Tips and tricks to know before travelling to Lisbon, Portugal

In recent years Lisbon has become one of Europe’s most popular destination capitals. With year-round sunshine, this ancient city on seven hills offers a rich variety of entertainment for all tastes. Windy cobbled streets, stunning architecture, tremendous food and wine and a rich, fascinating cultural life are all part of what makes Lisbon so memorable. Importantly, it is also much more affordable compared to London or Paris and there’s a wide range of self-catering accommodation for rent in the city and its surroundings. To help make the most of your stay, here are some suggestions for saving time and money.

Getting around

Lisbon is a city of vistas and one of the capital’s pleasures is that of discovering the unexpected. But, in mid-summer its hilly streets can be exhausting, so it’s worth giving some thought as to what to see and how to go about getting around.

Walking tours

There really is no better way to experience the sights, sounds and smells of Lisbon than walking its ancient streets. Visitors might choose to use their phones for self-guided tours or join one of the free walking tours which are available. It may also be worth booking a bespoke tour which will include food and wine tasting.

Trams

Taking a ride on one of the city’s traditional Remodelado trams is the perfect way to get around. Although, in summer, everyone has to queue for the privilege. Number 28 is the most famous route and will give a fascinating historic tour of the city for under three euros.

Buses and the metro

Buses lack the charm of trams but are certainly the fastest and cheapest way to get around the city. The same can be said of the metro, which also has maps and information in English.

Tuk-tuk tours

If a walking tour might be too strenuous, consider a guided tour by tuk-tuk. Visitors will be able to see more of the city and have the benefit of an onboard guide who will explain what they are seeing and adapt the tour to their specific interests.

A Lisboa card or a Viva Viagem card

If one intends to see as much as possible during their stay, then it makes sense to invest in a Lisboa card. This card provides free fast track access to 35 museums and places of interest as well as free transport on trams, buses, metro, lifts and local trains. An adult card for 24 hours will cost 20 euros or 42 euros for 72 hours. Lisboa cards can be bought online or at the airport. If visitors simply want to be able to travel around the city then a green Viva Viagem card – which enables one to travel on all forms of public transport – is probably the most suitable. The card costs 50 cents to buy and it can then be topped up and used like an Oyster card.

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