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The best of Lisbon
Written by: Anita Lišková & Todd Shaw
Photo by: Petr Vykoukal
Lisbon's mile-high mountains and gorgeous beaches are complimented
with a stunning variety of architecture - from Roman fortifications
to mosaic-rich monasteries. As the capital city of a seafaring
nation, everything from seafood and special crafts to sports and
business thrive here.
Pedro Patricio
commercial counselor, Portuguese Embassy
Favorite hotel: Lapa Palace, Rua do Pau de Bandeira
4, tel.: +351 21 394 9494, www.lapapalace.com
Favorite restaurant: Monte Mar, Estrada Guincho - Oitavos,
2750-374, Cascais, tel.: +351 21 486 9270
Favorite night club: Coconuts, Av. Rei Humberto II Italia,
2750-800, Cascais, tel.: +351 21 484 4109
Favorite attraction: Sintra, www.cm-sintra.pt
Best-kept secret: Costa Vicentina - The beaches 80 km south
of Lisbon
Advice: Just try going once, you will love Portugal! |
Kateřina
Kutnohorská
manager, CK Snail Travel
Favorite hotel: Altis Park, Avenida Engenheiro Arantes
e Oliveira 9, tel.: +351 21 843 4200
Favorite restaurant: Resto Chapito, Costa do Castelo
7, tel.: +351 21 886 7334
Favorite night clubs: Night clubs in Lisbon's docks near
Tejo river, under the Bridge of 25th April, or night
club Pavilhao Chines, Rua Dom Pedro V 89, in the city
center.
Favorite attraction: Lisbon's Oceanarium, the biggest
in Europe. Located in Park of the Nations, where Expo
'98 took place. www.oceanario.pt
Best-kept secret: If you want small black espresso, you
have to order "bica". Otherwise you will automatically
be given a big one.
Advice: Visit a restaurant with "fado" - touching
guitar songs. The authentic ones you can find in Bairro
Alto and Alfama districts.
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Pedro Rocha
Goncalves
finance manager, Sefimota
Favorite hotel: Hotel Meridien, Rue Castilho 149, tel.:
+351 21 381 8700
Favorite restaurant: Bica do Sapato, Avenida Infante D Henrique,
Santa Apolonia, tel.: + 351 21 881 0320
Favorite night club: Kapital, Avenida 24 de Julio 68, tel.:
+351 21 395 7101
Favorite attraction: Centro Cultural de Belém, Praca do Império,
tel.: +351 21 301 9606
Best-kept secret: Don't miss the super sunset in Albatroz
Hotel in Caiscais, just 20 km west of Lisbon on the Coast.
Rua Arcuca 100, Cascais, tel.: +351 21 484 7380
Favorite shop: Rosa & Teixeira, Avenida Liberdade 204,
tel.: +351 21 311 0350
Advice: Go for a late dinner, after 22:00 or even 23:00.
If you go too early, you will miss the local restaurants'
unique atmosphere. |
Ivan
Lankaš
president, Komora česko-portugalské spolupráce Favorite
hotel: Hotel Dom Manuel 1, Av. Duque D'Avila 189, tel: +351 21 359 3010
And also one dream hotel - men's monastery 2 km away from Capa de Rocca.
Favorite night club: Small bars on the right side of the port square
in Lisbon.
Favorite attraction: The elevator between upper and lower town of Lisbon,
constructed by Mr. Eiffel.
Favorite shop: Any ceramics shop in Vila de Conde, a little town north
of Lisbon.
Advice: Forget all your prejudices, relax, and return to the time of
your adolescence.
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Basic facts
Location: west coast of Portugal.
Country dialing code: 351
Population: 681,063 (city); 2,000,000 (metropolitan
area).
Ethnic mix: 70% Portuguese, 20% minorities from Macau,
Brazil and other parts of Europe, 10% African.
Religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic.
Time zone: GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March
to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz; round two-pin plugs
are standard.
Average January temp: 12° C (53.5° F)
Average July temp: 24° C (75° F)
Annual rainfall: 617 mm (24.3 inches)
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Where on the web?
For further information, we suggest the following websites dedicated
to Lisbon:
http://www.worldexecutive.com/cityguides/lisbon/ - the business
traveler's first stop to find great rates on hotels, flights,
and to read other city info.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/lisbon/ - the
folks at Lonely Planet offer a no-frills, less conservative look
at what the city has to offer.
http://www.timeanddate.com/shop/cities/133.html - if you have
time to shop before your trip, check out this site with links
to the best books on Lisbon.
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/ - from the Fodor's homepage,
you can find well-rounded travel & tourism guides for cities
all over the world, Lisbon included.
http://www.world66.com/europe/portugal/lisbon - a decent, easy
to navigate site for travelers who don't need too many details.
http://www.kasbah.com/guides/lisbon.htm - self-billed as "the
world's most powerful travel resource", this is a good starting
point for prices on flights, accommodation, etc.
Business profile
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Prices
· 1.0-liter bottle of mineral water: EUR 0.80
· 33-cl bottle of beer: EUR 0.50
· Financial Times newspaper: EUR 2
· 36-exposure color film: EUR 5
· city-center bus ticket: EUR 0.40-0.80
· adult football ticket: EUR 15-25
· three-course meal with wine/beer: from EUR 7-16
EUR 1 = CAD 1.65; CZK 32.08; GBP 0.72; USD 1.22
(Currency conversion rates as of press time.)
Source:
http://www.cityguide.travel-guides.com
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· Portugal currently boasts one of western Europe's fastest climbing
economies, with an annual growth rate of over 3% during the last
few years. Lisbon also boasts one of the lowest unemployment figures
in Europe.
· Being part of the EMU (since 1999) has strengthened Portugal's
trading bonds with the other European countries - especially Spain,
Germany, and France. EU membership has also brought massive investment
in infrastructure, which has boosted the domestic construction
industry and also made it generally easier to do business. Being
chosen to host the UEFA football championship in 2004 in its recently
constructed "Stadium of Light" has helped put Lisbon
on the map as a thriving, progressive capital city.
· The main industries in Lisbon are tourism, followed by finance,
insurance, consulting and telecommunications. The Baixa district
is the location of many of the banks and major financial services.
Source: www.cityguide.travel-guides.com
Business etiquette
· When addressing someone, it is customary to use their title
- especially if they have a profession (e.g. Engenheiro) or university
degree - followed by their full name.
· Business suits are standard office attire for both men and women,
and may even be worn to social functions. It is considered rude
to write anything official in red ink.
· Business socializing generally focuses on eating and drinking
in bars and restaurants, seldom extending to people's homes. Alcohol
will usually be drunk with all meals, although local business people
hardly ever overindulge during business meetings.
Source: www.cityguide.travel-guides.com
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