Lisbon City Guide
The pastel blushed houses, vintage trams, hilltop views and windy cobblestone streets all conspire to make Lisbon an utterly charming place. There is a tonne to do in Lisbon, and while you can have a great weekend city break here, I think you just as easily spend a whole week.
I put together a list of things to do and i’ve included some helpful tips for when you decide to navigate the city of Lisbon.
Things to Do in the Day
Rua Augusta
The first thing I’d recommend you do is walk on the Rua Augusta. At the end of this lovely street, you will find a triumphal arch, which also marks the start of the commerce square. Walking along this strip will probably take you at most 2 hours.
Tram 28
Now don’t be confused by this… but you DON’T need to actually ride the Tram 28 to experience it. The Tram 28 is probably one of the city’s largest tourist traps (just a fair warning, its known for having a high concentration of pickpockets, as the crowded rides provide the perfect opportunity for them to act. Apart from this, prepare to wait (a lot!) to hop on the 28 with a queue up to 1h30. My recommendation? Head over to one of the Tram 28 Stops and quickly grab your Iconic Lisbon worthy shot in front of Tram 28.
Miradouro de Santa Luzia
Potentially one of Lisbon’s most romantic and famous miradouros is the one located by the church of Santa Luzia. The landscape terrace offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city's oldest district, Alfama.
Day Trip to Sintra
A day trip from Lisbon to Sintra is one of my biggest recommendations for you, of things to do in Lisbon – and there are reasons for that: The picturesque town was built on the hills of the Serra de Sintra nearby Lisbon and is not only full of history, but also provides an amazing opportunity to take great pictures (which you obviously know, I was super excited for).
Pro Tip; The best way to get to Sintra (and most inexpensive) is to take the direct line from Rossio Train Station to Sintra. The entire ride takes around (40-50 minutes) and brings you right to Sintra. Also Sintra is a full day experience, so make sure you set out a complete day to explore this city of castles.
Belém
Technically, Belém isn’t really in Lisbon city itself. But it is an integral part of Portugal’s history, as it was here where Portuguese explorers set off to discover the world.
Probably the reason why you might be thinking to head over to Belém is to try out the Pasteis de Belém Bakery (where the making of the first Pastel de Nata back in 1837 occurred).. Crispy on the outside, sweet and creamy on the inside…and I making you hungry? Well outside of the famous and overly crowded bakery, there are also a few other places worth checking out.
· Mosteiro dos Jeronimos
· Belém Tower
· Padrão dos Descobrimentos – A great opp for photos of the 25 de Abril Bridge is a suspension bridge and Tagus River.
Things to Do at Night
Rua Nova do Carvalho (The Pink Street) and Bairro Alto
Once the sun goes down, one street that you can count on to have a crowd and plenty of drinks in Lisbon is the aptly named, Pink Street located in Cais do Sodre and around the corner from the historic Mercado da Ribeira.
Now if Rua Nova do Carvalho is not really your scene, id recommend checking out Bairro Alto for some action.
Upon walking home, we stumbled upon a really great street (Tv. da Cara), which I really recommend you check out. There are a ton of bars along the street, with locals and tourists outside mingling (almost like an outdoor party). Right around the corner is Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. At night you can admire panoramic view across the city to St. George's Castle.
Getting Around
The best way to get around Lisbon is using the metro line. Just like any transportation method in a new city – it takes some getting used to. But not to worry the information and maps are provided in English, which made it easier for us to follow instructions and get to our destinations without any hassle.
Pro Tip; Make sure to keep your tickets when entering – you’ll need them for when you exit!
Where to Eat
I found Lisbon pretty well-rounded when it comes to the cost of food. Now…since most of our day was packed with things to do and see, we only really made time for a sit down breakfast/brunch, and decided to grab lunch and dinner on the go. So with that said, here are two really awesome breakfast/brunch recommendations!
$ - A Padaria Portuguesa – here you can enjoy a breakfast that includes bread with fresh orange juice, and coffee for 2.5 euro (Don’t forget to taste their amazing pão de deus). There are a few of these bakery cafés located around the city!
$$ - Nicolau Lisboa - Located in the heart of old Lisbon, Nicolau is perfect for a tasty (instagramable) brunch!
Where to Stay
Luckily the prices for accommodation in Lisbon are similar to the ones for food and transportation: pretty affordable. If its your first time in Lisbon and you have a short time to explore I’d recommend staying in the Bairro Alto district.
Lxway Apartments Lisbon has apartments in the cities most popular neighbourhoods so that you can visit all of Lisbon’s main attractions without wasting time on transportation. Lxway apartments is known for their dedication to offering an exceptional experience – aside from their website, you can find a list of their apartments on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Additionally, Open House Portugal offers fairly priced vacation rentals with fully modernized 18th century apartment in the historic centre of Lisbon.
I hope you guys found this post useful! As-per-usual please subscribe to get updates on my travels!
