Local Tourism Notes for Lisbon

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Local Tourism Notes for Lisbon

The staff at most tourist offices speak English. They are usually very helpful with all tourism questions as well as questions on public transport and more and always worth asking if help is needed.

Tourist Offices are able to provide general information on their area, much of it as appropriate to the resident as to the visitor as they generally have information, brochures and flyers on local fairs, markets, concerts and other events.

To find listings of all local tourist offices in Lisbon and the surrounding areas:

• See The AngloFILE for Tourist Offices & Information
• See the official Portuguese Tourist website

Regional Tourist Offices

• Lisbon Tourist Office
  At: Rua do Arsenal 15, 1100-038 Lisbon
  Tel: 210 312 700
  Fax: 210 312 899
  e-mail
  Website
• Sintra Tourist Office
  At: Avenida da Republica 23, 2710-616 Sintra
  Tel: 219 231 157
  Fax: 219 235 176
  e-mail
  Website
• Cascais Tourist Office
  At: Avenida dos Combatantes da Grande Guerra 25, 2750 Cascais
  Tel: 214 868 204
  Website

Lisbon Airport Contacts

To find out about the airports serving the Lisbon region, flight information, access and lost luggage:

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page for Lisbon Airport Contacts

To find out about airlines flying to the region:

• See The AngloFILE for Airlines, Scheduled Flights & Charter

Where to Stay

From the luxury five-star hotels to self-catering holiday accommodation, there are various types of accommodation available in Lisbon, Estoril, Cascais, Sintra and the Setubál Peninsula.

• Find out more from the AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Holiday Accommodation in Portugal
• See The AngloFILE for Hotels & Holiday Accommodation

Days out in Lisbon

There is a great variety of places to visit.

• For information see The AngloFILE for Days Out: Trips & Tours

The tourism organisation, Turismo de Lisboa and União de Associações do Comércio e Serviços, sells cards for shopping and restaurants which allow discounts on certain items in affiliated stores and restaurants.

Lisbon for Children

There are a number of activities for children in the Lisbon area.

• For information see the AngloFILE for Children: Days Out for Kids

Main Tourist Attractions

Parque das Nações: Nations Park, on the former grounds of the Expo '98 has a number of facilities aimed at leisure, and trade including cable car rides and visits to the pavilions and the Vasco da Gama Tower. 

• Parque das Nações
  At: Parque Expo 98, S.A. Av. D. João II, 1998-014 Lisbon
  Tel: 218 919 898
  Fax: 218 919 003
  e-mail
  Website

Belém: At the mouth of the River Tagus, the historical quarter of Belém is linked to Portugal's Golden Age. It is a spacious green area with many gardens, monuments, parks and attractions on a riverside setting. The area includes the Torre de Belém, the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Cultural Centre and the Rua Vieira Portuense.

Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais: A nature park of over 14,000 hectares is an area of ecological and cultural interest. It includes the Sintra hills, the Moorish castle, Pena Palace (Palácio da Pena), and the historical centre of Sintra. The town of Sintra was recognised in 1995 as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais Head Office
  At: Rua Gago Coutinho 1, 2710-555 Sintra 
  Tel: 219 247 200 
  Fax: 219 247 227

Castelo de São Jorge: A former castle 110 metres above sea level with a stunning view of the city of Lisbon, the Tagus, Alfama and the Serra de Sintra. Once the residence of the Portuguese kings during the 14^th, 15^th and 16^th centuries, the castle underwent major renovations in the 1930s. The ten towers are open and visitors can walk along the reconstructed ramparts. 

Beaches

Praia Grande - Sintra: Praia Grande is a large, sandy beach which is popular among surfers, body-boarders and windsurfers. It regularly hosts local and international championships in surfing. Around the cliffs on the beach’s south extreme there is a dinosaur fossil bed with one bed containing the easily visible footsteps of a dinosaur which trod the shores of this once shallow tropical sea millions of years ago. 

Praia Grande do Guincho: This area of natural beauty is on the coastal road from Cascais and is characterised by it's white sand dunes framed by the backdrop of the Serra de Sintra Mountains and moor land. The Guincho beach is famous for windsurfing due to it's rough waves and winds and hosts a major international surfing championship in August.

Further Information

• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Holiday Accommodation Options in Portugal