LisbonLisboaPortugal.com

The best independent guide to Lisbon

LisbonLisboaPortugal.com

The best independent guide to Lisbon

Is Lisbon safe for tourists? Crime or dangers? Is Lisbon safe for female and sole travellers?

Lisbon is one of the safest capital cities in Europe, and few tourists will experience any difficulties or dangers during their stay. The city is progressive, liberal and diverse, and is perfectly safe for females and sole travellers or older visitors.

That said, Lisbon is a major city and has its equal share of shady, odd or desperate people, and we would encourage you to use the same common sense as you would back at home. The biggest potential issue visitors will experience while in Lisbon is from highly skilled pickpockets or the annoyance of endless "drug dealers", who are selling little more than crushed herbs.

This article will detail possible problems tourists may experience while in Lisbon and provide links to useful resources.

High-level reassurance

Portugal is a politically stable country, and the Portuguese are a welcoming and pleasant people. Tourism is critical to Portugal’s economy, and the country has invested heavily in the tourism infrastructure and the training of people who work within the sector.

The main tourist areas of Lisbon are very safe, with a high-level police presence during the day and very few series crimes against tourists. Most series injuries or issues to tourist, only come about from excessive drinking (or other inebriation) or while partaking in dangerous and ill-advised activities. If you plan to come to Lisbon as a sensible and responsible tourist, you can expect Lisbon to be a very safe destination.
Related article: Which district to stay in Lisbon?

Other high-level points and considerations

• Portuguese is the national language of Portugal, but English is widely spoken by all who work within the tourism industry.
• There are stringent regulations for places preparing or selling food, and you should not have concerns regarding where to eat or the quality of food served.
• The healthcare of Lisbon is of a good standard for life-threatening issues, but for lesser alignments, it can feel inefficient and disorganised.
• Lisbon is safe for female or sole travellers, and there is a large backpacking community.
• My parents, who are in their 70s, have visited Lisbon independently numerous times, and recommend it to their friends of a similar age.
• Unlike many other European tourist destinations, tourists will not feel as if they are being continually financially exploited.
• Don’t drive in Lisbon; public transport is excellent, while taxis are safe and inexpensive.
• Tap water can be drunk, but the pipework in older builds may mean it is not suitable to do so (always check first!)
• Always have travel insurance, never consider a trip without it!
Related articles: Taxi GuideMetro GuideDriving in Lisbon

Have you booked your hotel yet?

There is very high demand for accommodation during the peak season, we advise to book your hotel rooms now before they sell out. To check current prices and availability enter your holiday dates in the search box below:

 

Quick Crime and Emergency Information

The emergency telephone number of Portugal (and Europe) is 112.
The best place to report minor tourist crimes (pickpocketing/loss of items etc.) is to the Tourism Police, which is based in Foz Palace in the Praça dos Restauradores plaza (GPS: 38.71580, -9.14232). This office can be contacted on (+351) 213421623. For most insurance claims, a police report needs to be issued (sometimes within 24hours of the crime) and the Tourism Police station in Praça dos Restauradores is the best place for this.

Pickpocketing – Lisbon’s most prevalent crime

Tourist to Lisbon should be aware of the high level of pickpocketing in crowded tourist areas, and especially on the tram routes. These pickpockets are highly skilled but are opportunistic, and only ever target tourists who are being careless (or tired). While on the trams, never place valuable items in your back pockets, always wear rucksacks on your front and be very wary when standing close to the door.

The pickpockets are never Portuguese, and are often from Eastern Europe, flown in by organised gangs to "work" for a few days. They also do not follow the common stereotypes, and are often women and have learnt to dress well to blend into a crowd.
Related articles: Lisbon tram guideTram 28

Pickpockets and petty crime will always be found were wealthy tourists visit, and Lisbon has it’s issues, but it is never considered as the one of Europe’s worst destinations:
Independent: 10 cities your most likely to be pickpocketed in
Daily Mail: 5 European cites worst for pickpocketing

How about a small group tour?

One of the best ways to discover Lisbon and to meet fellow travellers is to join a guided tour. We have worked with Getyourguide.com for the last six years, and some of the best tours of Lisbon include:

Why do the police do nothing with the drug dealers?

Portugal has a very progressive approach to drugs and addicts, classing it as a medical concern instead of a criminal one.

While wandering the central Lisbon, you will be approached (and on many occasions) by people offering to sell drugs. The police are unable to arrest or deal effectively with them as the “drugs” that they are selling are little more than crushed herbs. Do not be offended if you are offered; firmly decline, and it is pointless reporting it to the police. Never make an issue with the seller, as these are desperate people, and simply walk away.

Areas in Lisbon to be wary of

Generally, central Lisbon is safe, and this includes the Baixa and Chiado districts and the area surrounding the Avenida da Liberdade. Lisbon’s worst estates are far to the north west of the city and are areas where no tourist would have any need to go to.

The districts of Intendente, Mouraria and Anjos (which follow the green metro line) are traditional immigrants’ areas of the city, and we would not recommend these districts for our parents to have a hotel in.

The Cais de Sodre district has been transformed into the new nightlife hub of the city from a very deprived, red-light district. This area is great for a night out, but elements of it's not so illustrious past continue today.

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LisbonLisboaPortugal.com

The best guide to Lisbon

lisbon Portugal guide
top 10 lisbon
Secret Lisbon
Where to stay which district lisbon
48 hours lisbon
lisbon food and meals
Lisbon day trips
lisbon beaches
3 days in Lisbon
1 week in lisbon
24 hours in lisbon
lisbon for families
Baixa district lisbon
belem distrcit lisbon
lisbon shopping
alfama district lisbon
Lisbon sunsets
Parque das Nações district lisbon
Alcantara district lisbon
sintra portugal
Costa da Caparica
cascais portugal
Lisbon viewpoints
lisbon airport guide
Cost of a holiday to Lisbon
wet day in lisbon
Lisbon museums

Thank you,
We really appreciate you visiting our website, but the digital world is changing for the worse.

Independent publishers like us face many new challenges. Search engines now prioritize ads over organic content, and AI replicates our hard work.

If you enjoyed our work, please bookmark our website to easily find us again or share it on social media with your friends and family.

We aim to keep our 1,600+ pages accurate and fully updated. If you spot any errors or outdated information, please contact us at: [email protected]

lisbon Portugal guide
top 10 lisbon
Secret Lisbon
Where to stay which district lisbon
48 hours lisbon
lisbon food and meals
Lisbon day trips
lisbon beaches
3 days in Lisbon
1 week in lisbon
24 hours in lisbon
lisbon for families
Baixa district lisbon
belem distrcit lisbon
lisbon shopping
alfama district lisbon
Lisbon sunsets
Parque das Nações district lisbon
Alcantara district lisbon
sintra portugal
Costa da Caparica
cascais portugal
Lisbon viewpoints
lisbon airport guide
Cost of a holiday to Lisbon
wet day in lisbon
Lisbon museums