I believe Lisbon should be on everyones bucket list! Friendly locals, beautiful weather, delicious food, along with sea views and beaches, in my opinion makes it a perfect travel destination! I want to share some of my top lisbon travel tips with you!
Lisbon will always have a place in my heart, it was the first stop after leaving Ireland to begin this long term trip. I was full of excitement and uncertainty. Here are some helpful travel tips of things that are worth it to know before you go to Lisbon, they really are the things I wish I knew!
Let’s dive in !
16 Lisbon Travel Tips
1. Tram 28 Is Scenic But Not Ideal
Ah, Tram 28 I had a bit of a love hate relationship with this tram!
Staying in the area of Graça, Tram 28 was the most convenient transport option to get into the city centre. However, it was always packed with tourists (I know I am one too but I had to use it to get from a to b) taking it for a ride around the hotspots of the city.
I wish I knew before travelling to Lisbon that although it is a fantastic way to see Lisbon city it is not the best way to get from A to B, especially if you need to be somewhere for a certain time. The metro is much quicker!
Speaking of transport, lets move to Lisbon travel tip point 2!
2. Purchase A Lisbon Card
If you want to make some savings while receiving unlimited rides on transport and free entry to 39 museums, then consider purchasing a Lisbon card.
This card can be used on metros, buses, trams, and funiculars, it also works on CP trains between Cais do Sodré and Cascais, and between Oriente, Rossio, and Sintra. This Lisbon travel tip will save you money!
More perks to this card include free entry to Jerónimos Monastery, the Belem Tower, National Pantheon, and many others.
Choose from 24 , 48, or 72 hour length passes.
3. Pack Shoes With A Good Grip
The streets and footpaths in an aesthetic sense are spectacular, I loved just strolling around the city and looking at the colourful tiles, they really are beautiful.
I visited Lisbon during Winter, although there were many sunny days it did rain a lot. This made it SO slippy, especially the steep stairs, I had so many close calls of almost landing on my ass.
I wish I knew that travelling to Lisbon would require a pair of shoes that had a good grip, I wore converse and they were such a hazard in the rain. This Lisbon travel tip could save you from a hard fall!
You might also like: 12 Awesome Things To Do In Porto
4. People Are Not Exaggerating About The Hills
I saw TikToks and read blogs about how steep the city is. I smugly scoffed to myself, thinking I would be fine, a regular hiker and thread mill stomper. Surely these hills are no match for me?
Turns out that I am an idiot, these hills throttled me, for the first few weeks I huffed and puffed my way around this city. However, at the top of each hill is a rewarding view of the city, you are never too far from a miradouro (view point) and it is a little boost of motivation.
After a few weeks it did get easier, was I still out of breath? Absolutely, but I no longer needed to stop and “look at the view” half way up the hill. Those who get it, get it!
5. Where to stay in Lisbon
The best way to explore Lisbon is on foot, its compact size and beautiful views make it a super walkable city!
Although it is walkable, you will want to stay close to the centre, Lisbon is so hilly that a 15 minute walk often turns into a sweaty hike!
Here are some areas I recommend you stay in, to minimise walking and have more time for soaking up that incredible Lisbon atmosphere.
Alfama – This is the old town, think quaint narrow cobbled streets, old colourful houses, late night live fado music, and sea views. There are LOTS of restaurants and bars in this area, however many are touristy so be sure to check google reviews beforehand!
Barrio Alto – this is the absolute best place to stay if you are looking to party! Barrio Alto has a vibrant nightlife scene, you will find trendy wine bars, craft beer halls, fine dining, and gastropub fare! It is on a steep hill but there is a funicular available to take you to the top.
Baixa – Chiado – another great base for exploring the city, whether you are walking or choose to hop on a metro. Its a great area to shop, and of course, seeing as its Lisbon, its on a hill!
As for hotels, there are some incredible hotels such as budget friendly Inn Bairro Alto BA Sweet in Barrio Alto, luxury hotel Browns Downtown in Baixa-Chiado, or rooms with sea views in Tandem Palacio in Alfama.
6. You Will Be Offered A LOT Of Drugs
“Cocaine? Hashish?” get used to this question as you will be asked this a lot, I was approached by friendly street sellers on a daily basis mostly in the main tourist spots but especially Praça do Comércio, Lisbon’s main square. I was not expecting this, the only place I was offered drugs this often was the red light district in Amsterdam.
Although I politely declined these offers it is worth noting that these drugs are usually fake, bay leaves and crushed aspirin is what you will actually end up with.
Sometimes as much as you decline these guys can be very persistent, I learned to not make eye contact and to just walk on.
7. Your Money Goes A Long Way
I am from Ireland which is a really expensive country. Usually €15 would barely get a coffee and a nice breakfast in Dublin. As someone who has never earned a big wage it was a pleasant change experiencing a more affordable city.
You do not need to have a large amount of cash with you, a budget of €50 is loads. If you plan on going out at night then increase that a little.
In Lisbon an americano is about 90c, a taxi is about €3 and a weekly grocery shop was always under €50.
8. Good Food…
The food scene in Lisbon is up there with some of the best, whatever you want, I am sure you can find it in this city. Now, I never had Portugese food before, tapas was a new concept to me, and I had no idea what the best local dishes were.
This resulted in me going to lots of overpriced touristy restaurants, and maybe not getting the best first impression of the Portuguese cuisine.
I decided to do a food tour, which totally changed my opinion on the food! Instead of over priced and flavourless meals I had Bacalhau à brás, Polvo à la Lagareiro, flaming chorizo, and Arroz de Pato. Not only that, but I got to visit some off the beaten track restaurants loved by locals!
So, one of my favourite Lisbon travel tip is to join a food tour with a local who will show you the best places to try out Portuguese food !
9. How To Spot The Tourist Traps
Any restaurant hassling you to take a seat or has a generic picture book menu with hundreds of dishes is a tourist trap. The majority of restaurants beside tourist attractions are usually overpriced with below average food.
If a restaurant has to have a waiter coax you in its rarely a good sign and is a red flag. If I knew this prior to travelling to Lisbon I would have had much nicer meals. It took a while for me to spot what all these bad restaurants had in common.
Walk a few minutes away from the tourist sites and find a restaurant down a small side street or with a smaller menu. This Lisbon travel tip will lead you to a more authentic and tastier meal.
10. You Get The Best Of Both Worlds
Although Lisbon is a city it can feel like a small seaside town at times. You truly get a nice balance of the opportunities/atmosphere that a big city offers and the peace/calmness of a seaside town.
There was no hustle & bustle feeling – in the evening at about 6pm I would wonder where are the office workers/commuters?! It was a refreshing change escaping that rat race vibe of usual cities.
The pace of life was slower and chilled, no one seems to be in a rush. Many people also wander around with a beer in hand, but there is no rowdiness just people relaxing.
11. Watch Your Belongings At The Miradouros
You faced the steep hills and stairs to get some amazing views from a miradouro. You take a few pictures while taking in the views, a few minutes later you notice your purse has been taken. Miradouros are a popular place for pickpockets to work in, they are packed with tourists busy taking photos. If you have a backpack make sure to wear it on the front of your body and keep your attention on your handbag.
This Lisbon travel tip will likely never happen, However it is just something to be aware of when travelling to Lisbon.
12. Learn Some Basic Portuguese
Us native English speakers can often just assume the whole of Europe are fluent in English, it is easy to take it for granted and not learn the basic phrases of the country we are in. You will make a great impression to the locals travelling to Lisbon with a few phrases in your back pocket.
Here are the very basics that made life a bit easier during my time in Lisbon:
Hello – “Ola”
Thank You – “Obrigado” for male speakers, and “Obrigada” for female speakers
You’re Welcome – “De nada”
Please – “Por favour”
Sorry – “Desculpa”
Goodbye -“Adeus”
I recommend trying out the free version of DuoLingo to get to grips with the basics.
13. Know Your Coffee Order
Ignorantly I assumed an americano, cappuccino, espresso were all universal terms, *face palm*. I wish I knew how to order a coffee before travelling to Lisbon as my very first cafe visits ended up being kind of awkward and not getting what I wanted. The coffee shops / cafes in Portugal are called “pastelarias”.
So, here is a Lisbon travel tip for coffee lovers, the following is what you can ask for:
espresso, ask for “um café” or “uma bica”
espresso topped with milk, ask for “um café pingado”
double espresso, ask for “double expresso”
americano, ask for “um abatanado”
latte, ask for “uma meia de leite” or “um galão”
I found it difficult to get an americano, they tend to give a lot less water so it is more similar to an espresso.
14. Almada Is Worth A Visit
Almada is home to the Sanctuary of Christ the King, aka the statue that looks like christ the redeemer in Rio. From here, you also get amazing views (in my opinion the best) of 25 de Abril Bridge. There is also a unique pier side restaurant I implore you to check out, ponto finale.
It is useful knowing what this side of Lisbon offers, many visitors choose to overlook Almada when travelling to Lisbon, I think this is a mistake. My Lisbon travel tip is to visit Almada, you can easily explore this area in just 2 or 3 hours.
Lisboa Autêntica offer a 3 hour leisurely cycle, via e-bike to Almada, stopping off at all the top sights including Sanctuary Of Christ the King.
15. Porto Is Only 3 Hours Away
I am always trying to find ways of seeing new places, when I go away I usually attempt to see somewhere outside the area I booked. From Lisbon, you can reach the charming city of Porto via high speed train in 3 hours and 15 minutes.
Although it is possible to do a whistle stop tour of Porto in a day, you could always spend a few nights and fly back home from Porto airport.
When travelling across Europe I always use Omio.com to book trains and buses.
16. You Will Be Sad Leaving
Lisbon is beautiful! The small paths, the tiled and very colourful buildings, the street art and the steps/hills that take you to incredible views, it has so much character. The food is amazing and the people are so friendly and welcoming. I found myself missing it for much longer that I could have predicted.
For me that is just an excuse to go back !
Check out my blog post on the 17 best things to do in Lisbon
Is Lisbon Expensive?
Lisbon is generally considered to be an affordable city, especially when compared to other popular European destinations. However, prices can vary depending on the season you travel to Lisbon and the location that your accommodation is based.
Accommodation and eating out in popular tourist areas such as Alfama and Praça do Comércio can work out much more expensive than going ever so slightly off the beaten track, such as choosing a restaurant on a quieter street.
Public transportation in Lisbon is relatively cheap, with a single ticket for the metro or bus costing around €1.50. Many of the city’s top attractions also offer free admission on certain days of the week.
Getting There
The main International Airport Humberto Delgado Airport, located just under 10km from Lisbon city centre. Many budget EU airlines operate here such as Ryanair, easyJet, TapAir , and Wizz, along with international airlines American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Beijing Capital and Emirates.
Remember that flight prices can fluctuate, and it’s essential to compare fares across different airlines and booking platforms when travelling to Lisbon. To check the best prices use a flight comparison site such as skyscanner.
Getting From Lisbon Airport
The easiest option is to take the metro, the line is the ‘Aeroporto – Saldanha’ line and you will be in the city in 20 minutes. Tickets cost €1.45.
Another easy option is to book a transfer from the airport. You will be met at the arrival hall of the airport by your driver. I usually use this option after a long flight (to me that means anything over 5 hours) or when I am arriving very late.