Lisbon, Portuguese Lisboa, city, port, capital of Portugal, and the centre of the Lisbon metropolitan area. Located in western Portugal on the estuary of the Tagus (Tejo) River, it is the westernmost capital city in continental Europe and serves as the country’s chief port, largest city, and commercial, political, and tourist centre. The city’s name is a modification of the ancient Olisipo (Ulyssipo), and its founding has been attributed to the legacy of Ulysses (Odysseus), the hero of Homer’s Odyssey; to Elisha, purported to have been a grandson of the Hebrew patriarch Abraham; and, more credibly, to Phoenician colonists. Lisbon owes its historical prominence to its natural harbour, one of the most beautiful in the world.
Lisbon is a historical city full of stories to tell, where the sun shines 290 days a year and the temperature rarely drops below 15oC. It is a city where you can feel safe wandering around day or night, where the cuisine is dedicated to creating over a thousand ways to cook the beloved bacalhau (salted cod), and where you’ll find hotels and restaurants to suit every taste, budget and requirement.
Lisbon, is a city where old customs and ancient history intermix with cultural entertainment and hi-tech innovation. While it is ageless, it loves company, as you’ll find out if you meet someone and ask them to explain, with lots of gestures and repetition, where the best place is to listen to Fado. After all, Lisbon is famous for its hospitality and the family-like way it welcomes visitors.
Facts about Lisbon
Geographical size: 85 km2
Population: 547,733
Time zone : GMT+1
Weather : Average temperature in Lisbon during winter is 18 degrees Celsius and the average low temperature is 10 degrees Celsius.
Getting around Lisbon
Lisbon is connected by rail and road to the interior of Portugal and to the rest of Europe. The 1.5-mile- (2.4-km-) long 25th of April Bridge, one of the longest suspension bridges in western Europe, has served as the main roadway into the city. Depending on where you want to go, you can get around the city either via metro, tram or bus.
How to Get There
Lisbon is a historical city full of stories to tell, where the sun shines 290 days a year and the temperature rarely drops below 15oC. It is a city where you can feel safe wandering around day or night, where the cuisine is dedicated to creating over a thousand ways to cook the beloved bacalhau (salted cod), and where you’ll find hotels and restaurants to suit every taste, budget and requirement.
Lisbon, is a city where old customs and ancient history intermix with cultural entertainment and hi-tech innovation. While it is ageless, it loves company, as you’ll find out if you meet someone and ask them to explain, with lots of gestures and repetition, where the best place is to listen to Fado. After all, Lisbon is famous for its hospitality and the family-like way it welcomes visitors.
Facts about Lisbon
Geographical size: 85 km2
Population: 547,733
Time zone : GMT+1
Weather : Average temperature in Lisbon during winter is 18 degrees Celsius and the average low temperature is 10 degrees Celsius.
Getting around Lisbon
Lisbon is connected by rail and road to the interior of Portugal and to the rest of Europe. The 1.5-mile- (2.4-km-) long 25th of April Bridge, one of the longest suspension bridges in western Europe, has served as the main roadway into the city. Depending on where you want to go, you can get around the city either via metro, tram or bus.
How to Get There
- By Plane
Lisbon has multiple direct flights with many countries within and outside of Europe and has the busiest airport of the country called Lisbon Airport (LIS). - By Train
If you plan to travel around Portugal, you might want to think of travelling by train. A journey between Porto and Lisbon takes 3 hours.
