Portugal’s capital city is home to many fantastic, fun activities! This historic city is home to many churches and monasteries as well as fascinating museums. It’s hard to decide where to go first! If you don’t have much time, here are some not to miss:
St. George’s Castle
You can’t miss St. George’s Castle (Castelo São Jorge): it sits right on top of Lisbon’s tallest hill, overlooking the city. This ancient fortification saw action in different wars and battles for centuries: it was once occupied by Romans and saw a good deal of action in the back-and-forth fighting between Christians and Moors in the centuries that they fought over the Iberian Peninsula. The castle was once home to the Portuguese Royal Family, but any lush decorations or other remnants of that time are long gone.
It has been partially restored, in the sense that it is safe to visit and explore. There is a walkway that goes around most of the castle on top of the wall: this is the best way to see the castle, as the walkway features several small towers to explore, most of which have good views of the city. Once you’re done exploring, there is a small café inside the castle and some rooms which host traveling art and photography exhibits.
St. George’s Castle: Open daily 9-6 or 9-9 in summertime. General admission €5, discounts for students and seniors. It’s easily reached by taxi from anywhere in Lisbon, but if you have your own car there isn’t much parking.
The Queluz Palace
Just outside of town is the elegant Queluz Palace, once home to the Portuguese Royal Family when they were in Lisbon. Modelled on the great Palace of Versailles, Queluz features dozens of elegant rooms and salons, halls and gardens. It’s a little overwhelming, frankly, but well worth a visit. It was begun in 1747 when Portugal was flush with cash from its colonies around the world, and it shows: the ostentatious wealth is like nothing you can see anywhere today.
Some of the furnishings and decorations are not original: when the Portuguese Royal Family was forced to flee to Brazil in 1808, they took many of their things with them, and the Palace was also damaged by a fire in 1934. Nevertheless, the rooms are stunning and beautiful to visit. The Palace is still considered part of the Portuguese Republic and occasionally is still host to formal affairs of state: several American Presidents have stayed there.
Queluz Palace: Open daily except for Tuesday, 9:30 to 5:00. General Admission €4, discounts for students and seniors. You can get there by taxi or on the Lisbon-Sintra bus line (IC 19): just tell the driver you want to get off at Queluz.
The Oceanarium
Lisbon’s Oceanarium is the newest of the great things to do while you’re there. Built in 1998, it features a massively huge central tank full of hundreds of different fish and assorted marine life including sharks, rays, eels and more. There are windows onto the central tank from several places around the Oceanarium so that you’ll get several different views of this wonder of engineering.
In addition the central tank, the Oceanarium features several smaller tanks and habitats which you’ll see as you make your way around from bottom to top. All of the exhibits are very well done: they’re attractive, informative and fun for all ages.
Lisbon Oceanarium: Open daily 10-6, 10-7 in summer. Admission: €10.50, less for kids or seniors. Any taxi can take you there, or catch a bus to Nation’s Park. Travel Tip: Lisbon also has an aquarium, which is smaller and older and not to be confused with the Oceanarium.
If you still have some time in Lisbon, check out the Hieronymite Monastery, the Belem Tower, the Baixa district (good shopping!) and the beautiful Constitution Plaza. Also, be sure to try some of the local food: Portuguese cuisine is fantastic!
