Your First Days Visiting Portugal's Capital City

Lisbon, Portugal’s capital and largest city, is a wonderful multicultural city and an area of vast and varied history. It is the westernmost capital of mainland Europe and the only one on the Atlantic Coast, situated at the mouth of the Tagus River.

Lisbon’s history is shaped by the Roman imperialists, Berber pirates, Moorish builders, and the Reconquista knights, and as a result it has a multitude of palaces and heritage districts. However, it maintains a pleasant atmosphere of bohemianism as well, with a wonderful nightlife and plethora of coffee shops.

Anyone flying into Lisbon will most likely touch down at Lisbon Portela Airport, located just four miles from the city center and easily accessible by car.

Your First Day in the City of Lisbon

Once you make your way to the city, you’ll find no shortage of things to do.

Perhaps the city’s most iconic feature is the Torre de Belem, a grand tower looming over the Lisbon quays. The building is an amalgamation of architectural styles that give a brief glimpse of the cities sometimes tumultuous history. Look closely and you’ll notice touches of Mudejar, Moorish, Gothic, and Romanesque architecture. It finished its construction in the 16th Century under the tutelage of Saint John. Forever since, it has been the final farewell to any adventurers setting sail out on the Atlantic, like Vasco de Gama, who discovered the ocean passage to India and circumvented the dangerous Silk Road.

Tram 28 in Lisbon

To get a quick sense of the city, take an impromptu and unofficial tour on Tram 28. Lisbon’s almost as well known for its tram lines, and Tram 28 has been chugging along for decades. It takes you through the city's steep roads from the hills of Graca, speckled with palm, up to the old Alfama district, and on the way it takes you past hair-pin alleys and the beautiful domes of the Estrela Basilica. Keep an eye out the window for the gorgeous buildings and the many opportunities to people watch the locals living day-to-day.

Tram 28 drops you off at the Alfama district, which is Lisbon’s old town center, and it is well worth getting lost in. Unlike most European cities, Lisbon’s old town has Moorish roots, which makes it vastly unique to the rest of the continent. However, on your wanderings, you’ll still observe beautiful cathedrals, tiled-facade chapels, and hidden plazas with a plenitude of cafes.

Lisbon’s Museums

The city also has a ton of great museums, like the Lisbon Oceanarium, the Portugese National Museum of Ancient Art, and the Museu do Oriente. For some living history, check out the Rossio, one of Lisbon’s most famous plazas and still a bustling part of the city. It’s another great place to see the locals.

Its coastal location has also given Lisbon plenty of magnificent beaches. Check out the Costa da Caparica, just a short drive across the Ponte de Abril, to bask in its sandy shores. Further away, but just as magnificent, is the Troia Peninsula. This destination’s more remote setting has made it one of the most relaxing, calming, and just downright beautiful beach-fronts in Western Europe.