Travel guide · Portugal
Lisbon travel guide
Hilltop viewpoints, yellow trams and custard tarts on the Tagus
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
Lisbon climbs seven hills above the wide Tagus estuary, a short train ride from Atlantic beaches. The flat Baixa grid, rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, links the medieval lanes of Alfama and the castle with Chiado and the bar streets of Bairro Alto, while Belém, 6 km west, holds the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower. Historic trams and funiculars climb the steepest streets, and Sintra and the Cascais coast are about 40 minutes away by train. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are April–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- Portugal
- Best time to visit
- April–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- LIS
- Mid-range daily budget
- $150–$260 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Pastel de nata, Tram 28, Fado and Azulejo tiles
Why visit Lisbon
- Free miradouros (viewpoints) such as Senhora do Monte, Santa Luzia and São Pedro de Alcântara look over red roofs to the Tagus and the 25 de Abril Bridge.
- Belém's Manueline Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower recall the age of Portuguese sea voyages, with the original pastéis de nata bakery next door.
- Seafood, grilled sardines, salt cod and Portuguese wine are excellent value compared with most Western European capitals.
- Commuter trains reach the palaces of Sintra and the beaches of Cascais and Carcavelos in under an hour.
- Fado, Portugal's melancholy song, is performed nightly in small houses in Alfama, Mouraria and Bairro Alto.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 19 things to do.
Religious site · Belém
Jerónimos Monastery
Begun in 1501 and paid for by the spice trade, this monastery is the masterpiece of the Manueline style, with stone carved into ropes, sea creatures and armillary spheres.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Landmark · Belém
Belém Tower
Built between 1514 and 1519 to guard the entrance to Lisbon's harbour, this small Manueline fortress stands at the river's edge decorated with stone ropes, crosses of the Order of Christ and a carved rhinoceros.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes–1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
Castle · Alfama
São Jorge Castle
Moorish walls and towers crown Lisbon's highest central hill, captured by Afonso Henriques in 1147 and later used as a royal palace.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Kids
- Couples
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Experience · Graça
Tram 28
The classic yellow 1930s-style trams of route 28 rattle between Martim Moniz and Campo de Ourique through Graça, Alfama, the Baixa, Chiado and Estrela, squeezing through streets barely wider than the carriage.
- Time needed
- 40–50 minutes end to end
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Kids
- Views
- Photo spot
Landmark · Baixa
Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch
The royal palace stood here until the 1755 earthquake; its replacement is a vast arcaded square opening onto the Tagus, with the equestrian statue of King José I and the Cais das Colunas steps leading into the river.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Architecture
Landmark · Baixa
Santa Justa Lift
Opened in 1902, this neo-Gothic iron elevator lifts passengers 45 metres from the Baixa to a walkway leading to Largo do Carmo, with a small viewing platform at the top.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes plus queue
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Architecture
Where to stay
Baixa and Chiado is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, families and culture
Baixa and Chiado
Pombaline grid, Rossio square and elegant shopping streets climbing to Chiado
$$$ · Best for couples, culture and first-timers
Alfama
Lisbon's oldest quarter of stairways, laundry lines and fado houses below the castle
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget and solo travellers
Bairro Alto
A 16th-century grid of narrow streets that turns into one big street bar at night
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, shopping and food lovers
Príncipe Real
Leafy garden square, 19th-century mansions and design concept stores
What to eat
- Custard tart — A crisp, flaky pastry case filled with egg custard caramelised in a very hot oven, eaten warm with cinnamon and icing sugar.
- Bacalhau à Brás — Shredded salt cod fried with onions and matchstick potatoes, bound with scrambled egg and finished with black olives and parsley.
- Grilled sardines — Whole sardines grilled over charcoal and served on bread or with boiled potatoes and salad.
- Bifana — Thin pork steaks marinated in garlic and white wine, simmered and stuffed into a soft bread roll with mustard.
- Clams Bulhão Pato — Clams steamed open with olive oil, lots of garlic, coriander and lemon, with bread to mop up the juices.
- Steak sandwich — A thin beef steak cooked with garlic in a crusty roll.
When to go
The best times to visit Lisbon are March to May and September to October, when it is warm and sunny without the peak summer heat and crowds. June is festive and busy with the Santo António celebrations; July and August are hot and good for beaches; winter is mild, rainy at times and the lowest-priced season.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Warm, sunny days, blooming jacaranda by late May and comfortable hill walking, with Easter and 25 April bringing busy weekends. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, dry and the busiest season, with June street festivals, beach days on the Cascais line and the highest hotel prices. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm sea in September, pleasant October days and the first rains in November, when prices drop. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild and green with rainy spells; uncrowded sights, Christmas lights in the Baixa and the lowest hotel rates. |
Getting there and around
Lisbon Airport (LIS) is only about 7 km from the centre. The red metro line runs from the terminal, with a change at Alameda or São Sebastião for the Baixa, in about 25–35 minutes. Taxis and ride-hailing cars reach the centre in about 15–25 minutes depending on traffic.
Central Lisbon is compact but very hilly. Four metro lines cover the centre and the airport, historic trams and funiculars climb the steepest slopes, and suburban trains run to Sintra and Cascais. Comfortable shoes matter more than any pass.
Plan your days
Three days covers Alfama and the castle, Baixa and Chiado, Belém and an evening of fado. A fourth day is best spent in Sintra; with a week, add Cascais or the beaches, Évora and the Arrábida coast.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Portuguese
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink; public drinking fountains are found in some parks.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Tipping is modest: leaving small change or about 5–10% in restaurants for good service is appreciated but not expected.
Lisbon is generally relaxed for visitors, but pickpockets work on Tram 28, in the Baixa and at busy viewpoints. Street sellers offering drugs in the Baixa and Bairro Alto are a known scam. The polished stone pavements are very slippery when wet.
Flights to Lisbon
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Lisbon?
Three days covers Alfama and the castle, Baixa and Chiado, Belém and an evening of fado. A fourth day is best spent in Sintra; with a week, add Cascais or the beaches, Évora and the Arrábida coast. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Lisbon?
The best times to visit Lisbon are March to May and September to October, when it is warm and sunny without the peak summer heat and crowds. June is festive and busy with the Santo António celebrations; July and August are hot and good for beaches; winter is mild, rainy at times and the lowest-priced season.
+What is Lisbon known for?
Pastel de nata, Tram 28, Fado, Azulejo tiles, Miradouros, Belém monuments, Seafood and Sintra day trips. Free miradouros (viewpoints) such as Senhora do Monte, Santa Luzia and São Pedro de Alcântara look over red roofs to the Tagus and the 25 de Abril Bridge.
+Is Lisbon expensive?
Lisbon is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $150–$260 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Lisbon?
No. Driving and parking in central Lisbon are stressful, and trains cover Sintra and Cascais. A car is useful only for touring the Alentejo, the Arrábida coast or further afield.