Coveted cuisine, colour on every corner, beautiful beaches nearby and distant mountains worthy of a romance novel. Visiting Lisbon is like walking into a human-size kaleidoscope. Ancient and rich with history, Portugal's capital is also a modern architecture marvel (Oriente train station is geometric wonder) and a huge draw for young professionals, native or not. In short, Lisbon is where memories are formed at every turn. Below is a guide to some of the city's most beloved spots.
Feel what it's like to be royal
In the Old World, you're never far from a castle—in this case, São Jorge Castle, which dates from the 11th century and was the hilltop residence of Portugal's first king, Dom Afonso Henriques. Its soaring walls and turrets still offer one of the best views over the city's distinct red rooftops to the shimmering Tagus river beyond. Then, if you haven't yet hit your history quota, walk a few minutes south to the neighbouring Romanesque Lisbon Cathedral, the city's oldest church.
Immerse yourself in art. It's everywhere.
Visitors coming from North America, the land of concrete, steel and glass, will fall in love with Lisbon's ornate azulejos tiles. They are plastered across alleys, houses, train stations and palaces, often covering entire walls, ceilings and floors. Popular locations to appreciate azulejos include the National Tile Museum and the former ceramic factory Viúva Lamego.
Stir your soul at a fado show
Lisbon is the city of fado, Portugal's mournful, soulful traditional music. Fado, which emerged in the 19th century in the city's working class neighbourhoods, is steeped in saudade, roughly translated as deep yearning. Today, the city's fado bars cluster in Alfama, Bairro Alto and Mouraria where tourists and locals alike flock to the sounds of exquisite heartbreak.
Take a breath at Belém Tower
This UNESCO Heritage site was built on the Tagus River roughly 500 years ago in the Manuelino style. At once elegant and imposing, Belém Tower has lived many lives, first as a fortress, and then as a lighthouse, a customs office and now a museum. Inside, visitors will discover cannons, former prisons, spiral staircases, a rooftop terrace, grand halls and one oddly adorable rhinoceros gargoyle on the tower's western façade.
Don't forget to eat
And while in Belém, it's almost obligatory to indulge in Portugal's national pastry, pastéis de nata. The best place to sample one (or several) is Pastéis de Belém, the store that invented the famous custard tart. The bakery's been around since 1837, when Belém was considered far from the city centre and mainly accessed by steamboats. Now the establishment is far more accessible, with an all-day menu of about two dozen Portuguese classics.