My Ultimate Guide To Lisbon, Portugal
Friendly people, nice weather, rich history, good food, and so much more. It’s no wonder that Lisbon is quickly becoming one of Europe’s hot-spot for travellers. If you are looking for a great place to begin your next journey to western Europe, Lisbon should probably make it on your list of considerations. Here’s my ultimate guide to Lisbon, Portugal. Let me know if you think I should add something to this guide and I will be sure to check it out on my next trip.
Disclaimer: I do my best to provide my readers with accurate information during these uncertain times. It’s best practice to check and see if any of these places are actually open. Hopefully, we will be able to get back to normal life soon with lots of safe and happy travels.
Traveling Portugal
Getting to Portugal is the first step to actually enjoying Portuguese culture. You can get to Portugal via plane, train, boat, and automobile. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can also try to travel to Portugal via bicycle.
Getting To Lisbon
The most common way to get to Lisbon is by flying into LIS airport located about a 20-30 minutes train ride from outside of the city.
If you are already in Europe, you are likely able to find a reasonably priced flight with EasyJet.
Getting Around Lisbon
Getting Around Lisbon is an adventure all by itself. With so many options to choose from, selecting the one that suits you best can really increase your experience in Portugal’s capital. Here are all of the ways that you can get around as quickly and sustainably as possible.
By Train
There are several different types of trains in Lisbon. Subway, Railway Trains, Trams, and Lisbon’s picturesque Trolley Cars. Each of them have their own benefits but I will touch on each on briefly.
Subway: Lisbon has a nice subway system that actually goes all the way out to LIS airport.
Train: Different from the subway system, you can travel to more distant parts of Lisbon with their train system. You can catch a number of trains from the Cais Do Sodre train station and ride all the way out to any number of Lisbon’s beaches.
Tram: Lisbon also offers the ability to get around via tram and bus. With an extensive mass transit network
Trolley Car: A true Lisbon experience wouldn’t be complete without at least one ride in one of the city’s picturesque trolley cars. These prices of history can be seen operating all around Alfama but they are often super crowded and are often the target of pickpockets. If you decide to take one of these, be sure to enjoy the ride but be sure to watch your valuables too.
By Boat
If you want to visit the south side of the bay, you may find the easiest way to get there is by boat. There are probably a multitude of boats for hire but the one that I have used the most is located in Cais Do Sodre. You can get a 2-way ticket to cross the bay for a few euros. This is a great way to go visit the statue of Christ that you can see from many parts of the city.
By Automobile
Taxi & Uber:
Tuk Tuk:
Traveling Lisbon By Bicycle, Scooter, and On Foot
If you want to travel more sustainably, traveling by electric scooter or with human power, there are a number of different options available. There seems to always be a lot of scooters available along the waterfront between Alfama and Belem. Further outside of the city, I think it becomes more difficult to find scooters.
Where Should I Stay In Lisbon?
After you have arrived in the city, you are going to need a place to stay. If you are looking for a good hostel, Lisbon has loads of them. These are just a couple of my favorites but with a little bit of searching, you can absolutely find one that fits your own personal travel style.
Traveller’s House
My personal favorite hostel is Traveller’s House because it offers almost all of the best amenities that I look for in a hostel. It comes complete with almost all of the things every hostel should have like a complimentary breakfast prepared by local Portuguese staff, cultured social events, and some incredibly helpful staff.
Selina Secret Garden
Located a bit further away from the city center, Selina Secret Garden is a nice hostel with a rooftop lounge as well as a swimming pool on the ground floor. Although breakfast is not included in the price, they do have a paid breakfast option that you can order in their restaurant dining area.
Other Accommodations In Lisbon
I have only stayed at a few places in Lisbon but if you are looking for a more extensive list of travel accommodations, you can always visit Hostel World, Hostel Bookers, and other services like AirBnB. If you are looking for a great place to book in Lisbon, be sure to check out Hostelworld for all of the best recommendations.
Where Are Lisbon’s Best Cafe’s, Restaurants, and Markets?
One of my favorite things to do in Europe is to enjoy some nice food over a cup of coffee and simply reading a book, doing some journaling, or maybe just some people watching. Here are some of my favorite places to enjoy some local or authentic Portuguese cuisine in the nation’s capital.
Pois Cafe
I stumbled across Pois cafe on my first trip to Lisbon. I fell in love with this spot because I could get a nice meal and a quality cup of coffee or juice at a reasonable price.
Time Out Market
The TimeOut Market is a relatively new addition to the city but it is a great place to go if you are looking for a
Popolo
Where Are Lisbon’s Best Parks, Plazas, & Viewpoints?
Lisbon has lots of hills, high points, terraces, plazas, parks, and viewpoints that offer amazing views of the city. The best part about many of these is that they are free and oftentimes just getting to them can be an exciting adventure all on their own. Here are some of my favorite places to visit for an amazing view.
Praca Do Comércio
In the heart of Alfama (Lisbon’s old town), you will find Praca do Comércio (Commerce Plaza). It’s a bustling square with lots of open space, restaurants, shops, street performers, and some great selfie opportunities. If you are looking for a great central point with nice views, Praca do Comércio is a great starting point for the day where you can catch buses, Lisbon’s picturesque trolley cars, tuk-tuk tours, taxis, trams, and more.
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
Miradouro means “viewpoint” and Lisbon has plenty of them. This particular one is my favorite because it always seems to be bustling with people at almost any time of the day. Located in Bairro Alto, this little park is a great place to come with friends and/or family to enjoy one of Lisbon’s best views over a coffee, a picnic, or maybe even a drink. It’s not uncommon for street performers to be playing music in here as people of all ages enjoy the amazing view of Lisbon’s old town.
This is one of my absolute favorite spots in Lisbon.
Miradouro da Graça
Jardim da Estrela
Jardim is Portuguese for the word “Garden” and you will see it a number of places in both Portugal and Brazil. As far as I know, Jardim da estrela means “Garden of the star” and for good reason. This garden is a absolutely beautiful. I am sure that there’s a reason why it has such a unique name but if you are looking for a place to spend some time relaxing over a coffee, this is a great place to start. There’s also a playground for kids to enjoy this enchanting little piece of heaven.
Avenida da Liberdade
Named “Avenue of Liberty”, this street is a beautiful walk that has lots of cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and even some vendors selling things in the street during certain times of the year.
If you walk this street all the way to the northwest end, you should find yourself at the south end of Parque Eduardo VII.
Parque Eduardo VII
Along one of the main avenues in central Lisbom, Parque Eduardo VII is a nice place to visit for some nice views of the city as well as one of my other favorite places to visit, Estufa Fria.
Estufa Fria
Estufa Fria is a sort of screened botanic garden that offers you the ability to walk around and enjoy some amazing pictures. This is a great place to enjoy some of Portugal’s native flora for only a few euros.
Discovering Lisbon’s Culture
Lisbon has a rich history and culture that you will find all over the city. From its often sad and somber music, Fado, to it’s amazing and rich history, you are sure to find something that you will enjoy in Lisbon. Here are just some of my favorite spots to go and things to do when I am in one of my favorite cities in the world.
Wander The Streets Of Lisbon’s Old Town
Lisbon’s old town, Alfama, is one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in all of Lisbon. Not only does it have the old charm but it is also where you will find a lot of old cafes, restaurants, and live busking. Since Lisbon was built by the Moors, the streets were built like a bit of a maze as a way to defend the city by confusing any invading forces. If you’re looking for a way to get lost and truly enjoy one of Portugal’s most beautiful cities, going for a wander in Alfama is sure to please.
History & Museums
Portugal is rich with history, art, museums, and culture. If you are looking to learn more about Lisbon’s amazing culture, these are some places that you ought to consider.
Museu De Dinheiro
The Museum Of Money is a great little free museum that takes you on an educational journey to better understand what money is, what its functions are and some history about Lisbon’s role in the development in the European economy. If you are interested in learning more about the history of not just Portugal’s money but of the Euro and money that preceded it, this free museum is worth taking some time to experience.
Where Is the Best Nightlife In Lisbon?
One of the reasons why Lisbon is amongst my favorite cities in the world is that the nightlife starts late and ends even later. If you’re just looking for a casual drink with some friends or if you want to stay out all night and watch the sun come up, Lisbon has something for everyone.
Bairro Alto
Baiiro Alto means “neighborhood on the hill” or “high neighborhood” and it is one of the most popular places for nightlife in all of Lisbon. With more than 100 bars sprawled across the neighborhood, Bairro alto is a unique experience for any traveler. If you visit Bairro Alto on a weekend, be prepared for crowded streets, lots of noise, and droves of tourists.
Cais do Sodre
Another popular spot for Lisbon’s first-timers is Cais Do Sodre. Commonly called “Pink Street” to help tourists to be able to identify it, Cais do Sodre is a little collection of bars, clubs, and a few places to get some food. It’s alsop a great place to catch a train to one of Lisbon’s many beaches as well as a boat to the other side of the bay.
Lux
Latin for “Light”, Lux is Lisbon’s most well-known night club. With two stories and capacity for hundreds of people, Lux is a nice place to end up with some friends at 2AM.
Final Thoughts
No matter what you’re looking for, Lisbon is likely to have it. From amazing plazas and parks to bustling nightlife, Lisbon seems to be full of things to do.
