Live Vividly.
Lisbon isn’t a city of sights the way that Paris or Rome is – there’s nothing like the Eiffel Tower or the Vatican, no iconic landmarks to which tourists will flock. Sure, there are historical cathedrals as well as the humbling Torre de Belém, but really, Lisbon is all about its vibe. Experiencing Lisbon is like experiencing color for the first time. Apart from the fuschias and violets of the ever-present bougainvillea, the whitewashed houses in the Alfama, or the arresting blue of the ocean at Cascais, the Portuguese themselves have perfected the art of living vividly. From the intoxicating wistfulness of the country's traditional fado music to the (literally) intoxicating bars and the electrifying clubs that keep going well until sunrise, Lisbon has an all-consuming, no-holds-barred passion that will linger in the memory far longer than any single tourist attraction. Add the deadly combination of relatively cheap meals paired with some of the best wine that Europe has to offer, and you end up with a city brimming with life that will leave you boozy, heady, and ready for more. Yet passion coexists with an easy relaxation here; lively pracas and green parques sprinkled throughout the city make for leisurely afternoons of people-watching and losing track of time. Lisbon’s bipolar nature is what sets it apart from other cities in Europe--which is why you’ll want to come back again and again.
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