Lisbon is hills, trams, tiled facades, and custard tarts still warm from the oven. This guide covers the best things to do in Lisbon, where to eat and stay, how to get around, and the easiest day trips.
Lisbon travel guide essentials: the best things to do in Lisbon, where to stay in Lisbon, what to eat, Tram 28, Belém, and the best day trips from Lisbon. Portugal’s capital spreads across seven hills above the Tagus River, and almost every walk ends at a miradouro (viewpoint) with terracotta rooftops tumbling down to the water.
Lisbon is one of Western Europe’s oldest capitals and one of its most relaxed. A great earthquake levelled much of the city in 1755, and the grid of the Baixa was rebuilt on top of the rubble, while Alfama’s Moorish lanes survived above it. The result is a city of two moods: grand squares and wide avenues down by the river, and tangled alleys, laundry lines, and fado bars up on the hills.
For the wider country, including Porto, the Douro Valley, and the Algarve, see our Portugal travel guide.
Lisbon gives you the history, food, and beauty of a major European capital at a gentler pace and a lower price than Paris, Rome, or Barcelona. It is compact enough to explore on foot (if your legs are ready for the hills), the light off the river is famous among photographers, and a pastry and coffee still costs a few euros. It is also one of the easiest cities in Europe for a first solo trip; see our guide to the safest countries for solo female travelers.
Alfama is Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhood and the best place to get lost on purpose. Wander the stairways between Sé Cathedral and the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, then continue to the Miradouro das Portas do Sol for the classic view over the rooftops and river.
At the top of the hill, the Castelo de São Jorge has ramparts with some of the widest views in the city. Adult tickets cost €17 in 2026 (youth 13 to 25 pay €8.50, and under-12s enter free). Go at opening or late afternoon to avoid the midday crowds.
The vintage yellow Tram 28 rattles from Martim Moniz through Graça, Alfama, Baixa, and Estrela to Campo de Ourique. It is charming, but it is also crowded and a well-known pickpocket zone.
A note on Lisbon’s famous funiculars: after the Elevador da Glória derailed in September 2025, killing 16 people, the city suspended its historic funiculars. Glória is being rebuilt, and Bica and Lavra had no reopening date at the time of writing. The small Graça funicular reopened in April 2026. The Santa Justa Lift has also had closures since then, so check carris.pt before you go. You can get almost the same view over Baixa for free by walking up to Largo do Carmo and onto the lift’s upper walkway.
Walk down Rua Augusta, the pedestrian street of the rebuilt Baixa, through the triumphal arch to Praça do Comércio, the enormous riverside square where ships once unloaded the riches of Portugal’s empire. Climb into Chiado for its old cafés, bookshops, and theatres. Bertrand in Chiado, founded in 1732, is recognised as the world’s oldest operating bookshop.
Belém, about 6 km west of the centre, is where Portugal’s Age of Discovery is written in stone. Take tram 15E from Praça da Figueira or Praça do Comércio.
Lisbon’s miradouros are free and open all day.
Fado, Portugal’s melancholy folk music, is on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. For a relaxed, unpolished night, try A Tasca do Chico in Bairro Alto, where amateurs take turns singing (there’s no cover charge, but you’re expected to order drinks). For a sit-down dinner with professional singers, Alfama has several fado houses; expect a minimum spend, and stay quiet while the music plays.
Under the 25 de Abril Bridge in Alcântara, a 19th-century industrial complex is now full of cafés, design shops, street art, and restaurants. Sunday brings a flea market. Don’t miss Ler Devagar, a bookshop set in an old printing hall.
Budget: The Independente Hostel & Suites sits in a former ambassador’s residence between Príncipe Real and Bairro Alto, with dorms, private suites, a restaurant, and a garden.
Mid-range: Stay in Baixa or Chiado for flat walking, easy metro access, and everything within reach. These central neighbourhoods have a good spread of boutique hotels and apartments.
Luxury: Bairro Alto Hotel is the classic Lisbon boutique splurge, in an 18th-century building on Praça Luís de Camões with a rooftop terrace overlooking the river.
Which neighbourhood? Baixa and Chiado are the most convenient for a first visit. Alfama is the most atmospheric but steep and noisy on fado nights. Príncipe Real is leafy and stylish. Avoid staying right in Bairro Alto if you want sleep: its streets are the city’s open-air nightlife district.
Rates swing widely by season, so compare dates before you book. Lisbon charges a tourist tax of €4 per person per night (ages 13 and up, capped at seven nights), usually paid at your accommodation.
From the airport: Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is close to the city. The red metro line runs from Aeroporto station into town in about 25 to 35 minutes for €1.90 on a Navegante card (the card itself costs €0.50). Taxis and Uber are also inexpensive.
Getting around: Walk as much as you can, and use the metro, trams, and buses for the hills. A 24-hour Carris/Metro pass is €7.25.
Lisboa Card: the official city pass costs €31 for 24 hours, €51 for 48 hours, or €62 for 72 hours, and includes public transport, the train to Sintra and Cascais, and free or discounted entry to many sights (including Jerónimos, Belém Tower, and the castle). It pays off if you plan two or more paid sights a day.
March to June and September to October are ideal: warm, sunny days and fewer crowds than midsummer. June brings the Santo António festivals and grilled sardines on every corner. July and August are hot and busy, with higher hotel prices. Winter is mild and quiet, with some rain, and a good time to find hotel deals.
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Lisbon rewards slow travel: a coffee at a kiosk under the pines, one more viewpoint at sunset, one more custard tart than you planned. Give it at least three days, bring shoes that can handle the hills, and leave room to wander.
