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In HolidayCity Flash This Fortnight

 

Lisbon - A Colourful Adventure

Flight of LocksLisbon is one of the smallest capitals in the world but its legacy has been left in many countries, all the way up to the far reaches of Asia. Way before the British Empire became a force to be reckoned with, the Portuguese were already sailing the seven seas in search of new land, earning the country its reputation as the country of explorers.

Built on seven hills, this beautiful port city has a lovely view and almost-constant festivities the entire year making it an immensely fun, wholesome experience for any tourist. When planning your trip, try to find out if there are any festivals in particular during your visit so that you can truly enjoy Portuguese culture in its element. All the places are also easily accessible by public transport and you could also walk about in its little niches to find hidden surprises.

From The Ashes...

LisbonThe city was rebuilt after virtually being destroyed by a huge earthquake in 1755 but Portugal’s colonising days ended as a result. However one part of the city which was untouched by the quake was the Alfama- the oldest and most historic part of Lisbon. It is here that you will find Lisbon Castle or the Castle of São Jorge (the Portuguese equivalent of St George). This beautiful castle still shows the mark of the Moors who had built it on the site of a Roman fort, laying claim to it till the 12th century when the city was once again wrested from Muslim domination by the Crusaders.

Other than the castle though, the rest of the Alfama too is beautifully captivating. Walking through it is almost like entering the past, enhanced by the fact that some of the streets are so tiny that it is impossible for any vehicle (except the ever-present trams of course) to pass through. It’s a veritable maze of tiny roads and hidden niches, with so much to explore including the Sé Cathedral, once a mosque and Lisbon’s oldest church. There are also many other churches, monasteries and old buildings to admire. And of course, plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants where you can sit and enjoy delicious Portuguese delights to the mournful notes of Fado- a form of music unique to Portuguese culture, particularly in Lisbon. 

Time Warp To The Past

Belem TowerPride in its own culture is evident in the many museums within the city. To name a few, the Museu de Marinha (Naval Museum) is a tribute to the city’s sea-faring past while the Museu da Agua da Epal (Water Museum) shows the history of the Aqueduct, built in 1746 to bring clean drinking water to the city. The Aqueduct itself known as the Aguas Livres Aqueduct (Aqueduct of Free Waters) is also a remarkable sight and an amazing example of engineering from the 18th-century. The surrounding areas also tell their own tales, including one of the infamous Diogo Alves who reportedly shoved his victims down the aqueduct after robbing them. Vascodagama

The elegant Belém Tower, the gateway to Lisbon, was built in the 16th century to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s expedition and must be included in your sightseeing tour. You should also take a trip to Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its Sintra Mountain Range, palaces and other historical attractions. 

Lisbon offers an abundance of nightlife and entertainment, besides wine tours within the city. And don’t forget too, the beauty of its waterfront and parks. All in all, a delightful experience that you wouldn’t want to miss. 
 

 

 

Book Lisbon Hotels here

 

Lisbon Featured Hotel

 

Hotel Ibis Lisboa Jose Malhoa

The Hotel Ibis Lisboa Jose Malhoa is located in the centre of Lisbon, 5 kilometres from the airport, 300 metres from the Place de Espanha and 450 metres from the Zoo Sete Rios. Ideal for weekends and longer tourist stays, the hotel is entirely air-conditioned and has 211 rooms, a restaurant, a terrace, a bar serving snacks and 3 meeting rooms for organising seminars and conferences.

The restaurant is where the authenticity of flavour mixes with the freshness of the seasons. An enchanting blend of colours for both the eyes and the taste buds, with its colourful, delicious, and unforgettable buffet. A freedom of choice you'll quickly get used to!


Rates from EUR 59. Find rates for other Lisbon hotels here.

 



 

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It's always better to do your homework before you travel so that you can plan ahead and make full use of your time. Read about some of the more exciting destinations in the world at
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North America                  Middle East                                     Northern Africa

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Travellers' Tips and Advice

Check out what our travellers have to say on the getting around in another travel destination they have visited.

When traveling, laundry can be a challenge and a costly affair if one were to use the laundry services offered by hotels. An alternative to washing your underwear in the wash basin, is to put them all in a zipper net laundry bag of the type used for washing push ups, and ask if the hotel laundry service can accept that bag as one item (instead of charging per piece of underwear, resulting in a hefty bill). The laundry bags are also useful for separating dirty underwear from clean ones in your luggage.
- Cecilia Harlitz, Sweden

When travelling, shirts can be rather creased and rumpled when you unpack them from your case. In your hotel room, when the shower is still hot and steamy, hang up your creased shirt on a hanger in the shower recess, and the hot moist air will help get the wrinkles out. 
Alan Benge, Australia

If staying in a hostel take plenty of cloth bags for wet/dirty washing and to keep items seperate in. They are not waterproof like plastic bags, but as well as being better for the environment, you will save a lot of unhappy fellow travellers complaining about the scrunching plastic bag noises as you try to dress and organise luggage very early/late!
- Brooke, Australia

For single traveller: when entering washroom with wet/ less hygenic floor, often we face problem of handling our luggage. Always standby newspaper/ plastic cover sheet in our luggage and place it on the floor. This can prevent our belongings from getting dirty or wet. Dispose after use if necessary.
- Chua Ya Lan, Malaysia

When traveling be sure to pack copies of your itinerary (with travel agents info), passport, and credit cards in each suitcase including your carry ons. This will insure that if anything is lost or stolen that you call call and check on it and that the airlines will know where you are.
- Joann Deas, USA

Always bring enough memory cards for your digital camera when traveling in Egypt. You will not be able to find a CD burner in all the Internet cafes to enable you to download your beautiful pictures ...To add to your surprise, even hotels do not provide such a facility... We (I and my friend) did not opt for printing the pictures as we had not much time (The tour group could not afford to wait for us). We found a photo printing shop and pleaded to help to burn all the pictures...And this costed us USD 25! This really burned holes in our pockets...We learned that the CD burners were banned in all local shops (even in the computer shops) as a way to eradicate pirated CD products. We learned the lessons the hard way...From that time onwards, we always remember to set the size of the image before we take any pictures using our digital camera...Sob~ Sob~

- Leong Woei Kian, Malaysia

Expensive meals inside Tioman Island? I found a place with Malaysian meals (they’re called mamak stalls), with rice, chicken, etc. A clean small stall. Just walk further down the resort, at the far end where you see some low cost apartments after you’ve past the ponies farm, on the right hand side after the guard house gate. If you intend to stay long, why not opt for a cheaper meal? 
Koo Pooi Kheng, Malaysia

When in Oslo, be sure to take a guided tour of the castle on the waterfront. For a small fee you'll get to take in the whole history of Norway, access to special castle areas and insights into the Norwegian way of thinking from some very nice tour guides. Example of trivia: 2005 will mark the first 100 years of modern Norway. So, next year will be party, party!! Bonus tip: in the lee of the castle is an excellent museum of Norway’s experience of WWII. You could spend a day doing both museum tours or packing them into 2 hours like I did.
Martyn Colvey, UK

Bali has many beautiful beaches, that's already known. But have you ever try Bangka and Belitung Islands? They have many "pure" and "natural" beaches, and cheaper prices.
- Ariawan, Indonesia

  Click on the categories below for more travel tips:  

Recommended!

Getting Around

Cultures & Customs

Family Friendly

Medicine & Health

Things to Do

Eating Out

Travel Smart

Packing

Safety Advisory

 

Do you have any tip or anecdote on traveling that you’d like to share with us? If so, write and tell us at garrett@holidaycity.com. If it is interesting, we’ll feature it under our Travel Tips! Just make sure you include your name or pseudonym and which country you’re from!

Other Travel Essentials

Before You Go ... planning & preparations before going on your holiday.

While on Holiday ... what to look out for while being on your holiday.

The Other Side of Travel ... travel anecdotes submitted by our readers.

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