City breaks to Lisbon serve up a combo of urban scenes and beach time, so you get the best of both worlds.
City breaks in Lisbon
Portugal’s capital takes silver for being the second-oldest city in Europe, although it deserves gold for its climate – there are almost 300 days of sunshine per year and temps rarely dip below 15°C. The centre of the city’s marked by Rossio Square – it’s one of the liveliest spots in town and its surrounding streets are a runway for buzzing bars and restaurants. Lisbon has over 20 neighbourhoods and each one brings something different to the table. Check out Chiado – it’s the city’s high-end spot and home to a roofless church – or head to loud and lively Bairro Alto for party vibes through the night.
Coastal capital
Lisbon is surrounded by four different cuts of coastline, which makes it super easy to take your city break to the beach. One of the stars of the show is Praia de Carcavelos – it’s got a sandy shoreline that stretches for almost a mile is the biggest beach around Lisbon. Plus, a trip from the centre of town will only take you around 30 minutes. If this shore doesn’t hit the spot, you’ve got half a dozen others that are less than 40 minutes away by train, too.
Serious sightseeing
Lisbon’s sightseeing to-do list will keep you busy for however long you’re in town. Basilica de Estrela – a church that took over a decade to complete – and Sao Jorge Castle – a hilltop castle with 11 towers and a widescreen view of the city – are a couple of the faves. The handy tram lines let you pack a load of the city’s highlights into one route, too. The famous yellow trams have been on their tracks since the 1930s and are still complete with their original features – think wooden interiors and brass dials. Because they’re much smaller than the city’s modern trams, they have no problem squeezing through the backstreets.
Best time to visit Lisbon
The shoulder seasons are the best time to go to Lisbon. The temperature usually hovers around 20°C in spring and autumn, which is perfect for sightseeing around Portugal’s hilly capital – you’ll avoid the peak summer prices, too. If you can handle the heat, June, July and August rarely go under 30°C. It’s not really known as a winter destination, but the city looks extra pretty at Christmas time, and everything will be much less busy. The temps don’t usually dip below the teens either, so it’ll still be warmer than the UK…
Our experiences
)
)
)
)
)
Get a second opinion
Check out what some of our customers had to say about us...
