Regional Tourism: Lisboa

Posted by Jude Buttle on Wednesday, September 24, 2008

A region known for the stunning architecture of Lisbon, the beautiful coastline of Estoril and the romantic hills of the Serra de Sintra, Lisboa's diversity will keep the tourists interested all-year-round.

Sintra Castle

What's the Attraction?

The Portuguese region of Lisbao is set in the west of the country and is host to the capital city of Lisbon, which sits on seven low hills beside the Tejo (Tagus) river.

Diversity is the region's principal hallmark and the area is the perfect place for a well-rounded trip. It has an array of beautiful beaches, ideal for sunbathing or water sports; luxurious and protected landscapes; monuments classified as World Heritage sites by UNESCO, and a picturesque rural countryside.

Lisboa is blessed with the World Heritage site of Sintra, one of Portugal's most charming and romantic towns, which has served as a great source of inspiration for poets and writers throughout the centuries.

The region's cuisine consists of a wide selection of fresh seafood and meats and is particularly known for its desserts; the most popular being Pasteis de Nata, which is a deliciously soft, sweet, custard tart.

Best Time to Visit

The region offers beautiful beaches on the coastline of Estoril, numerous golf courses and a number of historic monuments to appreciate, making it a good location to visit during the spring and summer months.

However, as Lisbon - with its wonderful architecture and vivacious nightlife - is popular as a City break destination characterized by weekend stays, Lisboa can be enjoyed throughout the entire year.

Getting There

The region of Lisboa is a short flight away from the rest of Europe and is just as easily accessible by road, railway or sea.

Lisboa International Airport is just 7 km from the city centre and has daily flights to and from most major European cities.

The area has good road access including a major motorway and an outer ring-road linking the different towns within the region.

There are scores of national and international trains arriving in Lisboa daily. In addition to Santa Apolónia terminal station, the city now has the new Gare do Oriente, which opened in 1998 adjacent to the Parque das Nações. Both stations have direct bus or underground connections to the city centre.

Lisboa is often a port of call for many cruise ships and is the busiest seaport on the European Atlantic coast. Furthermore, the city has marinas for pleasure boats in the harbours of Belém, Santo Amaro, Bom Sucesso, Alcântara and most recently, the Olivais Docks.

Top Tourist Destinations

Estoril/Cascais

The Costa do Estoril is a civil parish within the municipality of Cascais and is where Lisbon meets the sea.

Known mainly for its beautiful coastline and considered by some as the Portuguese Riviera, Estoril also offers some of the best golf courses in Europe, the most important race track in the country (Autódromo do Estoril) and The Casino de Estoril, the largest casino in Europe.

There's also the picturesque town of Cascais, which is blessed with the ruins of a castle, an art and sea museum, as well as parks and the charming cobbled streets of the historic centre.

The town also boasts the popular Guincho Beach to the west, the lush Sintra Mountains to the north and a large yacht harbour.

Lisbon

An ancient and enchanting city, Lisbon has an historical old quarter and an array of beautiful sights, including church towers, domes, monuments and museums.

Lisbon boasts the Monsanto Forest Park - one of the largest urban parks in Europe - while around the centre there are wide, tree-lined avenues graced by Art Nouveau buildings, mosaic pavements and street cafes.

As the sun sets, Lisbon's old quarters come alive with the sound of traditional fado singing and guitar-playing - the melancholic, musical expression of the soul of the city's inhabitants.

Long into the night, numerous open-air cafés, bars and discothèques - whose lights are reflected in the calm waters of the River Tagus - are filled with friendly locals and revelling tourists.

Search for Property in Portugal

If you are interested in buying property in Lisboa, why not check out TheMoveChannel.com Portugal, which has a large number of listings from Portuguese estate agents and developers selling properties in the area: http://portugal.themovechannel.com/

Photo by Chris Yunker

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