Travel Tips for Lisbon, Portugal

Cost: € (affordable)

Safety: 4/5 for solo female travellers

Lisbon is a beautiful place known for its unique architecture, colourful ceramic tiles, great weather and fantastic food. The city is super for walking, as many of the sights are easily accessible by foot – that’s if you’re up for tackling the city’s many hills! I visited for 3 days and it was plenty of time to explore the city.

While this wasn’t a solo trip, I do think it is a safe city. However, I wouldn’t walk around alone late at night.

How to get there

You can fly direct from Dublin to Lisbon Airport via Aer Lingus or Ryanair. The flight length is close to 3 hours.

Language, Currency & Weather

Portuguese is the main language spoken in Lisbon, however English is also widely spoken.

The Euro is accepted, as this is the currency used in Portugal.

The weather in Lisbon is quite hot in summer, with temperatures between 23 and 35 degrees Celsius. I visited in June and the weather was glorious – about 23-24 degrees Celsius. However in July or August the weather can become a bit stifling.

In winter, temperatures range between 12 and 19 degrees Celsius and rain is likely. 

Public Transport

Lisbon’s public transport system includes the metro, trams, funiculars, buses, commuter trains and ferries. It’s relatively easy to use.

To pay for the transport, you can buy the Viva Viagem card for 50 cent in any metro station, at selling points in the city or at commuter train stations. You can also use cash on the trams and buses but this is more expensive than getting a card.

There are different types of tickets that you can load on to the card; single tickets, 24-hour tickets (I would recommend this if you’re going to be using transport a lot) and zapping (pay as you go).

To get between the airport and the city centre, you can get the metro (20-minute journey) as well as several bus services. 

Where To Stay

I found accommodation in Lisbon to be quite reasonable, however it depends on what location you want to stay in and the time of year you visit.

I would recommend booking the New Style Lisbon Hotel, Seven Dreams Suites or Hotel Mundial (very central).

For something a bit more reasonable, I would choose The Leaf Boutique Hotel, the Lisbon 5 Hotel or Hotel Gat Rossio.

If you’re on a budget, there are so many hostels to choose from, including Lisboa Central Hostel or Home Lisbon Hostel.

Where To Go & What To Do

There is so much to experience in Lisbon so it might be a bit difficult creating your itinerary! To help you, I’ve rounded up my favourite spots.

I would recommend visiting Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, Lisbon Cathedral, Santa Justa Lift, São Jorge Castle, Rua Augusta Arch, Praça do Comércio and Ajuda National Palace.

I would also advise you to hop on Tram 28 to explore the city via its narrow streets, as well as booking a boat tour along the Tagus River.

A visit to LX Factory is essential too. It’s home to lots of cool shops, restaurants, bars and office spaces.

For a day trip, it is possible to book tours to Sintra to view Pena Palace and Royal Gardens, Cabo da Roca, Cascais, and of course coastlines.

What & Where To Eat

It’s really easy to eat on a budget when in Lisboa (Lisbon) and I must say the food is really, really good.

I visited Time Out Market Lisboa for breakfast, and this upbeat food hall in Cais do Sodre did not disappoint. It has so many different cuisines to choose from, as well as lots of alcohol. I may have tried an Aperol Spritz or two…

Café A Brasileira is another great spot, and is one of Lisbon’s oldest cafés. While it was very busy when I visited, it was definitely worth it. I ordered a coffee and was impressed by its interior and staff.

I didn’t want to visit Lisbon without trying a pastel de nata (Portugal’s signature confection) so I travelled to Pastéis de Belém. Wow. This treat paired with a coffee is what Lisbon is all about!

For lunch, I visited Seventh Brunch Chiado which was a cool and fun spot. Meanwhile for dinner, I stopped by Floresta Das Escadinhas. I was very impressed with the food and its friendly staff.

Enjoy the The City of Seven Hills!