Flight and hotel packages in Lisbon
Presentation of Lisbon
Lisbon is Portugal’s coastal capital. Set amongst hills and ancient ruins, the domed cathedrals and colourful buildings give this city an undeniably exotic appeal. It is a beautiful place, with picturesque plazas and cobbled streets, blue tiles and marble floors. But the scenic landscape and elegant architecture are not the only attractions to be found here. Lisbon has a creative food scene, a vibrant nightlife, beaches, boutiques and plenty of museums and art galleries. Whether you want to learn to surf, spend a night on the tiles or explore the city’s gastronomic delights it is all there to discover. A holiday to Lisbon will never be boring no matter what you do, so check out our flight and hotel deals for a great trip.
Things to know before visiting Lisbon
Portugal is a member of the European Union and the currency is the euro. There’s no time difference between the UK and Lisbon and you can be there in under three hours from either London or Manchester. If you’re planning a holiday to Lisbon via a flight from London to Lisbon or a flight from Manchester to Lisbon, then you will probably fly into Lisbon Airport, also known as Lisbon Portela Airport. This is conveniently located about six miles from the city centre and linked via the Aerobus – you can of course also hop into a taxi and some hotels provide shuttle buses. Check out our low-cost holidays and book a flight to Lisbon.
What is the weather in Lisbon?
Though it is set on the Atlantic coast, Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate, with gorgeous long sunny summers and mild winters. Compared to many other European cities the climate is particularly mild. Summer average daytime temperatures are around 25 to 28 degrees Celsius. In the autumn this drops to around 18 to 25 degrees and in winter around 15 to 16 degrees. From March to May it begins to heat up again with average temperatures about 19 to 22 degrees. Rainfall is most frequent from November to February, moderate in spring and scarce in summer. It’s often very pleasant however in winter and very cold temperatures are rare. Book a little sunshine today and let us take care of things with our range of holiday packages.
What to see in Lisbon?
A holiday to Lisbon could take in these top ten attractions:
- Torre de Belem (Belem Tower)
- Aqueduto das Águas Livres (Aqueduct of the Free Waters)
- Igreja de São Vicente de Fora (Church of St Vincent Outside the Walls)
- Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (art collection of Calouste Gulbenkian)
- MUDE - Museu do Design e da Moda (Museum of Design and Fashion)
- Se Cathedral (Lisbon Cathedral)
- Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jeronimos Monastery)
- Praça do Rossio (Rossio Square)
- Time Out Market Lisboa
- Estoril and Cascais beaches
Many of Lisbon’s sights centre around the city’s history which stretches back thousands of years. The Aqueduto das Aguas Livres dates back to the 18th century to bring drinking water to the city, while St Vincent Church is 17th century and Jeronimos Monastery 16th century. Work began on Lisbon Cathedral in the 12th century and it has been modified and rebuilt several times over the centuries. But the city’s monuments are certainly not the only attractions. The beaches are just a short train ride or drive away. Facing out to the Atlantic coast they’re the perfect spot for surfing – surf instructors will even pick you up from your hotel if you book a coaching session. The Time Out Market Lisboa was the first of its kind – it actively curates food and cultural experiences amongst the best in the city. Compare holidays for a taste of Lisbon today.
What to eat in Lisbon?
Time Out Market Lisboa is actually great place to start your culinary tour of Lisbon. Here you will find some of the best food in the capital – not just typically Portuguese food but everything from burgers and pizza to sushi. But if it’s traditional food you’re hankering for you can’t go wrong with these dishes, found in cafes and restaurants throughout the city:
- Bacalhau a braz (dried salted codfish with scrambled eggs, olives and fried potatoes)
- Cozido a portuguesa (beef, pork, sausage and vegetable stew)
- Alheira (smoked sausages)
- Bifana (sandwich of fried slices of pork marinated in white wine and garlic)
- Arroz de marisco (rice with seafood and vegetables)
- Polvo à Lagareiro (grilled octopus with grilled potatoes)
- Frango no churrasco (piri piri chicken)
- Carne de Porco Alentejana (marinated pork and clams with potato and coriander)
- Pasteis de nata (egg custard tart)
- Caldo verde (kale soup)
Many of the dishes feature marinated meat and seafood, and locals also love sardines (sardinhas) and snails (caracois) as summertime snacks. You too can try out some delicious Portuguese food – just check out our flight and hotel deals today.
What to bring from Lisbon?
A holiday to Lisbon is full of wonderful experiences, but it’s always nice to have a few souvenirs of your trip to bring home. The city is famous for its colourful patterned ceramic tiles and handmade pottery and either of these are typical souvenirs that are also useful and beautiful items for the home. Patterned tiles were introduced by the Moors and today they are either handmade or factory produced. Lisbon is also well-known for its embroidery, such as sheets, tablecloths and smaller items, and as Portugal is a major cork producer cork accessories are also popular, including wallets, phone cases and postcards. Typical food products that also make great gifts include cheeses, olive oil, wine (including port and madeira) and pastries such as pasteis de nata. You can browse all these gorgeous mementoes on a trip to Lisbon, so take a look at our amazing holiday packages.
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