The Portuguese capital is a juicy mix of authentic culture, colonial past and modern lifestyle, ocean breeze and unforgettable experiences. The city is becoming increasingly popular, at any time of year. Don’t lose your chance to explore Lisbon before it gets too crowded and overwhelmed.
Transport in Lisbon
The cheapest way to get from the Lisbon Airport to the city is by metro: the trip will cost €1.50 one way + €0.50 for a reusable Viva Viagem card, which can be used for further rides around the city. All information on the subway routes and prices can be found here.
There is also bus connection with the city center. Single ride is €4 and €6 for a round trip. Aerobus leaves every 20 minutes. Uber to the center will cost around €8–10.
Don’t forget to download the city transport app Lisboa MOVE-ME. There you can find all the schedules fees and build a convenient route in real time.
You can get around the city by bus, subway, tram, cable car and public elevators. And of course by foot, so prepare the most comfortable shoes you have in your wardrobe. Lisbon is called a “City of seven hills”, but in reality there are way more ups and downs paved with slippery stones.
You should definitely take a ride on the one of Lisbon’s trams — they are simply an unforgettable experience! Imagine an old wooden car speeding up on turns and steep climbs with a sea breeze blowing from the window. The №28E tram will take you to the main landmarks, but be careful: in high season it is crowded with tourists, so try to take a ride early in the morning.
Or you can choose the alternative tran routes that will show you authentic city streets:
№12E: the route starts from Martim Moniz Square, makes a circle ascending from the central district of Baixa to the castle with a magnificent view (Largo das Portas Sol), and passing by the Cathedral of Lisbon.
№18E: the route is not as spectacular as 28E, but you still get a panoramic view of the city and the river Tagus without the crowds of tourists.
№24E: It was closed for 23 years and was only renewed in April 2018. The route now runs from Largo do Camoes to Campolide Station (where the huge 1744 Aqueduto das Aguas Livres aqueduct is located) through the trendy Principe Real area.
№25E: Combines three historic districts: Santos, Lapa and Madragoa. The route starts from Praça da Figueira, passes through the Estrela Basilica and ends at the Cemitério dos Prazeres, an ancient cemetery with long mausoleum alleys and magnificent views of The 25 of April Bridge.
Lisbon’s funiculars which you definitely saw in your Instagram feed are cute but don’t really worth a ride. There are only three of them in Lisbon: Bica, Gloria and Lavra. Round trip ticket is €1.50 with Viva Viagem card or €3.70 if bought from the driver. The view from inside is not very picturesque, so I advise you to take pictures of funiculars from the side.
Another non-standard mean of transport in Lisbon is elevator. In each tourist guidebook you will be advised to take Santa Justa (Elevador de Santa Justa). Round trip costs as much as €5.15, but with Viva Viagem card you will pay only the standard €1.45 city fare. But get ready to stand in a long queue to get inside.
An alternative way is to walk up from Largo do Carmo square, and see exactly the same panorama from the Bellalisa Elevador restaurant. There are also few free lifts: Elevador Castelo will help you to reach St. George’s Fortress or the cheap Pingo Doce supermarket from the main square, Elevador da Baixa is an intermediate station on the way to the castle, Elevator of Santa Luzia will take you to the upper part of the Alfama disctrict.
Lifehack: as in many other European capitals, Lisbon has a single ticket for transport and some museums. It is called the Lisboa Card and costs €19 per day, €32 for two days and €40 for three days. Each adult can bring two children up to 4 years old free of charge. A card can be purchased online or at one of the Tourist information points (also available at the airport). Few advantages (more on the website):
- Public transport in Lisbon free of charge (also historic tram routes and the Santa Justa lift).
- Free rides on commuter trains to Sintra or Cascais and back.
- Free admission and discounts on sightseeing and fast line to pass a queue.
Accommodation in Lisbon
The average price for a bed in a hostel dorm is €12–15 with comfortable conditions. Read the reviews carefully, and do not be misled by too low prices — you can get mold or bed bugs in your room. If you plan to travel in winter, pay attention to whether the room has heaters or warm blankets — it’s getting quite cold at night!
As for the districts: the further north of the Tagus River — the lower the price, but I recommend stopping somewhere near Caisa Do Sodre, Chiado, Alfama and Rossio if you don’t want to spend a lot of time and money on transportation.
Observation decks and viewpoints in Lisbon
Lisbon is a very diverse city. There are many Miradouro (observation decks in Portugese), so quickly note the locations of the most impressive viewpoints that I personally checked:
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcántara — is located in the park near the top station of the Gloria funicular and offers a magnificent view of the Fortress of St. George (Castelo de São Jorge). You can also get a beautiful view from the Fortress, but note that entrance fee is €8.50.
Miradouro de Santo Amaro is one of the best points to see The 25 of April Bridge. Looks like the one in San Francisco, doesn’t it?
Miradouro das Portas do Sol. This platform is located on a wide balcony with above the winding streets of the Alfama district, with stunning views of the Church of São Vicente de Fora and the Tagus River, where you can enjoy a cup of fresh coffee or glass of Portuguese wine.
Miradouro de Santa Luzia is located right next to the previous point, from here you will see the church of Igreja de Santo Estevao and two white towers of Igreja de São Miguel.
Miradouro de Santa Catarina is a great place to watch the sunset over the Tagus River, where local young people often gather to sip a few glasses of sangria and listen to live music.
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is a located a bit inland in the Graça district, so it is a great location for panoramic views of the Lisbon’s red roofs, Mar da Palha Bay and Martim Moniz Square. As in the previous location, you can hang out with the locals and sing songs to a guitar.
I highly recommend taking a few hours and visiting Cristo Rei — the famous statue of Christ in Almada. From the observation deck you will see the whole of Lisbon from the other bank of the Tagus, and in good weather even the castles in the city of Sintra. But be prepared to pay €6.00 entrance fee.
Places to visit in Lisbon
The 25 of April Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril) is very similar to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and no wonder: they were built by the same company. Take a great photos from the promenade near Alcantara-Mar station or on the way to Torre de Belém.
The Belém Tower (Torre de Belém) was built in the late 15th century and is a famous symbol of the city and a UNESCO heritage site. The outside of the tower is lacy and lush, but inside it is actually quite ascetic. This is not surprising: it used to be a bastion and a prison. Now it is a museum, admission is €6, expect a long queue.
The Aguas Livres has been supplying drinking water to Lisbon since 1744, and these giant arches, 65 meters high, have survived even a terrible 9 magnitude earthquake. In the 19th century this place was favored by suicidal jumpers and murderers. You can feel the atmosphere of this unusual place for only €2.
Trade Square (Praça do Comercio) is the main square of the city, bright and spacious, with a triumphal arch, which you might have seen on postcards. The name is not accidental, caravels used to sell here goods from all over the world : spices, sugar, silk and exotic animals.
Fortress of St. George (Castelo de Sao Jorge) is the heart of the Portuguese capital. Lisbon began from here and Vasco da Gama saw these walls while returning home from India. The fortress is located on a hill, and it is clearly visible from different parts of the city. There is a park nearby with peacocks freely walking around, coffee shops and relaxing atmosphere. Admission is €8.50.
Palazzo Nacional da Ajuda is located a bit further away from the typical tourist locations, so it doesn’t get much of attention. This is a wonderful illustration of nobles’ lifestyle: the palace is considered to be an example of the best indoor decoration in Portugal. The royal family began building it after an earthquake destroyed their previous residence. Entry ticket is €5.
There is a considerable amount of museums in Lisbon, and probably a whole week is not enough to see all of them! But here is the list of museums you definitely shouldn’t miss:
Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) is the newest museum in the city, it was opened in 2017 on the Tagus River seafront. The MAAT positions is a space for critical thinking and international dialogue and offers visitors a diverse program for all ages. The ticket is €5, but on the first Saturday of each month entrance is free.
Museu Nacional do Azulejo. It is impossible to visit Lisbon and not fall in love with the most authentic Portuguese art — colored Azulejo tiles, which adorn most of the buildings in major Portuguese cities. Moreover, the Museum was opened in a monastery of the 16th century, which doubles the interest. The ticket costs €5.
Museu Colesao Berardo. The Museum of Contemporary Art exhibits works by Dali, Warhol, Picasso, and Malevich. Not enough? Explore to temporary exhibitions, I guarantee they will impress you even more. Admission is €5, free on Saturdays.
Convento do Carmo. Remains of the monastery that was almost completely destroyed by the earthquake of 1755 + an archeological museum. Ticket is €5.
Oceanarium of Lisbon is one of the best aquariums in the world. You won’t regret €15 entrance fee, this place is really impressive!
Food specialties to try in Lisbon
Let’s start with the prices: lunch or dinner including meat or fish and several side dishes (potatoes, rice, salad, and scrambled eggs) should cost you around €5–7.
Don’t worry, you can have an affordable and tasty lunch even in a touristic area in the city center. Look for family restaurants with a queue of locals with the menu written only in Portuguese. According to this formula, you are guaranteed to have like-a-local delicious dinner for a good price.
Portuguese cuisine has been greatly influenced by the colonial past — notes of East Asia and India can be found in various dishes.
The length of the sea coast of 830 km suggests that Portuguese cuisine has a lot of delicious fish to try. I recommend grilled tuna steak, and “bacalhau” — salted cod, which Portugal, by the way, does imports from the North.
Be sure to try “cosido a portuguesa” in Lisbon. The dish consists of the variations of meat (chicken, pork ribs, bacon, veal), boiled vegetables and side dishes (beans, potatoes, rice) and smoked sausages (chorizo and blood sausage). Can you imagine this bomb of tastes? A portion will cost around €10–12, but you will be full for the rest of the day.
Another feature in the capital is “bifana” sandwiches with pork in a crispy bun, spicy sauce and mustard. Price should be around €2–3.
Portuguese locals drink up to 6 cups of coffee a day! Lattes and cappuccinos are made here only for tourists, try a strong black coffee in a low faceted glass instead. It costs around €0.80–1.20.
Do not forget to grab “pastel de nata” along with coffee, it is a delicious puff pastry with custard.
Time Out Market is the largest food court in the city with a wide selection: there are burgers, pasta, seafood, pizza — absolutely everything you want. Be careful, the prices are quite high.
If you want to cook something by yourself — look for the cheapest supermarkets: Lidl, Mini-preso and Pingo Doce. Please note that stores close at 21–22: 00, so plan your purchases in advance.
Fresh vegetables and farm products are available at Feira do Reliogio, a traditional market which operates on Sundays from 07:00 to 14:00.
Places to hang out and grab a drink in Lisbon
A lot of people are coming to the Portuguese capital only to experience local nightlife. This is the place where you can find locally invented unusual cocktails and music for every taste!
Bairro Alto is an area with small bars and eateries, where locals hang out right on the street and migrate from one bar to another throughout the evening.
Cais De Sodre is a famous “Pink street”, a home to many bars and nightclubs, here are the coolest of them:
Cerveteca is the best choice for beer lovers in Lisbon.
Pensao Amor is a former brothel that has been converted into a baroque bar. Impressive atmosphere!
Pavilhao Chines is the most eclectic bar in the city, and the interior is remarkable for its details: there are more than 4,000 objects from various founder’s collections.
Red Frog is a secret bar with insanely tasty cocktails. Look for the picture of red frog at Rua do Salitre 5A.
Jamaica is not a school for schoolchildren, they play serious rock here, so if you are tired of pop, this is the place.
Don’t forget to taste the Ginjinha cherry infusion and drink real Port wine — you’re in Portugal!
Before going for refills, make sure you have enough money with you: most of the bars will only accept cash, and ATMs in popular areas may charge a large commission.
