This is the grand boulevard of Lisbon, carved out after the 18th Century earthquake. It leads from Baixa Chiado to the traffic circle at Marques do Pombal. We walked it several times, tree-lined, broad with a pedestrian lane in the middle. Lots of traffic but you can avoid it all. Big hotels, cafes in the middle of the avenue, fountains and statues. Some high end shopping. This is the city at its best. Walk downhill.

Avenida da Liberdade is a major north south thoroughfare in central Lisbon. As its northern end at the Marquis of Pombal Square was a short walk from our hotel it became our normal route to and from the downtown area and the various tourist attractions there. The total length of the Avenue is only 1,100 metres, although it seems longer, making it an easy stroll from one end to another. The southern terminus is Restauradores Square. Heading south towards the river it was a slight downhill slope and a slight uphill on the return journeys. On those occasions when we didn’t want to walk, usually on the uphill legs the Blue Line of the Metro (Subway) system runs underneath the length of the avenue with three stops Restauradores at the southern end, Avenida at about the mid point and Marquis of Pombal at the northern, This last stop also connects with the Yellow Line. The street was built between 1879 and 1886 as part of the expansion of the city northward. Plans to extend it into the Parque Eduardo VII were abandoned in the 1960’s. Avenida da Liberdade is a wide, 90 metres, tree lined boulevard that according to a couple of our tour guides was modeled after the boulevards of Paris especially the Champs-Élysées. To us it reminded us of the Rambla in Barcelona, although a bit more elegant and less crowded. Several small café kiosks are located amongst the trees and gardens that line the boulevard and usually full of locals taking a break in their day. Numerous statues of noted Portuguese and other composers and writes and monuments line the street as well as monuments including the massive Monumento aos Mortos da Grande Guerra.( Monument to the Dead of the Great War) which commemorates the 50,000 dead Portugal suffered during the First World War. Its central location and overall appearance has meant that Avenida da Liberdade has always been one of the most desirable and therefore expensive addresses in Lisbon. Various luxury hotels and stores including many high end brand names now occupy the buildings on either side. Some in carefully restored buildings, others in new constructions that somehow blend in. Several Embassies and consulates are also located here. What started as just a quick and easy way to get to several attractions, after a few trips became an enjoyable stroll in and of itself.

My view is biased because this was my Nth visit to Portugal but the first after Covid. We stayed at the Altis Suites just off Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon. We used to have a very good breakfast everyday and some meals in the Altis Grand Hotel thats attached to the Suites. Easy walk to the city centre or a short Uber ride. A day trip to Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais with a very good guide and one the next day to Evora. The rest of the week we spent in Lisbon; a Tuk tuk ride, walking around town, especially the little streets and of course the usual tourist sights. On the weekend there was a craft market all along the Avenida where we found some really nice gifts.

If you want to walk the entire avenue from beginning to end, then keep in mind that its length is much longer than Les Champs-Elysees in Paris. So consider your strength, especially in hot weather. If you want to save your energy, then start your walk from Marques de Pombal metro station (where from the statue of Marques de Pombal if you continue your promenade up turns into the fine and green Edward Vii Park) and get an enjoyable 20 minutes downhill walk along the mile-long avenue back to Baixa (city center). After the great earthquake in 1755, it was the grand boulevard of Pombal's new Lisbon - originally limited to the aristocracy. The present street, built in the 1880s is lined with banks, airline offices, high fashion and designer clothing stores such as Chanel, Sandro, Longchamp etc. The cheapest one is Mango women clothing store, but you can easily find it in different areas of Lisbon. Conclusion - go here only if you need to shop high end notch clothing otherwise you will met only the long avenue with busy traffic and the tree-lined boulevard in the middle.