in Lisbon so get a window seat, throw up the sash and watch the sweltering city pass as the breeze ruffles your hair. The best route is number 28. Martim Moniz to Estrela.
Key area
The Chiado has always been the centre of Lisbon's cultural life. Theatres, cafes, restaurants and bars abound, there is also some classy shopping.
Madragoa and Janelas Verdes is an old riverfront neighbourhood. Traditional haunt of sailors and travellers, it is now a cosmopolitan mix of old convents and palaces, restaurants and bars. The Museum of Arte Antiga boasts a lovely garden restaurant overlooking the docks.
August is a great time to visit Lisbon as mot locals are at the beach, leaving the half-empty city to visitors.
Day trip
Costa da Caparica. On a fine winter's day, or even on a stormy one, there are few nicer things to do than eat fresh fish in a restaurant along the seafront. Afterwards, enjoy a bracing walk along the unspoilt beaches further along the coast.
Obidos. This lovely white-walled medieval town is a bit of a tourist trap these days but still very much worth the hour's journey from Lisbon. There are beaches nearby at Foz do Arelho.
Until 1940 there were no buses in Lison. All public transport was on rails: trams, lifts, funiculars. Hence the name of the Lisbon transport company, Carris (rails).
First thing's first: Portuguese tarts. Join the queue at Pasteis de Belem to sample the best. While you are in the neighbourhood, don't miss the famous Belem Tower, and the Jeronimos Monastery is also worth a mooch. Wind up and down the cobbled hills, admiring saffron-hued buildings, and get a modern-art hit at the Berardo Collection Museum. Jump on a tram to Alfama, the heart of the city's medieval Moorish charm, and later head to the lively bar district de Bairro Alto. Palacio Ramalhete is an 18th century casa turned characterful hotel with a rooftop pool. Spend the last few days outside the city in the coastal town of Cascais. Dip your toes in the Atlantic and catch a wave if you can.
Bus: the Aerobus leaves every 20 minutes from 7.45am-8.45pm.
Shop
The Rossio was once renowned for its hat shops. Most have bitten the dust but a couple cling on to old traditions. The oldest is Azevedo Rua, on the corner by the National Theatre.
Lidija Kolovrat is a Bosnian-born designer who sells her original creations and accessories at her atelier in Lisbon.
If you do not feel like splashing out on one of the open-tops bus tours, the best way round the city is on one of the old yellow trams. August is quiet in Lisbon so get a window seat, throw up the sash and watch the sweltering city pass as the breeze ruffles your hair. The best route is number 28. Martim Moniz to Estrela.
Key area
The Chiado has always been the centre of Lisbon's cultural life. Theatres, cafes, restaurants and bars abound, there is also some classy shopping.
Madragoa and Janelas Verdes is an old riverfront neighbourhood. Traditional haunt of sailors and travellers, it is now a cosmopolitan mix of old convents and palaces, restaurants and bars. The Museum of Arte Antiga boasts a lovely garden restaurant overlooking the docks.
August is a great time to visit Lisbon as mot locals are at the beach, leaving the half-empty city to visitors.
Day trip
Costa da Caparica. On a fine winter's day, or even on a stormy one, there are few nicer things to do than eat fresh fish in a restaurant along the seafront. Afterwards, enjoy a bracing walk along the unspoilt beaches further along the coast.
Obidos. This lovely white-walled medieval town is a bit of a tourist trap these days but still very much worth the hour's journey from Lisbon. There are beaches nearby at Foz do Arelho.
Until 1940 there were no buses in Lison. All public transport was on rails: trams, lifts, funiculars. Hence the name of the Lisbon transport company, Carris (rails).
First thing's first: Portuguese tarts. Join the queue at Pasteis de Belem to sample the best. While you are in the neighbourhood, don't miss the famous Belem Tower, and the Jeronimos Monastery is also worth a mooch. Wind up and down the cobbled hills, admiring saffron-hued buildings, and get a modern-art hit at the Berardo Collection Museum. Jump on a tram to Alfama, the heart of the city's medieval Moorish charm, and later head to the lively bar district de Bairro Alto. Palacio Ramalhete is an 18th century casa turned characterful hotel with a rooftop pool. Spend the last few days outside the city in the coastal town of Cascais. Dip your toes in the Atlantic and catch a wave if you can.
The Torre de Belem was built at the start of the 16th century to protect the harbour. The fortress is constructed in two parts, the tower and an octagonal bastion which juts out over the Tage like the prow of a ship. It was from here that many celebrated sailors like Vasco da Gama and Pedro Alvares Cabral set out for distant continents. The architecture with its maritime elements is a typical example of the Manuelin style. The battlements are adorned with the famous cross of the Order of Christ, which can be seen on the sails of many ships which weighed anchor on voyages of discovery in search of far-flung lands with new and exciting cultures.
The Ocean Pavilion was built for the Lisbon World Exhibition in 1998. This aquarium is home to more than 25 000 fishes, birds and mammals. The first universal exhibition was held in Europe in 1851 to present the industrial achievements of the different countries.
The Ocean Pavilion was built for the Lisbon World Exhibition in 1998. This aquarium is home to more than 25 000 fishes, birds and mammals. The first universal exhibition was held in Europe in 1851 to present the industrial achievements of the different countries.
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