Lisbon was the first stop from my Portugal nine day trip, and this would be the first time of many visits to this wonderful city. As soon as I got out from the metro in Chiado, I fell in love with it! The colors, the light bathing the atmosphere, the tiles. I think it’s impossible not to love Lisbon. Anyways, in this post you’ll find everything about Lisbon: what to do and eat, where to stay and how to get around.
WHY VISIT LISBON?
Lisbon is one of those cities that instantly makes you feel good. With its hilly cobbled streets, pastel buildings, ceramic tiles, and iconic yellow trams climbing impossibly steep hills, it’s every bit as beautiful as you imagine — and surprisingly affordable compared to other European capitals.
The city mixes old and new effortlessly: ancient cathedrals stand beside trendy rooftop bars; traditional Fado music drifts out of tucked-away taverns, just around the corner from minimal art galleries and modern food markets. Lisbon is sunny, friendly, and so easy to love.
VISITING LISBON: THE ESSENTIALS
Transport / I strongly recommend booking an airport transfer ahead of time — I used WelcomePickups and it made arriving in Lisbon so much easier. Once in the city, public transport is easy and affordable. You’ll need a Viva Viagem card to ride the metro, trams, buses, and funiculars — you can grab one at any metro station. Load it with zapping credit or daily passes, depending on how much you’ll be moving around. Trams and tuk-tuks are fun, but walking is often the best way to see the old city.
Tours / Lisbon is packed with great tours, here are a few of the most popular and worthwhile:
Stay / Lisbon has everything from boutique stays in old palaces to modern hotels with river views. Here are a few of the most loved ones:
Luggage storage / If you’re early for check-in or have time to kill after checkout, no stress — there are luggage storage points all over Lisbon. Just use this website to find one nearby.
Connect / You’ll definitely want mobile data in Lisbon for maps and restaurant bookings. I always recommend using an eSIM — no physical SIM card needed. I use Sim Local, and you can get 5% off with the code TRAVELWITHPAU. Grab one here.
Get Insured / Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN LISBON
Start with a walking tour
As soon as you get to Lisbon, take a walking tour to get a grasp of what the city has to offer, the main sights and some insider tips from the tour guides that live there. It will help organise how you’ll spend the rest of your time in the city, and you can ask all the questions you want.
