HOW TO SELL LISBON Three from seven LISBON
GENERAL INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: Portuguese TIME ZONE:
The same as the UK CURRENCY: Euro (£1 = 1.23 euros Jan ’13) CLIMATE: Warm/hot and sunny June/October, mild spring and autumn months but with wetter and cooler weather from December to February USEFUL WEBSITE:
www.visitlisboa.com
LOOK TO BOOK
CLASSIC COLLECTION HOLIDAYS
0800 008 7288 offers three nights (seven nights) from £507 (£768) per person in April 2013. Price based on two adults sharing a superior room on a bed & breakfast basis at the 5* Altis Avenida hotel situated in the very heart of Lisbon. Price includes return fl ights from London Gatwick to Lisbon and private transfers.
www.classic-
collection.co.uk/portugal/ lisbon/altis-avenida
SUNVIL
020 8758 4722 low season prices are from £378pp based on two sharing. This price includes: three nights' B&B accommodation at the Hotel Dom Carlos Park in Lisbon, transfers and direct fl ights with TAP Portugal from Heathrow to Lisbon.
www.sunvil.co.uk
BY ALAN ORBELL Few European capitals are as easy to enjoy for a weekend, or longer, than Lisbon, a city perched on the western edge of Europe on the north bank of the mouth of the River Tagus. Three airlines (British Airways, easyJet
and TAP Air Portugal) link Lisbon with seven UK airports and there can be few cities with an airport closer to its heart than Lisbon. In fact, it’s been even closer since last July with a new metro line that links the airport to the city centre in just over 15 minutes. In delightful contrast, one of Lisbon’s abiding attractions is its old tram system, especially route 28, which winds through impossibly narrow and steep lanes just inches from the buildings, linking many of the city’s historical attractions.
The Bairro Alto The streets, lanes and alleyways of the Bairro Alto are a must on any Lisbon city break to sample the area’s boutiques and bars, bookshops and tea rooms. The historic Carmo area is connected to the Baixa – Lisbon’s traditional shopping district – by the Elevador de Santa Justa, another of Lisbon’s icons that gives great views over Lisbon. More upscale shopping is available on the Avenida da Liberdade, the city’s best-known thoroughfare. Close to the castle, in Graça, is the church and monastery of São Vicente de Fora, built immediately after the city was recaptured from the Moors following the siege of Lisbon in 1147. Nearby is the Feira da Ladra, or fl ea market, which takes place on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Voyages of discovery The neighbourhood with the largest number of heritage sites connected with the Portuguese voyages of discovery is Belém, from where Vasco da Gama set sail to discover the sea route to India. One of the most imposing city symbols is here – the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, started in 1501 and now a UNESCO heritage site. For a look at modern Lisbon clients should head for Parque das Nações in the east of the city, located in the area where the Expo 1998 World Fair was held. It offers magnifi cent views overlooking the opposite bank of the river and the Vasco da Gama Bridge, the longest in Europe and fi fth longest in the world. The area has a rail link with the rest of the city, a shopping centre and an extensive leisure complex that includes one of the world’s largest Oceanariums.
“One of Lisbon’s abiding attractions is its old tram system, especially route 28, which winds through impossibly narrow and steep lanes”
Beyond the city One of Lisbon’s many attractions is the proximity and ease of getting to the hills and beaches surrounding the city. Easily reached by train from Lisbon, the
World Heritage Site of Sintra – described by Lord Byron as ‘a Garden of the Earthly Paradise’ is an historic old town centre full of delightful buildings, parks and gardens. Not too far away is Cabo da Roca, mainland Europe's most westerly point. Equally accessible by train from Lisbon are the coastal resorts of Cascais and Estoril with lots of great seafood restaurants and all the fun trappings of seaside resorts. Estoril also has a well- known casino.
What’s new Lisbon has a new Marriott hotel and also the 140-metre high Myriad by SANA Hotels. On the margins of the Tagus river it offers 176 rooms and a spa. The Lisboa Story Centre in the Terreiro
do Paço, opened this September offering visitors an interactive visit dedicated to the city’s past. It has been modelled on a picture book with six key chapters in history that are presented through the use of special effects and modern technology to allow visitors to ‘travel’ back in time.
Top, Lisbon's oldest area, Alfama. Below, tram route 28 is a great way to see the city's major sites
www.sellinglonghaul.com • January 2013 63
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