Must-see in Lisbon: a first-timer's guide

A brief history Lisbon has Phoenician and Moorish roots and became the launchpad of the Age of Discovery, growing fabulously rich on spice routes to India and Brazil. The 1755 earthquake and tsunami flattened the lower town, which the Marquis of Pombal rebuilt on a strict grid. A dictatorship until the 1974 Carnation Revolution, the city is now a sunlit capital of tiled façades, trams and fado. 10 must-see attractions 1. Belem Tower — a fortified riverside tower in Manueline style, symbol of the Discoveries. 2. Jeronimos Monastery — vast carved cloisters built with pepper money; Vasco da Gama is buried here. 3. Sao Jorge Castle — Moorish walls above the city with the widest viewpoint. 4. Alfama — the oldest quarter, a maze of stairs, laundry lines and fado houses. 5. Tram 28 — a wooden tram that grinds through the historic hills; ride it early. 6. Time Out Market — the city's best cooks under one roof at Cais do Sodre. 7. Praca do Comercio — the grand riverside square that opens Pombal's rebuilt downtown. 8. LX Factory — an industrial complex turned bookshops, studios and rooftop bars. 9. Pasteis de Belem — the original custard tarts, served warm with cinnamon since 1837. 10. Sintra — palaces and Moorish ruins in misty hills, 40 minutes by train. Tip: pack real shoes; the polished calcada pavements are lethal in the rain.