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Lisbon (Lisboa)- General Information

Cosmopolitan, multi-cultural and steeped in history, Lisbon is a favourite city destination for many. It is the capital and also the largest city in Portugal at around 8 miles wide. The River Tagus (or Rio Tejo) forms a gateway to the city from the Atlantic Ocean, and in days gone by Lisbon was one of Europe's main ports with many explorers setting sail from here. The city is divided into four main areas, Baixa and Amalfa, Bairro Alto and Estrela, North Lisbon and Belem. The Alfama quarter is the oldest surviving part of the city and is home to Castelo de Sao Jorge, the Moorish Castle which can be seen almost anywhere in the city. Baixa was completely demolished after the 1755 earthquake and was rebuilt by the Marques de Pombal, this is now a popular shopping area with a backdrop of elegant neo-classical buildings, and runs from the busy square of Rossio down to the river port. Barrio Alto and Estrela have a vibrant nightlife, and the Chiado area boasts chic shops. The modern, fairly new district of North Lisbon has an abundance of museums and is also home to Eduardo VII Park, the largest park in Lisbon. A short journey by tram will bring you to Belem, famous for being the departure point for Portugal's Age of Discovery voyages, while the beach areas of Estoril and Cascais can be easily reached by train.

Lisbon is lucky enough to have mild weather all year long. The proximity of the Atlantic Ocean ensures that summers are not too hot, and although snow is highly unusual in Lisbon, winter can still be wet and cold. May to October are probably the best times to go, although summer afternoons can still get slightly sticky.

Traditional opening hours in Lisbon are from 9am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, with shops closing for lunch from 1pm-3pm. On Saturdays shops usually open from 9am to 1pm. The Baixa district is the traditional shopping area and offers items such as porcelain, cork products and hand made embroideries. The chic areas of Chiado and Bairro Alto offer designer shopping and luxury items as well as antiques. Flea markets are a great place to get a bargain or just browse, and they usually have a wide range of items on offer. The Feira de Ladra, in the Alfama district is a popular one and is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays. There are also a growing number of shopping centres and out of town hypermarkets. The Amoreiras Shopping Center is a shoppers paradise, it is close to the city centre and has over 300 shops and restaurants to chose from.

There is a wide array of restaurants on offer in Lisbon and most are very reasonably priced. As the Portugese tend to favour a large, often three course lunch, restaurants can be very busy between 12pm and 2pm. In the evenings restaurants don't tend to get busy until after 8pm and some of the later opening restaurants have live entertainment. Due to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, Seafood restaurants are abundant, and grilled sardines and shellfish are a speciality. Brazilian, African and Goan cuisine is also very popular and you will find many of these restaurants around the city. Other Portugese specialities include pork in port and chicken piri-piri, while delicious pastries and cakes are a must for dessert. Local wines and the cherry brandy are worth a try, and you can't go to Lisbon without sampling the famous Portugese port and madeira.

There's lots to see in Lisbon during the day, and the open-top bus tour is a good way to get your bearings. The Circuito Tejo runs every hour from 11am to 4pm from May to September and covers most of the main sites, a daily ticket means you can hop on and off as you please. The old Moorish district, Alfama is a great place to explore and take in Castelo de Sao Jorge and the 12th Century Se Cathedral. A stroll in Eduardo VII Park is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, it is the largest park in Lisbon and contains a sports stadium, childrens play area and a lake. Close to Belem is the Aquario Vasco de Gama, this impressive aquarium opened in 1898 and houses a variety of species. Lisbon has well over 30 museums featuring a variety of subjects from coaches to puppets, as well as many buildings and statues of historical and architectural interest.

Lisbon's “Fado houses” offer live traditional music and dance. This music is unique to Portugal and some venues offer late night food as an accompaniment to the entertainment. In Bairro Alto there are umpteen bars and nightclubs which are liveliest on Friday and Saturday nights. The docks area also has a good selection of bars and clubs but can be slightly more expensive. Fans of classical music, theatre and dance should head for the Gulbenkian Foundation or the Belem Cultural Centre. There is an international jazz festival held annually (usually in August) by the Gulbenkian Foundation.