Lisbon

Botanical garden: countless exotic flowers and plants, heavenly garden in the middle of the city.

Mercado de Ribeira: This building is being used as a market place in the mornings but it also has a cute restaurant.

Sè Cathedral: Once upon a time, at the time of Arab conquerors there was a mosque on this place. A 13th century monastery next to the cathedral is being restored now. The name ‘Alfama’ also takes roots from ‘Al Hama’ in Arabic which means hot water springs which was to be found in the area.

Casa do Fado: The Fado Museum. Fado does not sound like it belongs in a museum. It's best listened for on the streets or in the busy bars where people fill like sardines in a can, inhaling the thick smoke in the air.

Quick Tips:

When the sun goes down the place to be is Bairro Alto. Fado bars, good restaurants, bright nightlife are all here. One of the few flat places of Lisbon is Baixo, which accordingly means ‘low place’. It has been built after the earthquake, and it is linked to the hills with elevators. It has busy but relatively organized squares: Praça dos Resturadores, Praça dom Pedro IV (Rossio) and Praça da Figueira are all here. Additionally Avenida da Liberdade and Praça do Comércio which houses the tourist office is also in Baixo.

The big surprise of this neighborhood is Ginja, the cherry liqueur. The small shop serving and selling this delicacy is has barely enough places for the tasters inside. Just pick up your glass and stand on the street, enjoy the drink while watching life going in front of you.. One can just do it in Lisbon so naturally.

Belém Tower (1515-21) is one of the most precious buildings in Lisbon representing Portuguese maritime history.

Best Way To Get Around:

Lisbon is a city which is built upon hills.. Its small shabby streets are covered with little stones which makes them romantic and hard to walk. The best way to observe the city is going to Castelo de São Jorge. The latest establishment in Lisbon, is Parque das Nações, built to house Expo 98. It looks far on the map but ironically very easy to reach by metro. Further back to the castle starts Alfama where Fado music lives today. Tiny streets of Alfama are beautified with clothes hanging out the windows –even it is bad weather-, and the smell of great food, not only on meal times but all through the day. Due to the hills, people of Lisbon have been making efficient use of elevators more than a hundred years. You might want to visit the tourist office in flat Baixo.

Don't worry, you will have plenty of choice in Lisbon for dining no matter what your budget could be. It is one of the most affordable destinations in the European Union where the tourist can dine without hitting the bottom of credit card limit.

Portuguese love fish. Especially the small restaurants in Alfama are recommended. Having maritime roots, Portuguese cooks will be serving generous portions of fish food, making basically all combinations one can imagine with ordinary ingredients. Portuguese food is neither heavy nor sophisticated, it is just unique to itself. There is always place for the dessert: Mousse of everything, especially maracuja fruit.

In Portugal you have the right to eat cakes and other sweet pastries all through the day. Some famous options are Confeitaria Nacional (Yes, that translates into national pastry shop, because eating is a national sport here..) which is not so brilliant, Antica Confeiteria de Belem (excellent) and many others spread over all the city..

The city has many famous cafes where you can stop by. O Brasileira (on the Rua Garrett a main shopping street), Nicola in Baixo and the cafe on Largo das Portas do Sol in Alfama in good weather, are great options.

Coffee, sweets and seafood are the musts of Lisbon, so don't miss them.

This park was made for the Expo 98'. Today it offers recreation for Lisbon's locals. There's something for everybody: shoppers, people with kids, young ones to hang out next to the sea and watch a bit of view.. It would make a relaxed day out for anyone..

Our visit starts with ancient Egyptian art. The Bronze cat statue is the top attraction. In chronological order, the hall continues with Islamic art, original manuscripts of Persian stories, silk carpets from Bursa, and Cini from Iznik. Asian art is also an interesting part of the museum with many Chinese vases and other articles included.

European art section is very rich. For example the Diana statue of Jean-Antonie Houdon is here. Products of some Flemish painters and 19th century 'paysage' painting as well as other French decorative arts are waiting in this museum to be admired by visitors.