Travellers seeking an escape that offers the best of land and sea need look no further than Lisbon – a city of exuberant culture, sparkling nightlife, a renowned food scene and World Heritage-listed sites paired with golden sands, idyllic waters and peaceful coastal retreats. What’s more, with a summer of exciting events ahead, there’s never been a better time to visit the Portuguese capital.
Sun, Sea and Festivals
Lisbon boasts an array of fantastic beaches, from the family-friendly shores of Santo Amaro and Oeiras to the lively sands of Cascavelos, the remote coastline of the Arrábida Natural Park and surfing hotspot Ericeira.
One of the most popular places to visit in Lisbon is Cascais. A charming fishing town just 40 minutes from the metropolitan centre by train, Cascais is home to beautiful beaches and a picturesque bay adorned with cobbled streets and lavish traditional villas. For ten days this August, the town’s amphitheatre will play host to the ‘Festival of the Sea‘ with open-air musical performances, fireworks, arts and crafts and more to enjoy.
Some of the closest and most easily accessible beaches in the city can be found along the Costa da Caparica, just 20 minutes from Lisbon’s centre.
The 15km stretch of golden sand has a variety of coastal towns to explore, and visitors this August will be able to soak in the sights and sounds of ‘O Sol da Caparica’, a four-day music festival in Almada with performances from more than 30 artists of varying styles including alternative rock, samba and hip-hop.
And for those who want to see some true sporting prowess, the festival will also showcase surfing on the coastlines’ impressive waves as part of its entertainment package.
Culture and history on the city’s streets
After a splash in the Atlantic, visitors can deep dive into Lisbon’s city and bustling neighbourhoods, soaking in their vibrant culture, food scene and fascinating history.
One of Europe’s oldest cities, Lisbon has a number of World Heritage-listed sites, historic attractions and museums to see, including the most recently opened Royal Treasury Museum displaying former possessions of the Portuguese Royal Family.
This September, Lisbon will also be taking part in one of the most widely celebrated participatory cultural events in Europe, the European Heritage Days initiative. A joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, the event will see a number of attractions in Lisbon open to the public, alongside special street performances, concerts, art and much more at different venues across the city.
From late August through to early September, the city’s Operafest Lisboa promises visitors opera like never before. Held at the idyllic Garden of Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga overlooking the River Tagus, this year’s festival explores the theme “Between Heaven and Hell” and will kick off with an operatic rave – set to be a unique fusion of pop and opera that promises to be a highlight of the event.
For more information, ideas and inspiration on visiting Lisbon, visit www.visitlisboa.com.
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