Getting to/from the conference hotel from Lisbon Airport (LIS)
Lisbon Airport is only 7km from the city centre. The best option is probably by taxi. The rate should be about 12-15 EUR and on days without traffic should take around 20 minutes.
You can also use Uber (but they cannot access the Terminal building Arrivals area and are not much cheaper); or Metro or Aerobus. The Metro (Red line) runs directly from the Airport connecting to the Yellow Line at Saldanha, and then one stop onto Marques de Pombal station, where the hotel is about 500m away. The journey takes about 40 minutes.
About Lisbon
Lisbon has a city centre population of about 500,000 but a wider metropolitan population of nearly 3 million.
Lisbon is one of Europe's oldest capital cities, second only to Athens in Greece. Lisbon predates other cities by centuries, with a history dating back to 1,200 BC, and has seen many rulers including the Romans, Visigoths and Moors, before being conquered by Alfonso I, first king of Portugal, in 1147. Alfonso I achieved independence for Portugal, and Lisbon became its capital in 1255, replacing Coimbra.
It’s famous for its wonderful rattling old yellow trams and municipal elevators; the oldest bookshop in the world; its famous and tasty custard tarts; and a look-a-like Golden Gate bridge
Lisbon has fado bars (fado means fate) ...and lots of them. Fado is thought to have derived from music from the 18th century when immigrants from Portugal’s colonies settled in the Alfama district.
The local speciality drink is Ginjinha. This sour cherry liqueur (the name comes from the Ginja berries used to make it) is available for sensible sampling from innumerable hole-in-the-wall bars in old town Lisbon, and in bespoke Ginjinha shops.
Portugal is famed for its ceramic tiles (azulejos) and Lisbon is no exception. Visitors to Fronteira Palace are thrilled by the beauty of its rooms and gardens. The so-called 'Room of Battles' is famed for some of the most exquisite tilework you will see anywhere, in a country feted for its beautiful tiles.
Hidden serenely in the mists of the mountains in the greater Lisbon region is the village of Sintra, a location which retains a mystical place in Portuguese culture. Sintra is home to royal palaces, ornate chalets and mysterious gardens, perched in a location which, through the centuries, has been a source of inspiration for writers and poets.
Main attractions:
- Praca do Comercio (Commerce Square)
- Rossio Square
- Marques de Pombal Square
- Lisbon Cathedral
- Jeronimos Monastery
- Belem Tower
- Monument to the Discoveries
- Sao Jorge Castle
- The Oceanarium
- The nearby beaches and coastline of Sintra, Cascais and Estoril
Getting around
The fastest way to travel around downtown is by Lisbon’s Metro. It's fast, reliable and clean, but one should avoid rush hour. It is more fun to travel above ground by tram, but on the main tourist routes, trams often arrive full. Tram number 28 is the most famous tram in Lisbon and one of the city’s best and busiest rides. Built in England in the early 20th century, from polished wood and chrome, they clunk up and down the steepest streets almost brushing the sides of buildings on the way. Starting at sea level in the city centre, the tram heads up steep hills through a maze via the tourist-friendly Alfama district, reaching St Georges Church at the top for wonderful views – especially at sunset.
A Metro ticket costs 1.85 EUR and can be bought contactless at stations; and a Tram ticket is about 3 EUR from the driver or a vending machine at the tram stop.
Uber and other App based rides are also available.
Web sites: https://www.metrolisboa.pt/en/travel/diagrams-and-maps/ and https://www.tripsavvy.com/how-to-ride-the-tram-in-lisbon
General Tourist Information
Visas: Check if you need a visa. Our local member firm, LRS Abogados can provide an invitation letter, if required. You are responsible for arranging your own visa
Time zone: WET (Western European Time) - GMT +00:00hrs
Currency: EUR
Cash machine/ATM: The nearest is ‘Multibanco’, Avenida da Liberdade 245, about 400m from the hotel
General provisions nearby: there are various small shops selling a variety of provisions on Rua do Corde de Redonda, accessed directly from behind the hotel
Pharmacy/Chemist: Farmacia Luciano Cordeiro (Rua Luciana, about 500m from the hotel); or Farmacia do Marques, Rua Rodrigues (same distance)
Opening Hours: Shops are generally open from Monday to Friday, between 09.00hrs and 19.00hrs, with lunch break from 13.00hrs to 15.00hrs. On Saturdays, shops open only in the morning, from 09.00hrs to 13.00hrs. The exception is the shopping centres that are open from 10.00hrs to 22.00hrs, 7 days a week
Electricity: European style 2 round pin plugs (Type F) – 230V
Water: It is OK to drink tap water but most drink bottled water
Emergencies: Call 112
Medical Assistance: take advice from the hotel Concierge unless it’s a medical emergency or the Santa Marta Hospital is located behind the hotel
Telephone: + 35 (1) then the local number
Shopping Centres: the nearest is Amoreiras Plaza, Rua das Amorieras, about 1500m from the hotel
Units of measure: Metric
Weather: Expect c.18°C daytime temperatures and 13°C at night in May. Sunrise: 6.30am; Sunset: 8.40pm; about 9 hours sunshine per day
Safety: Take the usual anti-pick-pocket and other precautions as in any other major city
