This guide to Lisbon is the result of my experience as a solo traveler in the city and it's surroundings, as well as dozens of hours of planning and research. It is designed to be all you will need to plan your trip to this region of Portugal and save you hours and hours of planning and stress.
I have included numerous activities and places to visit within the city ranging from historical and architectural sites, museums, scenic viewpoints, as well as beaches and day trips from Lisbon. I have also included 15+ accomodation and eating out options at different price ranges.
Most importantly, I have included information on travel safety, visas, entry requirements, local currency and how to get around. This way, you don't have to be too bothered by logistics and the more boring aspects of travel planning. I've got you covered!
This guide is divided into sections so you can read the entire guide or go to the sections that interest you the most.
It also includes an interactive map and it's mobile friendly so you can access all the info on your phone once you download the thatch app. And most importantly, this is a living guide, so I will update this at no extra cost for you!
Happy travels!
Once you arrive at the Humberto Delgado Airport the easiest way to get to the city center is by using the Metro. Take the red line to Alameda, and then take the green line. The most centric stations are Baixa-Chiado and Terreiro do Paço. (See getting around section below)
I stayed at City Guesthouse Alfama for two nights and it was a great choice!
The location is perfect: It's in the lovely Alfama neighbourhood, a 3 minute walk from the Cathedral and the Miradouro de Santa Luzia and less than a 10 minute walk away from the Castelo de San Jorge and from the Praça do Comércio.
The hostel it's self is nice and quiet, ideal if you want a relaxed trip. There is a comfortable common area, and a shared kitchen and bathroom. Everything is very clean and comfortable.
Lisbon is an easy city to navigate and you shouldn't have any problems getting around.
You can walk to explore Lisbon's gorgeous buildings and streets, but since Lisbon has many steep hills this can get tiring. The city has plenty of funiculars and elevators to help you conquer its hills.
You can also use public transportation. The most iconic is Tram 28E, which goes through the city center. Other forms of public transportation include buses, boats, metro and suburban trains.
To use public transportation you need to purchase a Viva Viagem card (travel card) for 0,50€ at a metro, train or boat station. Then you have to purchase your ticket and load it onto your card. You can purchase single trip tickets or 24h tickets. I recommend buying the latter if you're planning on using public transportation a lot during your stay.
CittyMapper is a map and public transport app frequently used by locals in Lisbon and one I recommend for travelers aswell.
Taxis are also available in Lisbon, however I wouldn't recommend using them in most situations since the public transportation system is efficient, easy to navigate and cheaper.
For the same reasons I wouldn't recommend renting a car unless you need to cover a lot of ground in a short time or have mobility issues. Driving in Lisbon's narrow and uphill streets is also not the easiest thing in the world.
Alfama is Lisbon's oldest neighbourhood dating back as far as 1150. It's a maze of narrow medieval streets, small squares, breathtaking viewpoints and gorgeous buildlings covered in traditional Portuguese tiles (azulejos).
This charming neighbourhood is a must when visiting Lisbon. Getting lost in it's charming streets in an experience every traveler should have.
The Praça do Comércio is Lisbon's most centric square, right next to the Tagus River.
The square is huge and majestic, and despite being in the touristic Baixa neighbourhood, it doesn't feel crowded at all.
It's a lovely place you should visit when in Lisbon, and take the time to walk by riverbed or read a book by the shore.
The Arco da Rua Augusta is one of Lisbon's most iconic buildings. You will see it from the Praça do Comércio and you can also go to the top to get an amazing view of Lisbon, the square and the Baixa neighbourhood.
The Belem tower was built to defend Lisbon against possible attacks and invasions and also served as a gateway to the city.
It is one of the most unique monuments in Lisbon and there is nothing quite like it other European cities.
Because of this it can get a bit crowded and lines to get in are usually a bit long. However I 100% recommend this place and it's for sure one of my favorite spots in Lisbon. The gardens next to the tower are quite nice aswell.
The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited sites in Lisbon.
It's a gorgeous Portuguese Gothic buildling that was built in the seventeenth century. It's located near the Belem Tower and it's definitely worth comming here to see the building's spectacular church and cloister.
The Fronteira Palace is one of the most beautiful seventeenth - century monuments in Lisbon and it holds the largest collection of seventeenth - century Portuguese tiles (azulejos) preserved in situ.
It is a great place to learn about Portuguese history and it provides the perfect opportunity to escape the noise of the city.
The Castelo de San Jorge is located right next to the gorgeous Alfama neighbourhood.
It's got some of the best views of the city and the vibes are just perfect. It's the perfect spot to explore medieval history and read a book.
The entrance is a bit expensive in my opinion, costing 15€, but you simply cannot miss this spot in Lisbon.
The Muséo Arqueologico do Carmo is located in the ruins of the old Lisbon Cathedral that was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake.
Although reconstruction efforts were made, they were never finished, leaving only the walls and the spectacular arches of the convent to be seen.
Since then, this has become a museum and has an impressive archeological collection.
The museum isn't big, but it is very impressive. Even if you aren't a fan of archeology I would recommend comming to this museum for the impressive architecture alone.
Lisbon has plenty of elevators around the city to help you conquer it's hills. The Elevador de Santa Justa is by far the most impressive and beautiful one.
Getting a sight of this elevator is definitely worth it. It's close to Praça do Comércio and Museo de Carmo. You definitely won't see a structure like this anywhere else in Europe.
You can buy tickets to the elevator and go to the viewpoint at the top, however, I don't think this is worth it.
If you don't mind going uphill for a bit, you can reach the top via a bridge that is located right next to the Muséo do Carmo. You won't be able to reach the top, but you will be close enough to get a spectacular view.
With all the wondefull and free viewpoints in Lisbon, I personally don't think it's worth waiting in line for this one.
The Miradouro de Santa Luzia is located in the Alfama neighbourhood, a short walk away from the Castelo de San Jorge and the Cathedral.
In my opinion, this is the best viewpoint in all of Lisbon. The view is simply spectacular and it has great vibes aswell. There is sometimes live music and the buildings that surround this place are gorgeous.
The Miradouro das Portas do Sol is right next to the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, in the Alfama neighbourhood. However, the view is quite different, so make sure you visit bothe viewpoints if you're in this area!
The Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara offers views of practically all of Lisbon, making it one of the most popular with tourists.
It's located in the Barrio Alto and the gardens next to the viewpoint are also really nice and relaxing.
The Miradouro da Graça is a great place to get a good view of the city and have a drink.
You can see almost all of Lisbon from here, however, you will have to walk a very steep hill to get here. If you want to avoid this, take Tram 28, which has several stops in the area of Graça, and take the hill on the way down.
Lisbon's streets are full of antique and charming buildlings covered in bright blue tiles, which is very traditional in Portugal.
The National Tile Museum is definitely worth checking out to learn about this Portuguese form of art.
Portugal has a well developed financial system and you will have no problem finding ATM's in Lisbon.
All establishments will accept credit or debit cards at no extra cost. It's always a good idea to carry a bit of cash when traveling but in Portugal it's not a neccessity.
Tips aren't expected except in bars and restaurants, where leaving a few coins is standard. Leave a few cents per person if you stop by a bar, a euro or two euros at a restaurant and more than two euros if the service was really good.
SAFETY
Portugal is generally a very safe country, however some touristic areas have a low incidence of petty crime. This is the case in Lisbon, specially in the city center.
Take the same precautions you would take in any other tourist hotspot (being aware of your surroundings, keeping your belongings close to you, not flashing your goods, etc). No extra precautions are needed.
The Portuguese emergency number is 112
WEATHER
Summers in Lisbon are warm, humid, and mostly very sunny. Winters are cold, windy, and sometimes cloudy and rainy.
Temperatures usually vary between 12-19°C in winter and 23-35°C in summer. Because Lisbon is next to the Atlantic Ocean the climate is very humid.
BEST TIME TO GO
The best months to visit Lisbon are March, April, May, September and October. The weather is generally warm and pleasant, but not too hot.
If you want to go to the beach, May, June and September are the best months to go.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
COVID-19 has made travel more complicated than ever, and although the pandemic has less of an impact on our lives in 2023 compared to previous years, entry requirements can still be challenging.
Click on the following link to find up-to-date information on entry requirements for individual countries:
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✈️ Spent the last five years traveling through several African and European countries
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