Lisboa:  Information for visitors

 

We are providing some selected information for CIKM 2007 attendees, occasionally biased by our own choices. We are not liable for inaccuracies, we have just put together the information that we believe is useful for visitors. If you prefer to skip reading this and use a general online tourist guide you may wish to go directly to a tourist website at http://www.golisbon.com/

The Turismo de Lisboa (Lisboa Tourist Office),  maintains a website that was used to generate many of the information bits that we have put together and somewhat filtered for you. Our thanks to them, and here is an entry point to their website.

 

Of particular interest is their collection of guides in PDF, available from Lisboa City Guides.

They are full of pictures, but **WARNING** some of the information there, such as prices, can be outdated.

 

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION 

Lisboa is the capital of Portugal and lies on the north bank of the estuary of the river Tejo, quite near its mouth into the North Atlantic. It is the most western city in continental Europe. Lisboa has an area of approximately 1,000 km². Lisboa offers a wide variety of options to the visitor, including beaches, countryside and areas of historical or cultural interest only a few kilometres away from the city centre. A few of those are pointed to you as suggestions. 

 

LANGUAGE 

Portuguese is Latin in origin and the third most widely spoken European language in the world. It is the mother tongue of about 200 million people. Portuguese is the official language in several countries: Angola, Cabo Verde, Guine-Bissau, Moçambique, São Tomé e Príncipe in Africa, and Brazil in South America. In Portugal, a considerable number of people can understand and communicate in foreign languages. The Portuguese are known as altruists: they usually try to understand other people's languages and try to help-out whenever possible.

 

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Approximately 600,000 people live in Lisboa. However, if one includes the various satellite towns, the population of Lisboa rises to approximately 1.9 million people. 

 

RELIGION 

Portuguese culture is greatly influenced by religion. Portugal, and Lisboa have been occupied by people of diverse cults. With the experience of dealing with an empire for more than 400 years, the Portuguese cultivate religious tolerance above all, although Catholicism predominates. Other religions are freely practiced, and temples exist for many.

 

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Mains Voltage: 230volts, 50 Hertz. All sockets follow European standards. To use American-type plugs, an adaptor is needed. Many appliances including portable computers, shavers, etc. accept a direct connection, but checking on the label is advisable.

Sockets in Portugal follow either C (no ground) or F (Shucko, with ground) European standards

http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm#plugs_c

http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm#plugs_f

 

CURRENCY 

The unit of currency in Portugal is the Euro (€). 

 

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 

Lisboa offers state-of-the-art technology in telephony and data transmission.

Three cell phone operators (Vodafone, TMN and Optimus) have contracts of continuity with the majority of cell phone operators in the world.

Portugal Telecom provides fixed services.

Access to free Wireless networking is provided for free in the meeting areas.

 

SCHEDULES  

Opening hours in Portugal are similar to those in the rest of Europe. The visitor has access to all normal services at any time of the day and on all days of the week - not only in Lisboa, but also in the rest of the country. Pharmacies keep the same opening hours as the rest of the shops but, in order to guarantee 24-hour service, have two extended timetables (until 8 p.m or a night service) on rotation. Generally speaking, restaurants are open for lunch from 12 noon to 3.p.m and for dinner from 7 PM to 10 PM. Cinema shows begin at around lunch-time, and some cinemas carry on until 2 AM. Theatres and other shows usually start between 9  and 10 PM 

 

WORKING HOURS  

Buses: Every day 6.30 AM - 12 PM/10 AM 

Banks: Mon-Fri. 8.30 AM - 3 PM 

Shopping Centres: Every day 10 AM - 12 PM 

Shops:Mon -Fri. 9 AM - 1 PM and 3 PM - 7 PM Sat. 9 AM - 7 PM 

Embassies: Mon. - Fri. 9 AM - 3 PM 

Post Offices: Mon. - Fri. 8.30 AM - 6.30 PM 

Pharmacies: Mon. - Fri. 9 AM - 1 PM and 3 PM - 7 p. m. also: 24 hour (night) service 
Meal times: Lunch: 12 AM - 2 PM

Dinner: 8 PM - 10 PM, in some plces even a bit later

Underground: Every day 6.30 AM - 1 AM

 

POLICE – Central Police Station for visitors

call in case of emergency of any kind

Praça dos Restauradores /  Palácio Foz

Tel.: +351 213 421 634 / +351 213 421 623

 

TIME ZONES  

Lisboa and Continental Portugal will be at GMT  - Greenwich Mean Time after the 4th of November (it is now on Summer Time, GMT +1:00 hr).

 

CLIMATE 

Due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, Lisboa has a pleasant climate throughout the year. Sunshine is likely, even in autumn or winter. Showers are common in November bit they are usually quite brief. Temperatures around 10º Celsius, or higher, are common at this time of the year.  

ARRIVING IN LISBOA (by air)

Lisboa is easy to get to. It is a short flight away from most European cities, and receives daily direct flights from many major cities.

Lisboa International Airport is 7 km away from the city centre and the SANA hotel where CIKM 2007 is held.

 

TRANSPORTATION FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY 

 

AEROBUS 

Bus number 91, or Aerobus, travels between Lisbon city centre and the airport. It runs between 7:45AM and 8:45PM and the ticket is purchased on board. Not so nice when you carry luggage, but very cheap. Stops near the SANA hotel

 

TAXIS

Available right outside the Arrival and Departure halls.  Taxis at departures are much more reliable (will not overcharge). A normal fare between the airport and the SANA hotel costs less than 9 Euro. It is normal to charge for luggage (but not more than 1,60 Euro for all the pieces of luggage). In case of doubt you are legally entitled not to pay and call the police or ask for help at the reception of your hotel.

You can also buy a 12 Euro Taxi Voucher (Zone 1)  valid for one day.

 

Here is a map of the METRO in Lisboa

More information on transportation at  the website: Transportation Info

 

ADDITIONAL TIPS / SUGGESTIONS

 

Walking around

WARNING: Lisboa is not flat. Plan your walks carefully (a city plan can be misleading...). Ask for advice.

 

Personal safety issues

Most areas are safe. There is very little crime. Situations do exist where people get pick-pocketed for example. But those occur mainly in cases of carelessness, such as displaying a wallet, camera or cell phone in the subway at rush hours, cashing money from an ATM during the night when unaccompanied, etc. Remember that no one else can save you from your own carelessness. Lisboa is considered generally safe.

 

Suggestions for visits on your free time:

 

How to get minimal acquaintance to start with

Tourist Bus Tours. Several services are available, depending on the time of the year. Open decks if the weather allows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A typical ride in a Lisboa tramway.

A tourist tram (red) rides in a circular track through the most representative areas of town. A sound track in English and French with music guides you through each area.

A common tram (yellow) Nr 28 rides on approximately the same track, frequently and for much cheaper. There is no tourist guidance. This one is a very good option but not at rush hours (two hours around 9AM and two hours around 7PM).

The primary place to start such a trip (either the red or the yellow Nr 28) is Praça do Comércio, in downtown Lisboa.

 

Another very nice way of grasping the unique character of  Lisboa is to make a return ferry trip to the south bank. The best is to take the one that starts from a peer between Praça do Comércio and Cais do Sodré. The trip is no more than 15 minutes each way and the best time to do it is, in November, around 10 AM or 5 PM. You can appreciate the town from the water level, with the strange sensation of hills moving relative to each other as the ship travels. Cheap and easy. Please avoid doing this at rush hours.

 

 

Sightseeing

The monumental area in Belem

This riverside area of west Lisboa can be reached by public transportation. Visit the Torre de Belem, the Monastery of Jeronimos (maybe the most outstanding piece of architecture in Lisboa). While there you can have a taste of the world famous Lisboa pastries, the Pasteis de Belem, manufactured and sold on the spot!

 

Sintra

If you can spare half a day, take a train from Jardim Zoológico (get there by METRO, 4 stations away from the hotel Sana) to the small town Sintra. This is about 40 minutes of train ride, but you can also drive there via the direct road IC19. Pleasant walks, visits to palaces and the Moorish castle. Dense vegetation in the woods around, that once inspired Byron, for example. Beforehand, you may wish to have a look at the local city council website.

 

Any tourist guide will offer a variety of attractive visits to Museums, The Oceanarium, etc. Strongly dependent on your taste... You can get a good printed guide on arrival to Lisboa Airport, ANA, the airport authority publishes "YOUR GUIDE, LISBOA". Pick up the 2007 edition on arrival.

AMUSEMENT

 

The docklands

Situated near the Ponte 25 de Abril in west Lisboa, the docklands are converted into a pleasant restaurant area. Open all day, every day.

 

FADO, the local song

Several restaurants hold a dinner with a fado session right after. Fado is a typical song, usually sentimental but not necessarily sad, mostly centered on passionate love or longing for someone. A singer is accompanied by Portuguese 12 string guitars, and a classical 6 string guitar. To be enjoyed in respectful silence. After dinner shows carry on until about 11 or 12PM. Prices vary. The show is included in the minimal consumption i(around Eur 25 per person). Dinner at about Eur  50 per person. Usually opens at 8PM.

Enjoy a nice FADO evening at, for example, Senhor Vinho, Taverna do Embuçado or Painel do Fado

Reservation is almost mandatory, especially if you are having dinner

The Organizing Committee for CIKM 2007

Acnowledgements

We thank the Turismo de Lisboa and the authors of the photographs for their support.

Last update: 11/03/2007