Best Lisbon Travel Guide: From a Local
Olá! First and foremost, welcome back to one more itinerary, this time my Lisbon Travel Guide. The good news is that I grew up in Cascais, not too far from Lisbon. This guide will help you with the best things to do in Lisbon, and where to stay in Lisbon. If you are looking for an itinerary with the most local places to go, you are in the right place. I cover some of the best restaurants in Lisbon with some daily hacks for you to nail your trip to Lisbon.
I tend to recommend tagging Cascais and Sintra on your trip to Lisbon. If you are wondering how long to spend in Lisbon, I would then recommend a minimum of 4 days. Of course, you can get both towns mentioned in your itinerary which are close by and are very special and pretty.
To visit Lisbon, Cascais, and Sintra, I would probably recommend you be in Portugal for a minimum of four full days. However, this might not be your case at the time you read this I have built this itinerary for you to take advantage of every place as much as possible! This will be a rather complete itinerary of Lisbon, which I subdivided into what to do, where to eat, and where to stay. I will keep you updated when the Cascais and Sintra itinerary comes along!
Enjoy!
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How to get to and from Lisbon Airport
Lisbon airport is quite close to the city centre, you can take the metro which is the red line (map below) which is very easy to navigate. To take the metro you will need an Andante Card which is the equivalent to Oyster Card in London or the Octopus in Hong Kong. The Andante Card costs less than 1 euro and it is valid for 1 year.
You can buy an Andante Card in any train or metro station, but be aware that if you buy a trip by zone the card will only be usable on the metro services. If you need to use the bus, tram, or train I suggest topping the Andante Card with euros (this option service is called zapping). Alternatively, get the City Pass which offers full transport and some attractions too!
Other ways of getting to Lisbon centre
Travelling by Taxi
Another good option to travel from Lisbon airport to whichever destination is Uber or Taxi. Lisbon has Ubers and they are quite affordable. Despite Uber prices rising year by year, it is still cheaper than taking a local taxi. Obviously, there are pros and cons when using Uber in cities like Lisbon, and this can be how Uber drivers aren’t often locals, so they might not speak the language and help you with key information that you might need. A pro can be the rates and how you’re in control of changing the destination or choosing another pick-up point. A taxi from the airport to Lisbon city center will be around €15/20, and Uber around €12 to €15. To Cascais a taxi is between €45-€55 and an Uber can be between €20-€35. If you don’t have the app, or you don’t like to leave everything to the last minute, you can arrange a private shuttle in advance here.
In Lisbon when grabbing an Uber, pick them up from the BP petrol station across the arrivals to avoid airport surcharge.
Address: Av. Berlim, 1700-056 Lisboa, Portugal
Other
There are also other ways to travel from the airport in Lisbon to your destination, or you can take a public shuttle to the city centre which can be very affordable too (more information here).
Lisbon
Get ready, I am bringing you my top-rated restaurants, bars, local dishes, neighborhoods and much more that you should consider when you are visiting Lisbon!
This is indeed a must in any itinerary – and if you go to any of these places from my suggestion, please please let me know how you liked it. Lisbon is full of amazing food solutions. The whole country has been in the mouth of all travel agencies and magazines as the best European break destination for 2023. Lisbon being the capital of Portugal been adding fantastic new places to eat with out-of-the-box fusions of food!
Best restaurants in Lisbon
Here are my top 10 restaurants to try in the capital of Portugal and some notes about each:
Breakfast and brunch
Portuguese people don’t eat much for breakfast, our main meals are lunch and dinner. Dinner is even a bigger thing than lunch.
For breakfast lovers, I have added my favourite traditional places below and also some of the more brunch-orientated options.
You should try traditional Portuguese breakfast that it’s quite simply coffee and sweet or savory pastry. My favourite is a “cafe pingado with a croquette”.
– Padaria Portuguese – authentic Portuguese & very cheap prices. You are likely to see locals eating before work. They have combos and it’s yum 😋 fresh orange juice and a pastel de nada €3.60 – it’s insane right?!
– A Brasileira do Chiado – one of the oldest cafes in Lisbon and has been selling Brazilian imported coffee since 1905. The owner of this coffee shop has another establishment in Porto too!
– Buna Specialty Coffee Shop – This place is a vibe, Buna means “good coffee” in Ethiopia, and they connect people around the world with coffee! how cute, similar to me with travel ☺️.
However, there are places, especially in Lisbon, offering English Brunch: Avocado on Toast and Scrambled Eggs with Bacon.
Here are some of the brunch places I have to recommend.
– Fauna & Flora (they also have a spot in Estoril by the beach)
– La Boulangerie (located in my favourite neighborhood of Lisbon)
– Maria Limão (located in charming Graça!)
Where to eat in Lisbon
Of course, Lisbon is not just about breakfast, in fact breakfast plays 10% of our food choices. Portuguese people like little shots of coffee. There are about 20+ types of coffee. Above I said I love café pingado (literally translated as to dropped coffee || dropped with milk ahah) but the same cafe pinged can have lots of variations. You can have café pingado in a cold cup, in a boiling cup, without the beginning, short, long, in the point… the list does continue.
If you are a first-time visitor it is a must to check the Time Out Market by Cais do Sodré. The prices are not much for the locals, let’s say, but the food is seriously good. The best Croquettes I ever had are from this market, although the ones from Padaria Portuguesa are not behind. The variety in this place is insane you have a little bit of everything – for sure check out the croquettes place, they are delightful!
I know that ice cream is Italian, but we do have our special ice cream shop that is mandatory to stop. In the summer and winter Portuguese queue for a Santini Ice cream – The first Santini ice cream shop was opened in Cascais 74 years ago. Since then Santini Ice Cream shop has extended to several shops including Lisbon. For an authentic experience go to Cascais.
Are you a meat lover? If yes, try these three meaty dishes when in Portugal: Bitoque, Carne de Porco à Alentejana and Prego no Pão.
O Lugar – Prego offers the best value for money with Pregos from €5.
If fish is your thing then you need to try the cataplana (this dish is typically quite warm and juicy, similar to paella but with more sauce) and just grilled fish – you will never go wrong with the Portuguese grilled fish;
Last time I sent this itinerary a friend asked me the best fish to eat based on how easy it is to “arrange” it on the plate and other factors, so I thought it would be great to leave you these here:
– Peixe de Espada Preto| black sword fish
– Robalo | sea bass
– Abrótea | hake
– Espadarte | swordfish
– Carapau | Mackerel fish
– Linguado | Sole
– Sardinha | Sardine
Seafood: Octopus salad, clams a Bolhão Pato; shrimp! all amazing (I am so hungry!!); Coffee is between €0.70/€0.90 everywhere;
Bread and olives are paid in the end of the bills (Disclaimer: it’s not free like in Italy!)
In Belém, you can have all the above in a very local place called Clube Naval de Lisboa (menu) – it is for sure the best place for seafood and fish in Lisbon. There are not much of tourists, and you might struggle to get by just in Ingles. If not for the fish, go for the view, and then let me know if it was worth it or not!
In Alcântara Mar you can find trendy and very niche spots, good for tapas, small plates traditional dishes, and so on, in LX Factory any restaurant is great but Cantina has such a cool vibe.
Cais do Sodré – for small plates & tapas or big portions Time Out Market is the place.
Bairro Alto – Taverna da Rua das Flores – Rua das Flores, 103
Baixa – Fumeiro de Santa Catarina – Travessa do Alcaide, 4 C
Martim Moniz – Illegal Chinese – Mr Lu – Rua António Pedro, 95 (it is called the illegal Chinese because Mr Lu opens his house and serves Chinese food, this practice is illegal, I’d like to assume that it is now legal to have dinner at Mr. Lu!)
Lisbon nightlife
Going out in Lisbon brings me back to when I was living in Portugal. I used to start at Bairro Alto with dinner and sangria, and slowly make my way down to Cais-do-Sodré. The first stop was always Pensão Amor in Pink Street and then Santos for the “All Saints 2-4-1”, depending on the mood I would go to Vaca Louka for 1euro shots and then clubbing.
There are several clubs in Lisbon for most types of music vibes.
Rock Music – Music Box and Metropolis
House – Lux
Reggaeton and R&B – Kremlin (old Main)
Alternative music – Incognito
My favourite rooftops in Lisbon
Lisbon is known for its stunning views from the rooftop bars. With its seven hills, the city offers panoramic sights of charming neighborhoods, colorful buildings, and historic landmarks like the Moorish castle and beautiful bridges. Enjoy the sunshine and take in the city from above at one of the 16 best rooftop bars in Lisbon. From stylish hotel bars to cozy spots in revitalized areas, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
- Limão at H10 Duque de Loulé – A real gem in Lisbon, it is also a hotel and it has the ultimate best foods.
- Chapitô à Mesa – A theatre school with delicious food and a beautiful view.
- Memmo Principe Real – The best place for refreshing lemonades.
- Park – Located on the 6th floor of a parking garage in Bairro Alto.
- Sky Bar Lisbon – A favourite among hotels, offering fantastic cocktails and stunning sunsets.
Where to stay Lisbon
Lisbon is vast and more than ever there are new places to visit and stay. My favourite areas of the city to stay in are Alfama, Baixa Chiado, Príncipe Real, Restauradores, Estrela, and Marques de Pombal. These 7 neighborhoods are full of history, small cafes, proper Lisbon vibes, and great food.
Regardless if it is your first time in Lisbon these areas must be explored again. Lisbon is not where I have been the most when going home but if there is one thing I know, is that it is very very pretty and worth staying right in the center of it.
Top hotels per neighborhood
I have decided to leave some links to places that I have stayed or know who stays. Inclusive a family property that I think is worth checking out.
- Alfama – Casa Belmonte
- Baixa Chiado – Cais Urban Lodge
- Príncipe Real –Casa das Janelas com Vista
- Estrela – Dear Lisbon – Gallery House
- Marques Pombal – PortoBay Marques
- Restauradores – Blue Liberdade Hotel
Best places to visit in Lisbon
There are plenty of museums, monuments, and just places to experience. For example, sailing in the Tejo River, or going up to the viewpoint from Terreiro do Paço. The City Pass offers transport around the city with some attractions, it can be a good start.
I love being a traveler in Lisbon. If you haven’t realised so far, I breathe travel and hopefully one day I will do it full-time so here are my top recommendations to do in Lisbon for either 1 day, 2 days, 3 days or 4 days.
– Walk around Baixa Chiado and check out the smallest gloves shop in the country – Luvaria Ulisses – the gloves are all leather genuine and the shop is adorable. There are also walking tours in Baixa that are worth checking because it is run by professionals and locals who take to the hidden streets and less touristic places.
– In the charming neighborhood of Baixa Chiado, one of Lisbon’s most vibrant areas, lies the majestic Mosteiro do Carmo. This historic monastery, once a place of spiritual devotion, now stands as a captivating ruin that tells the tale of time and history. At night is when the Mosteiro do Carmo truly comes to life. As the sun sets and darkness cloaks the city, the monastery is transformed into a captivating wonderland. The ruins are illuminated by a mesmerizing display of twinkling fairy lights, casting a magical glow that captivates the hearts of all who witness it.
– The main street of Baixa Chiado is called “Rua do Alecrim”. There you can get access to the Elevador de Santa Justa with a 360• view of the city. Tickets can be bought at the entrance.
– In central Lisbon, there are 3 main roads – Rua do Ouro/Gold Street, Rua da Prata / Silver Street, and Rua de Santa Catarina / Santa Catarina’s Street. Rua do Ouro is in the middle of the best street full of shops, restaurants, jewelry shops, and much more. These streets are connected with Terreiro do Paço. You can get up there for one of the best views of the city. Not a lot of people visit this viewpoint and the entrance ticket is quite affordable, less than €4 per ticket (buy them here).
– Tram 28 is a must, you should aim to take the tram on the way from the castle or from the first stop in Estrela to get the best experience possible. The majority of the people take the tram at Baixa Chiado and have no sits being very crowded. You can use any public transport including the Tram 28 with the Lisbon City Pass.
– Visit Lisbon’s Cathedral in Portuguese Sé de Lisbon which is our cathedral, it is stunning! Well worth a visit and if you are over on a Sunday join the service!
– Castelo de São Jorge has an amazing history and views. You can eat inside and learn a lot about our Royals that not that far away ruled the country.
– Torre de Belém – located in Belém is to visit. It’s an old prison where people were kept underneath it with the low and high tide. I suggest taking a Tuk-Tuk, train, taxi, or bus to Belém. People underestimate distances in Lisbon, but although it’s not a huge city some of the attractions are indeed far away. In Belém, you can also see the Jeronimos Monastery and have a sailing trip.
– Padrão dos descobrimentos or discovery point – also in Belém, it’s immense. Here is the point where the Portuguese left Lisbon to go to Africa, Brazil, and India. The tiles on the floor show all our sailing roots. I want to fly my drone there!
– Still in Belém, you can take sailing boat trips which I highly recommend you to do. Especially if it’s not your first time in the city, this is an excellent opportunity to learn from locals, see the city from a different point, and enjoy the sun ☀️ . When I last went I went on a tour with Magic Sailing and it was top! I am leaving here the links.
– Cristo Rei which is a copy of Brazil’s one is very worth seeing as well as the the town located on the other side of the river – Almada. If you are staying for the sunset, make sure you check the Ponto Final bar. It is one of the best sunset points in Almada overlooking Lisbon.
I hope this itinerary is useful for your next trip to Lisbon and feel free to ask me any more questions! I will be in Lisbon in September and I am very happy to show you around too!
Safe travels!
Miri
xx
