Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, is a city located in west central Portugal on the Tagus estuary, and is the westernmost capital city of any country in mainland Europe. It's an important European center of commerce, entertainments, arts and - last but not least - tourism. The city's location, rich culture, and developed infrastructure and facilities make it a popular visitor destination, and tourists arrive in Lisbon daily, eager to experience the sights and sounds of this world-class city. Follow their lead with one of our excellent flight and hotel in Lisbon packages, and discover for yourself the charms of the city.
U.S. citizens don’t require a visa to enter Portugal for a stay of up to three months. What’s important, though, is that before your flight to Lisbon, you ensure that your passport will have at least three months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from Portugal. In addition, it needs to have at least two blank pages. Portugal also places a limit on the amount of cash you can bring into, or take out of, the country. The limit is 10,000 euros, or its equivalent in any foreign currency (including US dollars).
If you want to rent a car during your vacation in Lisbon, you’ll need an international driving license, specifically for use in Portugal, and written in Portuguese. It can be obtained in advance from the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the National Automobile Club (NAC). As with the US and all of mainland Europe, driving is on the right, and traffic regulations are strictly enforced.
Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate with Atlantic Ocean influences. Its annual temperatures range from around 37°F in January to around 83°F in August, although summer temperatures can often reach over 90°F. The summer months also get less rain than the fall and winter months; with around five inches of rain in the winter months compared to less than half an inch in the summer months. Choose the time of year that best suits your purposes and check out our excellent travel packages to Lisbon. They include hotel accommodation and a flight from New York to Lisbon or a flight from Los Angeles to Lisbon.
Lisbon is an ancient city that can trace its roots back to pre-Roman times. Its long and colorful history is reflected in its impressive architecture that shows a variety of styles including Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Modern, and Post-modern. Although much of the city’s architecture was lost due to a major 18th century earthquake, there are still many fine examples to admire. Lisbon’s main center of shopping, nightlife and entertainments is the district of Bairro Alto. It’s filled with modern shops, restaurants, cafes, bars and music venues, and it’s a haven for fans of hip hop, punk, goth, rock, reggae and fado, the traditional music of Portugal.
Lisbon also has its fair share of pleasant and peaceful parks and gardens. Monsanto Forest Park is the largest and most famous of them. It’s a beautiful protected area with a huge range of tree and plant species where you can enjoy the natural beauty in peace and quiet. The park is also home to the Ecological Park of Lisbon, a center of environmental education and awareness. With so much variety in the city, a vacation in Lisbon is certainly something to look forward to.
Just 15 miles or so to the west of Lisbon, you can find the popular coastal area, informally known as the Portuguese Riviera. With its excellent beaches and pleasant seaside towns and municipalities of Estoril, Cascais and Sintra, it’s a very upmarket region boasting luxury resorts, hotels and high class shopping venues, and it makes a terrific day trip from Lisbon. A trip to Mafra Palace, located around 20 miles north of Lisbon in the town of the same name provides another great day out. The palace is huge and was the result of an extravagant desire of the Portuguese king in 1717 to build a palace to equal the grandeur of St Peter’s in Rome. After your visit to the palace, you can travel a further six miles northwest to the coastal town of Ericeira. This is a typical seaside town with a fine beach and restaurants offering superbly prepared seafood. Enjoy many more of the capital's surrounding areas with one of our acclaimed flight and hotel packages in Lisbon.
Food in Lisbon is excellent. Its proximity to the coast ensures a constant supply of freshly caught seafood and fish such as bacalbau or salt cod, the country’s national dish. There are many other delicacies you can try out, too. If you’re a fan of soft cheeses, queijo da serra is a local, creamy yellow cheese that’s made from sheep’s milk and thistle flower. Some people take to it immediately, others find it to be more of an acquired taste.
Portugal is also famous for wine production, an industry that has existed in the country since pre-Roman times. Vinho Verde, Port, Moscatel and many other excellent wines are produced in several regions of Portugal. Lisbon, as the country’s capital, has no shortage of wines as they’re brought in from all the local wine-producing regions such as Minho, Douro Valley and the Setubal Peninsula. Another excellent refreshment to be enjoyed in Lisbon, although not nearly as famous as Portuguese wine, is Portuguese beer. Try out the highly popular Super Bock, from the country’s oldest brewery, or Lisbon’s locally brewed Dois Corvos beer. Lisbon's impressive range of delicious food and drink will enrich your vacation in Lisbon hugely.
Are you planning your flight to Portugal? If the allure of Lisbon for your getaway doesn't quite captivate you, consider delving into the charm of other vibrant cities from this country, and other near countries. Browse through our enticing flight and hotel bundles for your upcoming holiday escapade!