all you need to know about Lisbon

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wizard

Oops just had a moment of madness and booked ourselves a weekend in Lisbon for March . Looks nice but didnt really do much research so any accomodation recomendations or tips as usual always appreciated.

lyn

Hello lyn, you could have a look at this hotel, we have used it twice and found it to be just right and good base for getting about in Lisbon. Around the hotel on the Avenida Conde De Valbom are lots of restaurants so you don't have to go to far at night for a good meal, there is the Calouste Gulbenkiam Museum just round the corner and a five minute walk to the Metro, S Sabastiao, fare into Lisbon centre was 1.20 euro's when we were last there. We used Expedia to book the hotel as it was cheaper then the hotel site, the hotel is the Sana Executive it is a nice city 3 star hotel, very clean but has no pool. Just Google Sana Hotels and go to the Executive or have a look at the other Sana one's in Lisbon as well they are in the same area and I think they are of the same standard.

http://www.expedia.co.uk

http://www.sanahotel.com

Dave.

Thanks Dave . That one looks good and not too many rooms so I'm going to be looking at those now(no we dont need a pool ). Can't seem to find a picture of the outside but what I need to find is a smallish hotel in a building with some character . My husband gets very claustrophobic with a feeling of being traped in those larger chain feel hotels . had a very bad experience with him staying in one of those type last year and have no desire to repeat the experience . It will have to be 2/3 floors at the most .

I can't believe what a huge choice in hotels there are .I spent most of yesterday researching area's and found some lovely hotels but some were a little on the pricey side which we don't need . I'd like to be reasonably central and from what i've read need to be aiming for Baixa / Chiado area's but I'm a little concerned that we will be too central there and surrounded by shops . Would like to find old and quaint surrounded by buildings of character but at the same time central . have no idea if Lisbon is like that .

Really like this one and found it with octopus travel at a reasonable rate £270 for 3nights but think it may be too far out so wishful thinking . It's called As Janelas Verdes http://www.heritage.pt/as_janelas_verdes.html . And even cheaper their sister Hotel Lisboa Plaza which I believe is behind the sofitel on Avenida da Liberdade

lyn

Would like to find old and quaint surrounded by buildings of character

In that case Lyn I suggest that you try and find somewhere in the Alfama district

http://www.travel-in-portugal.com/Lisbon/alfama.htm

It's the oldest surviving quarter of the city - to the east of the city centre but still very central. It is hilly though so perhaps not best for anybody with mobility problems but the area is well served by trams of the old fashioned sort - not a modern metro system like the one that runs along the river front. There are loads of small bars, restaurants etc and it is THE place to hear 'fado' - the Portugese equivalent of flamenco music and singing. Google 'Mariza' or 'Madredeus' to get an idea of this style of music.

SM

ah so that's the castle area is it SMa .I had shortlisted a couple of hotels there but put a question mark next to them saying "hilly" .Are the trams frequent and easy to use to get up and down frrom there to do all the touristy sights should I find it too hard going on my lungs .

lyn

Hi Lyn, Lisbon is a very hilly city full stop
No matter where you stay you are going to have to negotiate the hills in order to see the main tourist sites but that said it isn't that much of a problem if you are able to walk in relative comfort. Our policy was always to get a tram or elevadore up to the highest point then take our time wandering down and using any excuse to stop in a bar or cafe for a drink or snack on the way. It's few years since I was last in Lisbon but you could buy a day pass for the elevadores and the public transport and I would imagine that you still can. As for what an 'elevadore' is take a look at

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Portugal/Distrito_de_Lisboa/Lisbon-286122/Transportation-Lisbon-Elevadores-BR-1.html

On the whole Lisbon is a quite compact city and easy to negotiate on foot or by public transport. And the elevadores are great fun

SM

Lisbon transport is at http://www.carris.pt (not at the pages work in English) but to save hunting for it, the map you really need to start with is at http://www.carris.pt/fotos/editor2/mapa_rede_2008.pdf which shows the routes and numbers (those ending E are trams). timetables are under "Bus Times", click the coloured route description. The main tram to the Alfama is 28E and that tends to be an older type with a bit of a step up, it is also the best way to see the main sites of Lisbon for cheap! Carris do a very good value day ticket which covers all their buses, the trams, elevadores and funiculars but how you get it is a touch complicated and finding somewhere to buy it is even worse. If you arrive earlyish and get the Aerobus 91 from the airport to the city centre the ticket from that is valid as a Carris pass for the rest of the day.

As already said, I've found that Expedia rates are often cheaper than direct with the hotel but I'd also check with http://www.hrs.com who have some good prices and a good range.

I'm getting quite excited now . I think we can manage the hills of Alfama as long as there is the tram option to get back up . Seriously considering spending a bit more money now and booking a room with a terrace at this one . just comparing prices with all the bed bookers now . http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g189158-d488233-Reviews-Hotel_Olissipo_Castelo-Lisbon_Estremadura.html

I've found reference to the "sete colinas travelcard " which I'm assuming is the carris one Steve but it does look very confusing . Also read about the Lisboa card that seems to include transport as well as the sights so maybe that would be a better option http://www.golisbon.com/Lisboa-Card/ . Not sure though if it would cover train to sintra if we decide to go . Probably not . Anyone know if this would be a worthwhile option. ??

Thanks for all your help so far folks. it's much appreciated. I know it's a long way off but if I dont do my research now it will get left until a panic at the last minute.

lyn

Sintra's nice and certainly worth seeing but the old town and palaces are really up a hill from the station although there is a bus (Stagecoach run it!!!). On a sunny day (preferably without a gale blowing!) it's worth making a day of it and carrying on using the Sintra-Cascais bus to spend an hour at Cabo da Roca. Nothing there except a small, discreet cafe and gift shop but on a clear day the views along the cliffs are spectacular and it is the most westerly point in mainland Europe. Then carry on down to Cascais for a while, maybe dinner, before getting the train back to Lisbon

The "7 Colinas" is a bit like a London Oyster card, it's a reusable magnetic card you can store value or certain pass validity on. The blank card costs 50cents and is valid for a year. You then have it loaded with money or tickets, a 24hour network pass would cost €3.75 each time you bought one and had it loaded. The Lisboa Card covers entry to museums etc plus the travel (so deduct €3.75 to see whether it's really value for the rest). Sintra is way off area and you'd need proper train tickets (which are cheap). By the way, the buses that out in the suburbs aren't run by Carris or covered by the Carris card but they're not really in the tourist spots.
Carris also run some open topped tour buses which are not covered by their pass and are quite expensive.

If you want a hotel with a terrace and view, HRS currently have this north of the castle for about £59 double room+breakfasts, mid week in March. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g189158-d235586-Reviews-Albergaria_Senhora_Do_Monte-Lisbon_Estremadura.html or http://www.albergariasenhoradomonte.com/en/who-we-are (click the blue dots in each picture to move through the set). I've never been there but it does have good reviews.

The Lisboa card does now cover the trains to Sintra and Cascais

http://www.askmelisboa.com/en/catalog/lisboa-card-0

but it's an expensive option unless you plan to visit about ten museums.

The ordinary train fare to Sintra is only €1,75 each way anyway.

The one day pass in Lisbon has just gone up to €3,75 + 50 cents if you don't have one of the magnetic cards. The passes can be bought at any metro station but do make sure you press the right buttons,

Lot's of useful info there . No I don't suppose we would get around anywhere near 10 museams cubsur . There will be plenty of sights we will want to pay a visit to but actual museums are not our thing . Maybe 1 or 2 but certainly no more unless it is pouring with rain.

ok I'm very familiar with an oyster card . We use them every day so I will need a" 7 colinas "card and then I load it with with the 24 hour network pass. Sounds simple but no doubt I will make a pigs ear of it . reading the carris website I'm Assuming this is the portugese wording I'm looking for on the machine "Bilhete 1 dia (24h) Rede" and can I buy the card at the metro too and from the machine .

funny I saw that hotel during my search earlier Steve but dismissed it for some reason . So far I can only find it with HRS (no balcony) or booking.com (no rooms) so I've emailed them to check availability and price for a room with terrace/balcony and see how it compares with the other .

lyn

Correct translation but you don't have to mess with a machine. There are a lot of outlets you can buy them from a real person, on the Carris site look under Information Desk and Points of Sale. The old city centre is the Orange Area, out near the Gulbenkian or Entrecampos station is green area (see the map from earlier link). Once you've got a hotel, find it on the Google map and go through the list of outlets in that area to find the nearest. One I've used is on the Praça da Figueira right in the centre, if they are run by Carris they are usually yellow kiosks.

As a comparison of prices, if you just pay on board each bus or tram it's €1.45 per trip.

Thanks steve . I think we will get our monies worth getting a 24 hour one . I'm assuming there isnt a 48 /72 hour version.

We have booked 5 days in Lisbon in April. At the moment we are looking at staying at the Sofitel. Haven't really started planning beyond that so any trip advice or restaurant recommendations will be welcome.

you've just done something I always assumed was impossible - you've started a thread with the same name as one that already exists!

much of what you need is already written here http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=138629 with a bit more in http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=131519 and http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=22729

my favourite restaurant was Quebra Mar which is close to the Sofitel, about 2 blocks downhill on the same side. Not been for about 3 years though. Good value traditional Portuguese, lot of grilled fish and meat dishes, smart solid wood decor and full of locals. May be closed Sunday.

April 25 is Revolution Day and this year lands on Easter Monday so if that's your weekend expect it to be busy.

post merged

wizard

Fiona . We can talk Lisbon together now . Looks like i'm going a few weeks before you .
I've had loads of really good info here . Nearer the time I will go back over it all . I'd forgtten I'd had so much .

I did have a look at threads but didn't notice the one from August.Thanks for the recommendation Steve.
Lyn- we go on April 4th for 5 nights. I'm looking forward to it. It looks a lovely place. As long as the hills aren't as bad as San Francisco it should be an easy place to get around. I'm wondering if I should learn a few basic phrases and enough vocabularly to decipher a menu.