Spain/Portugal/Gibraltar - Stop-Over in Lisbon - any ideas how to kill 7 hours?

Hi Flyers,

On our flight back to MUC I have 7 hours between noon and evening until our connection flight will depart. Any suggestions for a day in Lisbon?

How far is it from the airport to the city?

(Sorry if this is the wrong forum - please move this post if necessary)

Thanks for any ideas,

Otto

Airport is pretty much in the city, but dont know what to do there though

The airport is very close to the city centre indeed and there are plenty of things to do - but it also depends on time of day that it will happen and on what you generally prefer to do (strolling in the streets and enjoy the city, going to a museum, spending time at restaurants...).

This is a good start.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/europe/949220-lisbon-portugal.html

I can thoroughly recommend Tram 28.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26284978@N02/4033742008/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26284978@N02/4033326477/

Taxi or bus to Marques de Pombal, then walk down Avenida da Liberdade to Restauradores and into Rossio, leaving it on Rua do Ouro and take the Santa Justa Elevator up to one of the most pleasant small squares in the city. You'll have many opportunities for pastries and other refreshments along the way!

Or even closer to the airport - the Gulbenkian galleries and museum are good for an hour or two.

I'll add a few things to IAN-UK's post.

The airport is in the city itself (on its northern edge). If you were really up for it, the walk to the center would take <2 hrs. For spending the time more productively here are a few ideas.

General notes: taxis are relatively cheap, so are buses. If you're going with public transport, stop by the post office at the airport and buy yourself a day pass for all of public transport (€ 3,75 + 0,50 for the card). I would be sure to allocate additional travel time during peak periods (8h-9h30 and 17h-19h).

7 hours in Lisboa

Take any of the buses except 705 (and 208, which only runs at night) to Marques Pombal (as mentioned earlier). They all take different routes and take anywhere from 15-25 mins to get there. Lines 83 and 745 are significantly faster than 22 and 44.

From there walk down the grand bulevard Av. da Liberdade to Rossio. Cross over to Praça da Figueira and then to Martim Moniz. map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Unknown+road&daddr=R.+Martim+Moniz&hl=en&geocode=FeTkTgIdkGB0_w%3BFfnDTgId0Zl0_w&mra=ltm&dirflg=w&sll=38.712421,-9.134992&sspn=0.008087,0.018572&ie=UTF8&ll=38.716574,-9.136076&spn=0.016173,0.037143&z=16)
From there take Tram 28 (aka 28E), one of Lisbon's most popular attractions. Be aware on all public transport there are pickpockets, especially on the trams.

If you want, get off at Graça (pronounced: grasa) and walk to the Miradouro (pronounced miraduru) - a view point. MAP (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Largo+da+Gra%C3%A7a&daddr=Unknown+road&hl=en&geocode=FarITgIdXrB0_w%3BFTbETgIdTqp0_w&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=17&dirflg=w&sll=38.718934,-9.128512&sspn=0.008086,0.018572&ie=UTF8&z=17)

From here, you can either walk MAP (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Largo+de+Santa+Luzia&daddr=Unknown+road&hl=en&geocode=FZOyTgIdUa50_w%3BFTbETgIdTqp0_w&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=17&dirflg=w&sll=38.714472,-9.129767&sspn=0.008087,0.018572&ie=UTF8&z=17) or backtrack and take the tram (which takes a slightly different route) to Castelo de São Jorge (pronounced: kashtelu de sau zhorzhe).

Go up and explore the castle with more views over the city. MAP (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Largo+de+Santa+Luzia&daddr=R.+das+Cozinhas&hl=en&geocode=FZOyTgIdUa50_w%3BFXe3TgIduqJ0_w&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=17&dirflg=w&sll=38.713459,-9.134477&sspn=0.008087,0.018572&ie=UTF8&z=17)

Go back down to the tram and take it until Praça de Camões MAP (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Largo+de+Santa+Luzia&daddr=Pra%C3%A7a+Lu%C3%ADs+de+Cam%C3%B5es&hl=en&geocode=FZOyTgIdUa50_w%3BFfetTgIdzHt0_w&mra=ltm&dirflg=r&ttype=dep&date=10%2F10%2F10&time=5:23pm&noexp=0&noal=0&sort=&sll=38.710479,-9.137492&sspn=0.008087,0.018572&ie=UTF8&ll=38.710019,-9.137009&spn=0.008087,0.018572&z=17&start=0).

From there, this walk will take you through Largo do Carmo where the 1974 revolution started. There's an archeological museum on the square (an old church), which I don't particularly like, but to the right of it is the Elevador de Santa Justa, from where you can have nice views of Baixa, the neighborhood which was rebuilt in a nice grid by Marques de Pombal after the 1755 earthquake, which leveled the city. You can take the elevador down with your day pass (otherwise it's around €2.75) or backtrack and head up for one more view at Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, passing the São Roque church on the way (good art museum). After the miradouro, backtrack a bit and take the Elevador da Gloria to Restauradores.

MAP (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=R.+Paiva+de+Andrade&daddr=38.7113571,-9.1404621+to:Cal%C3%A7ada+do+Sacramento+to:38.7119 081,-9.1423267+to:38.7132966,-9.143127+to:Largo+Trindade+Coelho+to:R.+S%C3%A3o+P edro+de+Alc%C3%A2ntara+to:Pra%C3%A7a+dos+Restaurad ores&hl=en&geocode=FWusTgId14B0_w%3BFT2wTgIdEod0_ym7scIxfzQZD THxxRe1vesAEw%3BFeuwTgIdN4d0_w%3BFWSyTgIdyn90_ymtJ SdzfzQZDTGAmO6zvesAEw%3BFdC3TgIdqXx0_ykxajB_gDMZDT Fgju6zvesAEw%3BFci3TgIdKXx0_w%3BFZK-TgId4nZ0_w%3BFeDCTgIdOn90_w&mra=mi&mrcr=0,1&mrsp=2&sz=18&via=1,3,4&dirflg=w&sll=38.712086,-9.139879&sspn=0.004044,0.009286&ie=UTF8&z=18)


From Restauradores, I would walk down to Praça do Comercio, winding your way through Baixa. Be sure to go to the river's edge go enjoy the view of the 25th of April Bridge, built by the same company as the one that built the Bay Bridge in San Francisco.
MAP (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Pra%C3%A7a+do+Com%C3%A9rcio&daddr=38.7105337,-9.1376393+to:Pra%C3%A7a+dos+Restauradores&hl=en&geocode=FVSfTgIdzpd0_w%3BFQWtTgIdGZJ0_ynddOEDeTQZD TGw8O2zvesAEw%3BFeDCTgIdOn90_w&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=17&via=1&dirflg=w&sll=38.710806,-9.138823&sspn=0.008087,0.018572&ie=UTF8&z=17)

From there take the 28 bus (not to be confused with the tram), to Oriente MAP (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Pra%C3%A7a+do+Com%C3%A9rcio&daddr=Av.+Dom+Jo%C3%A3o+II&hl=en&geocode=FVSfTgIdzpd0_w%3BFa6KTwIdgi11_w&mra=ltm&dirflg=r&ttype=dep&date=10%2F10%2F10&time=5:23pm&noexp=0&noal=0&sort=&sll=38.767452,-9.097216&sspn=0.258585,0.594292&ie=UTF8&z=14&start=0), which should take 20-25 mins (up to 30 min with traffic).

From there, walk around the expo '98 area at the water, or enjoy a meal at the shopping center in front of the train station. To get back to the airport, take the 44 bus or a taxi (should be <5€).


Airport Notes...
Plan on arriving 1 hr before your flight. If you're *G and you're flying TAP, you should have something on your BP that says "FAST". If you're flying LH, stop by the LH counter to get your "Green Way" sticker. Use the "Green Way" line to bypass the slow-ish security line. If your BP wasn't printed at LIS, you may have to get it reprinted at one of the counters or check-in machines. FYI. The *G TP counters are hidden away and not well sign-posted. They're next to the CO check-in area.
I would plan on arriving an hour prior to your flight. The security lines move slowly and if you have *G, the TP lounge is very nice. If you see that you're late for your flight, push your way to the front of the security line.

Getting back to the airport
If you're coming back from the center, take the green metro line to Areeiro from the Rossio, Baixa-Chiado station or Martim Moniz metro stations (~10-15 mins), then walk to this bus stop MAP (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Av.+Padre+Manuel+da+N%C3%B3brega&daddr=Av.+Alm.+Gago+Coutinho&hl=en&geocode=FXsrTwIdAKJ0_w%3BFUUsTwIdQqV0_w&mra=mift&mrsp=0&sz=18&dirflg=w&sll=38.743189,-9.133592&sspn=0.004042,0.009286&ie=UTF8&z=18) and either take the 705 or the 22 to the airport (~10 mins). There should be plenty of taxis on the square, and fare from here should be no more than 5€.

I would not take the special airport<=>city center bus. It's slower than metro+bus and is not included in your day ticket.

BE AWARE... if you're traveling on sat/sun, bus frequencies are greatly reduced. Plan accordingly.

Be sure to stop by any pastelaria for a coffee+pastel de nata (plural: pasteis de nata). I would also advise against eating at restaurants with 4+ languages on the menu. The food is a bit overpriced and is aimed at tourists. If you want a good meal, walk a couple of steps off the main drag and find something more local (usually denoted by 1-2 languages, usually PT+EN, on the sometimes handwritten menu and cheaper prices.

Let me know if you have any questions and enjoy Lisboa.

Thank you very much for your hints and advices :)

I would vote for a visit to the Gulbenkian museum. Nearby is a El Corte Inglis department store and mall for food and shopping.