Lisbon is a vast garden abounding with flowers and tropical plants. The city's appeal lies in the magnificent vistas from its many belvederes and in the tree-lined avenues and squares decorated with mosaic pavements. Spreading out along the right bank of the Tagus, its downtown, the Baixa, is located in the 18th century area around Rossio. East of the arcaded Praca do Comercio, are the medieval quarters of Alfama and Mouraria, crowned by the magnificent St. George's Castle.  The Alfama is a charming Moorish quarter with narrow, twisting streets that lead from the Tagus (Tejo) river to the 10 towers of St. George's Castle. The castle affords a prime view of the city. To the west lie Bairro Alto and Madragoa, with their typical streets, and on the western extreme lies Belem, with three visual delights: the 16thcentury Tower of Belem, the point from which navigators embarked upon their voyages; the late -Gothic-style Jeronimos Monastery (masterpieces of Manueline architecture and classified in UNESCO's International Heritage list) ; and the Monument to the Discoveries overlooking the broad Tagus.  

Restaurants and cafes are a center of nightlife in Lisbon. The haunting songs of fate (fado), a Portuguese version of the blues are performed to the accompaniment of romantic guitars. The restaurants are found in the old quarters of the city. Specialties include ceramic tiles, pottery, silver, filigree jewelry, tapestries, hand-sewn carpets, embroidery and lace, glazed earthenware, copperware, linens, crystal and porcelain. Street vendors are commonplace and bargaining is expected. The Baixa district is the main shopping area in Lisbon; some stores there will produce custom-made shoes on short notice. The area where the last World's Fair of this century (EXPO 98) was held is today called the Nations Park, and here are to be found the great Lisbon aquarium, restaurants, leisure activities as well as shows and exhibitions.

Museums: Ancient Art, Chiado (Contemporary Art), Tile, Archeology, Design, Ethnology, Coach, Costume, Theatre, Maritime, Military, City, Gulbenkian, Modern Art Center, and the Ricardo Espirito Santo Silva Foundation. 
Palaces open to the public: Ajuda and Fronteira. Churches: Cathedral (with treasury); Sao Vicente de Fora; Conceicao Velha (Manueline); Sao Roque (with a sacred art museum); Madre Deus; Santa Engracia Pantheon (Baroque), and Estrela Basilica.
Shopping: downtown; Avenida de Roma, Praca de Londres, Avenida Guerra Junqueiro and shopping centers Amoreiras, Colombo and Vasco da Gama.
Nightlife: Bairro Alto and Avenida 24 de Julho, riverside discos and bars.