Visit the Lisbon neighborhoods like Chiado and Bairro Alto
Lisbon is a city where each neighborhood is different and has its own glamour. If you walk from the cosmopolitan Baixa towards the narrow streets in Alfama, or to Chiado or Bairro Alto, you’ll understand what we mean.
Lisbon has a rich history and wonderful architecture. As one of the oldest cities in the world, the capital of Portugal had an important economic, political and cultural center.
Map of Lisbon
We know that many tourists nowadays use their cellphone apps to find just about anything, but a tourist map is always helpful, because it gives a general idea of the location and distances between the main attractions in a city.
Therefore, here is an interactive map of Lisbon you can take a look at.
Photo: Portuguese tiles. Lisbon.
Photo: Grilled fish restaurant in the old town of Lisbon.
Old city of Lisbon
According to history, Lisbon was settled by pre-Celtic tribes in the north margin of the Tagus River during the Neolithic period. Then, in the first millennium BC the Celts invaded this territory which led to the mix of the Celts with the existing population.
Lisbon is one of the oldest European capitals after Athens
Photo: Santa Clara Feira da Ladra Market. Alfama, Lisbon.
THINGS TO DO IN LISBON
When you are in a new city for the first time, it can be difficult to choose among what to do and in Lisbon this is not different. To help you out with that, here are some ideas:
Any of them it´s a good plan in your trip!
Photo: Lisbon historic elevator de Santa Justa. Portugal. Luca Galuzzi. Adapted under license (CC BY-SA 2.5)
DAY TRIPS FROM LISBON
Around Lisbon you can find ancient castles, sumptuous palaces, and many other historic monuments that are waiting to be discovered.
Whether you want to explore unique castles, to wander around medieval towns or maybe to admire some stunning monasteries, you can do all of that and more on a Lisbon day trip.
We know that you want to make the most of your trip, so add any one (or more) of these best day trips from Lisbon Portugal on your list:
Photo: Lisbon, Portugal.
THE BEST LISBON NEIGHBORHOODS
Different neighborhoods from Lisbon are good for different things. Some of them, like Cais do Sodré or the Bairro Alto, are great for staying out, but may not the best to live in. Besides, lots of people like to stay in Alfama when they visit Lisbon, but this it may not be the best neighbourhood if you’re planning to live in Lisbon for a long term. And we could go on.
Overall, the most traditional neighbourhoods from Lisbon are Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto, Alfama and Belém. Each one of them has its own unique essence.
Photo: Lisbon, Portugal.
Alfama from Lisbon: history and charm
Alfama may be the most charming part of Lisbon as well as its oldest district. This is the place to go if you are looking for a traditional meal along with some fado music. Narrow, medieval streets are common all over Lisbon, but nowhere such as in Alfama.
Alfama district is charming and romantic and it´s very close to Castelo de São Jorge which you can visit. Besides, the most famous number 28 tram passes through this neighborhood, so when getting here you can enjoy watching the historic sites from inside the iconic yellow car. Moreover, there are also tuk tuk tour, electric bike tour, Segway tour, and a street art tour. It can be difficult to choose, we know…
Bairro Alto: Fit for Foodies and Nightlife
Bairro Alto from Lisbon, which is close to Chiado, is probably the best part of the city to find some good fado restaurants. The streets here are full of graffiti and sometimes laundry hanging outdoors. As a route, we suggest you take Rua da Misericordia if you want to get to the Bairro Alto.
Photo: Typical Portuguese Architecture.
Bairro Alto from Lisbon comes alive when the sun goes down
From wine bars to sophisticated cocktail bars or maybe nightclubs that don’t close until early morning, you may find the best nightlife in Lisbon here.
Photo: Fado Guitars in Lisbon. João Lavinha. Adapted under license (CC BY 2.0)
Chiado neighborhood: Central and Bustling
Chiado is as central as you can get in Lisbon. This neighborhood is elegant and bohemian and it is placed between Bairro Alto and Baixa. Chiado is on the hill, which means you can only go down from here. It is packed with shopping places, theaters, museums, bars and restaurants and also some historical sites, like the Convento do Carmo, which is a convent that was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake and is now a museum.
Photo: Mercado da Ribeira (Time Out Market). Lisboa. Vitor Oliveira. Adapted under license (CC BY-SA 2.0)
VASCO DA GAMA BRIDGE: THE LONGEST BRIDGE IN LISBON
The Vasco da Gama Bridge takes its name from the famous maritime explorer and was built to celebrate the 500th anniversary of his discovery of the sea route that led to the Indies.
This bridge was the longest bridge in Europe when it opened and nowadays is still one of the longest in the world. Its length gives the impression to almost vanish into the distance.
Besides, you don’t need to drive over it if you want to get a close-up view because it’s possible to walk under it if you follow the waterfront promenade of the Parque das Nações district.
Photo: Vasco Da Gama Bridge: The Longest Bridge in Lisbon.
BOTANICAL GARDEN LISBON: A HIDDEN GEM IN LISBON
This enchanting botanical garden from Lisbon placed in the Principe Real district is almost invisible from the surrounding streets. As part of the National Museum of Natural History and Science, its dense vegetation and the exotic plants make it one of the most calming places in Lisbon. The botanical garden counts with over 18,000 species from all over the world and it´s definitely an attraction not to missed.
Photo: Lisbon Botanical Garden. Salix. Adapted under license (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: Lisbon Botanical Garden. Salix. Adapted under license (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Best hostels in Lisbon
As we told you before, the best areas to stay in Lisbon are the enchanting neighborhoods of Alfama, Baixa, Avenida da Liberdade, Chiado, or Bairro Alto. These districts are very popular among tourist, and they offer a wide variety of attractions.
CHOOSE LISBON AS YOUR NEXT TRIP DESTINATION
Lisbon is one of the trendiest hotspots from Europe. It counts with centuries of history, great culture, some delicious food, sunny weather, buzzing nightlife…
And now that you know all the glamour that Lisbon has to offer, we´ll see soon around here?
