Lisbon (Lisboa) is Portugal’s capital and largest city. This is where I arrive and depart from every time I go (as my parents live in central Portugal its the easiest – you can also fly internationally into Porto or Faro). Lisbon deserves MULTIPLE posts, so lets start with WHY Lisbon is a must visit destination. From its history, nightlife, traditions, modern architecture, colourful streets, and even nearby beaches, it defiantly has something for everyone. It attracts tourists of any age and the locals are welcoming. Lisbon is still one of Europe’s less visited capital cities, but is quickly changing as people are falling in love with Portugal’s charm as much as I have. Lisbon is also the second oldest city in Europe but the earthquake of 1755 destroyed most of it and therefore was rebuilt. The newer streets are full and colourful. For this post rather then talking about all the areas to see, I have decided to answer some frequently asked questions to help get to know the beautiful city.

How long does it take to explore Lisbon?

I would suggest at least 2-3 days to see all that Lisbon has to offer. If you decide to stay here for your whole vacation – there are a variety of day trips that can be taken to see areas around Lisbon.  Nazare, Fatima, Batalha, Sintra, Cascais, Setubal, Obidos, and Ourem are great areas out of the city to explore. There are tours that leave out of Lisbon to most of these locations (great if you are not renting a car because most of the time bus transportation is provided with the tours). 

What time of the year should I consider going?

Lisbon is great all year long. Summers are becoming very popular in Lisbon (summer of 2020 it was expected to be sold out, but like everything else in 2020 Covid-19 pandemic hit causing streets to be bare). The historic city is near many beaches that allow you to get out of the busy city and relax in the warm sand. Spring and fall are great times to visit as the city is not as busy during these times. This to me makes it most enjoyable when your not battling for a photo opportunity with other tourists. I personally enjoy seeing busy cities on cooler days as I can appreciate and focus on its history and architecture and not the next stop with air conditioning – LOL! The winter months also make a good time to visit but it is very wet during these months – not to worry the city has a lot of indoor activities to do for those wet days when you are here. 

Where should I stay? 

I have honestly never stayed in Lisbon myself. I have always made it a day trip (its only about 1.5 hour drive from my parents). Every time I go I usually pick a spot to visit in Lisbon and make a day out of it –  I`m still not finished exploring this city.  There are 5 main historic areas in Lisbon (Baixa, Chaido, Bairro Alto, Alfama and Belém), and 2 newer modern areas (Praça do Marquês de Pombal and Parque das Nações). I would suggest staying in the middle (Baixa) that way it is easily accessible to travel all areas of Lisbon. It is also where most of its shops can be found and has a variety if restaurants to choose from to eat authentic meals.   But regardless of what neighbourhood you stay at – there are hotels, apartments, condos, houses, or hostels that suite anyone’s budget. I like to use Booking.com when I reserve for places to stay. 

Do I need a car to get around? 

I would say NO – if only staying in Lisbon. The city has a variety of affordable options to travel (taxi, buses, cable trains, electric bikes etc.) to help you get around the city. Even if you want to leave the city for the day- there are tours that bring you to other locations in central Portugal. Lisbon is very hilly though – so public transportation might be in your favour after walking up and down the hills for long periods of time. 

Is it affordable and safe? 

Lisbon is one of the most affordable cities to explore in Europe! You can get drinks, meals, attraction tickets all at great costs that will not break the bank. The city is great for eating and drinking as you can get a beer lets say for as cheap as 1,50€ and a great meal for 15€.  The flights alone are affordable to get here then most cities in Europe. Lisbon is a safe city – low crime rate and violence. There are areas to take caution when travelling alone (like at night) as there there are cases of theft but you wouldn’t treat it any different then how you would treat your closest city at home. 

You defiantly wont regret visiting Lisbon – like I said it deserves multiple posts and I will be exploring it by region! 🙂 Hope to have you follow along with me! 

Until next time! Remember to Live∼Laugh∼EAmar. 🙂