Lisbon is one of our favourite places in Europe - we visited here the day after we got engaged a few years ago and have been making a point of coming back ever since. Lisbon has the perfect blend of city life and access to beaches, with many great coastal towns like Cascais just a short trip away.
If you're planning to take a trip to Lisbon, then this Lisbon travel guide has got you covered. In this blog we will be sharing everything you need to know before your next trip to Lisbon, from how to get to the airports and where to get great photos to our favourite bars and restaurants and everything in between.
Lisbon Travel Guide - Contents
How to get from Lisbon airport
Public Transport
Lisbon airport is very easy to navigate - if you are staying in the city centre, the easiest way to get there is to follow the signs in the airport for the underground which is about a 5 minute walk from arrivals.
Once you get there, go to the ticket machines where you will have the option of purchasing a single ticket which is €1.80, or you can purchase a 24 hour pass for around €6.60, which can then be used throughout the day on the public transport network.
If you are staying in the city centre, take the red line towards Sao Sebastiao for 9 stops before changing to the Green line at Almaeda towards Baixa Chiado, for a further 6 stops. This will bring you to which is in the heart of the city. The total journey time from the airport using this method is around 35 minutes.
Taxi
You can also take a taxi from the airport, which is around a 25 minute journey. Taxis are much more affordable in Lisbon than many other cities in Western Europe. Download the Bolt app before you visit to get the best prices available from the airport. We were able to find options for less than €10 when we visited.
How to get around Lisbon
Walk
Lisbon is walkable but be warned in advance, it is incredibly hilly and the majority of the streets are cobbled stone so your choice of footwear is an important decision.
That being said, you can still largely get around by foot but would be better off using public transport/taxis to visit places like Belem Tower, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos and LX Factory which are a little bit out of the city centre.
Bolt
Unlike many cities in Western Europe, taxis are extremely affordable here, particularly if you use the ride sharing app, Bolt. To give you an example, we took a 10 minute taxi journey using Bolt that cost €3.65 in Lisbon, whereas the same journey at home in Dublin would have cost €10+.
City Pass
The best value way to get around the city is to get a Lisbon City Pass, these are available for 24/48 or 72 hours and include unlimited access to public transport (including the train to Sintra and Cascais), as well as entry to over 50 local attractions including Belem Tower and discounts for shopping and nightlife.
Hop on/Hop off
If you’re visiting Lisbon for the first time, the city sightseeing tours are one of the most convenient ways to get around the city. This allows you to see all of the major tourist attractions without the added stress of how to get there.
The Lisbon Hop On/Hop Off Ticket also includes a boat cruise on the Tagus River, as well as access to the Santa Just lift, public trams and gives you lots of great discounts for local museums, bars and restaurants.
When to visit Lisbon
Lisbon is one of the few places that you can comfortably visit every month of the year. We have been to Lisbon in both summer and winter and enjoyed it just as much each time.
If you want to visit for the good weather, we would always recommend going in the shoulder season months of April -May or September-October.
The weather in these months is great, it is less crowded than peak simmer months and naturally, accommodation is more affordable as a result. The average temperature in these months ranges from 12 (low) to 26 (high) degrees celsius.
Lisbon is also really nice at Christmas time. There are several Christmas markets throughout the city, the streets are well decorated and you can get hotels in the city centre at a very reasonable price.
We have just come back from a December trip to Lisbon and the temperatures were consistently around 18-22 degrees Celsius while we were there, making it a great option to enjoy the best of Christmas while still getting a bit of winter sun.
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How long should you stay in Lisbon
We would recommend staying anywhere from 2-5 days in Lisbon depending on the kind of experience you would like to have in the city. 3 days in Lisbon is enough time to enjoy the city without feeling like you’re in too much of a rush so if you just want to see Lisbon, go for at least 2-3 days.
There are also some great day trips you can take from Lisbon if you want to stretch out your stay a bit longer. Our first day trip recommendation would be a trip to the coastal town of Cascais. Cascais is just an hour away from Lisbon and is the perfect place to visit in the good weather.
You can relax at one of the many beautiful beaches here including Guincho beach, Rainha beach or Pescadores Beach or take a scenic cliffside walk along the Boca de Inferno.
Another day trip you can easily take from Lisbon is to the fairytale hilltop location of Sintra, home to the beautiful Pena Palace. Sintra is around 30-40 minutes from Lisbon city centre by car or you can get a return train ticket for around €6 from Lisbon Rossio station. The trains run twice an hour and take around 40 minutes to reach Sintra.
Once you arrive in Sintra, there will be buses just outside the station that can take you to Pena Palace and the other main attractions in Sintra.
Tickets cost around €8 if you are going to Pena Palace only or €13 for the full hop on/hop off ticket. Be warned, the bus journey to the top is hilly and full of very sharp bends so if you suffer with motion sickness, you may find it a little unpleasant.
There are two ticket options for your visit to Pena Palace, full access to the exterior and interior of the palace will cost around €20, whereas you can get a ticket to access the grounds of the palace for less than €9.
If you are planning to visit Sintra, we would recommend taking the stress out of the day by taking a Sintra Guided Tour to make sure you can fully enjoy the day without having to worry about the logistics. You can also combine a trip to Sintra with Cascais if you are limited for time.
Note: Please note that for any bookings made via the affiliate links included within this post, we will receive a small commission from the supplier but this will not affect the price you pay.
Where to Stay in Lisbon
If you are not sure where to stay and don't want to be too fa away from the main attractions, we would suggest staying around the Baixa area, which is the main area for shopping, bars and restaurants.
We've put together a list of some of our favourite hotels in Lisbon below to help you narrow down your decision. You could also stay around Alfama, which has some of the cities best viewpoints for sunset, as well as a beautiful cafe for hot chocolate, Cafe Sao Miguel.
Hotels for every budget:
Hotel | Price Range |
€80-150+ per night (Double Room) | |
€80-150+ per night (Double Room) | |
€80-150+ per night (Double Room) | |
€80-150+ per night (Double Room) | |
€150-200+ per night (Double Room) | |
€150-200+ per night (Double Room) | |
€150-200+ per night (Double Room) | |
€150-200+ per night (Double Room) | |
€200+ per night (Double Room) | |
€200+ per night (Double Room) | |
€200+ per night (Double Room) |
Note: Please note that for any bookings made via the affiliate links included within this post, we will receive a small commission from the supplier but this will not affect the price you pay.
Best things to do in Lisbon
Belem Tower
Belem Tower is one of our favourite places in Lisbon. It is a little bit out of the city centre but can easily be reached on a short taxi journey and is one of the nicest places in a Lisbon to get a photo, with the x bridge in the background.
Just a short walk from Belem Tower you can also visit the Mosteiro de Jeronimos or the . We would recommend coming to this area as the sun begins to set, before then going to the Maat museum or Icon rooftop bar to get perfect views of the bridge at sunset.
LX Factory
LX factory has become a really popular place in recent years. The LX Factory hosts lots of great events, as well as over 50 shops, bars and restaurants.
There are lots of quirky shops here, an amazing book store and plenty of places for food and drink. It is also lined with street art and is just a short walk from one of the most incredible and relatively unknown views of the 25 de Abril Bridge, Capel de Santa Amaro.
Time Out Market
Time Out is just a short walk from popular attractions such as Pink Street and Green Street, which again are quite popular for photo opportunities.
However, the thing we would suggest doing after your trip to the Market is to check out the Elevador de Bica, before going for a drink at either Foxtrot, a retro speakeasy or Lost in Lisbon, which has a nice outdoor terrace overlooking the city.
Alfama
This is our favourite area of the city and one we would recommend adding to your visit to Lisbon. Again, this is a great area to visit as sunset approaches, with beautiful views of the city from Miradoura de Santa Luzia, before grabbing a window seat at Cafe Garagem to enjoy a drink with a view.
If you’re a fan of hot chocolate, make sure to visit Casa de Sao Miguel, a quirky cafe specialising in the comforting drink.
Elevador de Bica
Lisbon is renowned for its trams and Elevador de Bica is possibly the most famous of them all. This is the most photographed funicular in
Lisbon and after the short steep climb, you are able to get dramatic views overlooking the river and the city below, as well as the very photogenic tram itself. For only €4.10 for a ticket, this is definitely worth adding to your trip.
Instagrammable photo spots in Lisbon
Maat Museum
Miradoura de Santa Luzia
Rua da Vinha
Elevador de Bica
Belem Tower
Mosteiro de Jeronimos
LX Factory
Green Street
Pink Street
Icon
Arch
Tram 28
Arco da Rua Augusta
Sé Cathedral
Elevador Santa Justa
Capel de Santa Amaro
You can check out some of the best activities Lisbon has to offer through the links below.
Note: Please note that for any bookings made via the affiliate links included within this post, we will receive a small commission from the supplier but this will not affect the price you pay
Best Cafes to visit in Lisbon
Hygee
Magnolia
Heim
Marquise
Miolo
Cotidiano
Dear Breakfast
Hello Kristof
Amelia
Sellva
Shakar
Best Restaurants to visit in Lisbon
Rocco
Florentina
Leonetta
Boa Bao
Brilhante
Malquerida Tacos (€1 tacos 6-7pm)
Kefi (Greek)
Best Bars to visit in Lisbon
Foxtrot (Speakeasy)
Lost in Lisbon (Views)
Cafe Garagem (Sunset Views)
Imprensa (Cocktails)
Seen (Cocktails)
Icon (Sunset Views)
Machimbombo (Cocktails)
Mama Shelter Rooftop
Best Pastel de Nata in Lisbon
Pasteis de Belem
Mantegairia
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