LISBON

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, boasts a population of approximately 546,000 inhabitants within its 100 km2, divided into 24 parishes. The city’s investment in Sustainable Tourism has led to a rethinking of existing attractions, leveraging its strategic location, Historical-cultural points, favourable climate, and renowned hospitality. This includes enhancements in urban art, green and blue infrastructures, natural heritage, landscape, and more. Among other accolades, Lisbon was named Europe’s Leading City Destination 2024 by the World Travel Awards.

As one of the 100 Mission Cities committed to being climate-neutral and intelligent by 2030, Lisbon has its Climate City Contract approved and serves as a mentor city in implementing solutions to reinforce sustainable tourism destinations. Through the Cool Noons project, Lisbon aims to align strategies that promote new tourist attractions in less popular areas, ensuring these new attractions are certified by the city. This initiative not only seeks to improve residents’ quality of life but also to foster new behaviours for a healthier, more resilient, sustainable, shared, and inclusive future. By integrating these sustainable practices and promoting lesser-known attractions, Lisbon is not only enhancing the tourist experience but also ensuring that tourism benefits the local community economically, socially, and environmentally.

The Cool Noons Path in Lisbon was designed to offer an authentic experience of life in a modern and traditional neighbourhood, with a clear focus on sustainability. The route allows visitors to immerse themselves in the daily routines of locals, understanding the characteristics and peculiarities of the local culture outside the more touristy and densely populated areas of the city.
It is an opportunity to observe the coexistence of different generations in the same public space, feel the heartbeat of neighbourhood life, and enjoy a diverse local commerce that ranges from traditional to modern, including art galleries, good restaurants, green areas, and architectural and heritage elements of interest.
This itinerary is especially suitable for tourists who are conscious of their ecological footprint and seek to minimize it, respecting and benefiting the dynamics of the local community, economy, and social network. By following this route, tourists can integrate more into local life, assuming the perspective of the city’s inhabitants and contributing to the sustainability of tourism.

The Cool Noons Path explores the artsy side on Lisbon, including the Maria Matos theatre, the Galería dos Inesquecíveis and the The Coruchéus Studios and Library, touches the green areas of the community and urban gardens linking it to the commercial side of Alvalade Square and tree-lined and shaded Igreja Avenue. Alvalade neighbourhood is home to the “Earth Hour” Urban Street Art Mural, a building-tall murales conveying the message of caring for our planet and home to the Alvalade Market, that features a photovoltaic plant on its roof. The Cool path continues to The Mariazinha, part of the Municipality’s “Shops with History” program and in front of São João de Brito Church: along the path it is possible to observe the traditional Portuguese Pavement. Final stage of the Lisbon Cool Path is the José Gomes Ferreira Park: a structuring element of the neighborhood – offering childrens’ playgrounds, picnic areas and fitness circuits – that should be enjoyed by visitors too.