Lisbon is my favourite city... i love it !

Have spent a lot of time here, but usually in a private home, or in a cheap pension.
So I am no help with the hotels.
http://www.ehi.com/travel/ehi/portugal/hot_map1.html

Thats where the hotel is located... ( No. 2 )

The big park is my favourite viewing spot of Lisbon - at night - the view is magnificient.
Along the side of the park - FYI - the area where the the Ritz is located is not a very salubrious area day or night. ( Its hookerville ! )

Specific restuarants - I cannot help you, because I just wonder in and eat wherever looks interesting. I love the local places, and the food has always been wonderful, and the only time I ever had meal problems was when i stayed out in a good hotel in Cascais. I got food poisoning. ( cascais is well worth a visit - it's a historic and charming fishing village on the estoril ( Coast of Lisbon ) where much of europe's deposed royalty retired too in the past.

Seafood is very good here - so I am told, but as I am allergic to it, I personally wouldn't know. A Portuguese cook is rated on her puddings... and they are good !

It's not expensive to eat out or to go out drinking and I have been safe most of the time in Lisbon.

The ALFAMA district has some good nightlife and restuarants, but I personally prefer the Chiado area.

Major parts of this historic area burnt down in 1988, but the renewal programme is only just now being completed.

There are some wonderful old buildings, and sights to see here. I also love some of the new modern architecture !! It's really quite exciting.

Personal plug :
Lisbon a guide to recent architecture by Paulo Santos, and published by www.ellipsis.com
Sorry, this excellent little book is by a VG friend. http://www.ellipsis.com/catalogue/gu...899858628.html ( If you want to buy it at £8.00 plus shipping )

Much of the portuguese character is style over substance, so be warned. In that it is
important to be well dressed at all times - which is NOT my philosophy, but anyway !

Suggestion - the Port institute on rua d'escola politecnica - is well worth a vist. its a place where you can sit in a sort of lounge area and taste various types of port. It was quite reasonable the last time i was there....

Sintra really is worth a visit, and reasonably close. The palace there is very interesting.

Jeronimos Monastery and the ( Torre de Belem ) Tower of Belem, and the Cultural centre, are all very coinveniently accessible by the same tram ( no. 15 I think ! )

Amoreiras shopping complex - interesting !
Lisbon underwent many changes as a result of the Expo there, and unfortunately i have not spent much time there since then ! Unfortunately !

Have a wonderful time !




[This message has been edited by Chris L (edited 03-11-2000).]