Lisbon, an ideal family destination
Young or old, you will enjoy the mix of ancient and modern in Portugal's capitalTravellers to Lisbon will need sun cream and hats for the hot days, and long sleeves to wear for the cool nights, as well as good walking shoes for wandering around the Lisbon hills.
Built on seven hills, Portugal's capital city is seductive and fun. Famous for its seafarers, the city is an eclectic mix of ancient and modern.
Arriving by KLM from Manchester to Lisbon, it is worth buying a Lisboa Card which offers travel on public transport along with free entry to 26 museums and many other discounts.
Open daily, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is the most important cultural organisation in Portugal. It has its own resident ballet company, orchestra and choir which presents a varied programme of concerts and hosts international orchestras while, during the summer, it offers jazz concerts.
Visitors can stroll around the Gulbenkians Gardens, the Museum of Modern Art, and visit the Gulbenkian Museum which houses a permanent collection of artefacts from all around the world.
If children are bored with culture they can be kept entertained at the Oceanarium. It is a popular family attraction and home to sea life from the North Atlantic, Antarctic, temperate Pacific and tropical Indian oceans. The Oceanarium is linked to the Global Ocean, which houses thousands of species of fish, birds and mammals.
For sightseers, Lisbon has much to offer from the 5th century St George's Castle with its multimedia exhibition and upmarket restaurant to the Belem Tower built in the 16th century to guard Lisbon.
Culturally varied, Lisbon offers entertainment and relaxation to visitors and travellers, both young and old.
