MONOCLE QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY 2010 – Lisbon2010 ranking: 25 2009 ranking: 25 2008 ranking: 24Amid low crime rates, sunny Lisbon continues its cultural boom.Concerts and theatre performances are up by double digits as venues such as Nimas, a converted cinema, attract indie acts. In the Baixa district, a year-old fashion and design museum anchors an urban renewal project around Praca do Comercio to shift traffic and refurbish historic buildings.Residents, however, seem less enthusiastic about the need for a new coach museum, preferring instead that authorities invest in public transport, cycling schemes and overhauling housing policy – Lisbon’s population has dropped by 20,000 in the past two years. Part of the blame is due to outdated rental laws that have kept prices at untenable levels, making it hard to cover the cost of upkeep – the city centre is dotted with deserted buildings in need of some TLC.Population: 489,562; greater metropolitan area, 2.03 millionInternational flights: 22 intercontinental; 51 European destinationsCrime: murders, 4; domestic break-ins, 1,256Sunshine: 2,780 hours in 2009Tolerance: same-sex marriage signed into law late this springState education: residents favour private educational facilities: 194 private pre-schools vs 94 public; 47 private secondary schools in Lisbon vs 33 publicDrinking and shopping: bars in Bairro Alto and many riverside districts serve alcohol after 01.00. Supermarkets open on SundaysPublic transport: subway extension to airport to be completed next year (15 minute ride to downtown)Architecture: permits for innovative builds are allowed but it’s a slow processGreen space: 28 sq m per residentHow easy is it to start a business? Registering a one-man firm or PLC takes a few hours and costs euros 360 with Empressa na Hora (On the Sport Firm) programmeChain test: Zara, 9; Starbucks, 1Key upcoming developments: urban re-generation of Baixa district on waterfrontMonocle fix: stop giving out permits to build shopping mallsin MONOCLE, July/August 2010Foto: Rua do Arsenal
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MONOCLE QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY 2010 – Lisbon2010 ranking: 25 2009 ranking: 25 2008 ranking: 24Amid low crime rates, sunny Lisbon continues its cultural boom.Concerts and theatre performances are up by double digits as venues such as Nimas, a converted cinema, attract indie acts. In the Baixa district, a year-old fashion and design museum anchors an urban renewal project around Praca do Comercio to shift traffic and refurbish historic buildings.Residents, however, seem less enthusiastic about the need for a new coach museum, preferring instead that authorities invest in public transport, cycling schemes and overhauling housing policy – Lisbon’s population has dropped by 20,000 in the past two years. Part of the blame is due to outdated rental laws that have kept prices at untenable levels, making it hard to cover the cost of upkeep – the city centre is dotted with deserted buildings in need of some TLC.Population: 489,562; greater metropolitan area, 2.03 millionInternational flights: 22 intercontinental; 51 European destinationsCrime: murders, 4; domestic break-ins, 1,256Sunshine: 2,780 hours in 2009Tolerance: same-sex marriage signed into law late this springState education: residents favour private educational facilities: 194 private pre-schools vs 94 public; 47 private secondary schools in Lisbon vs 33 publicDrinking and shopping: bars in Bairro Alto and many riverside districts serve alcohol after 01.00. Supermarkets open on SundaysPublic transport: subway extension to airport to be completed next year (15 minute ride to downtown)Architecture: permits for innovative builds are allowed but it’s a slow processGreen space: 28 sq m per residentHow easy is it to start a business? Registering a one-man firm or PLC takes a few hours and costs euros 360 with Empressa na Hora (On the Sport Firm) programmeChain test: Zara, 9; Starbucks, 1Key upcoming developments: urban re-generation of Baixa district on waterfrontMonocle fix: stop giving out permits to build shopping mallsin MONOCLE, July/August 2010Foto: Rua do Arsenal