Lisbon has status as a capital.
Lisbon ( [ ˈlɪzbən ] Lisboa , [ liʒˈβoɐ ] ) is the capital and the largest city of Portugal , with a population of 552,700 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km ² . It is continental Europe 's westernmost capital city and the only one along the Atlantic coast . Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world , and the oldest in Western Europe , predating other modern European capitals such as London , Paris and Rome by centuries . Unlike most capital cities , Lisbon 's status as the capital of Portugal has never been granted or confirmed officially -- by statute or in written form .