• No visit to Lisbon would be complete without indulging in some fado – the traditional heart rending song of the women waiting for their sailor menfolk to return home safely. Numerous restaurants all over the city offer a great selection of fado accompanied by guitars and mandolins. One word of warning though, when the fado begins, complete silence is essential as respect for the performers…or else you risk being thrown out!
• Castle of St George, dating back to the 5th century, is perched on the highest of Lisbon’s seven hills with great panoramic views. Open to the public, you can even dine at a small restaurant within the grounds of the Castle.
• Take a trip through Lisbon on Tram 28 – offers sweeping views of the city and the coast as it makes its way high up to the Castle of St George.
• Igreja de Sao Roque : The dull façade of this late 16th century church contains chapels stuffed with gold, marble and Florentine (traditional tiles).
• Torre Vasco da Gama – Lisbon’s tallest building has an observation platform and a restaurant – located at the former Expo 98 site opposite Lisbon Airport.
• Aquesuto das Aguas Livres – one of the most baroque monuments in the city – they create quite a sight with their huge arches spanning across the city like soldiers on guard.
• Lisbon is dotted with numerous pretty gardens with fountains and statutes which remain open late into the night.
• Nation’s Park, (former grounds of Expo ’98), has plenty of fun activities for all the family including Europe’s largest Oceanrium and an overhead cable car system that affords exciting views of the entire park.
• Further afield, you can visit the Ribatejo region with its unspoilt countryside, vast vineyards, bullfighting traditions and the religiously important shrine of Fatima.
• For spectacular vistas, take the ferry under the Ponte 25 de Abril, the huge bridge that traverses the River Tagus, towards the Christ the King statue that presides over the city.