"There's lots to like about Lisbon ...." Lisbon by TheWanderingCamel

Lisbon Travel Guide: 5,121 reviews and 12,639 photos

...although our first day there was marred by a pickpocket relieving me of my camera! Oh well, at least it was at the beginning of our visit and not at the end. The memory card was empty, MrL had his camera with him, the Portuguese police were a model of polite efficiency, it was insured, so let's move on and make the most of a few short days in Portugal's delightful capital in late winter.

This was my first visit to Lisbon , and I certainly hope it won't be the last. It proved to be absolutely my sort of city, full of quirky charm, the evidence of its long and varied past all around - a castle, a cathedral , a ruined monastery-turned-museum, statues and street sculptures of kings, heroes and poets....

A mix of gracious squares, steep narrow streets and wide miradors making for a new vista at every turn.
Vintage trams, vertiginous elevatores and an efficient metro system providing an network of public transport that made getting around both easy and fun.
Rhythmic patterns of the terracotta roofs, black and white mosaic pavements and ceramic tiled frontages a visual delight.

This is a city for made for sitting in a patch of winter sun over a coffee and a pastel de nata,
window-shopping past elegant Belle Epoque shopfronts,
jumping onto a rattling tram with locals and tourists all crammed together,
strolling along the waterfront at Belem under the far-seeing eyes of the great navigators
and, definitely, a place to come back to, one day.

leyle

  • Last visit to Lisbon: Feb 2008
  • Intro Updated Apr 12, 2008
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Reviews (30)

Comments (20)

  • brendareed's Profile Photo
    May 13, 2012 at 1:38 AM

    Leyle~ What a wonderful page of Lisbon! I have this city on my must-see list of places to get to over the next 2-3 years while we are living in Europe. So sorry about your camera! Having to rely on my Hubby for photos would be a similar experience to yours and probably more disappointing than losing the camera itself! I enjoyed your writing style - very informative and well written. Thanks so much for sharing! ~Brenda

  • MalenaN's Profile Photo
    Jan 6, 2010 at 7:16 AM

    Great tips as always Leyle! Lisbon looks lovely and I'm really looking forward to my first visit later this year!

  • MM212's Profile Photo
    Jun 17, 2009 at 7:09 PM

    As always, a splendid page! Beautifully written and presented. You remind me that I need to work on my Lisbon page from the 2003 (!) trip and pre-digital camera for me. With the long list of VT to do's, it might have to wait...

  • toonsarah's Profile Photo
    May 14, 2009 at 12:53 PM

    Excellent page! Thanks Leyle for reminding me how much I too like Lisbon. I'm looking forward to rediscovering it again during the Euromeet - a shame you can't be there though

  • Trekki's Profile Photo
    May 1, 2009 at 10:28 AM

    Me again, and already preparation of the trip is most marvellous! I am so much looking forward to it, how sad that you cannot join us :-) But I will make millions of photos and a calendar for you if you like :-))

  • zuriga's Profile Photo
    Feb 23, 2009 at 2:31 PM

    After reading your tips (especially for restaurants) and wonderful descriptions, I can't wait to get there in April. Thanks for all the work!

  • breughel's Profile Photo
    Feb 17, 2009 at 1:17 AM

    Thank you for visiting my Lisboa page. A charming town indeed. The "vintage" trams are a great experience; we had trams like that in Brussels, 50 years ago!

  • iwys's Profile Photo
    Dec 26, 2008 at 3:45 AM

    Lisbon is such a beautiful city: in my eyes, even more beautiful than Paris. Your tips, as always, are superb.

  • Ricmenoli's Profile Photo
    Aug 23, 2008 at 9:13 PM

    Stunning pictures. You captured well the very best of Lisbon. And you visited the town in the season I personally think it is most beautiful: winter. Congratulations for your trip. :)

  • starship's Profile Photo
    Jul 31, 2008 at 7:24 PM

    Wonderful photos and tintillating descriptions! Leyle, you are a gifted writer and traveler extraordinaire!

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