A castle-topped hill, lively grand squares, brightly tiled buildings and endless views, Lisbon is a bustling wonder. My first time to the colourful Portugese capital was a delightful whirlwind that left me longing for more.
Lisbon has been changing over the past 10 years. Once the Portuguese capital was a European bargain, but the word has gotten out and Lisbon is as expensive as Rome, Barcelona or Paris. The recent increase of tourism and ex-pats moving to Portugal had caused a lot of growing pains for Lisboetas causing housing prices to go up and pushing locals out of the city. There are still some authentic slices of Lisbon culture to be enjoyed if you know where to look.
For a first time visit to Lisbon I recommend at least a 3 night stay; 5 nights would be ideal if you have the time. International travelers will most likely arrive Humberto Delgado airport in Lisbon. It's is a bustling hub about a 15-20 minute ride from the downtown area. In the arrivals hall, right after you clear customs there is a tourist information center where you can grab some maps, purchase a LISBOA card, and get up to date information that may not be in a guidebook or on any tourist websites.
TIP #1 THE LISBOA CARD is a all-in-one attraction/transportation card that allows you to use all public transport like subway, buses, trams, funiculars and even trains, as well as entry into 51 museums and monuments. The LISBOA card is available in 24 hours for 31€ , 48 hours for 51€ and 72 hour for 62€ validity windows. I purchased a 72 hour LISBOA card that lasted the duration of my stay. The card ended up saving me a lot of time, money and hassle of buying a separate public transit card. Many museums let you skip the ticket lines with the LISBOA card which can save you hours. The LISBOA card is valid from the first time it is used to enter an attraction or public transportation. BE AWARE: MOST ATTRACTIONS IN LISBON ARE CLOSED ON MONDAYS!
TIP #2 GETTING AROUND LISBON I found the best way to get from the airport to central Lisbon is the subway. In 2026 the cost was €1.90 plus a €.50 for the reloadable Navegante card that allows you to zap on and off the public transport. I used my LISBOA card I purchased at the airport when I landed. There are only 4 metro lines that service Lisbon, making it simple to navigate the city and it only took me 30 minutes during morning rush hour to get to my accommodation. Taxis are expensive during rush hour and yes, you can get ripped off easily. It costs about €20 to get from the airport to central Lisbon. There are also two popular ride-share apps in Portugal; UBER and BOLT. Bolt is cheaper and more popular than taxis or even Uber, and even delivers food. For example, it only cost me €8 to get back to the airport when it was time to leave Lisbon. That's less than half the price of a taxi!
For all things transportation in Lisbon, there is a really helpful YouTube channel called: "ROAD TRIP SPAIN & PORTUGAL" linked: HERE
Tip #3 CHOOSE FOOTWARE WISELY Like Rome, Lisbon is known as "The City of the Seven Hills" but unlike Rome, these hills are incredibly steep and will leave your calves burning! Be aware that the danger levels increase for slips when the beautiful polished white Limestone and black Basalt cobblestones called calçada become wet with rain or humidity, they turn incredibly slick. Look for Escadinhas da Saúde which are outdoor public escalators. You can even set your route navigation in Google maps to wheelchair accessible in your route options, to show you a route using escalators, funiculars and elevators that are sometimes located inside public buildings. A fun way to take a break from walking is to ride one of the vintage trams back to your accommodations. If you are want to ride the iconic Tram 28, do so early in the day or not at all. The lines of tourists trying to cram like Portuguese sardines into the tram is not a fun experience.
TIP #4 GET LOST IN ALFAMA & MOURARIA These two districts are the oldest areas of Lisbon that survived the 1755 earthquake. I stayed at an AirBnB in the Alfama district of Lisbon so I could explore the Medieval charm and narrow pedestrian streets in the evening after a day of sightseeing. There are many authentic traditional resatuarants called Tasca's in this area. Lisbon's Castelo São Jorge was a short walk away through the maze like streets. Arriving in Lisbon on a Monday morning, most attractions covered by the Lisboa Card are CLOSED. Sao Jorge castle is open 7 days a week fr0m 9am-9pm, and has some of the most fantastic views of the city.
Alfama is also the home of Fado music, a traditional folk blues that is usually performed in restaurants and bars. I went to Alfama Grill that had wonderful Fado singing starting around 6-7 pm. If you are interested in the tradition of Fado, don't miss the Museum of Fado: museudofado.pt
Tip #5 ADJUST YOUR EATING TIMES Breakfast in Portugal is quick and light. Your traditional egg custard tarts called pastéis de nata are enjoyed with your coffee and later as a snack (lanche) in the afternoon around 4pm. Lunch is between 12:30-3pm often a quick hot pork sandwich on a crusty roll called a bifana that people line up for a lunch counter. Dinner is usually at night between 8-10pm, which can be late for many North Americans. The waiter will bring the table an appetizer called a couvert. This is not free and will be added to your bill, if you do not tell your waiter no thank you. Dinner in Lisbon is a hearty, relaxed affair when you can linger over delicious house wine and grilled seafood. The menu will always have bacalhau or cod and sardine dishes that are staples in all Lisbon restaurants.
I hope these tips have been helpful in planning your first trip to the radiant city of Lisbon. If you would like to add a tip for folks, please leave them in the comments below.
