Lisbon Life and Visitor Travel Tips

(Lisbon, Portugal)

A busy city famed for its many historic buildings and coastal scenery, life in Lisbon revolves more and more around its summer tourist trade, with hoards of visitors arriving each year to sightsee and sunbathe. Locals in Lisbon enjoy a high standard of living and this region is actually the wealthiest and most affluent within the whole of Portugal.

The very heart of the city is based within the downtown district of Baixa and it is hoped that this area will soon be granted the status of a World Heritage Site. Holiday makers should consider the benefits of purchasing a 'Lisboa Card', which is described as 'Your Pass to the Lisbon Region' and features free use of public transport and entrance to many museums.

Useful Contact Details

Many visitors find that a visit to the centrally located Lisbon Welcome Centre (Welcome Centre de Lisboa) is always beneficial and here you can not only pick up plenty of tourist advice and leaflets, but even purchase some quality Portuguese souvenirs. Situated within the Baixa district, the Lisbon Tourist Information Centre can be found inside the Palácio Foz and is a good place to find various travel guides, maps and transport information. Other popular tourist offices include the Belém Cultural Centre, and several branches in both Sintra and Cascais.

Welcome Centre de Lisboa (Lisbon Welcome Centre)
Address: Rua do Arsenal 15, Lisbon, PT-1100-038, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 021 031 2700
Fax: +351 021 031 2899
Website: www.visitlisboa.com
Email: atl@visitlisboa.com
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 20:00

Informaçao Turistica de Lisboa (Lisbon Tourist Information Centre)
Address: Palácio Foz, Praça dos Restauradores, Lisbon, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 021 346 33 14
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 20:00

Centro Cultural de Belém (Belém Cultural Centre)
Address: Praça do Império, Lisbon, PT-1449-003, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 021 361 2400
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 20:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 19:00

Divisao de Turismo (Sintra Tourist Information Centre)
Address: Praça da República 23, Sintra, PT-2710, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 021 924 0563
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 20:00

Posto de Turismo da Estaçao (Sintra Tourist Information Centre)
Avenue Miguel Bombarda, Sintra, PT-2710, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 021 924 1623
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 18:00

Posto de Turismo de Cascais (Cascais Tourist Information Centre)
Rua Visconde da Luz, Cascais, PT-2750, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 021 467 8210
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday and Sunday - 14:00 to 18:00

Language and Dialect

An extremely popular tourist destination, Portuguese may be the national language of Lisbon, but many locals also speak English at varying levels, particularly those who are directly involved with the city's tourism scene. However, try your hand at a few of the more simple Portuguese phrases, which may well come in handy in many circumstances, such as ordering food at a restaurant, or asking for directions. Here are some Portuguese phrases to start you off.

• Hi - Olá
• Good day - Bom dia
• Good evening - Boa tarde
• Yes / No - Sim / Nao
• Please / Thank you - Por favor / Obrigado
• My name is... - Chamo-me...
• I am English - Sou inglesa
• Where are you from? - De onde é?
• Is there a free table? - Voces tem uma mesa livre?
• Can we have our breakfast? - Podemos tomar o café da manha?

Dos and Don'ts / Tourist Traps

• Airport Taxis - many taxi drivers operating at Lisbon Portela Airport see tourists as an easy target, so do agree a fare first and if you can't, move on to another taxi until you can negotiate a fair deal, or consider using the much cheaper option of a city bus
• Eating Out - many local restaurants will automatically bring out a plate of bread, cheeses and perhaps olives while you wait for your meal. This will automatically be added to your bill, so if you don't want this, make it very clear when you order
• Segunda Circular - those driving back to Lisbon's airport should be wary of congestion problems on the Segunda Circular, which has been known to cause holiday makers to miss their flights, so do leave in plenty of time
• Sightseeing - many of the main attractions in Lisbon can become extremely busy during the peak holiday season, so to avoid the possibility of queues, try to arrive early in the morning
• Traditional Portuguese Music (Fado) - for those interested in enjoying some authentic 'Fado' folk music, look for concerts in local papers and avoid those in most restaurants, which are usually little more than mediocre at best