A Few Days in Lisbon: How to Spend Them - By: Elmo Populous

It is difficult to engage with the best of Lisbon in just a few days. It is a captivating location well-known for an amicable, laid-back easy atmosphere, with plenty of sun and a nightlife that ha a lot of character. Yet despite the coverage given to its stylish bars and clubs, Lisbon contains many historical and cultural gems that are worth investigating.

One of the hot attractions is the Cathedral,a mid-twelfth century icon that celebrates the city’s reconquest from the Moors. It looms on the site of the principal mosque of Moorish Lishbuna; considerably wrecked during the Great Earthquake of 1755 but was put back to life in the 1930s. The Castelo de São Jorge is another fascinating sight, containing the restored remains of the Moorish palace. The camera obscura in the Tower of Ulysses on the site provides a panoramic view of the city, which is worth a look. Also on show is a breathtaking walk of the Alfama Quarter, which reaches from the walls of the Castelo to the banks of the River Tejo and is the most ancient stretch of Lisbon. It provides a glimpse into traditional Portuguese culture, having been the residence of the fishing community for hundreds of years.

Lisbon has numerous cafés and restaurants offering quality meals at reasonable prices. For seafood, head to the Rua das Portas de Santo, a central street which specialises in it. The Antiga Confeitaria de Belém is deservedly famous for its delicious custard tarts and is a great place to watch the world go by. For a full evening meal, Resto serves tapas and barbecued meat in its lively courtyard whilst more expensive international cuisine is on offer in the upstairs restaurant. Both offer gorgeous views of the river.

For heading out, you can't beat the Bairro Alto area, full of an array of drinking, eating and dancing joints. Lisbon has a buzzing vibe in the evenings and a great place to let go and have fun in. Clubs aren’t really busy until 2am and tend to stay open till 6am. Be sure to visit “A Ginginha”, a small stand-up bar known for its rather potent cherry brandy that is nevertheless worth sampling at least once. There are many clubs to move on to but Buddha Bar comes highly recommended. It is located on the docklands and features a roof terrace with great views of the 25 de Abril bridge.

Stay at the Residencial Dom Sancho I, a friendly hotel with superb rooms, with some attractive offers, which are worth looking out for...When booking your hotel, remember also that travel insurance is essential for any holiday. Make sure you get a great deal for your money by comparing insurers. Getting to Lisbon is straightforward as the airport is well-linked to the rest of Europe by the budget airlines, with increased services in the summer months. When in the city, get around using the efficient metro and the tram systems.

It is difficult to engage with the best of Lisbon in just a few days. It is a captivating location well-known for an amicable, laid-back easy atmosphere, with plenty of sun and a nightlife that ha a lot of character.

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