Lisbon is the perfect destination for a European weekend or short trip away. It will offer you history, culture, great food, a good climate, nightlife and beaches close by for those who need to soak up the sun or recharge batteries. The city of Lisbon can offer all that a capital should with great museums, architectures, and areas to sit out and eat or drink, have a bica (local espresso) and some delicious pastries or simply stroll around and enjoy the city and see where De Gama and Magellan got ready for voyages to the New World. While you have all of this on your doorstep, you also have the coast and a great beach area of Cascais not too far away with delights of it own.
More About Lisbon
Car Hire
Car hire in Lisbon is perfect if you are looking to see more that the city centre of Lisbon, if you are only going for a short trip and only to the centre, then public transport should be enough to you around. However, Lisbon is such a great location for starting to explore more of Portugal, that a hire car is invaluable. So to get out and about, to get to the beach, to drive to the very west of Europe, to get to the natural reserves and to see more, car hire is the way to go. Car Booker compares all the very top car hire brands, so you can be sure of a great selection of cars and the very best car hire prices. Don’t forget for holiday destinations, always book in advance for the best prices and to save hassle when you arrive.
Top things to do
In Lisbon itself, head to Belem which is like the oldtown or historic area, here you see the pure white Monastery of the Hieronymites, the Belem Tower, the Maritime museum and the Discovery Monument. For piazzas, cobblestone streets, a mix of architecture styles and some great cafes, then go to Baixa. Alfama is the oldest district and it is the home of “Fado” which is the traditional Portuguese music and it is well worth heading to the area for a listen or else go have a meal there and soak up the sounds while you eat. Lisbon also has the Oceanario de Lisboa which is the second largest aquarium in the world and well worth a visit. Lisbon is home to the Cristo Rei statue, which is actually a sister statue of the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer statue on Cocovado in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
Road Trips
If you have seen the sites of the city and you are looking at getting out and about in your hire crar, then for beach and glamour, head to Cascais, which is known as the Malibu of Lisbon and is full of restaurants overlooking the water, great nightlife and casinos for those of you looking for a bit of fun, or feeling lucky! Near Cascais, you will find the Cidadela de Cascais, and Parque do Marechal Carmona which has a zoo, this is a great place for a couple or family day out and you can bring a picnic. For views of the wild and wonderful Atlantic drive to the Boca do Inferno, this is an inlet nearby and will give you amazing views of the Atlantic – bring a camera! For more of the Atlantic, go to the western most point of mainland Europe at Cabo da Roca in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.