With its pastel-colored buildings, cobblestone streets, cool street art, and stunning tourist attractions, Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon, has A LOT to offer!
If it’s your first time visiting this amazing city, you probably have a couple of questions. What’s the tipping culture? Can you drink the tap water? Or even if Lisbon is a safe city. I get it! And, that’s exactly why I put together this Lisbon travel tips guide.
Although I’ve written a detailed guide on travel tips for Portugal, Lisbon deserves its own separate post. So, in this guide, I’ll focus on some things I wish I had known before visiting the city so that you can plan a smooth trip. Here are my top travel tips for Lisbon.
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Lisbon Travel Tips: Things You Need to Know Before You Visit
Is the Lisboa Card worth it?
If you plan to visit many tourist attractions, it’s worth looking into the Lisboa Card. But one caveat I want to throw out there is to do proper research before you splurge on this card.
Yes, you can get unlimited rides on public transport, free entry to some key attractions, and good discounts on others. But with the one-day pass starting at €27, it’s worth asking how much you’ll actually use it—especially since there are so many free things to do in Lisbon that you might not even need the card.
There’s also a 48-hour and 72-hour option if you’re planning a more packed itinerary.
Get a Transport Card
We skipped the Lisboa card and opted for a Navegante card (zapping card). It’s basically a transport card that allows you to tap and go on Lisbon’s metro, trams, buses, and funiculars. The card itself only costs EUR 0.50, and you can buy a single ticket, a 1-day ticket, or preload it with money (zapping credit) at any metro station. Read more about it here on the official Lisboa metro website.
If you’re spending 3-4 days in Lisbon and planning to visit Sintra, I recommend getting the zapping option. We preloaded EUR 15 on our cards and found it a good starting point. Don’t load too much money on it, though! “Leftovers” can’t be cashed out, only transferred to a new zapping card, and technically, you’ll always have money left on the card due to the city’s transport pricing structures.
Bring comfortable shoes
Lisbon is absolutely stunning, but it’s extremely hilly, with a lot of uphills, downhills, cobblestone streets, and stairs to climb! Wearing high heels, flip flops, or cutesy shoes will not get you very far and is not the way to roll!
Therefore, the biggest Lisbon tip I can give you is to wear comfy walking shoes or sneakers to avoid blisters and sore feet that will mess up the rest of your time in the city.
When is the best time to visit Lisbon?
Lisbon is a popular year-round destination thanks to its mild climate. That said, Portugal still has four seasons, and determining when to go will boil down to what kind of weather you prefer.
Summer is the most popular time to go, with July and August being the peak tourist season. While you’ll definitely have great weather, you should know that it will be super busy, and accommodation prices will undoubtedly be higher. We visited at the end of August and enjoyed beautiful sunny days. However, one crucial Lisbon travel tip I have for you, even if you go in summer, is to pack a few warm things! The wind tends to pick up in the evening, and it can get quite chilly if you’re out in town for the night.
If you still want great weather with lower prices (and fewer tourists), come in the shoulder months, like June or September.
Book tourist attractions in advance
Lisbon is a beautiful city, filled with endless tourist attractions and museums within its city borders and nearby historic towns like Sintra. Sounds pretty incredible, right? The only problem is that the city’s top attractions are extremely popular and usually crazy busy during peak season.
Some of them, like Pena Palace, work on a time-slot basis, meaning you can’t just rock up and expect to go inside straightaway. Instead, you’ll need to book a ticket online for a specific time slot to visit. So what’s the takeaway? Plan, plan, plan! Decide which places you’d like to see, double-check the opening hours (some places are closed on Mondays), and book tickets online to save time and avoid long lines.
I highly recommend getting tickets in advance for attractions like Belém Tower, Pena Palace, and Jerónimos Monastery. You can also consider booking ahead for places like São Jorge Castle, Lisbon Cathedral, the National Tile Museum, and the National Pantheon. However, we found that the lines for these places weren’t usually too long. If you’ve bought the Lisboa card, some of these attraction may already be included. So don’t forget to double check.
Make dinner reservations in advance
If you’re planning a nice night out at a fancy restaurant or want to catch one of the live music shows at Alfama’s famous Fado Houses, you’ll definitely want to reserve a table in advance.
While dozens of restaurants in Alfama offer live Fado shows, some get horrible ratings on Google, serve mediocre food, or have extremely long waiting lines! My advice? Do your research first, read reviews, and reserve a table online at least a few nights in advance! Check out A Baiuca, Parreirinha de Alfama, Lucindas, and Bohemia Lx Sé if you don’t know where to start!
Don’t take the starters unless you’re willing to pay for them
One thing we quickly realized after spending a few days in the Algarve is that the wonderful spread of little snacks brought to your table comes at a cost. And Lisbon was no different.
While bread and butter are typically free in most places around the world, that’s not the custom in Portugal. Instead, it’s common for restaurants to bring a selection of tempting goodies like bread, goat’s cheese, or olives to your table.
We got lucky because we were asked to choose the items we wanted each time. However, I’ve read several reviews where the servers placed the items on the table without asking. While it’s easy to assume that these snacks are free, you should know you will be charged for each item you consume. If you’re not interested or willing to pay for them, it’s always best to politely decline or ask the waiter to take them away. I also recommend checking the prices first, as some items are more expensive than you expect!
Should you leave a tip?
Living in Asia for over 13 years, I sometimes forget that tipping is common in other parts of the world. Although it’s not mandatory to tip like in some other European countries, it’s customary to tip 5-10% for good service. Keep in mind that at small eateries and local cafes, you may have to pay upfront before even having a chance to evaluate the service.
My best advice is to leave a tip when you’ve enjoyed a great meal at a mid-range or higher-end restaurant, but feel free to skip it if you’re just grabbing a drink or a quick snack.
Always have a few Euros on hand
Most restaurants, bars, and shops accept Mastercard and Visa, but we did find a couple of places with no card facilities and others who insisted on a minimum spend of EUR 5.
Therefore, another golden tip for Lisbon is to always have a few euros on hand. Don’t carry too much cash on you, though, as pickpocketing is not uncommon in Lisbon!
If you need to withdraw money, you can search for an ATM (Multibanco) on Google Maps near you. Just a heads up: I read some horror stories online about people being charged exorbitant commission fees at Euronet ATMs, so it’s best to avoid those altogether!
Is Lisbon safe?
Like any other big city, Lisbon has a few dodgy areas (I’m looking at you, Martim Monez!) and is no stranger to petty crime. Unfortunately, pickpocketing, especially on public transport or in tourist-heavy spots, is not uncommon.
Don’t get me wrong, I never felt unsafe in Lisbon, but using good common sense just like you would in any other big city like Paris, Amsterdam, or Barcelona is key.
Avoid dark alleys late at night, and if you’re using public transport, always keep an eye on your stuff, use a hidden money belt (I know, I know), or put your phone and wallet in the front pockets of your jeans/shorts. If you must take a bag, ensure it’s always closed and carry it in front of you, not to the side or behind you.
The famous Tram 28 is especially notorious for pickpockets posing as tourists. So, if you want to ride on it, be extra cautious and don’t carry any valuables.
Best Areas to Stay in Lisbon
Lisbon is a large city with a mammoth amount of accommodations! The most popular areas to stay include Baixa, Chaido, and Alfama.
If you want to stay right in the thick of things near lots of shops, eateries, and the city’s top tourist attractions, you’ll want to book a hotel in central Lisbon, i.e., in Baixa or Chiado. Try Dear Lisbon – Charming House or The Central House.
If you prefer a more laid-back approach, opt for Alfama —the historic center of Lisbon. We stayed in the loveliest little Airbnb right in the heart of Alfama. However, Pousada Alfama and Hotel Convento do Salvador also get great reviews. Just a heads up, this part of town has lots of stairways and cobblestone alleys. If you have mobility issues, this is probably not the best base for you.
The tap water is safe to drink
The tap water is safe to drink in Lisbon and the rest of Portugal. However, most tourists prefer bottled water, which you can buy at any supermarket or local mercado (basically a mini market).
If you’re trying to save money, you’ll want to seek out bigger supermarkets. The little mom-and-pop shops often charge much more for goods, especially near touristy spots. The most common supermarkets in Lisbon are Pingo Dolce, Continente, Lidl, and Aldi.
Well, that wraps up my guide on Lisbon travel tips! I hope I’ve answered all your questions about things to know before visiting Lisbon! If you have any other must-know tips, share them in the comments below!
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