With plenty of energy and a decent pair of shoes, Lisbon is a walking city. But equally, it is a diverse one, and you should still put plenty of thought into where you stay.
The Baixa-Chiado district is extremely central and one of the most beautiful areas of Lisbon. It is home to the delightful Praça do Comercio square as well as a number of high-quality shops. In this area you can also find the Elevador da Glória funicular railway, which takes you up to the Bairro Alto district for great views of Lisbon.
The most exclusive area for shopping in Libson is the district of Avenida da Liberdade/Marquês de Pombal, which offers haute-couture shops. Here you will find the Tivoli shopping centre, as well as cinemas, theatres and numerous high-end hotels.
Lapa is Lisbon’s most elegant district. Most of the embassies are located in this quarter and many Portuguese artists live here. Even though the area is quite tranquil, you are still near Alcântara and the Docas where you will find many bars, nightclubs and restaurants.
Belem, west of the city centre, is no doubt the most visited area in Lisbon, though short on hotel options. Besides the wonderful view over the Tagus River, there are also several monuments and museums located here including the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the Centro Cultural de Belem. Belem can be reached easily by train or bus from the city centre, or a 30-40 minute walk along the seafront.
Situated around 25km west of Lisbon is the Costa do Estoril that spreads from Carcavelos to Cascais. Cascais and Estoril are two buzzing beach resorts, famous for hosting European high-society. In the western part of Cascais is the delightful and colourful Cascais Village. In Estoril, famous for its casino, most of the hotels have sea-views.
Read more in our Lisbon Guide.
