The capital of Portugal is a colorful, diverse and fascinating city. In it you can find both the highest-class monuments, as the Hironimit Monastery and the Se cathedral, picturesque districts in which streets you can still feel the spirit of history, dazzling viewpoints or modern buildings of the Expo grounds.
Historic streetcars are still running on the streets of the Portuguese capital. They overcome the steep hills of the Alfama district, and a ride on them is a must on every tourist's program. It is similar with city elevators, whose carriages allow you to get to several viewpoints. The panorama of the city stretching out of them delights both during the day and after dark.
The center of Lisbon is located on the hills. You can get to them not only by elevators, but also by narrow, winding streets with tenement houses with facades lined with azulejos tiles. These can also be seen inside many Lisbon churches. The streets contain restaurants, wine bars and bars, and in the evenings they resound with fado sounds.
To get to know Lisbon fully, however, you also need to leave the center. In the Belem district, where there has been an important seaport since the Middle Ages, stands one of the city's symbols, the Belem Tower built in the Manueline style. Right next to it is the huge Jeronimos Monastery inscribed on the UNESCO list, and in the neighboring street you can find the most famous confectionery in Lisbon, where Pasteis de Belem cupcakes are sold.
Away from the center is also the Expo district, built from scratch in the former port areas on the Tagus River. Its symbols are the huge Oceanarium, Hotel Vasco da Gama Tower looking like a giant mast and a cable car that you can ride over the exhibition grounds.
