Some cities are places you just visit, but Lisbon is a city you truly live and feel. It’s the capital that captures your heart with its unique atmosphere, where a glorious past meets a bright, exciting present.
Getting there is simple thanks to its international airport, Humberto Delgado, which is well connected to the world’s major cities and it is located close to the downtown area. And for those who prefer to travel with extra comfort and privacy, a private jet charter Lisbon is a luxury option that guarantees a quick and private arrival.
So, what makes Lisbon so charming? It really comes down to three main reasons.
A melancholic and cheerful atmosphere
The incredibly atmospheric Lisbon is the first thing you will notice as you will experience it in the golden light that is reflected on colorful tiles of the azulejos, making the sunsets on the hilltop viewpoints or the miradouros, feel like magic. It can be experienced too as well by the Tagus River: a nostalgic sadness that the Portuguese have named saudade.
There is no better way to truly feel like a part of the city other than to hop aboard a legendary yellow tram number 28 and lose yourself through the narrows of the most ionic neighborhoods, where apparently, time got stuck. There is Fado, a melancholic song with the strains of a Portuguese guitar, drifting in the air at dusk of the little taverns, prophetical song of love and fate.
A journey through history: tracing the footsteps of the great navigators
The second thing to fall in love with Lisbon is its grand history, back when Portugal was the most powerful nation of the seas. The Belm district so much remembers this age of discovery: in the very place, where world travelers were starting their life journeys, there are two magnificently grand monuments that are in UNESCO.
The first one is the Mosteiro dos Jeramimos which is a masterpiece of a certain Portuguese style known as the Manueline style and it is marked with exact stone carvings such as ropes and shells. Only a few minutes are needed to reach the breathtaking Belm Tower, right on the Tagus River, the actual indication of the connection of the city to the ocean.
In the center of the city, you are going to be amazed by the monumentally big city center square Praza do Comercio, a gorgeous square facing the water, where once the main shipment went in and out of the main port of this city. The castle, in the old fortress on the hill above the city, the Castelo de Sao Jorge, is also worth a visit: walking over the walls, as well as creating a breathtaking view, it is also an excursion back into the very ancient history of the capital.
A fusion of flavors
The nice food experience can start in Bloomberg morning with a coffee and a pastel de nata, a custard-filled puff pastry, it is preferably when still warm. Bacalhau, in reality, there are more than 365 different recipes which all considered to be very important part of the Portuguese cuisine. When its summer, you will regularly smell the grilled sardinhas in the streets and in case you wish to make a snack, you can enjoy the bifana, which is a simple pork sandwich that heads can smoke any time of the day.
This powerful food culture can be found in both traditional and modern shapes: in a place such as the Time Out Market, some of the famous cooks may give their indulgences on this classic foods.
To explore Lisbon and discover all its corners, from historic neighborhoods like Alfama to creative hubs like LX Factory, the most important tip is to wear comfortable shoes. The city is full of hills, and its typical mosaic pavement, the calçada portuguesa, can be challenging.
To get around, simply use the efficient public transport network and activate the convenient Viva Viagem rechargeable card. Finally, don’t be afraid to abandon your map: let your instincts guide you and lose yourself in its streets to capture the true essence of Lisbon.
