Lisbon is a touristy city famous for its warm weather, old-town vibe, hilly streets, and kind locals. This blog offers essential Lisbon travel tips to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip. From transportation to safety to budget-friendly advice, this guide has you covered.
Spending holidays in Lisbon is also perfect for solo travellers, as this has been tried and tested by yours truly. Lisbon, a city that welcomes solo travellers, allows you to explore it fully in just three days without missing a thing! The city’s compact size, friendly locals, and safe environment make it an ideal destination for solo adventurers. Below is the list that would make your Lisbon travel smooth, stress-free, and memorable.
Travel Tip #1 Buy Lisboa Card
Immerse yourself in the city with a Lisboa Card! While Lisbon is a city you can explore on foot, the Lisboa Card offers a convenient way to navigate its hilly streets, especially in sunny weather. This smart choice for travellers provides free transport on the Metro, Carris (buses and trams), CP (trains to Cascais, Sintra, and Azambuja), Fertagus (trains to Setubal), and free/discounted entry to 53 museums, monuments, and visitor attractions. With the option of 24, 48, or 72 consecutive hours on the mentioned public transportation, this card is a time and money saver, allowing you to see more of Lisbon for less. It’s a stress-free way to explore the city, ensuring you can relax and enjoy your trip.
Top attractions you can visit with a Lisboa card for free:
- Castelo de San Jorge / Saint George Castle
- Museo del Tesoro Real / Royal Treasury Museum
- Monasterio de los Jeronimos / Jeronimos Monastery
- Torre de Belem / Belem Tower
- Experiencia Pilar 7 / Pilar 7 Bridge Experience
- Lisboa Story Centre
- Museo Nacional del Azulejo / National Tile Museum
Most museums and attractions are closed on Mondays, so it’s important to plan your travel accordingly. Once you get the card, a complete list of information is provided on the leaflet. This information will ensure you’re well-prepared and organized for your visit. You can purchase your Lisboa Card here:
Travel tip #2 Citymapper
Want to feel like a Lisbon local? Download Citymapper! This app has saved me from getting lost in Dublin, London, Barcelona, Malaga, Amsterdam, and Lisbon. This free app gives you a comprehensive guide around the city of your choice: from trams to buses to tubes, you will always be aware of your location. This will also give you your arrival time from point A to point B, making your travel smooth and stress-free.
Using this app for my Lisbon trip, I truly felt like a local. It guided me through the Baixa and Avenida, and even helped me discover hidden cafes and restaurants. It’s a great way to feel integrated and part of the city.
Citymapper is available to download on both iOS and Android.
Travel tip #3 Hop-on Hop-off + River Tour
I advocate trying these kinds of tours in every city. They allow you to see so much of the culture conveniently! I regret not having this when I was in Barcelona, so when I travelled to Lisbon, this was the first thing I booked.
I highly recommend the 72-hour All-in-one combo ticket if you are the type of traveller who wants to explore every street and chill at the waves of the river. This combination of bus-boat-tram tours will make you fall in love with Lisbon. The tour includes:
- Belem Lisbon bus tour – lets you travel along the city’s main avenues from the historic city centre to the Belem Tower.
- Modern Lisbon bus tour – explore different architectures around Lisbon Tile Museum to Parque das Nacoes.
- Hills Tramcar tour – a nonstop tour that will let you explore the Lisbon neighbourhood while riding in a historic tram! It covers the streets of Chiado and Alfama.
- Yellow Boat River tour – lets you see the City of Lisbon from the river.
- Yellow Boat sunset – enjoy the sunset with the fantastic views over the city and the Belem Tower. Time starts vary per season.
More information will be given upon availing the ticket. You can book your ticket here:
Takeaway
Maximizing your Lisboa Card to explore restaurants and cafes, using Citymapper as your guide and map, and discovering the city from different viewpoints will make your Lisbon travel smooth and enjoyable! We’d love to hear about your experiences or answer any questions you might have. Remember, with these essential tips, you can make the most of your trip to Lisbon.
