Holiday Home Costa de Lisbon

Visit Charming Costa de Lisbon

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is the only European capital city that is situated on the Atlantic coast.

Thus, within a short distance from the capital, there are a number of breathtaking beaches to enjoy. 

Many vacationers engage a holiday home in Costa de Lisbon for a vacation during the spring and summer months. The weather in Portugal allows for successful beach activities from May through September each year.

A variety of rentals are available for families, singles or large groups touring together. Many of these usually need advance reservations for this is a popular area. January or February are good months to firm up your choice. 

The most popular coastal beach is the Oeiras-Estoril-Cascais area west of Lisbon. These beaches are perfect for families. Sunbathing, sand castles, beach games, and the natural wildlife at the beach make for a terrific outing. It is easy to reach this area by public transportation. Each of the beaches has its own town, all of which are also fun places to explore.

Several museums are near this area of coastline, including the National Transportation Museum which features all kinds of royal carriages.

These beaches can be crowded during the summer, so the best time to visit is during the week in July and August. Beaches are less crowded in May and September, which is before and after the summer vacation period. Most public beaches have lifeguards and provide bathers with information regarding any problems. Make use of these local guards if you are unfamiliar with the Lisbon coastal area. 

While staying at the coast, day trips into Lisbon are easily accomplished through public transportation. One of the easy ways to see much of Lisbon is to take the Tram 28 up into the hills. This tram goes by St. George's Castle, well worth seeing and covers the oldest part of Lisbon, called Alfama. Many tourists take the tram of the hill and then walk down to the sea while seeing the sites in this area. 

Other sites to visit include the Jeronimos Monastery which features unique carved woodwork that is a combination of Portuguese and Moorish designs, along with the tombs of famous Portuguese explorers. The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum features one of the most famous collections of art in the world.

A visit to the Parque das Nações is restful with a number of pavilions and Europe's largest aquarium on site. Lisbon boasts two botanical gardens, the Ajuda Botanical Gardens and the Lisbon Botanical Gardens, each completely different from the other. Since Lisbon also sits by the sea and the River Tejo, seeing the city by boat is also an wonderful choice. 

Lisbon is waiting to be discovered.For afternoons, be sure to visit the Barrio Alto district, featuring the local faro music. For shopping, the Chairo district is the place to visit. Lisbon is becoming a very popular vacation destination, with good reason.