Lisbon Destination Guide
Fast becoming the alternative millionaire’s playground, Lisbon is a kaleidoscopic city of contrasts. It mixes up a fascinating cocktail of street art and architectural marvels, designer shops and unspoiled escapes, fine wines and gastronomy, and steep streets and secrets.
Lisbon is a deeply historic city, but it is also brimming with innovative energy. Whether you’re after escapism, indulgence, or something unexpected, Lisbon has it all.
A Magical Destination
Overlooking the breezy Tagus River, Belém Tower is a good place to cool off and get your bearings. In the city’s cultural and maritime hub, you can soak up the Warhols and Picassos at the Museu Coleção Berardo or dive back in time to the Madre de Deus Convent to see the finest azulejos or blue tiles – gaining interior inspiration in a pleasantly cool environment.
If you’ve come to Lisbon to shop, there’s no better place to rest afterward than in the Passeio Público’s gardens. Similar to Paris, the window displays of more than 50 designer brands vie for your attention along the statue-strewn Avenida da Liberdade. Or step into the shaded embrace of Embaixada, a neo-Moorish palace, to browse room after room of the best from Portuguese fashion, homeware, and jewelry designers.
Modern Culture
Lisbon shows multiple contrasts between the historical and modern, combining different cultures, trends, and lifestyles.
The wave-fronted Museum of Art, Architecture & Technology, designed by British architect Amanda Levete, mirrors the flowing river it sits beside.
Its exhibitions, fusing tech and artistic ideals, can be taken to the next level by experiencing in-gallery guided meditation and yoga. Or head to Underdogs Gallery to buy from upcoming urban artists, spotting street sculptures by Bordalo II, Portugal’s own Banksy, along the way.
Beachside Bliss
There’s a hidden gem of a nature reserve just off Lisbon’s coast. Craggy with coves and caves, the Berlenga Islands are best explored by boat (diving or otherwise) or along the rugged hiking trails. There are many beautiful beaches to choose from, such as Praia do Carreiro do Mosteiro with its golden sands and calm seas. Closer to town, you can simply drift along Lisbon’s prom from popular Praia da Conceição to picture-perfect Praia dos Galapinhos. Intrepid sunbathers brave the tricky cliff path that’s kept Praia do Ribeiro do Cavalo a local secret, where the waters and the view feel more Thai than Portuguese.
Plenty of golden stretches of sand for you to soak up the sun, go for a swim, breathe in the ocean breeze.
Authentic Nightlife
Free from tourist traffic, bohemian Bairro Alto is sleepy by day but bursts into life at sundown, with weekend street parties providing a regularly vibrant social scene. If you’re looking for something unique, visit Outro Lado Craft Beer in Alfama, where you can sample over 300 different types of beers, from local to international.
For a quieter evening, private tours to taste cheese and wine or petiscos with cocktails can help escape
the crowds. Or slink into Prado Mercearia, the bar of choice for Lisbon’s most stylish, for a sip and a snack (petiscos), on a street that attracts natural wine enthusiasts and bon vivants alike.
Foodie Fantasy
A trip to Lisbon just wouldn’t be the same without savoring its world-famous warm custard tarts. The real deal, with its secret recipe, is only sold by the Antiga Pastelaria de Belem, next to the Jeronimos Monastery. With huge, crustacean-stocked aquariums facing the street, Cervejaria Ramiro is a gastronomic go-to, taking up two floors of an Art Nouveau building.
Once a working-class tavern, it now attracts Lisbon's finest and most fashionable palates to enjoy arguably the city’s most succulent crab and gambas. Connoisseurs order the prego, a garlicky beef sandwich, to end an authentic seafood supper. Conscious eaters flock to Senhor Uva for little plates of meat-free perfection or for the zero-waste tasting menu at SEM in Alfama.
Majestic Escapism
Head up into the Sintra Hills, where shady forests surround a host of palaces, castles, and museums. Flying in by helicopter is an exciting way to reach this retreat of nobility and artists. Portugal’s royal family spend their summers in this breathtakingly picturesque spot. For luxurious fine dining, the exclusive Penha Longa Hotel boasts two Michelin-starred restaurants: the famous Midori (Japanese) & Lab by Sergi Arola (Modern-Med).
Private Charter Jet or Group Charter Flights to Lisbon
Whether you’re staying a few days or weeks, the city has much to keep you entertained. Reaching Lisbon by private jet charter or group charter couldn’t be easier. Lisbon International Airport is just 7km from the center, while Tires/Cascais Airport offers a more discreet touchdown with exceptional service and a stunning 20-minute coastal drive to the city’s most exclusive hotels.
