Lisbon Travel Guide – What To Do Including Hints & Tips
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, known for many amazing things. We experienced a fair amount in four days, from tasting the delicious pastéis de nata to seeing the main sites! So if you’re planning on heading there soon check out my guide below to help you plan your future stay.
How to get there:
Depending on where you are in Europe there are multiple ways of getting to Lisbon, Portugal. Train, buses and flying are all options. This time we flew as taking a bus would have taken roughly an extra 30 (!!) hours from France. We booked through Skyscanner. It has comparable prices between airlines but we also checked Omio as it has information on both buses and trains.
Where to stay:
For our four nights we stayed in hostel (four single bunk bed room) in the centre of Lisbon. Perfect if you are on a budget and if solo travelling, want to get to know others! Breakfast was also included which meant we were saving a little each day. Through Hostelworld you can browse and book different hostels online (they also have an app to make things simple). So if you’re travelling on your own or even with friends, it’s a cheap and easy way to get good accomodation at an affordable price.
How to travel within Lisbon:
Walking, metro, buses and trams were our main forms of transportation. When exploring the city centre most of the time we relied on using our legs. Trams are also a great way to get around the city if walking isn’t as much of an option for you. Some of them are quite famous as you may have seen through social media too! If you’re wanting to get outside of Lisbon, to Sintra for example, a train or bus is definitely necessary if you don’t have a car. If taking public transportation when you first arrive into Lisbon make sure you invest in a Lisbon card. This is a card that you can use on a range of Lisbon’s transportation services and gives you discounts. Best place to buy it? Airports, metro stations and you can also buy them online arriving prior to Lisbon here.
To do’s:
– A day trip to Sintra! Definitely a must do while staying in Lisbon is exploring Sintra. This UNESCO World Heritage site contains beautiful palaces, architecture and gardens! We saw Pena Palace, Castelo dos Mouros and Quinta da Regaleira but there are many more to choose from!
– Tower of Belém, also known as the Tower of St Vincent, located right on the water. This building was used as a fortress and a gateway to the city. Luckily we didn’t have to wait long to get in and honestly, I don’t think it’s really worth it. There is a great view from the terrace but aside from that it is quite empty. However if it does peak your interest and you do decide to go in allow over an hour to explore the inside as there are narrow walkways to get up and down to each floor so only one way at a time. Definitely something I would put on the list to see but just from the outside!
– Praça do Camércio. It would be pretty hard to miss this landmark located in the city. The plaza is stunning so is definitely worth a look around.
– Padrão dos Descobrimentos or the Monument to the Discoveries. The size of this monument alone is something to marvel at! It stands here to celebrate the Portuguese Age of Discovery, showing different figures, each known for their explorations.
– LX Factory, where you can find everything arty. From bookstores to jewellery to amazing restaurants and cafes this is definitely somewhere you want to visit when in Lisbon. We spent a good couple of hours here exploring, eating and admiring the street art so definitely stick this one in your to do’s!
– Village Underground Lisboa. Can’t even put into words how cool this place is! There are literally BUSES piled on top of shipping containers! It’s such a crazy, quirky concept showcasing a co-working creative community. There’s a bar and small kitchen so if you fancy a drink, snack or just a cool place to hang out don’t look any further! Also located not far from LX Factory! Two birds, one stone!
– Wander around old town Alfama District. We unknowingly did this and how glad we were that we did! The small alleyways lead you to the most adorable shops and the yummiest bakeries. It is known to have a few stairs but the views were stunning! So worth it!
– Check out Amoreiras 360° Panoramic View. Located more inland from my other to do’s is the Amoreiras Shopping centre. If you feel like doing a bit of shopping or going to cinema, it’s a great place. However, I would suggest to head to the second floor and buy a ticket that takes you up to the top of the building. Such a beautiful view of the city and beyond. We stayed up here for a decent half hour, sometimes with it just being us.
– Pink Street, previously known as Lisbon’s red light district. Pink Street is now famous for its alty conversion to cute, quirky cafes in the day. Or if you want to go for a different vibe, it also has a reputation for it’s great nightlife too! Either way, you won’t regret roaming this memorable street!
Best places to eat / drink:
– Wish Slow Coffee House: Just YUM! Located in LX Factory we went here for breakfast. Such an array of delicious, fresh foods to choose from and the staff were also super friendly!
– Village Underground Lisboa. As mentioned in the ‘to do’s’, this is a place where you want to have a drink. Such. Great. Vibes!
– Hidden bakeries / cafes in Alfama District: When getting lost in Alfama District and you come across any bakery that sells ‘pastéis de nata’, do not hesitate. Order as many as you can carry and you can thank me later. But on a serious note, the one we went into happened to be by chance. Unfortunately I didn’t get the name but the owner was extremely lovely! Even with her not being able to speak much english she knew exactly what we wanted and the pastéis de nata was AMAZING! Also, always a great feeling to support local businesses!
– Sol e Pesca: Located along the famous Pink Street. We just stopped in here for snack and drink and it was pretty top notch! Staff were really nice and even though it’s not really my jam, is well-known for its canned seafood so if that’s what you’re into it’s worth a stop.
General hints and tips:
– Expect to pay a couple euro extra if you eat the bread or breadsticks (in a packet) when eating out. Majority of the time this is not included in the price of your meal.
– Buy the Lisbon card. This will give you free access to certain museums, discounts and save on public transport. You can buy them online or at the airport and they come with a free map and small travel guide. For more information click here.
– Make sure to go to the main monuments early if you don’t want to be waiting in line or want to avoid the crowds. I find earlier the better but that’s only because I love soaking in the views and atmosphere without loads of people around.
– Take the essentials. Especially on any day trips even while in the city take a hat, water and sunblock. It can get hot in Lisbon!
– Avoid tourist traps: Tram 28, Santa Justa Lift, Pastéis de Belém are just the main ones that come to mind. Tram 28 is the most famous in the city as it takes you past all of the main attractions however it gets extremely packed and you can be waiting a long time to get on. Santa Justa Lift is one of the quickest ways to get from Baixa to Bairro Alto but is also more well known for the lookout and views over the city. Save your time and go through Largo do Carmo instead or as mentioned above head to Amoreiras 360° Panoramic View! And lastly Pastéis de Belém are apparently where the pastéis de nata’s original recipe comes from but I found that little shops, locally owned had nicer pastéis de nata and they were DELICIOUS!
Because we had four days in Lisbon we had plenty of time to explore all of it’s highlights. And there were so many! Spending more time in one place and not having to rush experiences, making trips more in depth is how I like to travel so this was perfect. Lisbon left a lasting impression so I can only imagine how amazing the rest of Portugal is. So for anyone thinking about visiting Lisbon or Portugal, hopefully this has steered you towards the right direction and makes you add it to your bucket-list!