My Guide to Exploring the best parts of Lisbon

Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, is a vibrant and charming city with rich history, beautiful architecture and delicious cuisine.

I visited on a 5-day trip to Lisbon in March, and I walked over 50 km, explored many streets and took hundreds of photos. This guide covers my recommended things to do, neighbourhoods to visit, where to stay, money-saving tips, transport methods and helpful information for planning your trip to Lisbon.

Top 10 things to do in Lisbon

I’ve pinpointed my top 10 locations on the map below, which you can use to plan your trip.

Here are my top 10 things I recommend you do and visit in Lisbon:

Places to eat and drink around Lisbon

A selection of places to eat and drink in Lisbon.

Where to visit and stay in Lisbon

Lisbon is a city of distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own unique character and charm. Here are some of the most popular neighbourhoods in Lisbon:

1. Baixa: The heart of Lisbon's downtown area has grand plazas, elegant streets and stunning architecture. It's home to many of the city's top attractions, including the Praça do Comércio, the Rossio Square and the Elevador de Santa Justa.

2. Alfama: This historic district is known for its charming houses and traditional Fado music. It's a great place to stay if you want to experience the authentic side of Lisbon. Alfama is Lisbon's oldest neighbourhood, and it's a maze of narrow streets and alleyways that wind up and down the hills. It's known for its traditional Fado music, stunning views of the Tagus River, and historical landmarks such as the Lisbon Cathedral and the Castle of São Jorge.

3. Bairro Alto: This trendy neighbourhood is popular with young travellers and offers a range of budget-friendly hostels and apartments. Bairro Alto is Lisbon's nightlife district, with a vibrant bar and club scene that comes alive at night. During the day, it's a quiet and charming neighbourhood with colourful buildings, small shops and traditional restaurants.

4. Chiado: This upscale neighbourhood is known for its boutique hotels and luxury apartments. It's a great choice if you're looking for a more upscale experience. Chiado is Lisbon's elegant and sophisticated district, with designer shops, upscale restaurants, and stunning architecture. It's a great place to go for a coffee, people watch or take in a show at one of the theatres.

5. Principe Real: This leafy neighbourhood is known for its trendy cafes, bars and boutique hotels. It's a great choice if you want to stay in a quieter area that's still close to the city centre.

Exploring these neighbourhoods on foot is the best way to discover Lisbon's unique character and charm. Each area has its own atmosphere and offers something different, so be sure to visit a few during your stay in Lisbon.

Money-saving tips for Lisbon

While Lisbon is an affordable city compared to many other European capitals, there are still some ways to save money during your trip. Here are my top three cost-saving tips for Lisbon:

1. Lisbon City Card: The Lisbon City Card is an official discount card that gives visitors unlimited use of the city’s public transport, as well as free access to more than 30 museums, monuments and other landmarks. Visit website here.

2. Use public transportation: The Lisbon metro, bus system and tram routes offer affordable and efficient, and you can buy a rechargeable Viva Viagem card for multiple trips. View the travel section below for more details.

3. Eat like a local: Lisbon has a vibrant street food scene and plenty of traditional restaurants that offer affordable and delicious meals. Look for places that offer set menus or lunch specials for a better deal. Timeout is a great place to visit if you want something quick and easy while offering great choices, but equally, the Bairro Alto neighbourhood has lots to offer. My favourite was Duque, a fantastic seafood restaurant.

4. Visit museums on free days: Many of Lisbon's museums offer free admission on certain days or during certain hours. Check the museum's website before your visit to see if they have any special promotions.

5. Book accommodation in advance: Lisbon can get busy during peak tourist season, so it's a good idea to book your accommodation in advance to get the best deals. We booked the cheapest place we could find on AirBnB as we knew we wouldn’t be spending too much time there.

Travelling around Lisbon

To start with, I recommend getting a Viva Viagem Card (similar to a London Tube temporary Oyster Card) and loading it with a 1-day 24-hour travel pass for at least 2 days during your trip. Each ticket costs €10.70 + €0.50 for the Viva card.

The 1-day travel pass enables you to travel on trams, funiculars and trams operated by Carris, including Tram 15 to Belém, Tram 28 (the best tram to ride for a scenic tour through Lisbon), Elevador de Santa Justa street lift and Lisbon’s three funiculars – Elevador da Bica, Elevador do Lavra and Glória Funicular.

You’ll need a card per person. We also used our Viva card on the metro to travel to the airport and it can also be used to travel to and from Sintra via train.

All in all, it is a fantastic way to save money when travelling on public attractions plus several popular tourist activities. More information on the card can be found here.

Metros, Trains and Trams

Getting to and from the airport

• We took an Uber when we first arrived, that cost €12 and took around 25 minutes to get to central.

  Tip: Ubers can only pick you up from the arrivals section of the airport, not departures (where the taxis pickup from).

• Upon leaving Lisbon, we caught the Metro from Cais do Sodré to the airport with a change at Alameda. This took around 45 minutes during rush hour, and we paid using our Viva Viagem Card 24 hour period.

Taxis, Ubers and TukTuks

TukTuks - there are hundreds of TukTuks racing around Lisbon, and while I’m sure they provide a good way to get around the city, they can be expensive. We chose to use public transport and walk during our time in Lisbon, so we never needed a TukTuk.

Uber - we took an Uber from the airport and it was cheap and easy.

Planning your trip to Lisbon

Planning a trip to Lisbon can be overwhelming, but there are many great resources available to help you plan your trip. Here are some of the best resources for planning your travels in Lisbon:

1. Lisbon Guru: Lisbon Guru is a popular travel blog that offers in-depth guides and tips for exploring the city. It is one of the most detailed guides and a great read when planning your trip . Visit website here.

2. Visit Lisbon: The official tourism website for Lisbon is a great resource for finding information about the city's top attractions, events and accommodation. Visit website here.

3. Lonely Planet: The Lisbon section of Lonely Planet's website offers travel tips, suggested itineraries, and reviews of hotels and restaurants. Visit website here.

4. Time Out Lisbon: Time Out Lisbon is a popular guidebook and website that offers insider tips and recommendations for the best things to do, see and eat in Lisbon. Visit website here.

5. Lisbon City Card: The Lisbon City Card is an official discount card that gives visitors unlimited use of the city’s public transport as well as free access to more than 30 museums, monuments and other landmarks. Visit website here.