Ver o conteúdo principal

Living in Lisbon

Header Living Lisbon Nova Media

Living in Lisbon

From the beginning of history Lisbon always welcome different persons and cultures. Called the city of the seven hills it is also famous for its exceptional light that enchants visitors and residents, and provides excellent photos. History and modernity live together in a city that wants to progress and keep its traditional way of living.

In the historical quarters you can still find the “ancient Lisbon” and, if you like details, please look around and take a look at the tiles that cover some building façades and to the work in cast iron of the old balconies.

People in Lisbon are friendly and it isn’t very difficult to find someone who understands English especially among young people.

Lisbon has a good public transport network, and nearby you have the beaches of Cascais and Costa da Caparica and the lovely village of Sintra.

The city also offers a wide range of cultural activities and museums.

Lisbon and Portugal are also known for the good food. The city has lots of restaurants from traditional to international cuisine, and some are not very expensive. Going out for dinner is almost a national tradition.

People who visit Lisbon often praise the seafood dishes, the codfish (bacalhau) the sardines (sardinhas), and the famous Pastéis de Belém.

Shops are open, usually from Monday to Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., but you have various shopping centers opened every day from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Pharmacies are also open from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. to 7. p.m., sometimes they close at lunch time (from 1 to 3 p.m.).

On Saturdays pharmacies open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Outside of these hours we have what we call Farmácias de Serviço (pharmacies that are open until 10 p.m. or during all night).

Banks are open at the weekdays from 8:30 a.m to 3 p.m., but you can easily find cash machines (ATMs) identified by MB symbol (Multibanco) where you can withdraw money or do different operations (pay bills, top up the mobile phone, charge the electronic pass Lisbon Viva).

In Lisbon besides a quiet and nice ambience for study you can also find sports, nature, leisure, culture, and beautiful places to visit and to enjoy. Be welcome!

The Old Town

Lisbon has various points of interest, as in many cities sometimes walking around is the best way to know and "feel" the city. If you have time, and especially if the weather is good, take a time to stop for a while at the miradouros (belvederes, viewpoints), like Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcantara and Miradouro de Santa Luzia.

The old town includes the more typical and the most touristic points of the city.

BAIXA AND CHIADO

Full of movement, old and new stores, historical café, like Brasileira, modern restaurants, here you can discover the city designed and built after the earthquake of 1755, and enjoy the wonderful perspectives of Rossio and Praça do Comércio.

From Baixa you can also walk up to Sé and Castelo de São Jorge or taking the Santa Justa Elevator up to the ruins of the Carmo Convent.

PRAÇA DO COMÉRCIO

Recently renewed, framed by the impressive Arch of Rua Augusta and the Tagus river, this big square, also called Terreiro do Paço, is a space where you can enjoy the river and at the same time had a drink or a light meal in one of the several spaces under the arcades.

CASTELO DE S.JORGE

Dominating part of the landscape of Lisbon, full of history and one of the most visited monuments, the Castle offers a unique perspective of the city.

ALFAMA

As Bairro Alto Alfama is considered one of the most typical neighborhoods of the city. On June during the Lisbon festivities, and especially on the night of 12th june (celebration of Santo António, one of the two Patron Saints of the city - also known as the marriage Saint) Alfama gains a special life, very, very crowded but also full of places to have a drink, eat sardines, and dance.

BELÉM

Next along the riverside is the neighborhood with the largest number of heritage sites connected with the Portuguese voyages of discovery. In Belém you can find Mosteiro dos Jerónimos "a cultural reference point that has attracted artists, chroniclers and travelers in the course of its five centuries of existence", Torre de Belém and Padrão dos Descobrimentos, a monument built in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of the Portuguese Discoveries.

Surrounding by gardens in this area you can also find Centro Cultural de Belém, a mark of modernity and a space of culture. This is also the address of Pastéis de Belém, a pastry founded in 1837.

The New Town

PARQUE DAS NAÇÕES

On the area where Expo 1998 was held, is today one of most popular places, where Lisbon residents, especially on the weekends, walk, cycle, play with children or simply rest and enjoy the proximity of the river Tagus.

Here you can also find a shopping center, the Oceanário (Oceanarium), and Pavilhão Atlântico, a space where most of the great musical concerts take place.

Museums

Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

Near NOVA IMS you can find one of the most cultural places of Portugal. "The Foundation not only provides a Museum, a Modern Art Centre and an Art Library but also runs an Orchestra and Choir that perform throughout the year within the scope of its international music season".

For more information, please click here.

Museu Nacional dos Coches

A Lisboa's prime museum, the Coach Museum is unique in the world and the most visited in Portugal. Housed within the former Royal Paddock in Belém, the Museum features an exceptional collection of royal coaches from the 17th century to the end of the 19th century. 

For more information, please click here.

Museu Coleção Berardo

The Museu Coleção Berardo presents the most significant artistic movements from the twentieth century to the present day. In this museum, it is possible to find works by artists from the most diverse cultural contexts and with the most varied forms of expression, all of whom would come to make up the art history of the last century.

For more more information, please click here.

Museu Nacional do Azulejo

The Museu Nacional do Azulejo is one of the most important national museums, for its unique collection - the Azulejo (tile), an artistic expression which diferenciates the Portuguese culture, and for the building where it is locatede - the ancient Convent of Madre de Deus (Mother of God), founded in 1509 by Queen D. Leonor (1458-1525).

For more information, please click here.

Going Out

If you want to go out at night, Bairro will be one of the mos commonly used words. It means Bairro Alto, and it is the place where everyone goes for a drink, to go to a bar, or to a restaurant to enjoy the ambience and have fun.

It is also the place for fado.

Fado is, par excellence, the song of Lisboa. Born of unique sentiment,of a soul that can’t be explained but only felt, fado today is the most noble and genuine product of Portuguese popular And because it is so singular, it is always a surprise for the tourists who visit Lisboa.

Fado it’s music that comes from inside the Portuguese soul.

If you want a quieter place, but still with movement you can go to Docas (near Alcantara) or go to Lx Factory.

The Beach

If you are a beach fan you have lots of options near Lisbon. Carcavelos, Estoril, Cascais, at the so called “Linha de Cascais”, and you can go there by train, leaving from Cais do Sodré station.

You can also go to Costa da Caparica on the other side of the Tagus. A little away Guincho, Praia Grande, Arrábida and Troia are also nice places to visit with beautiful beaches.

Life Cost

Monthly Expenses
Accommodation (Residences, room rental, hostels, etc) €300 - €500
Monthly Passes (Carris and Metro urban routes – 30 days) €40
Other Expenses
Meal at Campus €3,50 - €5
Cinema €7,10
Bus Ticket €2
Metro Ticket €1,50
Living costs obviously vary per person, depending on your lifestyle and other factors.  
Indicative budget average monthly 550€ - 800€

Contacts and Location

Location:

NOVA Information Management School - Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Campus de Campolide
1070-312 Lisboa
Portugal
Tel: +351 213 828 610

How to get to NOVA IMS:

Metro: S. Sebastião (Blue Line and Red Line) / Praça de Espanha (Blue line)
Bus: 701, 713, 716, 726, 742, 746, 756, 758