Lisbon Travel Tips: What To Know Before Traveling to Portugal

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On our first-time trip to Lisbon, Portugal, we were caught by surprise. Everything – from buying train tickets to ordering meals to climbing the hills – was more difficult than we had anticipated. Although we had a guidebook, it lacked some very basic Lisbon travel tips.

Fortunately, we’ve been able to revisit Lisbon multiple times since our initial 2010 trip. We now find it easy to get around the city. We’re familiar with the language (as well as the cuisine!) and ready to tackle those inclines.

Of course, hindsight is 20/20. While we can’t change the circumstances of our first visit, we can certainly pass on our Best Lisbon Travel Tips to help fellow explorers make the most of their first trip.

Top 10 Lisbon Travel Tips

Lisbon is a fascinating city. It’s bright and colorful. Soulful and evocative. Historic and modern. It can also be dreadfully hot, overly crowded and incredibly trying. With our top travel tips for Lisbon, Portugal, however, you will be much better prepared for your vacation.

#1 Beware of the Hills

Dubbed the City of Seven Hills, Lisbon’s terrain is a series of steep streets and sloping lanes. The rising landscapes contribute to the city’s charismatic charm – and the hilltop Lisbon Viewpoints are must-see attractions.

That said, climbing the hills in Lisbon is no joke. The unrelenting inclines are challenging, to say the least. In preparation for your trip, add some incline to your workout routine and start using stairs instead of an elevator. Get your body acclimated and the Lisbon hills will be less punishing.

Note, too, that there are a few fun ways to avoid the uphill climbs. The famous Santa Justina Lift and hillside funiculars (Gloria, Bica and Graca) are a unique alternative to trekking uphill on foot. Just be aware that there will likely be a line and a ticket is required.

Alternatively, visitors can use public escalators, like the ones at Baixa-Chiado Metro Station (if they are working!) or inside the Armazens do Chiado Shopping Center. The hidden Elevador da Se is a free way to ascend to the Cathedral that is located in Alfama.

For an effortless way to sightsee, consider joining one of the popular Tuk Tuk Tours that zip around Lisbon neighborhoods and to the best scenic spots.

#2 Pack the Right Shoes

We cannot stress enough how important it is to pack a good pair of shoes for your Lisbon trip. Leave the heels at home – even the chunky ones. To navigate the streets of Lisbon, travelers need a comfortable shoe with a solid, grippy sole.

In addition to climbing the hills, visitors also need to contend with cobblestoned streets. The mosaic black-and-white pavement – called Calcada – is gorgeous, but it’s also uneven and slick (especially when it rains). We review numerous popular styles in our article, The Best Shoes for Traveling.

#3 Use Uber – or Public Transit – to Get Around

Not only are the attractions in Lisbon often uphill, but they are also far flung from east to west. While it is best to plan out your sightseeing by neighborhood (by using our Lisbon 3-Day Itinerary), hopping in an Uber can be an inexpensive and efficient way to get from place to place.

For example, a ride from the city center to the LX factory can cost as little as 5 euros. It’s typically only an 8-euro, 11-minute ride from Praca do Comercio to the National Tile Museum (it takes about 45 minutes to walk the route).

Additionally, Lisbon has a fairly robust public transportation system – and it’s incredibly affordable (and included with the Lisboa Card!). While a single tram ride costs 3 euros, the subway and buses are even cheaper. Plus, there is a money-saving all-day ticket. Use the official Carris Transit site for the most current info.

#4 Check Opening Hours

Not all attractions are open every day of the week in Lisbon. So, here’s a piece of Lisbon travel advice: Always check the hours of operation directly from the official site before planning your itinerary.

The National Tile Museum, the Belem Tower and the Jeronimos Monastery are all closed on Mondays. On Sunday, the Se Cathedral is closed to visitors and the MAAT Museum shuts its doors on Tuesdays. On the other hand, sights such as the Castelo de Sao Jorge, Cristo Rei and LX Factory are open every day of the week.

It should also be noted that many shops are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Additionally, some restaurants are closed on Sundays and Mondays – and many shut between lunch and dinner.

#5 Make Reservations

Without a doubt, this is one of our top Lisbon, Portugal travel tips: Make restaurant reservations! Even though Lisbon is home to more than a thousand restaurants, the most popular eateries get fully booked – for both lunch and dinner.

Many Lisbon restaurants allow you to make a booking through Google Maps. When that is not possible, try to call, email or swing by a day in advance. Travelers can also ask hotel staff to assist in making reservations.

Without a booking, the best way to score a table is to arrive for dinner early (around 6pm) or when the establishment first opens (often not until 7pm).

#6 Try Local Lisbon Food

Portuguese food is somewhat intimidating. With confusing translations and foreign ingredients, wading through menus in Lisbon can be mysterious, if not downright unappetizing. For far too long, we shied away from traditional Lisbon food because we simply couldn’t figure it out. How could the national dish, Bacalhau (dried cod fish), result in a delicious meal? Is an Egg Tart really a dessert?

After too many consecutive nights of pizza and burgers, however, we finally dappled in the local cuisine…and had an awakening. The local cuisine in Lisbon is absolutely delectable. Bacalhau is transformed into delicious casseroles and stews – and a creamy Portuguese Egg Tart straight from the oven is truly a divine confection.

It’s best to approach Lisbon cuisine is with a full sense of wonder. A good way to sample a variety of dishes is to eat at a Lisbon restaurant that serves Petiscos. These are small plates for sharing, similar to tapas. Our go-to main dishes include Bacalhau a Bras, flame-grilled Chourico, Piri Piri Chicken, Pica Pau and tasty Bifana Sandwiches.

#7 Zip Up your Belongings

Lisbon is considered to be one of the safest European capital cities, but that does not mean it is devoid of so-called petty crime. The biggest targets are distracted tourists in crowded spaces. Always hold onto your belongings in jam-packed spaces (like when riding Tram #28) and keep your valuables out of sight.

For our travel day bags, we like to wear small backpacks with zippered interior pockets. The pack is big enough to also stow a DSLR Travel Camera and a lightweight jacket. We share more tips in our article, How To Avoid Pickpockets while Traveling.

#8 Learn Basic Portuguese Phrases

One big mistake we made on our first Lisbon trip was thinking that our knowledge of Spanish would suffice in Portugal. While it is true that the two languages share a few similarities, many of the basic phrases are not the same.

Hello is Ola (which is said that same way as the Spanish Hola). However, it is standard for strangers to greet one another using a specific phrase for the time of day. Good Morning is Bom Dia; Good Afternoon is Boa Tarde and Good Night is Boa Noite. Thank You is Obrigada (if you are female) and Obrigado (for males).

Travelers who learn how to say just a few words in Portuguese – like hello and thank you – are likely to be appreciated by locals. If you can’t recall the words, don’t panic (or start speaking Spanish). Portuguese people speak excellent English.

#9 Escape the Crowds in Lisbon

Lisbon is currently a European top destination. On our most recent springtime visit, the city center was positively heaving with fellow tourists. The most famous attractions had snaking queues and people were packed into…well, nearly everywhere. Fully loaded trams chugged through Alfama and Time Out Market looked a bit like the Hunger Games.

Contending with the crowds can be overwhelming, but there are ways to escape them. One of the best ways to manage this is to purchase skip-the-line tickets for any must-see attractions. Getting an early start to your day will also provide a little solace from the masses.

Finding alternatives to the most popular places can also be rewarding. For example, rather than standing in the long line to ride Tram #28, hop on Tram #25. Instead of fighting for a seat at Time Out, check out the Campo de Ourique Market. Get off the beaten track and explore a more local neighborhood, like Lapa or Ajuda.

#10 Plan your Lisbon Travel Budget

Although Lisbon has long been hailed as a budget destination, prices have certainly crept up in recent years. To keep your spending in check, use our Free Vacation Budget Planner!

Many of the top places to see in Lisbon require tickets, but we rounded up a list of Free & Cheap Things To Do that showcases budget-friendly alternatives. Visiting the stunningly beautiful Lisbon Churches, wandering the picturesque lanes of Alfama and watching the sunset from an incredible spot are all free of charge!

Savvy travelers can also save money by going on DIY excursions. We share tips on how to plan One Day in Cascais and detailed advice in our Guide To a Sintra Day Trip. The Lisbon Card can also be quite economical for travelers who plan to visit the city’s top ticketed attractions.

BONUS: Stay Organized

One way to help ensure your holiday goes off without a hitch is to track the important details. Our Printable Travel Planner features more than 25 pages of organization!

More Lisbon Travel Ideas

Above, we shared our top travel advice for Lisbon first-time visitors. However, we have more articles that are filled with pertinent and helpful travel information for planning a vacation to Portugal!

Start planning your trip to Portugal! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want more vacation tips? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for more advice – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!

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