Experience breathtaking views of Lisbon from atop the Basilica da Estrela. Built in the second half of the 18th century, the basilica has a huge Rococo dome where visitors can look out on the sprawling city. Queen Maria I constructed the basilica to give thanks to God for the birth of her son. The interior is covered in polychrome marble and paintings. Her elaborate Empire-style tomb is also inside and decorated with a remarkable baroque nativity scene with over 500 terracotta and cork images. It is Portugal's largest nativity scene and was created by Portuguese sculptor Joaquim Machado de Castro.

Listen to a Fado performance in one of Lisbon’s many Fado houses. Much more than just a song, Fado is the purest expression of Portugal’s spirit, always accompanied by the solemn and melancholy chords of the Portuguese guitar. It can be heard in many restaurants and “Tascas” of the old districts of Lisbon. In 2011, Fado was dubbed an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. To learn more about this unique tradition, visit the Fado Museum which covers the history of Fado from its 19th-century origins to the present day.

Enjoy a ride through the hills of Lisbon on the Glória Funicular. Sprawling up out of the Tagus riverbed, Lisbon is a notoriously hilly city. The Glória Funicular was built in October 1885 to help residents conquer the steep hills of the ancient Bairro Alto district. It is especially famous for being the first funicular to provide an optional ride on the roof, which the locals dubbed ‘imperial class’. Passengers with a more adventurous spirit traveled upstairs sitting back-to-back on a long wooden bench, with access to the upper floor via a winding and slightly precarious staircase.