Lisbon Travel Guide 2023

When to Visit Lisbon

Lisbon has long and hot summers. If you don’t want to expose yourself to such heat, you need to avoid the hottest months of the year. It is better if you can visit Lisbon during the spring or fall as mild temperatures are available. We went in early October and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. Also, you should also keep in mind that June, July and August are the busiest months of the year to visit Lisbon.

How to Reach Lisbon

Direct flights to Lisbon are available from many cities in Europe. In addition, you can also find direct flights to Lisbon from North America, Africa and few other Asian countries. A lot of budget airlines also offer their services for the tourists, who want to visit Lisbon without spending a fortune.

The train is also of course another option if you are traveling from other locations in Portugal such as Porto (3 hour train ride). Travelling from Madrid by train is also an option that takes about 10 hours.

Where to Stay in Lisbon

Since Lisbon is one of the major tourist attractions in the world, there are a large number of hotels in the region. However, it’s probably best to have a centrally located hotel, so that you can enjoy your stay and be able to walk places. The best hotels in Lisbon are located closer to the city center. If you are planning to visit the tourist attractions in Lisbon, The Baxia and Chiado districts are a pretty centrally located and great for sightseeing. If you are looking for a little more nightlife then maybe look into Bairrio Alto. Alfama is also a nice and old part of the city which is close to things like the Sao Jorge Castle, etc.

Getting Around Lisbon

The best method available for you to get around Lisbon is to walk. It’s a very walkable city. That’s because you will be able to discover many hidden gems in the city by walking. Every single turn that you come across in Lisbon would surprise you. There are also the famous trolley cars that can take you up and down the rather large hills of Lisbon. The metro is also super easy to use and cheap. You can purchase reusable cards to travel in bus, train or metro in Lisbon. Enjoy using Uber? Lisbon has it and it seemed to be a lot cheaper than in the United States.

Lisbon Travel Tips

Get a Lisbon Card. You can obtain the Lisbon travel card while you are spending your time in here. It is the best method available for you to cover many attractions in Lisbon as much as possible without spending a fortune. The travel cards can easily be purchased, starting at just 19 Euros for a 24 hour pass.

Join a free walking tour.  Free walking tours are available for all the people who visit Lisbon. This is a good method available for you to get to know about the city and explore it. You will also be able to enhance your knowledge about Lisbon through these walking tour.  

Try the pastries. You will find tons of pastry shops to stop in. Our favorite is the nata. Becareful they are addicting. 

Try a Jose Avillez Eat and Drink. He is a famous Portuguese chef and has been featured on TV many times. He has about 12 places in Lisbon and all of them are suppose to be excellent.  

Try a shot of Ginja. This is a delicious sweet cherry Portuguese liquor. Usually, it is served in a chocolate cup (your choice of white chocolate or dark). You can find shops all over town and it usually costs about 1 euro per shot.

Typical Costs in Lisbon

Price Range for Hotels

Hostels are the cheapest accommodation option available for you to stay in Lisbon. You will be able to spend a night in a hostel for about 9 Euros. On the other hand, you can enjoy your stay in a three star hotel for about 30 Euros per night or a 4 star hotel for around 80-100 euros. They will all provide all the basic facilities you need, including Wi-Fi and air conditioning.

Cost of Meals

Food is relatively inexpensive in Lisbon. You just need to spend around 7 Euros for a light meal. The average price of a main meal in Lisbon is around 15 Euros. If you decide to prepare food on your own at your apartment or hostel, you will be able to survive a week with groceries worth 30 Euros.

Transportation

You don’t have to spend a fortune for transportation in Lisbon as well. You will have to pay 1.80 Euros for the bus, and 2.85 Euros for the trams. Tourists prefer to obtain day passes to minimize the transportation expenses. In fact, you can purchase a day pass for 6 Euros. You can also Uber around the city for fairly cheap. Uber fares cost around 3-8 euros.