Holiday homes & rentals in Lisbon

Lisbon is Portugal's largest city, and has a wide range of accommodations to suit visitors wanting to experience the city. Perhaps the best option is a city centre holiday letting flat, where you'll be in walking distance of many of the city's important sights along with numerous restaurants, cafés, and bars.

Lisbon brings together the best of Portuguese gastronomy

In addition to a wide range of accommodation, the capital of Portugal offers its visitors an enviable gastronomic variety. In each region there are star dishes, and Lisbon is the city that concentrates the best of each area of the country through a varied offer of restaurants; from small establishments to large and elegant luxury restaurants, through fantastic pastry shops and neighborhood restaurants with delicious menus.

The most consumed meat in Portuguese territory is pork, which, cooked in different variants, is one of the essential dishes to taste during your stay in an apartment in Portugal. In this sense, one of the most popular recipes is the porco à alentejana, a delicious combination of pork, potato, clams, paprika and coriander. Migas à alentejana is another typical dish with pork and bread. The restaurant Claras em Castelo, located next to the Castle of São Jorge, includes both recipes in its interesting menu.

For its part, cod is the most typical fish in Portugal and is present in many recipes, such as cod à bras, cod with cream or cod croquettes. Caldereta de peixe can also be tasted in many places in the capital, as it is one of the most famous Portuguese stews. As for pastries, Belém cakes and cheese tartlets stand out. Remember that the best gastronomic corners of Lisbon are in La Baixa, Bairro Alto and Chiado.

Art, history, and culture in Lisbon's museums

The highlight of Lisbon's museums is the Gulbenkian Museum, featuring the collection assembled by businessman Calouste Gulbenkian. Highlights include ancient Persian and Egyptian art and glasswork by Lalique. A more unusual choice is the National Coach Museum, featuring the world's largest collection of valuable horse drawn vehicles. For a true flavour of Portugal, the Tile Museum is home to a huge collection of beautifully painted tiles and mosaics.

Lisbon with children

Just a short trip from Lisbon's city centre on the train are the seaside resorts of Estoril and Cascais, with family-friendly beaches and lots of places to eat and drink. Closer to the city centre is the Lisbon Aquarium, the largest indoor aquarium in Europe. Next door to the Aquarium is the Pavilion of Knowledge, an interactive science museum for children of all ages. And don't forget to try the local desert, a pastel de nata!

Lisbon by night: the cozy fado clubs

In the streets of Barrio Alto you will find live music clubs, where you can enjoy the traditional fado, typical Portuguese music with melancholic tints. A Tasca do Chico or Cine Theatro Gymnasio are good examples. The intimate atmosphere that is created there is really unique.

Things to see and do in Lisbon

Start your trip to Lisbon by visiting the medieval St George's Castle, which sits high on a hill above the old town. Views from inside are impressive, and will help you get your bearings. Another good starting point is the Praça Do Comércio on the banks of the river Tagus, and from there, a grid of narrow streets packed with shops and restaurants. Don't miss the World Heritage site of the Jeronimos Monastery, or the nearby Belém Tower, a monument to Portugal's history of world exploration. Finally, take a trip on the Number 28 tram, which passes through Lisbon's most scenic and historic districts.

What to see in Lisbon

1. Jerónimos Monastery

Founded in 1501, it is one of the main attractions of the Belém neighborhood. It stands out for its Manueline style elements, which is based on combining Gothic and Renaissance architectural features. In it is possible to visit the tombs of Vasco de Gama and Luís de Camões.

2. St. George's Castle

In the heart of the historic center and on top of a hill, this castle presides over the city in an imposing way. From it you will enjoy unbeatable views of the Portuguese capital. This construction stands out for its perfectly preserved walls from the sixth century.

3. Bairro Alto

This is the most emblematic and picturesque area of Lisbon. Built on a hill around the 16th century, this neighborhood is famous for the graffiti on its walls, its bars and live music clubs.

4. Belém Tower

The most famous monument of the Portuguese capital, also made following the outlines of Manueline architecture. Located at the mouth of the Tagus, this tower was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.

5. Lisbon Oceanarium

On the site of the 1998 Expo is this great museum of marine biology. Its curious architecture reminiscent of an aircraft carrier and the species that can be seen in its main tank, such as sharks and barracudas, are more than enough reasons to justify a visit.

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