Portuguese Activities in Lisbon
The school offers a monthly activity program that will allow the students to get to know each other, to speak Portuguese as much as possible and to discover the city. Guided visits to museums and monuments, nightlife and sport activities are other means to improve the knowledge of the Portuguese language in a practical and enjoying way. On Sundays, excursions or typical meals are scheduled. There’s the possibility to go to one of the surrounding pools or to the beach (the nearest one is half an hour away from the centre of Lisbon) or to one of the several fitness and sport clubs.
Lisbon has a lot of wonderful attractions for you to explore and a lot of things for you to do and enjoy.
If you would want to see the more historic places of Lisbon, travel along the Tagus River and visit the historic district Belém and its major attraction the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos or the Jerónimos Monastery which started its construction in 1501 and was completed about a century later. It is a leading example of Manueline architecture, a style that combined the elements of the late Gothic and Renaissance periods and associated the architectural elements with the symbols of King Manuel, Christianity and the natural world. Nearby the monastery is the Belém Tower, a defensive yet elegant edifice which is one of the symbols of the city that was built to remember Vasco da Gama’s expedition and as a memorial to the Portuguese power during the Age of the Discoveries. Both the tower and the monastery have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
One of the more modern attractions of Lisbon is the Park of Nations or Parque das Nações which was once the area where the World Exposition of 1998 took place. The new Park of Nations has available facilities for leisure, cultural activities and trade. It is a unique park with many interesting sights. The pavilion of the Knowledge of the Seas houses an exhibition about the discoveries and the evolution of the contact between the human race and water. The Oceanarium which is one of the most remarkable facilities in the Park has an enormous aquarium where you can see the global ocean. You can also visit its four areas with coastal habitats representing the Indian, Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans. The Oceanarium has approximately fifteen thousand specimens representing two hundred different species of sea organisms. The magnificent Vasco da Gama Tower is also one of the highlights of the Park.
After an exciting Portuguese day, unwind and be a part of Lisbon’s vibrant nightlife! The nightlife in Lisbon is considered to be among the best in Europe and it starts from the moment the sun goes down until the time it goes up again. People in Lisbon love going out and there are many places you can go to according to your taste. The most popular area in central Lisbon is Bairro Alto or the upper quarter. It is a shopping, entertainment and residential district and is the capital of Lisbon’s nightlife and the heart of its youth. People who come into this area are an amalgam of sorts which proves that Lisbon indeed has a very colorful and diverse culture. Bairro Alto has developed its own unique style which sets itself apart from other night spots in the city. It also has a wide array of international and typical Portuguese cuisine, theaters, discotheques, and bars. Docas also known as Zona Ribeirinha or the waterfront has recently evolved into one of the liveliest nightspots in Lisbon. Street cafés, bars, discos, restaurants by the river make this area really special. You can also go to Cascais and Estoril where there are numerous bars, theaters and more cafés. You can also watch a show, taste good food, or try your luck in one of the largest casinos in Europe, the Estoril Casino.
Never leave Lisbon without savoring its gastronomic delights. Lisboans are good eaters and they have a variety of food you can choose from according to your taste. There are many restaurants in Lisbon which offer either traditional specialties or international fare. Portuguese take pleasure in snacks and appetizers like fried green beans or boiled snails. Seafood and fish are part of the Lisboan cuisine and they are best complemented with wine and coffee produced in the country. . Try to learn a few Portuguese words so you are able to order this great food and drinks
Live, laugh, stroll, eat, enjoy and have the best time of your life in Lisbon!
