Wanderlust Travel Magazine (UK)
First 24: Lisbon
Lisbon is not only one of the world’s oldest cities, rich in culture, it’s also this year’s European Green Capital and leading the way in urban eco-living, says Robin Mckelvie
Now Portugal’s capital is Europe’s greenest city, we examine its delights
Before you arrive
The Portuguese capital may be in Europe, but walking through the city you could almost be in Africa, Asia or Latin America, with the country’s former colonies weaving their exotic influence into the urban fabric.
One of the world’s oldest cities, Lisbon boasts a riot of historic castles, palaces and churches. Sitting on the banks of the River Tagus and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the hilly metropolis is green in more ways then one. It snared the European Green Capital Award for 2020 in recognition of the strides it has made developing green spaces, waste management, its cycling infrastructure and an efficient, environmentally friendly public transport network.
Planes tend to fly over the River Tagus, so those seated on the right-hand side will get the best first sight of the city.
At the airport
Wizz Air flies direct from London Luton from £26 return; journey time is around three hours. Lisbon Airport lies 7km northeast of the city centre and has ATMS, car hire and free Wifi. There are plans for a new airport to open in 2022.
Getting into town
There is a metro station at Terminal 1 for fast, easy, 20-minute connections to the centre; single ticket €1.40 (£1.17).
Regular buses service the airport, but have limited luggage capacity. The Aerobus offers more space, free Wifi and USB chargers for €6 return (£5).
Outside rush hour taxis take under 20 minutes – check the meter is on. The fare is around €15 (£12.50). The metro is usually the best option during rush hour. Or go even greener and rent a bike to ride the city’s 90km cycle network.
Other ways to arrive
Most long-distance trains stop at Lisbon’s Oriente station, which has fast rail connections. It takes around 10 minutes to get into the city centre. The national rail operator is Comboios de Portugal (CP).