Welcome to Lisbon

Bem-vindo a Lisboa! Welcome to one of the oldest cities in Western Europe — older than London, Paris, and Rome as we know them today. Lisbon spreads across seven steep hills overlooking the shimmering Tagus River, a city of pastel-colored buildings, hand-painted azulejo tiles, and narrow cobblestone streets where vintage yellow trams have been rattling since 1914.

From the Belém waterfront, Vasco da Gama set sail in 1497 and discovered the sea route to India, launching Portugal's golden Age of Exploration. But on November 1, 1755 — All Saints' Day — a catastrophic earthquake, tsunami, and firestorm destroyed 85% of the city and killed an estimated 30,000-40,000 people, profoundly shaking Enlightenment philosophy across Europe.

Lisbon rebuilt itself into the elegant city you see today, where fado singers pour out saudade (a deep, untranslatable longing), monks' secret custard tart recipes still sell by the thousands daily, and miradouros (hilltop viewpoints) offer breathtaking panoramas at every turn. Let's explore.