Bathed in pure Atlantic light, crowned by the St. Georges Castle storybook and spanning seven hills, Lisbon is one of Europes most visually stunning capitals. Look aside, the city will surely win you over with its genuine friendliness and laid back pace. At the same time nostalgic and progressive, Lisbons charm shines in everyday life - listening to the sad  songs of  fado  in the Alfama alleys, indulging in confectionery pies at Art Nouveau and living at a Bairro Alto party.

Things to do

Nothing says Lisbon like a ride on the centenary  tram 28  , which passes by imposing squares,  the graceful dome of  the Estrela Basilica  and the Romanesque  Sé Cathedral  . Jump to the top of St Georges Castle hill   for a wall walk and Tagus River views. Just a few steps away, the  narrow streets of Alfamas Moorish  neighborhood  are littered with steaming clothes, neighbors gossip and melancholy  fado songs  . By the river, the  fantastically ornate Manueline cloisters of  the  Jeronimos Monastery transport you from back to the Age of Discovery of Portugal.

Shopping

Kid leather gloves, tawny door, canned fish will find everything in the specialty shops in  Pombalina Baixa  ,  Rossio  and  Chiado  . Compare shopping over a  spout  (espresso) on the terrace of the  Brazilian Art Deco  A café   . Young Lisboners combine the bar crawling with night shopping in  Bairro Alto  , where boutiques display vintage fashion and the bold collections of Portuguese-style icons Lena Aires and Fátima Lopes. Avenida da Liberdade  is the catwalk of Lisbons great designers.

Nightlife and Entertainment

Join locals to  take  sunset shots of  Ginjinha  on the sidewalk in front of the hole in the wall. Ginjinha  , strong since the 1840s  . Lisbons unrivaled access point is  Bairro Alto  , where revelers take to the streets to chat, drink and dance before heading to Rivers mega club  lux  . The mood is more relaxed in the  lantern-lit  Alfama  ,  where  fado songs reminiscent of  lost love and destiny fill the atmospheric vaults  of the Fado Club  .

Dining and Dining

Arrive ahead of the crowds at the famous  Belém Old Confectionery  to devour hot, crunchy cinnamon powdered cream pies. Lisboners make the most of warm evenings, dining al fresco on fresh fish on Alfamas lantern-lit streets and tastes of the world on cobblestone terraces in the buzzy Bairro Alto. 

•