Lisbon is a historic capital with 800 years of cultural influences that mingle with modern trends and life style creating intricate and spectacular contrasts spread across seven hills always with a window towards the majestic Tagus River.
Over the last years Lisbon has grown into a cosmopolitan destination, due to the quality and variety of new and renovated hotels, increasing number of meeting structures, multi-functional venues, excellent international flight connections, trendy restaurants, varied cultural agenda, lively nightlife atmosphere.
Lisbon has profiled itself strategically during the past decade as the Atlantic Capital of Europe and is endowed with modern equipments, infrastructures and logistic facilities to host large events and international congresses.
City Resort
The only European capital with sandy beaches only 20 minutes away from the cobbled streets of the city centre with the luxuriant hills of nearby Sintra, an oasis of lush parks dotted with fairy tale palaces and Estoril, a cosmopolitan resort with a Victorian-era charm.
Competitive prices
Value for money - Lisbon is highly placed among the European major cities with competitive accommodation rates and quality.
Friendly
An open-minded city thanks to centuries of cross cultural influences from across the oceans where everyone is made to feel at home!
Weather
The agreeable temperatures in the summer months (July – September) are an open invitation for a walk by the river, or to spend an afternoon in one of the many street cafés to be found all over the city.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Currency
Portugal official currency is the Euro.
1 euro is divided into 100 cents. The coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros. The notes are differentiated by their size and colour and come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros.
Money can be exchanged at banks, at bureau de change and at automatic currency exchange machines.
Portugal has a national network of cash machines (ATMs) identified by the symbol MB (Multibanco), from which it is possible to withdraw cash 24 hours a day.
In Portugal, the most commonly used credit cards are: Visa, American Express, Diners Club, Europay /MasterCard, JCB and Maestro.
Banks are open from 8.30a.m. to 3 p.m. five working days a week.
Electricity
Voltage: 220/380 volts at a frequency of 50 Hertz.
All sockets follow European standards.
To use American-type plugs, a 220-volt transformer should be used together with an adapter plug.
Shopping Hours
Shops are open from Monday to Friday, from 9 or 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Some close for lunch from 1 to 3 p.m.
On Saturdays from January to November, shops generally close at 1 p.m. though in city centres some are open in the afternoon. Shops tend to stay open on Saturday afternoons and sometimes even on Sundays in December for Christmas shopping. There are plenty of shopping centres that are usually open from 10 a.m. to midnight every day of the week.
Post Offices
In general, post offices are open from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m