visit Lisbon

Fado music is the heart of the Portuguese soul. It is a Portuguese folk song typically of doleful or fatalistic character and usually accompanied on the guitar.

The Fado music is usually linked to the portuguese word saudade. This word describes a sentiment and translates nostalgia for unrealized dreams. Fado flowers from this fatalistic world-view. It speaks of an undefined yearning that can't be satisfied.

By the early twentieth century, Fado had become a fixture in the everyday life of Lisbon's working class. It was played for pleasure but also to relieve the pain of life. Skilled singers known as fadistas performed at the end of the day and long into the night. Fado was the earthy music of taverns and street corners in Alfama and Mouraria, the old poor sections of Lisbon.

Fado is split into two genres: the best known is the Lisbon Fado and the other one is the Coimbra Fado whose ancient roots can be found in the medieval songs called trovas. Sung by the students of Coimbra University, the Coimbra Fado subjects are mainly love, friendship and nostalgia.

The Lisbon Fado has been exported and has made adepts all over the world. From the 1940's until her death in 1999, the towering figure of Portuguese fado was Amália Rodrigues. She was the diva of Fado, worshipped at home and celebrated abroad as the most famous representative of Portuguese culture.

If you want to experience Fado in real life, visit Lisbon and spend a night in a Fado Restaurant called "Casa de Fado". The most traditional ones are located in Alfama and Mouraria, but there are some other around Lisbon, like the Bairro Alto.

Se our suggestions of apartments for rent in Lisbon centre, especially in Alfama, Mouraria and Bairro Alto.

The Belém Tower was built both as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon and as part of a defensive system at the entrance to the Tagus river. King João II (1455-1495) was the first to outline a novel and effective defence plan for Lisbon. His three-pronged plan required three fortresses, one at Cascais, a second at St. Sebastião da Caparica (also called the Old Tower) on the south bank of the Tagus and the third, which was completed by King Manuel I, who succeeded him after his death. The third fortress, the Belém Tower, was built in memory of the patron saint of Lisbon, St. Vincent, on the former mooring place of a large ship the Grande Nau.

From the dungeons to the terrace at the top of the tower, passing through the Governor's Room, the Kings Room and the Audience Chamber you have a lot to discover.

Its unique value was confirmed in 1983 when UNESCO classified the Belem Tower as "World Heritage.

The Belém Tower and Jerónimos monastery showcase the exuberant Manueline (late Gothic) style of the time. Nearby, the delicious custard tarts at Antiga Confeitaria are almost as big a draw for visitors.

If you want to visit Lisbon and choose to stay in a self-catering apartment, we have suggestions for you. Search for your apartment in Belém area.

Lisbon map organized by colours. Bus, tram and elevator lines have the same colour as the zone they serve.

The regular daytime service of passenger transport is composed of 93 lines for urban and suburban routes on Metropolitan Area of Lisbon and it is ensured by a fleet of 245 different types of vehicles, such as bus, tram and elevators.

Nine buses that operate every night and two other buses working on Friday, Saturday and holiday's eve nights.

Download the bus, tram and elevator network map

See the following link for more information about the daytime network and nigh bus network maps

Lisbon International Airport is only 7 km from the city centre. In the airport, there are several professional transport services available:

• Taxis are lined up outside the terminals 24 hours a day. They are a fast and comfortable way to get to the city.

• Aerobus and Aeroshuttle are available from 7.00 to 23.00. Connects Lisbon's city centre to the airport terminals and vice-versa. Every 20/30 minutes a bus arrives at any one of the stops.

Tickets may be purchased on the bus;

Compartment reserved for luggage;

Connections with other public transports in Cais do Sodré.

Download the following PDF to see the routes and stops

• Car rental agencies have counters located in the atrium of the arrivals hall.

• Several Buses also stop right outside the arrivals terminal. Listed below are the bus route numbers with the respective names of their 'end of the line' terminals. The airport stop is located mid-journey for these routes.
  N.º 5 - Estação do Oriente / Aeroporto / Areeiro
  N.º 22 - Portela / Aeroporto / Marquês de Pombal
  N.º 44 - Moscavide / Aeroporto / Cais do Sodré
  N.º 45 - Prior Velho / Aeroporto / Cais do Sodré
  N.º 83 - Portela / Aeroporto / Amoreiras