Lisbon - Hotels end of April

Planning a surprise for my other half at the end of April (4-5 nights) in Lisbon. Anyone with recommendations as to where to stay or what to do over there.

We're going there on Friday for the weekend - will post about it when I get back!

To stay: VIP Eden on Praca dos Restauradores has a great location, views from the higher-up rooms are fabulous, and from the rooftop breakfast terrace. More an apart-hotel, you get a mini-kitchenette with fridge, microwave and so on, and a balcony.

Not to miss: the Port Institute in the Bairro Alto; Sintra for a day-trip (UNESCO heritage site, Palacio Nacionale, Moorish castle, most terrifying busride ever from the town up to the castle - close your eyes); in Lisbon itself, don't miss taking one of the funiculars - there's one right by the VIP Eden up to the Bairro Alto, and it's handy for the Port Institute!

Other things / places: Cascais, a tram ride (or a long walk - whatever takes your fancy!) down the coast, has a fortress and a few other points of interest, and neighbouring Estoril has a famous casino (as in Casino Royale). The Expo 98 site is now called the Nations Park - the only thing really worth going to there is the Aquarium, but it's surprisingly good: not your usual few depressed looking carp.

Lovely city - but you only need to try bacalhau (salt cod... and by hell it's salty) once, and while you can eat very cheaply, it can be worth splashing out.

Recommend making your way through the old part of the city to the castle, great views along the way. You should also visit Belem. You can take a tram there. The monastery is amazing, as is the Vasco Da Gama memorial building. Belem also has a really old and famous pastry cafe selling Pasteis de Belem. These are custard tarts and are really good. The cafe is full of different rooms and they sell something like 30,000 pastries a day. Further on the coast is Cascais, as previously recommended. There's a regular train along the coast bringing you to this lovely seaside village. The weather should be nice at the end of April, which makes the trip very worthwhile. It might even be nice enough for a swim!. The nightlife in Lisbon is great, there are loads of places to go. The bars and streets in Bairro Alto are always thronged at night. There are also plenty of bars along the Docas (docks) area. The nightlife doesn't really kick off until around 12, unlike Ireland!! Enjoy your trip ;o)

Hi last year we stayed in apartments called altis suites which was part of 5 * hotel but not expensive but they were lovely. They were in a good location. It is an easy city to see take the tram to various sights and the food and drink was good value. enjoy

There a couple of weeks ago and stayed in the Tivoli Jardim.

Couldn't fault it.

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I know it's not very touristy but if you're looking for a bit of craic on Friday or Saturday night, try OGilins pub on the port. The band there is excellent.

That's great folks. Will try those tips.

I second Belem - couldn't remember its name yesterday! Make sure you don't go on Monday though - everything's closed.

Just back & had a fantastic weekend in Lisbon.

Taxis are DIRT CHEAP compared to here... about €10 from the airport to the middle of town. Metro & bus so inexpensive too - 75c for a o/w single fare.

We stayed in the Holiday Inn Continental which is 2 mins walk from Campo Pequeno - hotel was nice & suited us perfectly (I got 3 nights r/only for €200 so that was a good deal). Oriente Metro station has to be seen to be believed & it's right opposite Vasco da Gama shopping centre which is rather nice - good shops incl. my fave Sephora & a lovely beer deck with plenty of decent restaurants to choose from. We also took the cablecar down to the Oceanarium - nice spot but not a patch on Oceanopolis in Brest.

Hennessys Irish Bar was the venue of choice for a Saturday of non-stop rugby. Pints of Super Bock were just €2.90 each!

On Sunday we got the train down to Cascais for €3.20 return for a wander. When we got back to Lisbon, we did the CarrisTour tram trip around town - a nice way to see the city while not walking up the millions of steps.

We rounded off the weekend with a fantastic meal at Cervejaria da Trindade - it's been many many years since I've paid €35 for a wonderful dinner including drinks & am still in shock at the bill. You'll have to queue for a table, but it is SO worth the wait!!!

Thanks for that babaduck. I put your suggestions on my plan for that weekend. Heading out on a Thursday and coming back on a Tuesday so should be able to accomadate all that.