Lisbon is the stunning capital city of Portugal, and is one of the most charismatic and vibrant cities in Europe.It is a city that effortlessly blends traditional heritage, with striking modernism and progressive thinking.

As a holiday destination, Lisbon offers a rich and varied history, buzzing nightlife and is blessed with a glorious year-round climate. This article will show why you must visit Lisbon, and offers tips on how to get the most from your holiday here.

The Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge spans the Tejo Estuary

Lisbon is a bustling and exciting city that boasts a wide selection of activities and fascinating tourist attractions. It has a welcoming and liberal atmosphere, while still embracing its deep-rooted heritage and extensive history.

Lisbon will appeal to a diverse selection of ages and tourists; it can form a cultural trip, a nightlife extravaganza, a family holiday, a relaxed city-break, or even serve as a base for a beach holiday.

The Portuguese capital is constantly recognised as one of the greatest cities in the world, a claim confirmed by Lonely Planet, who named Lisbon one of the world's top 10 cities.

 

 

Lisbon is firmly on the tourist map with millions of visitors heading to the city each year, but in many aspects this has only enhanced the city, with new tourist activities opening, the blossoming of the arts scene, and improved accommodation. Even though there have been massive changes throughout the city it still maintains it’s unique Portuguese character and charm.

Simply put, if you get the chance you must visit Lisbon

The delightful Torre de Belém once guarded the entrance to the Tejo Estuary

Enjoying the sunset overlooking the Tejo Estuary

Lisbon takes three days to explore fully, making it a fantastic choice for a weekend city break.

Your holiday to Lisbon could be extended to seven or ten days to include all of the enjoyable day trips in the surrounding region. These day trips could include visits to Sintra, Cascais, Obidos and Setubal, all of which can be easily reached using public transport.

Close to Lisbon is a coastline of beautiful beaches, and your trip to Lisbon could also include a few days relaxing on these glorious stretches of sand.

A suggested itinerary for your holiday to Lisbon could include:
A city-break of three days in Lisbon
Day 1 – The districts of Alfama, Baixa, Cais do Sodre and Chiado
Day 2 – The districts of Belem and Alcântara, with a night out in Bairro Alto
Day 3 – The Parque das Nações, and the Estrela and Príncipe Real districts
For a detailed three-day itinerary please click here.

A week-long holiday to Lisbon:
Day 4 – Day trip to Sintra (Pena Palace, Moors Castle and Quinta da Regaleira)
Day 5 – Day trip to Cascais and its beautiful beaches
Day 6 – Day trip to Setubal or Sesimbra
Day 7 – Day trip to Óbidos or Mafra Palace and Ericeira
Read our suggested itineraries: 1 week in Lisbon - 1-day walking tour of Lisbon

Lisbon extends over seven steep hills; expect a lot of uphill walking!

For your first visit to Lisbon, it is recommended that you choose a base close to the historic centre; this covers the districts of Baixa, Alfama, Chiado, Bairro Alto and the Avenida da Liberdade. These areas are popular with tourists and within easy walking distance of the main sights and attractions.

The Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodre districts are the nightlife areas of Lisbon, and are an ideal choice for a party focused trip. The Avenida da Liberdade is one of the main avenues of Lisbon and the location of many 5star and boutique hotels.

Alfama is an ancient and characterful district, but the narrow, steep streets can be very draining in the summer heat. The Mouraria district and the Avenida Almirante Reis provide cheaper options for backpackers and budget travellers, but this area is not a place we would recommend our parents to stay.

If you are travelling for business, consider a base in the Parque das Nações district, which contains many modern hotels and is close to the airport.

If you are new to Lisbon, the best five districts and neighbourhoods to stay in are:
1) Baixa 2) Avenida da Liberdade 3) Alfama 4) Bairro Alto/Chiado 5) Cais do Sodré

The map below displays the tourist areas of central Lisbon

Districts: 1) Baixa 2) Avenida da Liberdade 3) Alfama 4) Bairro Alto/Chiado 5) Cais do Sodré 6) Príncipe Real 7) Graça 8) Martim Moniz, Intendente and Anjos (green metro region) 9) Mouraria 10) Estrela

Related articles: Where to stay in Lisbon?

The Parque das Nações is the ultra-modern side of historic Lisbon.

Lisbon has hot dry summers, pleasant springs and autumns, and mild but possibly wet winters.
The best time of year to visit Lisbon is in late spring (May to June), when the days are bright and sunny but the temperatures are not unbearably hot.

The peak season is between June and August, so if you visit at this time of year, you should expect the city to feel very crowded. The weather is suitable for spending time on the beach from May until the end of September.

While there can be a significant amount of rain during the winter months (November to February), the city offers many activities for those wet days.
As Lisbon attracts visitors year-round, tourist attractions generally remain open for the whole year.
Related articles: When to visit Lisbon? - Activities for a wet day

The daytime maximum temperature (measured in the shade) and night-time minimum

The average hours of sunshine per day and average amount of rain

Lisbon is close to a stunning coastline boasting beautiful sandy beaches and dramatic natural scenery. Many of the region's finest beaches are only a short bus or train ride away from central Lisbon.

There are two sandy coastlines easily accessible from Lisbon; the Cascais-Estoril coastline (to the west of Lisbon) and Costa da Caparica (to the south of Lisbon).

Slightly further (and needing a rental car to visit) are the wild beaches of the Serra de Sintra coastline and the paradise beaches of the Serra da Arrabida.

Our Opinion: The beaches of the Lisbon region are just as beautiful as the Algarve, so there is no need to travel hundreds of (kilometres) to find the best stretches of coast.
Related articles: Lisbon beach guide - Costa da Caparica

The vast Praia de Carcavelos beach, only a short train ride from central Lisbon

Lisbon is a good choice of destination if you want to take your family on a city break. There are many child-friendly tourist attractions, such as the Oceanarium, tram rides, Lisbon Zoo, or the Pavilhão do Conhecimento (interactive science museum).

The Portuguese have a family-focused culture, and children will be welcomed in all restaurants, hotels and shops. Lisbon is a relatively safe city, but the main consideration with regards to children is the very hot temperature in summer.
Related articles: Lisbon for Families

A ride on the number 28 tram will be a highlight of a trip to Lisbon

Lisbon is expecting a sell-out tourist season for 2025, as visitors seek safe destinations within Europe. Because of this expected popularity, it is advisable to purchase flights and accommodation as soon as possible, before prices increase and sell out.

Being a popular weekend city break destination, Friday evening and Sunday/Monday flights tend to sell out first.

Rossio plaza is the heart of Lisbon

There are many enjoyable day trips from Lisbon, and these can greatly extend a stay within the city. The most popular day trips are to Sintra and Cascais.

Sintra sits in the cooling hills of the Serra de Sintra and is the setting for many marvellous palaces and villas, including the Pena Palace and the Moorish castle. Cascais is a charming resort town, which has a delightful historic centre and is surrounded by beautiful beaches.

Other excellent day trips include the pretty beach town of Sesimbra, the magnificent palace of Mafra, the picturesque walled town of Obidos and the port city of Setubal. All of these destinations can be easily reached using public transport.
Related articles: Day trips from Lisbon – Sintra Guide – Cascais Guide – Sesimbra Guide

The magnificent Pena Palace in the Sintra hills

Lisbon is one of Europe's least expensive capital cities, offering exceptional value for food, drink and public transport. Entrance fees to the historical monuments are sensibly priced, but gimmicky tourist activities (Tuk-tuks, bus tours) can be expensive.

There are many great value places to eat and drink, most notably the Tascas. These cheap, no-frills, family-run restaurants typically serve a 'meal of the day' for less than €7 and can be found along almost every street in Lisbon (and Portugal)!

Overall, Lisbon provides excellent value for money. However, accommodation and flights should always be booked well in advance to secure the lowest prices.
Related articles: Cost of a holiday to Lisbon - Traditional meals to try while in Lisbon

Lisbon Airport is the main international airport of Portugal, providing direct connections to all major European cities and many larger cities across the world. The airport itself is conveniently located within the city limits and the onward travel is extremely easy, using the metro or hiring an Uber/Bolt.

The airport has two terminals, with Terminal 1 handling international arrivals and most departures. While the building itself is quite dated, it has all the expected facilities of a major international airport. Terminal 2 handles departures only for the low-cost airlines and is very basic.

Insight: Portugal is a relatively small country with an excellent express train network connecting Porto, Lisbon and the Algarve. It is fairly easy to fly into one of Portugal's three airports (Lisbon, Porto and Faro) and travel by train to a different region of the country.
Related articles: Lisbon airport to the city centre - Lisbon airport guide - Terminal 2 guide

Terminal 1 at Lisbon airport and the entrance to the metro, which is the best way to travel to the city centre

Compared to many other major cities, Lisbon is relatively safe.
Tourists may occasionally encounter pick-pockets or opportunistic thieves, but if you use the same common sense that you would use back at home then you should have no issues.
Related articles: Is Lisbon safe?

English is much more widely spoken in Portugal than in Spain, France or Italy. Everyone who works within tourism speaks English fluently, while all transport hubs (metro, railways and airports) have English as their second language.

All restaurants have English menus, and most historical sights and attractions have descriptions in both Portuguese and English. If English is your only language, it is unlikely that you will encounter any difficulties during your holiday.

The Portuguese rarely expect foreign visitors to speak any Portuguese, but are always cheerfully surprised if a few words can be spoken!

Lisbon has excellent public transport and inexpensive taxis, so a car is not essential while in the city. Driving in Lisbon can be stressful due to the erratic driving of the Portuguese, poor traffic markings and heavily congested roads.

You won't require a car for popular day trips such as visits to Sintra, Cascais, or Obidos, as there is good public transport to these from Lisbon. However, a car can be useful if you wish to explore further from Lisbon or into the regions with more limited transport options, including the Serra da Arrábida, the Serra de Sintra or the Alentejo region.
Related articles: The best driving routes of the Lisbon region

A car is needed to visit the Serra da Arrábida coastline

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