Holiday rentals in Lisbon

Built on seven hills, Portugal’s coastal capital of Lisbon (Lisboa in Portuguese) is a city of juxtapositions. The winding streets lined with pastel-colored homes open up to impressive landmarks with unique styles, like 15th-century Manueline architecture — a transition between Gothic and Renaissance, with Moorish touches — as seen in Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and Belém Tower. The upscale shopping street of Avenida de Liberdade is a stark contrast to the city’s oldest neighborhood of Alfama with artisan craft shops and cafes, and a change from the 19th-century mansions in the Principe Real. But they all mix together perfectly, especially when viewed from the city’s many miradouros, or viewing points.

Lisbon is located where the Tagus River flows into the Atlantic Ocean, so the sea breeze offers some relief during the warm summers, with temperatures averaging right around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, while winters stay mild in the high 50s to mid 60s. During spring and fall, when comfortable temperatures hover in the 60s and 70s Fahrenheit, is a great time to book one of Lisbon’s holiday apartments. While there is rain from October to February, Lisbon proudly boasts 290 sunny days a year. As an urban center, locals tend to dress casually with a sense of city chicness — but if you plan to walk, make comfortable footwear the priority so you can navigate the uneven cobblestone streets around the hilly city.

Praça do Comércio

Known to locals as Terreiro do Paço, this massive riverside square — one of Europe’s largest — is also one of the city’s most emblematic landmarks, where the palace stood before the 1755 earthquake. Head to the top of the Rua Augusta Arch for a view of the symmetrical surrounding streets.

Bairro Alto & Chiado Neighborhoods

Literally meaning “upper district,” the Bairro Alto is Lisbon’s city center, with a mix of traditional and eclectic shops and an energetic nightlife, ranging from old sailors’ bars to hip clubs. Neighboring Chiado is a tad more upscale, with modern retailers springing up in renovated historic spaces — and it’s also one of the best areas to see Portuguese fado music performances.

Belém

About three miles west of the city center is this suburb, home to the Belém Tower, the National Palace of Belém (time your visit to see the ceremonial changing of the guards on the third Sunday of every month), and one of the city’s best places to get a Portuguese egg tart, called pasteis de nata.