City Guide // Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is such a colorful, hilly, coastal city, and it reminded us immensely of San Francisco, our home for 6 years.
Here is our city guide for Lisbon with a list of our recommendations.
Getting Around
In the old city, Lisbon is relatively easy to walk around, and there are cute shops to discovered amongst all the beautiful architecture. It is, however, very hilly, and the stones on the streets are very slippery, so be prepared and be careful.
If you’d rather not walk, you can easily take one of Lisbon’s famous trams, which crisscross the city. The historic “Remodelado” trams are the quaint yellow trams that squeeze their rickety way through the narrow streets of Lisbon. The most iconic of these is the E28 (or Tram 28) which passes through much of the historic city.
The “Articulado” trams have higher passenger capacity but only travel the flat sections of the city, along the E15 route, which connects central Lisbon to the Belem district. More on Belem below!
These trams are €3.00 per ride, which you can pay when you board, or you can get a Viva Viagem reusable card, which costs €0.50 for the card and can be bought from metro stations in town. Using this card, every trip is discounted from the cash price you would pay when boarding. If you’re traveling a lot, a 24 hour public transport pass is €6.30 and includes all trams, metro and buses in Lisbon.
An alternative to this is to get the Lisbon Card. For €21, you get 24hr unlimited access to public transport (including the train to Sintra) and free entrance to all major tourist locations like Belem Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Funiculars, etc. You can also buy 48 or 72hr passes as well.
Taxis are also a great way to get around. They are everywhere and easy to flag.
Lisbon does have Uber, but we were never able to successfully take one. We would call it, and it would say 7-10 minutes, then keep switching us to different drivers until we eventually gave up and called a taxi instead. Hopefully you’ll have better luck than us!
What to See
Tram 28
Tram 28 connects Martim Moniz with Campo Ourique, and passes by a number of famous locations along the way. Although very touristy, but it is a beautiful ride, and I would definitely recommend you ride the tram very early or very late to avoid the midday crowds, and also board at one of the terminal stops (Martim Moniz or Campo Ourique). A lot of elderly take this tram regularly though, so do be considerate and give up your seat if you see one of them in need of one.
I think the best part of the tram ride is the portion closest to the old town, from Martim Moniz to the Bairro Alto neighborhood. More info on this tram can be found here.
Lx Factory
Previously a fabric production plant, the space that the Lx Factory currently occupies became an abandoned and run-down inner-city area that desperately needed a makeover. A private investor took on the challenge and created a vibrant, bustling space that now houses 200+ businesses ranging from design houses, show-rooms, shops, cafés, and restaurants.
This was one of our favorite spots in Lisbon, and I could write an entire blog post on it alone.
Some highlights here are definitely the Ler Devagar Bookstore and the Street Art.
There is also a flea market here every Sunday, and I wish we had had time to come! For lunch, we highly recommend The Therapist. The food was so fresh, healthy, and delicious.
Castelo de S. Jorge
Located in the heart of Lisbon, this castle had an excellent vantage point high above the River Tejo, giving it a prime defensive position since the Roman era. The castle is dedicated to Saint George, the patron Saint of England because king Afonso Henriques presented the castle to his English wife, Philippa of Lancaster, as a wedding gift in 1387.
Some of the best views of the city can be found at Castelo de S. Jorge, though they do close before sunset during peak summer, unfortunately (sunset is after 8pm, and they close at 7pm).
Go shopping along the Avenida da Liberdade
This boulevard, built in the 19th century in the style of Paris’s Champs Elysees, is the main avenue of Lisbon. The boulevard is more than 300ft wide, and has beautifully decorated sidewalks of “Portuguese pavement”, a traditional-style pavement consisting of small stones arranged to form a pattern.
Many of the city’s grander hotels and designer shops line this city, making the shopping here quite beautiful.
Praça do Comércio
The Praça do Comércio is a historic, harbour-facing plaza in the middle of Lisbon, on the banks of the Tagus River. The wealth of Portugal was channeled through this plaza and port, and is now home to the oldest cafe in the city, Martinho da Arcada. as well as many important government ministries.
Facing the water is the majestic Rua Augusta Arch, Lisbon’s own Arc de Triomphe. You can go to the top of this arch for unique views of the city and the water.
Livraria Bertrand
If you have time (and it’s in a great area), the oldest operating bookshop is in Lisbon. It’s not hugely interesting inside, but it has a plaque at the door from the Guinness World Records, so it’s interesting to see if you’re in the area.
Spend a day in Belém
Jerónimos Monastery
Jerónimos Monastery is one of the seven wonders of Portugal, along with Belém Tower and the Pena National Palace, and is one of the most visited sites in Lisbon.
The two-story cloister is architecturally stunning, and there are lots of photo opportunities playing with sun and shadow here. When we went, the museum was closed for renovation, and the ticket line was separate from the entrance, so be aware that you might have to stand in two lines — don’t stand in the entrance line without a ticket!
Belém Tower
Granted UNESCO status in 1983, Belém Tower stands out as an icon of Lisbon, protruding from the water with prominence. It was designed to be a fort, and was built during the height of the Portuguese Renaissance, in 1514. It marked the beginning of voyages for sailors and the last sight of land.
Later on, the tower was transformed into a lighthouse and a prison for politicians.
When we visited, there was a concert nearby that really created even better vibes for visiting this fortress.
Museums
The National Coach Museum is in Belem, and has one of the finest collections of historical carriages in the world (imagine roomfuls of 16th century, nobility-carrying horse drawn carriages). The MAAT Museum (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) is also in the area, and is a striking architectural marvel, boasting an undulating form covered in 15,000 white, three-dimensional ceramic tiles.
What to Eat
For a full guide on what to eat and where, see my guide on it here.
For a quick summary, pastéis de nata are a must eat pastry in Lisbon, and you will find bacalau (or codfish) everywhere, frequently with chickpeas. I’d also recommend doing a port tasting while you’re here, unless you plan to go to Porto — if that’s the case, do the tasting there.
For the best locations for these foods, see my guide, which also include cafes and restaurants to visit.
Where to Stay
We frequently found ourselves in the Baixa-Chiado, Avenida da Liberdade, and Bairro Alto quarters, so would recommend staying in these areas if you want to be close to all the things to see. The Baixa district is the historic center of Lisbon, the Avenida da Liberdade is the stylish shopping district with many high-end hotels, and Bairro Alto is the party district, with lots of restaurants and bars open late.
Here are some recommendations!
Baixa-Chiado:
Avenida da Liberdade:
Day Trip Ideas
Sintra
If you’re in Lisbon for more than 3 days, I would definitely recommend a day trip to Sintra, which is super easy to access by train or by car. Full day trip guide coming!
