Best things to do in Lisbon
Find out more about those top places in Lisbon
Lisbon located at the mouth of the Tagus river of Portugal, is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It is the nation’s largest city and also its economic and administrative center. Founded as far back as the Neolithic period the city has grown to a modern day “alpha–level global city”.
The city is known for its various types of architectural works which are scatter round the city, as well as its rich cultural heritage. Some of its best sites include the Lisbon Oceanarium, Rossio Park and Belem Tower.
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Lisbon Oceanarium
Open in 1998, the Lisbon Oceanarium is the largest indoor aquarium in Europe. The aquarium is often regarded as the pride of Lisbon. Located at the Parque das Nações, the aquarium was designed by Peter Chermayeff, the popular aquarium designer who also designed the Osaka Oceanarium. It has a plethora of marine creatures separated by tanks for easily identification, some species available include Sea Turtles, Sharks, Sea Snails and Jelly Fish. The Lisbon Oceanarium also has some marine and terrestrial plants but it is most famous for being one of the few aquariums in the world to house a sunfish.
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Ride in a Funicular
There are various ways to see the city of Lisbon but it is best as a tourist to hop on one of the City’s funiculars. Slowly going out of fashion due to the countries' investment in underground train stations, the funiculars used to be the best way to go round the city. As a tourist you want to go a funicular down the Tram 28 route, there are so many attractions down this route like the R Palma monument, Igreja de São Domingos and Sapadores café.
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Rossio Park
The Rossio Park is one of Portugal’s most famous parks and one with great historical relevance. The park has been around since the 13th century and it has witnessed celebrations, revolts and executions. The park’s official name is the King Pedro IV square, located at the Pombaline Downtown, it is wonderful place to relax in the evenings and maybe socialize with locals.
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Belem Tower
The Belem tower is one of the main monuments of Lisbon, officially known as the Tower of Saint Vincent it was completed in 1519. The Tower served as a fortress and a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon. It was designed by Francisco de Arruda and it was built using mainly limestone. The Belem Tower is composed of a bastion and a four-store tower that is 9.4 ft (2.87 m) high. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a good place to begin your city tour.
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National Tile Museum
Also known as the National Museum of the Azulejo, the museum displays the creative spirit of the Spanish. As the name suggests, it is dedicated to the traditional tile work called Azulejo. Established in 1965 the museum is housed in the former Madre de Dues Covent and it features decorative ceramics tiles of different shapes, sizes and colors with some dating as far back as the 15th century.
