Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and the westernmost capital city in Europe.

Fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean and over 20 centuries of history

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and the westernmost capital city in Europe.

With its sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and over 20 centuries of history, there is no shortage of landmarks to visit in this beguiling holiday town. From gothic to post-modern, the city’s rich cultural history envelopes you as you stroll the streets under one of the most comfortable year-round climates.

With its elegant squares and the distinctive character of intriguing districts such as Alfama and Baixa, Lisbon’s atmosphere is more sunny and cheerful than its melancholy musical heritage of Fado folk songs would have you believe!

Discover the gigantic Christ King (Cristo Rei) statue overlooking Lisbon from the Tagus River, and the Vasco da Gama Bridge, one of the longest structures of its kind in Europe.
You will have much to pack into your day away from ship once your luxury MSC cruise liner has docked.

To help you plan your time, choose from our varied programme of excursion packages that offer the best deals on local sights and attractions. Venture out of the city to the heritage village of Sintra to view the Royal Palace or to the holy city of Fatima where the Virgin Mary appeared in a vision in 1917.

Good food and wine abound in this region (Portugal is home to the famous Porto wines, after all), so it is worth joining our winery tour.
Remember, no vacation in Portugal is complete without sampling the delectable traditional pastries, from custard tarts to the cinnamon-infused Pasteis de Belem!

Cruise to Lisbon - Portugal - Mediterranean - MSC Cruises

Directions


Ships dock at the Port of Lisbon close to the downtown area and about 4 miles from the old section of Lisbon. The port is also quite close to the Lisbon International airport for those either embarking or debarking in Lisbon. Transportation between Portugal’s city center and the cruise terminal is easily accessible. Terminal Address: Estação Marítima da Rocha; Rocha Conde D’Óbidos; Lisboa, Portugal

Port average temperature

Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate that is strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream, giving it one of the mildest climates in Europe. The city is sunny throughout the year, with an annual average of 2900–3300 hours of sunshine.

Summers are hot and dry with average daytime temperatures of 26–29°C, falling to 16–18°C at night. Winters are cool and rainy with temperatures around 8–15°C, while spring and fall are generally mild, or even warm during daytime. Extreme temperatures may reach 37°C or more in some of the warmest summer afternoons and 2°C in the coldest winter mornings.

From May to September the weather tends to be settled most of the time with blues skies and some wind as well. Annual rainfall is around 700–750 mm, spread over 100 rainy days, mostly from October to May.

The temperate figures shown are based on monthly average weather conditions for the selected port. Weather data is not real-time, and sometimes no data is shown for a specific date, month or port in general.

LISBON Months
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average high °C (°F) 13
(57)
15
(59)
16
(62)
18
(65)
21
(70)
22
(77)
27
(82)
28
(83)
26
(80)
21
(70)
17
(63)
14
(58)
Average low °C (°F) 7
(45)
8
(47)
9
(49)
10
(51)
12
(54)
15
(59)
17
(63)
17
(64)
16
(62)
13
(57)
10
(51)
8
(48)
 LIS01 - CITY TOUR (4 hours) - 2012
Level of difficulty: moderate  Filming and Photographs Prohibited  Leave the port and drive to the Belém district where we will admire two masterpieces built in the decorative Portuguese style known as Manueline. These are Jeronimo’s Church and Belém Tower, both built in the beginning of the XVI century, just after Vasco da Gama’s exploratory voyage to India. We will visit the monastery church which holds the tomb of Vasco da Gama and have time to explore the cloisters. The excursion continues with a scenic tour through Lisbon’s “new” city centre built after the devastating earthquake of 1755 : we will pass the Parliament and Prime Minister’s House, the Marquis of “Pombal” Square, “Liberdade” Avenue and “Rossio” Square – the heart of Lisbon’s downtown. Free time before returning to the ship.
Please note: on Monday calls, the visit to the Monastery will be replaced with a visit to Ajuda Palace.

Price per person Starting from  (Not available) Adults  (Not available) Children

   


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 LIS02 - FATIMA (full day lunch included) - 2012
Long Bus Trip  Level of difficulty: easy  Lunch or dinner included  Those interested in theology and religious mysteries can look forward to a special day out in Fatima. We will leave the port of Lisbon for a 1.5-hour drive coach crossing the Portuguese plains to reach this important religious destination. This site has been visited annually by millions of pilgrims since 1917 when three shepherds saw a vision of the Virgin Mary here. Visit the Shrine and the chapel where the Holy Virgin appeared before enjoying some free time in Fatima to stroll around or to shop for souvenirs. Lunch included.
Please note: this tour is foreseen only on full day calls. Guides will give explanations from outside the site; Guests will proceed to inside visits individually.

Price per person Starting from  (Not available) Adults  (Not available) Children

   


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 LIS03 - QUELUZ, SINTRA AND LISBON (full day, lunch included) - 2012
Long Bus Trip  Level of difficulty: moderate  Filming and Photographs Prohibited  Lunch or dinner included  Leave the port and reach Queluz after a 45-minute coach drive. Here you will visit the royal residence of Queluz, known as the Portuguese “Versailles”, a magnificent palace with elegant rooms and beautiful gardens. Continue to Sintra and visit the National Palace, former residence of the royal family and the best preserved medieval royal palace in Portugal. Return to Lisbon for tour of St. Jerome’s Monastery. Brief stop to take photographs at Belém Tower, the symbol of the town. Lunch included.
Please note: on Monday calls, Jeronimo’s Monastery will be visited only from outside.

Price per person Starting from  (Not available) Adults  (Not available) Children

   


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 LIS05 - SINTRA & CASCAIS (5 hours) - 2012
Long Bus Trip  Level of difficulty: moderate  Filming and Photographs Prohibited  Sintra is famous for its mountain range, its temperate climate and country palaces and cottages. Drive to this lovely UNESCO World Heritage Site village to visit the historic National Royal Palace which houses the oldest collection glazed tiles in Portugal and features fine examples of the large conical medieval chimneys. Continue to “Cabo da Roca”, the most western point of Europe, where you can enjoy fine views over the Atlantic Ocean. Our next stop will be Cascais, a fishing village and favourite summer retreat of the royal family. Free time to explore the village before returning to Lisbon along the coast, admiring the beaches, the mouth of the Tagus River. Here the city is spread out for all to admire and we will drive past Belém Tower, the Monument to the Discoveries and the Jeronimo’s Monastery.
Please note: on Wednesday, Sintra Palace is closed and will be replaced by a visit to Queluz Palace.

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 LIS06 - FATIMA (approx. 6 hours) - 2012
Long Bus Trip  Level of difficulty: easy  Those interested in theology and religious mysteries can look forward to a special day out in Fatima. We will leave the port of Lisbon for a 1.5-hour coach drive to cross the Portuguese plains and reach this important religious destination. This site has been visited annually by millions of pilgrims since 1917 when three shepherds saw a vision of the Virgin Mary here. Visit the Shrine and the chapel where the Holy Virgin appeared before enjoying some free time in Fatima to stroll around or to shop for souvenirs.
Please note: guides will give explanations from outside the site; guests will proceed to inside visits individually. This tour is foreseen only on half day calls

Price per person Starting from  (Not available) Adults  (Not available) Children

   


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 LIS07 - ARRABIDA WINERY TOUR (4,5 hours) - 2012
Level of difficulty: easy  Limited Availability  Tastings  Depart from the pier and, passing over 25th April Bridge, sister bridge of the Golden Gate, you will drive to the base of the Statue of “Christ the King”, from where magnificent views of Lisbon can be seen. Our excursion continues in the town of Azeitao, renowned for its famous pastries and for the “Moscatel de Setubal” wine. We will visit a local wine lodge for wine tasting session and to learn more about how this sweet aperitif wine is produced. Next we will proceed towards the “Parque Natural da Arrabida” – National Park – which was established to protect the wild, beautiful landscape and rich variety of birds and wildlife found here. The road winds across the mountain ridge and offers stunning views of Setúbal and Tróia. Return to Lisbon crossing the impressive Vasco da Gama Bridge, the largest in Europe. Enjoy a sightseeing tour along the eastern part of Lisbon and then reach “Rossio” where we will stop for a little time at leisure. Return to the port.

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 LIS08 - THE MAIN SIGHTS OF LISBON & PASTRY TASTING (4,5 hours) - 2012
Long Walking Tours  Walking on rough terrain:comfortable walking shoes advised  Level of difficulty: difficult  Limited Availability  Filming and Photographs Prohibited  Tastings  Excursion to Lisbon on a tour around the oldest part of the city, the atmospheric Alfama district. Meander through its labyrinth of narrow alleys, honeycombed with steps and archways, and admire the houses with their painted façades, decorated with panels of tiles and embellished with wrought iron balconies. We will visit the Cathedral of Lisbon noted for its interior which takes the form of a Latin cross, with three naves. Our walk continues downtown to the “Baixa” quarter which was completely rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755. You will have free time in “Rossio” square before proceeding to Belém Tower for pictures followed by a short visit to the legendary “Confeitaria de Belém” bakery where you will enjoy the typical custard cream cake, “pasties de Belém”.
Please note: the tour is mainly by walking on uneven and sometimes uphill streets; tour not recommended for guests with mobility problems.

Price per person Starting from  (Not available) Adults  (Not available) Children

   


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 LIS09 - WALKING IN LISBON & WINE TASTING (4 hours) - 2012
Long Walking Tours  Walking on rough terrain:comfortable walking shoes advised  Level of difficulty: difficult  Limited Availability  Filming and Photographs Prohibited  Tastings  Leave the port for a bus transfer to the most authentic and vibrant part of the city - Lisbon’s “Baixa” district, an historic area that was completely rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755. Your walk will take you from Comercio Square, across Augusta Street to Rossio Square, the heart of Lisbon. Here you will have free time to explore the area and to soak up the atmosphere of Portugal’s lively capital city. The excursion will pick up again at the “Elevador da Gloria”, a funicular lift, which transports you to the upper levels of the city; we will stop at “Sao Pedro de Alcantara” Belvedere, with views over the tiled rooftops. The excursion also allows time to sample a glass of typical ‘porto’ wine and a visit to Sao Roque church, noted for its beautiful painted wood ceiling. Other important stops during the tour include the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist with a small collection of treasure and the model statue of the Saint.
Please note: the tour is mainly by walking on uneven and sometimes uphill streets; tour not recommended for guests with mobility problems.

Price per person Starting from  (Not available) Adults  (Not available) Children

   


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 LIS12 - LISBON PANORAMA & FADO SHOW ( 2,5 hours ) - 2012
Level of difficulty: easy  Limited Availability  Tastings  Begin your discovery of Lisbon enjoying a scenic drive around this beautiful city; you will pass “Comercio” Square, still commonly referred to as “Terreiro do Praço” (Palace Square), before continuing along the “Praça de D. Pedro IV”, known as the “Rossio”; a key meeting point in the city since the XIII and XV centuries and still the bustling hub of the city today. We will also pass the “Marques de Pombal” Square, dedicated to the man who was largely responsible for rebuilding Lisbon after the earthquake of 1755. The excursion also includes a stop in a restaurant for a traditional Fado folk show. 2 drinks included.
Please note: this tour is only for the call of 25 October 2012 by MSC Lirica.

Price per person Starting from  (Not available) Adults  (Not available) Children

   


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The excursions in the programme above are intended to provide MSC Guests with an idea of the different tours that can be arranged in each port of call ; this programme is merely a guide and confirmation of each excursion and its description and prices will be made during your cruise. Full information can be found in the onboard Tour Magazine.


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