Lisbon City Breaks

Lisbon at a glance

A striking capital city, Lisbon is often called the “City of Seven Hills” with each offering impressive views of the Tagus and its bridges, terracotta roofs and whitewashed buildings. The heart of the city is easily explored on foot where you can find world class shopping and dining along with traditional tascas. If your legs get tired you can hop on one of the city’s historic trams that scoot up and down the hillside streets, serving some of the most popular shopping and tourist locations in the city.

Things to do in Lisbon

• St George’s Castle: On the top of the highest hill in Lisbon sits this ancient Moorish castle.
• Alfama District: Particularly charming and historic area of the city, with its maze of cobbled streets, churches and pretty squares.
• Monastery of St Jerome: 16th century monastery housing the tomb of explorer Vasco de Gama.
• Oceanarium: Beautifully laid out and modern aquarium, with fascinating displays of aquatic life.
• Feria da Ladra: Lisbon’s flea market is held beside the impressive Santa Engracia church and boasts a great variety of clothes and trinket stalls.

We can book many tours to make your trip to Lisbon truly memroable, visit our Osprey Experiences page for more information or contact on our our team.

Getting around

Lisbon’s metro system is a great way to navigate the city, and its metro stations are an attraction unto themselves with each stop boasting its own unique contemporary art. The city also provides a tram line, bus network and train service that is easy to use and payment can be made using contactless cards.

Dining in Lisbon

From fresh seafood and elaborately wrapped tinned sardines to tapas, snails and suckling pig – Lisbon offers so many indulgent food options in a variety of settings from smart restaurants with castle views to cosy tascas and park kiosks.

Must-try local dishes:

• Cozido – a stew made with different meats and vegetables
• Bacalhau – dried, salted cod often served with potatoes
• Pastel de Nata (Portugese custrad tarts) – a flaky pastry case filled with sweet custard

Nightlife

Lisbon is home to a wide variety of discos, clubs and bars with locals saying the night starts in Bairro Alto and slowly heads downhill towards Pink Street in the vibrant Cais de Sodre neighbourhood. Here you’ll find the late-night spots with many staying open until the sun rises. For a real taste of Portuguese culture, head to a Fado house where live performances of the Portuguese ‘songs of sorrow’ usually accompany traditional food and drink.

Shopping

The upmarket branded boutiques in the Chiado district, and the Avenida da Liberdade is the tree-lined one mile avenue of luxury designer stores, fountains and cafés for those much-needed breaks. Also, head to the winding atmospheric streets of Bairro Alto for late night shopping and authentic Portuguese shops.

Osprey Holidays top tips

Quit the city for the day and head to Sintra, 16 miles north west of Lisbon this enchanting town once described by Lord Byron as 'a glorious Eden' is a wonderful haven of old summer palaces and stately homes. Don't leave Sintra without buying a packet of queijadas, delightful miniature cheesecakes that taste delicious!