Travel Guide Lisbon Portugal

So you’ve heard great things about Lisbon and are anxious to add it to your Europe travel itinerary? Here is a little overview of information relating to Lisbon to hopefully help your travel planning.

When is the best time to visit Lisbon?

Good news! Lisbon is basically a year round destination. Summers are definitely high season and winters can dip into the mid 50s (but as far as Europe goes that’s pretty mild). Also expect some rain in the winter months (Nov & Feb are said to be the wettest), so make sure to pack your umbrella!

What to do in Lisbon?

As mentioned in my post 10 Things To Do in Lisbon, there aren’t a ton of sites in Lisbon - much of the city’s appeal is in the feel of the city…it’s friendly people, cute eateries, lively bars, peaceful safe neighborhoods, etc. BUT here is a list of some things you can check out while in town…

Lisbon Sightseeing:
- Jerónimos Monastery - long lines can mean a 2+ hour wait, so buy ahead (or just visit the church & outside of monastery). Good to pair with Belem Tower, Pasteis de Belem, & LX Factory.
- Belem Tower - pretty tower for a quick visit, don’t bother going inside
- Pasteis de Belem - the original & most famous shop for Pasteis de Nata, right across from Belem Tower & nearby the Monastery. TIP DONT STAND IN LINE. Walk into restaurant and sit down at a table :)
- Castelo de San Jorge - Moorish castle from the 11th century located in the center of Lisbon (very easy access). Great views of the entire city! Peacocks roam around too.
- Miradouro da Graça - nice terrace with panoramic views of Castelo de San Jorge and the rest of the city.
- Time Out Market - indoor market with 24 restaurants and 8 bars. lots of good food options! Not a ton for vegetarians but still had an excellent (very unique) veggie burger. Finding seating can be hard however, people get very aggressive haha.
- LX Factory - fun strip of art galleries, quirky souvenir shops, a lovely bookstore, cafes, and restaurants. On Sundays there is a popular market as well. Come hungry bc the food choices are excellent! Malaca Too’s pad Thai is honestly one of the best I’ve had outside of Thailand. Don’t miss Rio Maravilha’s rooftop bar for great city views and chill atmosphere as well!
- Sintra - This UNESCO World Heritage Site is not technically in Lisbon, but only 30-40 minutes away and a must when coming to Lisbon. Colorful homes, romanticism era castles, tranquil gardens - it’s enough to spend a half day or full day.
- Best Beaches in/around Lisbon:
  - Portinho da Arrábida - really beautiful but not much public transit and parking is very tough. About an hour from Lisbon city center.
  - Guincho - beautiful beach known for windsurfing, about 30 min from Lisbon.
  - Meco - nice, relaxing beach with high cliffs, several eateries nearby.
  - Troia - not far from Sebutal, gorgeous views across the estuary.
  - Adraga - a favorite of many, near Sintra. absolutely beautiful!
- Explore Street Art - Lisbon is an incredibly colorful city with tons of street art throughout. Join a street art tour, such as Airbnb’s Lisbon Street Art Walk or grab a map from Underdog Gallery and take your own DIY tour. Another fun idea is to Pose in the city with a photographer (where you’ll get lots of photos with the street art! Prasad the host is fantastic….loved my photos!)
- Praça do Comércio - good place to congregate with friends. Right next to the waterfront - so come here for fantastic sunsets! There’s restaurants around (mostly a bit touristy ones though).
- Jose Maria Da Fonseca Winery Tour & Tasting - lovely winery & mini museum to tour and have a tasting. 45 minutes from Lisbon City Center.
- Drink on Pink Street - The main nightlife area in Lisbon, lots of fun bars (and strip clubs) for whatever your taste is.
- National Tile Museum - one of Lisbon’s most prized museums, and important to their Moorish cultural heritage (you’ll find tile ALL over the city).
- Mercado do Livramento - fresh fish & vegetable market in Sebutal.
- The Cathedral - Lisbon’s oldest building.
- Oceanário de Lisboa - largest aquarium in Europe, good thing to do on a rainy day. About 20-25 minutes from city center.
- Panteao Nacional - beautiful architecture inside & out. Nice views from the terrace of city/river.
- Feira Da Ladra - flea market every Tues & Sat from early morning to afternoon
- Basilica da Estrela - one of the most ornate churches in Portugal, built for Mary I.
- Jardim Zoologico - good option for families (they have Siberian tigers which is cool)
- Palace of the Marquiuses of Fronteira - 17th century palace with nice gardens and “azulejos” (the decorative tiles). Guided tours available.
- Ride Tram 28 - this is super touristy, but people ride the old trams around the old city.

What areas to stay in Lisbon?

Baixa & Rossio - home to a lot of the tourist sites, it’s a main “downtown” part of the city. It’s an area that was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755.
Alfama - very charming part of Lisbon with windy, narrow streets. There aren’t many hotels here, but you will find Airbnbs. Expect to find friendly locals and neighbors selling homemade liquors and treats from makeshift pop up shops.
Chiado - the main shopping district of the city, you’ll find many recognizable brands/stores here and restaurants to chose from.
Bairro Alto - the nightlife center, this is also home to many cute eateries and restaurants. Expect it to feel totally dead in the morning as the partiers are late to rise lol, but very hopping at night. EXPECT LOTS OF HILLS.
Belem - home to a few of Lisbon’s top sites like the Monastery, Belem Tower, Pasteis de Belem restaurant, etc.
Alcantara - a neighborhood between Belem and central Lisbon, it’s home to LX Factory and is along the waterfront - there’s a dock with restaurants and bars here too.
Mouraria - near St. George’s castle, this is another option in the tourist area with many old buildings and a historic feel.

What hotels/hostels to stay in Lisbon?

Airbnbs are extremely prolific throughout Lisbon. I stayed at an amazing one in Bairro Alto called Pensão Rosinha - extremely affordable, great hosts, perfect location, and fun place to meet other travelers since there was always rotating guests in the rooms throughout the unit (shared common spaces and bathrooms).

But if you’re more inclined to go hotels, here are a few highly rated / cool looking ones from TripAdvisor:

Or if hostels are more your thing, here are the top rated on Hostelworld:

Yes Lisbon (9.7 Rating with over 10K Reviews)
Home Lisbon Hostel (9.7 Rating with over 9K Reviews)
Good Morning Lisbon Hostel (9.7 Rating with over 3K Reviews)
Lost Inn Lisbon (9.7 Rating with over 3K Reviews)

What to eat in Lisbon (read: Portuguese food to try in Lisbon):

Pasteis De Nata - custard pastries that Lisbon is known for. For truly exceptional ones, head to Pasteis de Belem
Bacalhau - codfish - there are many different ways to cook it / variations on this. Funny enough, codfish aren’t even native to the area and have to be imported from Norway/Sweden area.
Sardinhas Assadas - sardines eeeeek. But seriously these are very emblematic of Lisbon.
Caldo Verde - stop with potatoes, kale, olive oil and salt. Sometimes pork too.
Feijoada - bean stew with pork
Cozido a Portuguesa - breaded sausage dish

Lisbon for Vegans/Vegetarians:

We, my friends, have many options here! There were many more health conscious, trendy restaurants that cater to vegans and vegetarians (as well as more international cuisine like Indian, Ethiopian, etc that just generally are easier for those who eat veggie). Here are a few to check out:

Organi Chiado - menu changes daily and there are only a few items on it each day (but the meal I had there was delicious)
Juicy - cute cafe in Baixa. I think everything is at least vegetarian. They call their wraps flatbreads (just a heads up so you aren’t confused lol). The avocado toast was soooooo good. I think we ate here like 3 days in a row.
daTerra Bairro Alto - vegetarian/vegan buffet restaurant that even has a vegan pasteis de nata!
The Food Temple - probably the oldest vegan restaurant in the city, cozy ambiance in Alfama
O Bostanista - super delicious food in clean, clean cute cafe. unique dishes. desserts looked fantastic.

Lisbon for Digital Nomads:

Lisbon is a top city for digital nomads and expats. It’s extremely livable and you’ll find people here from all over. There are many many cool coworking spaces throughout the city - we worked out of Selina Secret Garden Lisbon. Also there are weekly nomad meet ups on Thursday nights!

Sample Lisbon Itinerary 3-4 Days:

DAY 1: Start your day off with a free walking tour thru Chill Out Lisbon - this will help you orient yourself in the city, as well as check off some of the more touristy squares and sights (meets at 10AM everyday at Praça Luís de Camões). After the tour, make your way to Miradouro da Graça to take some pics with a fantastic view of the city and then explore Castelo de San Jorge. In the afternoon, make your way back to Bairro Alto for an Airbnb experience: Lisbon Street Art Walk. Where you’ll get a local’s perspective on street art throughout the city. End the evening by resting your feet with some fado and a delicious meal.

Day 2: Make your way to Sintra today to explore Pena Palace, gardens, old town, and historic buiuldings. After a bite to eat in town and some souvenir shopping, make your way to Sintra’s beautiful beach, Adraga. Spend the afternoon sunbathing and taking a dip in the water (if it’s not too cold!). In the evening make your way to Praça do Comércio to watch the sunset (it’s very late in Lisbon…around 9pm!). Late night, hit up pink street’s bars, clubs, and nightlife!

Day 3: Rent bikes and ride along the water front (about 30 minutes from city center) to Belem Tower. Then dip across the street for a pasteis de nata at Pasteis De Belem (remember to go inside for a table vs waiting in the line). After you’re full of pastries, make your way to Jerónimos Monastery. Ride bikes to LX Factory where you can hip up their trendy little souvenir shops, art galleries, bookstore, and rooftop bar. If you plan your schedule well, you’ll also wind up there on a Sunday when their market is going on! Make sure to grab drinks and watch the sunset on Rio Maravilha’s rooftop. For dinner, ride your bike over to Time Out Market.

Day 4: Start your day off with a visit to Mercado do Livramento to explore stalls selling fish, cheese, veggies, fruits, etc. Once you’ve sampled a few goodies, make your way to Arrabida beaches along the coast. Spend a few hour relaxing in the sun, then make your way to Jose Maria Da Fonseca for a winery tour and tasting. Once you’re a little buzzing from wine, go get lost in the Tile Museum for some culture. End the evening at a rooftop restaurant like Chapito a Mesa or Park, or somewhere with a nice ocean view like Atira-te ao Rio.