Make sure you've got plenty of time on your hands for Lisbon is not a weekend destination. It's like an equation that only gets properly solved when you've found all the unknowns. Before you get down to calculating, we recommend a cup of bica (espresso) in Chiado's iconic Café a Brasileira to help yourself focus, and once you think you're done with the task, mingle with Lisboêtas to learn you've skipped some vital data. They're the best teachers of all!
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Belem
Photo by dynamosquito
If it's the Age of Discovery that has always spurred your imagination, drop the anchor at Belem, where Magellan and da Gama once prepared for their New World voyages. With a stunning selection of cultural venues, some of Lisbon's most striking historic monuments, and a palette of heart-melting wa...
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Photo by Allie_Caulfield
There is probably no better suited place to experience the nostalgia of fado than Alfama, the oldest district of Lisbon spreading down the slope between the Castle of Lisbon and the Tejo river, one that withstood the earthquake of 1775. Switch your inner compass on because you are bound to get lo...
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Photo by [charlie cravero]
Lisbon's cultural and bohemian heart, the nightlife and shopping mecca are probably THE words to introduce Bairro Alto in a nutshell. The quarter has a streak of Jekyll-and-Hyde to it, for with its calm and relatively quiet streets at daytime, it does not resemble the vibrant and jostling party-l...
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Photo by Leandro's World Tour
Inaugurated in 1998 as one of the attractions of the World Exhibition of Lisbon (EXPO'98), the Oceanário de Lisboa is the second-biggest aquarium in the world. The impressive stone-and-glass structure features four aquariums replicating the abundant ecosystems of the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, a...
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Photo by liber
Cristo Rei stands on the left side of the River Tagus and embraces the whole city with his patronizing, wide-stretched arms. Bearing an obvious resemblance to the Corcovado monument in Rio De Janeiro, it was erected in 1959 in order to thank God for saving Portugal from widespread destruction du...
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Photo by Jónsson
When you walk its spic-and-span, highly pedestrianized streets and marvel at its architectural splendor, it's hard to believe there's a dramatic story behind its construction. In the aftermath of the deadly 1755 calamity, Baixa was raised as one of the first examples of earthquake-resistant const...
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Photo by Lalupa
Sitting atop the highest hill in the historic center of the city, the castle can be practically seen from any part of the city and although it, too, fell victim to the 1755 earthquake, it still manifest its former glory as a strongly-fortified citadel, whose earliest foundations date from the 6th...
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Photo by Patrick Clenet
Not imposing in terms of size but sweeping off the feet with its enormous and diversified collection, the museum is held by some to be a major highlight of a trip to Lisbon. Calouste Gulbenkian was not only one of the 20th century's wealthiest men, but also a great art lover, and his private, ext...
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Photo by ricardo-pereira
It's like the Ferris Wheel of London and the Eiffel Tower of Paris. Once in Lisbon, you simply feel compelled to get to the top of the city's best-love landmarks, a 45-meter high, Neogothic structure that connects the lowest and highest points of the city, i.e. Baixa and Bairro Alto. The upper te...
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Graça Parish
Photo by Filipe Rocha
Slightly underrated but well worth a visit, the Graça district is a favorite hang out spot for young locals, especially in late afternoon when it's still too to head for Bairro Alto. Already the very journey to Graça can be a thrilling experience. Once you get your bones rattled on the fierc...
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