We booked to stay at a hotel nearby, and when I saw the words Parque das Nações, I presumed, not…read moreincorrectly, that it means national park. So I was looking for a big swath of greenery and dense wood... and found none. After my Yelp check in, I learned that this used to be an expo location that has been converted to an urban open space for people to chill. It's a nice spot actually, you can walk along the river and enjoy some nice views, although my husband's plan of a daily morning run never materialized, as all the walking in Lisbon took a toll on the legs. Nonetheless, the view is beautiful, and the sculptures along the walk are intriguing. There are plenty of restaurants, as well as some structures that look like concert halls, and at one end there is the shopping center.

Lisboa is known for its old-world charm that is apparent all throughout the city yet this area is…read morenew to the northeastern part of the city and while it's not a green park, it's also not to be skipped. Overlooking the water, it's an open area surrounded by flag staffs and concrete pavers leading to the bay. It's right next to the Vasco Gama Center which has a lot of foot traffic resembling a metropolitan skyscraper-filed zone with plenty of city appeal. If you're looking to hug a tree, you should look elsewhere. If you're into open areas where people can gather and stroll around, this might be your spot. My feet were on fire from climbing all those hills up and down all day so I was actually thrilled to see flat terrain for once...and so were my feet. There's nice sculptures and fresh breeze to soak in while overlooking the boasting new metropolis in Lisboa.

Jamie W and I knew this historic neighborhood was a bit off the beaten track for rookie tourists…read morebecause we needed an Uber to guide us through the labyrinth of narrow hillside roads to get us here. When we arrived at the foot of Caracol da Graça, we were immersed in a succession of street art as we climbed the stairs (review: https://yelp.to/FyeWqG0P2X). This was only the beginning because the neighborhood as a whole felt like an open-air museum. Striking murals are scattered throughout on the sides of buildings. They reflect specific chapters in local history, an appreciation of an artist, impassioned political memories, or some intersection of those elements. Two miradouros bookend the 1-1/2-mile self-guided stroll: Miradouro de Graça and the highest viewpoint in Lisbon, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. Rua da Senhora da Gloria is where we found murals by renowned street artists. The standout was a dramatic collaborative piece by two of the most famous, Shepard Fairey and Vhils (Photo 5). Half painted and half carved, this mural vividly evokes the discrimination against women's rights in Arab countries. Of particular interest was an intimate piece by Bordalo II, the artist well-known for his gigantic installations made of trash (Photo 8). On Rua Josefa de Obidos, portraits honor classic Portuguese writers and poets like Natalia Correia (Photo 2). Three of the most striking murals can be seen on this residential street. There is "Tropical Fado in RGB Tones," an explosion of bright colors painted in 2021 by Lisbon-based muralist OzeArv, who specializes in nature and portraits (Photo 6). Artist Isa Silva produced "Once upon a time", a more fanciful mural featuring characters from famous fairy tales (Photo 9). Perhaps the most famous mural is Fairey's 2017 "Peace Guard" (Photo 7). It features a girl holding a gun with a red carnation, a symbolic reference to the 1974 Carnation Revolution. Fairey is the same artist who created Obama's "Hope" poster. There was much more to see on various side streets including a long wall of discrete graffiti works (Photo 10). All these works create a visual dialogue between Lisbon's rich cultural heritage and audacious contemporary expression, and it doesn't require a separate admission fee to see. RELATED - Exploring Lisbon? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/BDqfSvTJxK

I came here for Eurovision 2018 and thought this arena was fantastic and handled hosting a large…read morescale international event really well.