Lisbon is known as the city of seven hills because of its seven hills that surround the city center. The oldest bookstore in the world, Bertrand Bookstore, is located in Lisbon and has been open since 1732. Lisbon is famous for its pastel de nata, a traditional Portuguese pastry filled with custard.

A fascinating and "Gezellig" fun fact about Lisbon in 2026 is that it is officially older than Rome. While Rome is the "Gold Standard" for ancient history, archeological records suggest that Lisbon was settled by the Phoenicians around 1200 BC, making it one of the oldest cities in Western Europe—second only to Athens. Another "Bujan" fact is that Lisbon has no official document declaring it the capital of Portugal; King Afonso III simply moved his court there in 1255, and it has remained the capital ever since by sheer tradition. Additionally, the iconic yellow trams that climb the city's seven hills were originally called "Americanos" because they were imported from the United States (New York and New Orleans) in the late 19th century. For a supportive peer tip, visit the Cristo Rei monument; it was built to celebrate Portugal's "Safe Bubble" survival of World War II and provides a high-fidelity view of the 25 de Abril Bridge, which looks remarkably like San Francisco's Golden Gate.