Location
Belém & Costa da Caparica
A few kilometres west of the city centre, along the Tejo estuary, is elegant, historical Belém. From this point the Tejo flows onward towards the Atlantic Ocean. Because of its geographical position on the river Belém has, for centuries, been an important maritime location and today is the focal point of many historical and cultural sights – all with close connections to the sea and voyages of adventure. On the riverside - the ancient Torre de Belém, a reminder of Portugal’s great seafaring and trading heritage, compliments perfectly the modern statue dedicated to the great Portuguese explorers, navigators and their ships. Almost side by side and situated in a riverside marina and park, these two impressive and much-loved landmarks make an ideal place to enjoy history and a day by the river. The nearby maritime museum is a real treasure-trove of boats, ships and all things nautical – both ancient and modern. The entire area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The greatest of all the historical and cultural sights in Belém is the splendid Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. This monastery, built in the 16th Century, bears testament to the Golden Age of the Portuguese explorers. On this site Vasco da Gama spent the night in prayer before embarking on his first voyage to India and when the monastery was built a few years later it became a tradition for seafarers to pray in the chapel before setting sail. The monastery is a real gem of Portuguese architecture.
Today Belem is a highly desirable residential area and its streets are home to an enchanting array of villas and old houses dating from the second half of the 18th Century. In the vicinity is a variety of museums and collections all within easy walking distance of each other. The museums of Childhood, Design, Electricity, The Belem Cultural Centre and the famous Coach Museum, with its world class collection of coaches, saddlery and all things equestrian, combine to provide something for everyone.
From Belem, the Lisbon beach resorts of Oeiras, Estoril and Cascais are only a very short and pleasant train ride away. A 15 minute crossing on the ferry to Trafaria connects with the 10 minute bus ride to Lisbon’s best loved beach resort, Costa da Caparica. Miles of beautiful golden sandy beaches stretch away southwards down the coast and are easily accessible by the miniature beach train. Again, there’s something for everyone - ranging from typical ‘Mediterranean’ beaches complete with sunbeds, showers, cafés and bars to almost completely deserted expanses with nothing but the ocean, sun and sand set against the backdrop of a unique nature reserve. The town is a favourite with Lisboetas (the natives of Lisbon), with it’s many cafés, seafood restaurants – the fish being brought fresh from the boat every day. Throughout the summer the town beach, streets and squares are full of music and street performers. However if you fancy a little peace and tranquillity just hop on the beach train and in less than no time you’ll be on the quieter beaches to the south of the town.
Wining & Dining
You haven’t eaten a real custard tart until you’ve tried a pasteis at Café Pasteis de Belém ( 84-92 Rua de Belém). Since 1837, this family run patisserie has jealously guarded the recipe of this delicious custard tart, with its melt-in-the mouth pastry and light dusting of icing sugar and cinnamon. For something a little more substantial Restaurant Caseiro (36 Rua de Belém) offers an excellent fresh seafood menu. BBC by the side of the river in the Pavilhão Ponte has a fine terrace with excellent views of the river. In Caparica we recommend our favourite restaurant, O Barbas, at the side of the Atlantic Ocean – the food and the setting are excellent!
Transport from the Airport
A taxi from the airport to Belém costs around €20 and takes about 40 mins. The Aerobus or metro goes directly to Cais do Sodré station and from there you can take either the train or tram direct to Belem. The journey takes about an hour and costs around €7 per person (separate tickets are needed for the bus train or tram). The easiest way from the airport to Costa da Caparica is by taxi. The journey takes about 50 mins and costs around €25-30. A more adventurous route is to take the Aerobus or the metro to Cais do Sodré and then take the ferry (worth it for the spectacular view of Lisbon from the river) across to Cacilhas and from there take either a bus or a taxi. The cost by public transport all the way is around €8 and takes just over an hour. The taxi from Cacilhas to Caparica takes knocks about 20 mins off the journey and costs around €15 – 20. There’s also a direct bus service from Lisbon to Caparica which runs late into the night between Areeiro (Metro) in Lisbon to the seafront at Costa da Caparica. Again separate tickets are needed for buses and ferry.
