Port Profiles | Portipedia

A picturesque port city, Lisbon frequently shows up on lists of favorite cities to visit, and it’s easy to understand why. It’s small yet immensely charming, characterized by romantic cobblestone streets, mosaic sidewalks, rolling hills and pastel houses.

It’s also a diverse city, blending the several cultures that collected here when Portugal was a major colonial power. The oldest part of the city, the Alfama quarter, still retains its medieval feel.

But Lisbon is not stuck in just a relic. The city hosted the grand Expo ‘98 and was named European City of Culture in 1994.

Visitors can stroll through old, narrow neighborhoods and find themselves at art nouveau cafés, enjoy a scenic ride on an antique wooden streetcar, or take a steep ride up to Bairro Alto in a turn-of-the-century street elevator.

Must-see sites include Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, St. George’s’s Castle, and the impressive Museu Calouste Gulbenkian.