VISIT LISBON: MEDITERRANEAN TRAVEL

INTRODUCTION – VISIT LISBON IN A WEEK

Visit Lisbon in a Week: Several months ago, my girlfriend and I decided to take a short unplanned trip to Portugal after visiting some friends in Spain. Neither of us had been to Portugal before so we agreed to make Lisbon our next adventure. We were both pleasantly surprised and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.  It was the end of August so we were able to avoid the summer crowds while still being able to enjoy the beautiful summer weather. We spent a week exploring the city and left feeling like we had just scratched the surface and had barely begun to discover what it had to offer. We may not have been on the Mediterranean but being in Portugal comes awfully close. (Meanwhile, to find out more about the Mediterranean, check out our post on Mediterranean Travel for helpful tips and ideas.)

When we booked our rooms we wanted to be close to the central part of the city but because we were slow to plan we had to book two different places to cover our entire stay (a small hotel for the first few days and an Air BnB for the rest of the week). What started as a minor inconvenience turned into a good move since half the sites we wanted to see were close to the hotel and the other attractions were close to the Air BnB. More on that later. First, what are the best things to see and do in Lisbon? Before answering, let’s start with a little background information.

BACKGROUND: VISIT LISBON IN A WEEK

The capital city of Portugal is Lisbon and it is also the largest city in Portugal (Click the following link to find out why Portugal is one of The 5 Best Places to Retire in Europe). Located on the west coast it opens onto the Atlantic and this fact alone is one of the central themes in the history and development of the city and the incredible part it played in the discovery of the New World. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, predating other modern European capitals such as London, Paris, and Rome.

The country’s rich history, stunning architecture, vibrant culture, and picturesque setting make it a popular destination for tourists from around the globe. Depending on what you want to see or experience, the choice of sites and attractions can be overwhelming. To help, I’ve put together a short list of several of the main attractions that a visitor should at least try to see when they come to this city.