After Class Activities

Our program allows you plenty of time to discover your new country, culture, traditions and everyday life after your class is over. Lisbon s biggest attraction is the city itself; historic buildings and architecture, cobble stoned streets, with shops and cafés. Although several UNESCO World Heritage sites make the city even more beautiful: the Belém Tower, one of Lisbon’s most photographed landmark, and the stunning Jeronimos Monastery.

Lisbon has a wide variety of museums including the Gulbenkian Museum, that holds treasures from the East and the West; the Berardo Musuem of Modern and Contemporary Art; the Ancient Art Museum, the MuDe Design and Fashion Museum; the Coaches Museum and the Tile Museum. The Oceanarium has one of the most innovative designs and hosts many exotic sea creatures. Get yourself started for a trip to Lisbon with the links below:

Miradouros:

With its seven hills, Lisbon has a number of places to see and see from. The Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, at the top of the Elevador de Glória funicular, offers views over the Baixa and across to the Castelo de São Jorge. It is worth getting off tram 28 to see the view over the Alfama and the Rio Tejo from the Miradouro Santa Luzia and Miradouro das Portas do Sol.

Further along tram 28 s route, up the hill, is the Miradouro da Graça, which overlooks the Mouraria and the Castelo. The Elevador de Santa Justa is another great vantage point. Located at the end of Rua Santa Justa, it costs the same as other forms of public transit and is free with travel passes; although not with the Lisboa Card.

Tram 28:

The legendary tram 28 is a tourist attraction in itself. Vintage trams still ply the well-worn route from the city centre on sea level, right up through the jumble of streets towards the heights of the Castle of St. George. On the way, the tram slices open the city, providing insights into the Lisbon way of life, as well as offering sweeping views back towards the city and out over the Rio Tejo. One word of warning - the tram is increasingly as popular with pickpockets as it is with savvy tourists.

National Tile Museum:

Located in the Convent of Madre de Deus (built in 1509), the National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejos) catalogues the history of the decoration that makes Lisbon so unique, with examples of azulejos (glazed tiles) from the 15th century to the present.

Estoril and Cascais:

Many visitors take a day trip to Estoril, a seaside resort, just 30 kilometres west of Lisbon. It is known for attracting wealthy visitors as well as residents who have settled in villas built along its beaches. The Estoril Casino offers gaming, fine restaurants and bars. Moving further west, Cascais has a younger and more vibrant feel. Among the weekly open-air markets, the area still operates as a fishing village and is renowned for its fine seafood restaurants and seafront cafés.

Sintra:

Sintra, located 25 kilometres northwest of Lisbon, is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its preservation of 19th century architecture, parks and mountainous landscape of Serra de Sintra. Many visitors take a day excursion to explore the beautiful attractions such as the Pena National Palace, Sintra National Palace, and the castle Castelo dos Mouros. The entire city is within the boundaries of the Sintra-Cascais National Park which extends all the way to the coast.

European Football

The Portuguese love football. Lisbon is well known for its many football teams, including the Sport Lisboa e Benifica and the Sporting Clube de Portugal. These teams have won many championships and the city has been host to several UEFA championships. The city is also home to several world-class stadiums.

Bullfighting

Lisbon’s bullfighting happens at the largest ring in the country, the 8,500-seat Praça de Touros Campo Pequeno from April to mid-July. Unlike Spain bullfighting, in Portugal, the bull is not killed. Two main components of bullfighting involve costumed cavaleiros, who charge the bull on horseback, and maços de forçado, who grapple with the bull.

Sport Events

Surrounding the city are beaches, sailing clubs and watersports facilities - the Estoril Tennis Open, Portuguese Golf Open and the World Windsurfing Championships all take place along the coast.

Shopping Areas:

Lisbon has many districts for great shopping. Baixa, in the centre of Lisbon, has several main shopping streets: Rua Aurea (many jewellery shops), Rua da Prata ("Street of Silver"), and Rua Augusta. You can find upscale shopping in Chiado on Rua Garrett. Bairro Alto, a very lively area of central Lisbon, functions as a residential, shopping and entertainment district.

Bairro Alto:

The Bairro Alto is the central district of Lisbon s nightlife. Lisbon is quickly becoming recognized as one of Europe’s trendiest cities and hosts many scenes including punk, metal, hip hop, reggae and goth. Many international DJs spin at numerous clubs and bars around the entertainment districts. For slower paced nightlife, many enjoy taking in the sounds of Fado, the country s national music tradition. In Lisbon, songs about love and loss are usually sung by a solo performer. The Lapa district is best known for a genuine Fado experience.