Are you planning to visit Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal?
If so, below are 10 things you should know before you get there.
1) Lisbon is not only the capital city of Portugal, but it is also the largest. It has an estimated population of just over 544,851 people, within an area covering 100.05 km.
2) Lisbon is the second oldest capital city in Europe (after Athens) and predates other modern European capitals by centuries.
3) Portuguese is the official language spoken in Lisbon. Although, English and Spanish are both widely spoken in the capital city.
4) Lisbon operates in the same time zone as London – Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). It does, however, follow the same Daylight savings time as other parts of the world. Therefore, summertime starts on the last Sunday of March with clocks going forward 1 hour and wintertime on the last Sunday of October whereby clocks go back 1 hour.
5) Lisbon is very hilly and is known as the city of the seven hills. Lisbon also has a lot of cobbled pavements and walkways, these can be very slippy when it rains, therefore, if you are thinking of doing a lot of walking in Lisbon, choose your footwear carefully.
6) If walking is not your thing, Lisbon has a good public transport network, including the Metro that connects the city centre with the upper and eastern districts and also reaches some of the suburban areas. The City centre also has good trams, buses, taxis and cycle paths. Lisbon is also full of tuk-tuks, more commonly seen in Asia and Africa.
7) As well as being a beautiful city with lots of stunning architecture, Lisbon also has a plethora of other visitor attractions to enjoy during your visit. These include Arco da Rua Augusta, Aquarium Vasco da Gama, Basilica da Estrela and the Belém Tower are just some of the many things to see when in Lisbon.
8) The currency used in Lisbon is Euros and in most places, it is possible to pay by debit or credit card.
9) Talking of money, Lisbon is one of the best cities in Europe to visit if you are on a budget. Many outdoor attractions are free to view and the cost of entering museums is very reasonable.
10) One of the best ways to see the city of Lisbon and avoid the hills mentioned above, is to take a ride on the 28E tram. This includes a 45-minute journey that takes in some of the best places and views of Lisbon. The 28E tram though is very often packed during the main part of the day, so it is always best to get there in the early morning or late evening to ensure you get a place on it.
All-in-all, Lisbon is a wonderful city to visit. The city is full of breathtaking views and sights, packed with culture and has great places to eat, stay and party, it’s also one the cheapest city break destinations in Western Europe.
