Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and is found on the west coast on the River Tagus. It was once considered a rundown backwater but a series of major events has seen a significant amount of cash pumped into the city to restore its fortunes.
World Expo in 1998 was followed by the city's designation as a European City of Culture in 1994 and Lisbon's hosting of the European Football Championships in 2004. The events resulted in a new bridge being erected across the River Tagus, a revamped metro system and the building many new hotels.
The area was first settled in 900BC by the Phoenicians, probably attracted by its superb natural setting of the seven hills that dominate the Tagus estuary. The city reached its zenith in the 14th and 15th centuries when boat building and seamanship saw Portugal conquer many overseas territories and establish trade links that stretched from Brazil to India. Unfortunately, Lisbon suffered a major earthquake in 1775 when many of its finest buildings were destroyed.
In modern times Lisbon has become a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with a buzzing night life. The city is packed with pavement cafes and popular restaurants and modern tourism a big money earner.
Key attractions are the Castle of St George and the Tram 28 which takes passengers from the hilltop castle to the seashore below. Other popular places are the 16th century Belem Tower, the Hieronimite Monastery and the National Park which has been converted into a leisure park complete with shopping malls, concert venues and a walkway across the River Tagus.
Lisbon's seven hills also offer many places with fine vistas of the whole city. The city's revamped metro system is the easiest way to get around as this is a very hilly city - and there are buses, trams and funicular railway to complement the transport system.
The port of Lisbon is to the south and is a popular docking point for many cruise liners. It also has five marinas for private boats. There is an international bus terminal with coaches from France, Spain and the UK.
Lisbon Airport is the main arrival point and has undergone massive rebuilding over the past decade and serves most international airlines and some budget carriers. The approximate flight times from London is 2hrs.
