Oceanário de Lisboa

An experience not just for bad weather. Booking online saves you from long lines and confusing ticket machines.

With children, the aquarium is a must-see — it’s one of the largest in the world. It’s also almost the only reason to visit the Expo grounds unless you’re attending a trade show, a U2 concert, or visiting the casino.

It’s all about fish. They gather in a huge, round tank that you can walk around on two levels. There are also habitats from various continents. Particularly fascinating are the hunting penguins and the giant sunfish. Eternal superstars are the sea otters. But the enormous windows are hypnotic: if you sit too long on the couch staring at sharks, you might get sleepy.

The whole experience takes about two hours, depending on your level of enthusiasm. You exit through the souvenir shop, which can take a while. Special respect to those who make it to the Knowledge Pavilion afterward. Otherwise, take a walk, laugh at the Expo mascot Gil, admire the Iberian Fox by Bordalo II, take a look at Oriente Station, and satisfy your hunger at Padaria Portuguesa. Disneyland-chic dining can be found on the promenade north of the harbor basin.

 

After the darkness of the aquarium, some fresh air can work wonders. At the high-rise on the Tagus River, a lovely promenade awaits, stretching to the Vasco da Gama Bridge and beyond.

 

 

For more exploration, take the metro one station or drive a few minutes to Moscavide. Officially not part of Lisbon, it couldn’t be more ordinary, with plenty of honest restaurants around the Avenida. At Cervejaria do Valente you can get Francesinha like in Porto, Mimba’s offers West African cuisine, and Loja dos Vinhos is a wine shop with a restaurant — definitely worth a try. Or, you could choose to dine somewhere else entirely.