Practical Info
Where to stay, the venue, and discovering Lisbon
About Lisbon
Lisbon, the city of the seven hills, is one of the oldest cities in the world. Lisbon was called many things over the centuries like Luxbona, Lixbuna or Ulixbone (hence the LX shorthand still used today).
A scenic city that perfectly blends traditional heritage with contemporary architecture and urban art. It’s actually one of the oldest cities in the world, and several ancient civilisations that inhabited the city throughout the centuries have left their legacy there.
A city where the sun shines 290 days a year, and a foodie’s paradise, Lisbon welcomes visitors in a family-like way.
Transportation
The fastest way to roam about the city is by metro. The ticket is also valid for buses and you can even hop-on and off with the same ticket for one hour.
Each ticket is 1,80€ or you can get a 24h ticket for 6,80€.
A taxi can be easily hailed from the street or from specially marked bays. Taxi drivers are registered and it’s safe to ride on them. The fare is calculated on the taximeter. Taxis are fairly cheap and will get you around the city for around 5€ to 10€ a ride.
You also find two ride sharing apps - Uber and Bolt.
Lisbon’s commuter train system is useful if you’re considering a day trip to the picturesque town of Sintra or the coastline town of Cascais. The trip takes about 40-45 minutes.
Several electric scooter-renting providers operate in the city. You can use Lime or Bolt. For bikes (including e-bikes) there’s Gira, Lisbon’s public bicycle sharing system available to hire at green docking stations.
Sightseeing
If you’re sticking around for a couple more days and plan to explore Lisbon more thoroughly, the Lisboa Card might be a good option. It gives you unlimited use of the city’s public transport and free access to 51 museums, monuments, and other attractions, plus other deals and discounts.
It costs 27€ for 24h, 44€ for 48h and 54€ for 72h. You can buy it online, at the airport, and at tourism offices.
If you are a fan of Hop-On Hop-Off service, you can get a ride from double decker buses from Yellow Bus or Cityrama for about €25 per day.
Where to go
In Lisbon
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Have a drink in Bairro Alto
Known for its lively nightlife, you’ll find great restaurants, Fado houses, bars and nightclubs. During the day the narrow streets and lanes are filled with small design shops and art galleries.
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Have dinner at LX Factory
This old industrial space is now one of the trendiest places in Lisbon. There’s an amazing bookstore, urban art, shops and plenty of bars and restaurants.
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Enjoy breathtaking views in Alfama
After getting lost in the charming little streets of this old neighbourhood, head to one of the famous viewpoints and get a postcard view of the city.
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Shop in Rua Augusta
When you walk pass the famous arch you’ll find a pedestrian street with a variety of shops and restaurants, street artists and performers.
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Try the famous custard tarts in Belém
After visiting the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery, stop by the old pastry shop and taste the delicious Pastéis de Belém, served warm and straight out of the oven.
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Enjoy the sunset by the river
You’ll be surprised by the colours of Lisbon sky at dusk. There are several beautiful spots to admire the sunset as you take a stroll down the river.
Around Lisbon
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Feel like royalty in Sintra
A picturesque town filled with extravagant places, ancient castles and stunning scenery. Don’t miss the fairytale-like Pena Palace, the historic centre, the Moorish Castle, the National Palace, Quinta da Regaleira and Monserrate Palace.
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Explore the charming beach town of Cascais
This finest resort town of Lisbon’s coastline makes a great hassle-free day trip. Guincho beach, Cabo da Roca (the westernmost point of mainland Europe) and Rainha beach are some of the places not to be missed.
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Dive into the turquoise clear waters of Arrábida
You’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches of Portugal with golden sands, crystal-clear sea waters and surrounded by the steep hills of Serra da Arrábida Natural Park.
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Try to spot a bat in Mafra National Palace
The Convent and Palace of Mafra, the most important baroque building in Portugal, includes a huge monastery, an ornate basilica, and a library containing over 36.000 ancient books and its own colony of book protecting bats.
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Discover the medieval town of Óbidos
A walled town filled with traditionally painted houses, narrow cobbled streets and a castle. Don’t leave town without tasting the famous liquor - Ginjinha.
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Get to the top of Cristo Rei Statue
The 70-meter statue of Christ spreading its arms toward Lisbon stands on the southern bank of the Tagus River. From the viewing platform you’ll get wonderful views of over the river, the 25 de Abril bridge and the entire city.
Useful Information
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VAT Free Shopping
Portugal's standard VAT (Value Added Tax) rate on most goods is 23%. Prices everywhere are required by law to include all taxes already.
If you live outside the EU, you may be entitled to claim back what you paid for VAT, giving you substancial savings. Just follow the instructions for the Tax Free Shopping Scheme.
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Mobile Cards and Data
You can get a prepaid SIM card from a lot of shops in Lisbon (even at the Airport). The main networks are Vodafone, NOS and MEO. A data SIM card can range between 15€ and 25€, depending on the provider and conditions.
The shopping centre near the venue and several restaurants and coffee shops offer free Wi-Fi too. Just look for the free Wi-Fi sign for instructions.
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Electric Sockets
Portugal uses standard European electric plugs (the Schuko kind). They’re 220V and use two round pins. Usually laptop chargers have a built-in voltage adapter.
For your convenience just bring one adapter and a multiple power strip from your country. We provide abundant power strips through the venue to charge all your gear.
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Safety and Healthcare
Lisbon is one of the safest cities in Europe, but we do have pickpockets. As in any city, just be careful carrying your belongings in public transportation and crowded areas.
Public healthcare is free if you come from within the EU, but you'll have to have your EU Health Card. For private healthcare, there’s a large private hospital in the venue’s neighbourhood, CUF Descobertas.
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Weather
You can expect bright sunny days and a warm temperature, around 22ºC.
However the evenings might get a bit chilly (13ºC) so you better pack some warmer clothes also. UV levels are normally quite high so don’t forget the sunscreen.
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ContactsNational Emergency 112Fire Department (+351) 21 817 1470Local Police (+351) 21 895 5810Lisbon Airport (+351) 218 413 700