Lisbon

Lisbon travel guide overview

Lisbon is a sun-drenched, hilly capital of tiled facades, yellow trams, fado bars and hearty seafood. This Lisbon travel guide covers when to visit, where to stay across its distinctive neighbourhoods, how to handle the hills and which day trips — especially Sintra — are worth prioritising.

Best time to visit Lisbon

April to June and September to October offer warm, sunny days and comfortable evenings — the sweet spot for sightseeing. July and August are hotter and busier, especially with beach day-trippers, while winter is mild but wetter and much quieter.

Where to stay in Lisbon

Baixa and Chiado sit in the walkable centre, close to trams, restaurants and shops. Alfama is the atmospheric old town, great for fado nights but hilly and cobbled. Príncipe Real and Bairro Alto suit food and nightlife lovers. Belém is quieter and best for a longer, more family-friendly stay.

Top things to do in Lisbon

Ride Tram 28, wander Alfama, watch the sunset from Miradouro da Senhora do Monte and eat pastéis de nata straight from the oven in Belém. Spend a full day in Sintra visiting Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira, and consider a beach day in Cascais.

• Book Sintra day trips or train tickets early in high season
• Wear grippy shoes — the cobbles are famously slippery
• Try pastéis de nata at Pastéis de Belém for the original recipe
• Catch a small, intimate fado show in Alfama or Mouraria

What and where to eat in Lisbon

Portuguese food is generous and seafood-heavy: grilled sardines, bacalhau, ameijoas à bulhão pato and octopus rice. Time Out Market is great for a first-day overview, but head to smaller tascas in Alfama or Príncipe Real for the real thing. Do not skip a proper francesinha, a glass of vinho verde and pastéis de nata daily.

Getting around Lisbon

The metro is clean, cheap and reaches the airport in about 20 minutes. Iconic yellow trams, especially Tram 28, are useful and scenic but pickpocket-prone. Uber and Bolt are reliable and reasonably priced. Trains from Rossio and Cais do Sodré serve Sintra and Cascais respectively.

A simple 4-day Lisbon itinerary

Day 1: Baixa, Chiado and a sunset at Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. Day 2: Alfama, São Jorge Castle and a fado dinner. Day 3: Sintra day trip — Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. Day 4: Belém for the Jerónimos Monastery, pastéis de nata and a slow riverside lunch.