Lisbon Travel Guide: Neighbourhoods, Trams, & Top Sights

Lisbon was one of our stops on our 4-month European Adventure. We spent 3 days here at the beginning of April 2024.  We will include a list at the end of this post of extra ideas of things to do that we didn’t get a chance to do/see, as well as some day trips that we heard are awesome!  If you want to check out where we ate during our 3 days, our gluten free guide is here.

In this guide you will find:

• When to visit
• Where to stay
• Transportation Information
• Neighbourhoods to explore
• Trams, funiculars, etc.
• Things to do/see
• Other things to do (that we didn’t get to)
• Day Trips
• Map of all our suggestions
• Helpful Planning Tips

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When is the best time to visit Lisbon?

We travelled to Lisbon in early April and had beautiful weather. We have family who have travelled there in March two separate times with similarly wonderful weather. Most travel websites will say to visit from May to September, but March and April can be quite pleasant (though weather can be unpredictable, so be prepared for rain too!). October and November can be great shoulder months to travel to Lisbon as well.  Going during these shoulder months will save you a bit of money, as the costs for hotels and transportation will likely be lower. Additionally, shoulder months won’t be as crowded as the summer.  Be cautious about going in December – February, as these months are typically much colder and wetter.

Where to stay?

We stayed at Brown’s Boutique Hotel, right downtown a stone’s throw from the Santa Justa Lift.  We had family stay in the same general area at Hotel Santa Justa and they raved about it, but it was just a tad over our budget when we visited (great reviews, though!)

We were able to walk almost everywhere, and could easily catch a tram or walk to the train station if we needed public transport.  One of the major train stations and the airport are a bit more of a trek, requiring transfers if you take public transport.  Because of this, we opted to take an Uber from the airport when arriving to the city, and to the train station when departing.

Overall, staying in the city center will be a good bet for walkability and ease of getting around (the Baixa neighbourhood, near Rossio Square).  If you’re near the Arco or the Lift, you’re probably doing well in terms of location.  On the hill in Chiado is also very central, and there are beautiful places to stay with wonderful views in the charming Alfama neighbourhood. Chiado and Alfama are a bit more of a hike (literally, up a steep hill) to get to/from, but there are trams that run to Chiado to help with mobility.

If you’re needing to stay near the airport for an early departure or late arrival, we have family who stayed at the Melia Lisboa Aeroporto and highly recommended it.

Explore Lisbon hotel availability below:

Transportation Information

Lisbon has a great public transport system, which includes trams, busses, and the metro.  In addition to public transport, it is common for tourists to get around using tuktuks or rideshare.  Here, “Bolt” is the popular rideshare app (like Uber), which is very reasonably priced (our 30min ride to Sintra cost 3 euros with a coupon code). We suggest downloading the Bolt app in advance.

For public transport, your best bet is to buy a navigente card for 0.5 euro – each person needs their own. You can load the card at metro stations, and on the tram 15E that runs out to Belem (though it looked like people had trouble with the machine on the tram; we’d recommend using a metro station to load).  You can load the card with money and tap in/out at each trip or buy an unlimited day pass for 6.8 Euro. A day pass gets you on the funiculars, trams, and the metro (including the famous tram 28, Gloria funicular, Santa Justa lift, and the 15E out to Belem). We bought a 24-hour pass.

While it is possible to take public transportation to and from the airport and the Lisboa Oriente train station, we highly suggest taking an Uber instead. It will be much easier than making transfers with public transit, and it can be frowned upon to be on public transit with a ton of luggage. Ubers are inexpensive here, so we found the extra convenience worth it.

Another option is the Lisboa card, which you can buy for 24, 48, or 72 hours. This is meant for tourists, and gets you on all public transportation, as well as trains to Sintra and Cascais, attractions like the Belem tower, and museums.

Neighbourhoods to Explore

1. Baixa & Chiado

The tourist center of Lisbon, Baixa and Chiado are sort of hard to miss. Chiado is on the hillside, and Baixa is at the base. Baixa is where you will find Rossio train station and the iconic plazas of Lisbon. Chiado runs up the hill from Baixa, and is where you will find lots of shopping and high end restaurants.

2. Bairro Alto

Adjacent to Chiado and on top of a hill, this is a colourful neighbourhood.  It has many cool coffee shops, boutiques, and artisans.  The squares are full of music and vendors. It is a busy neighbourhood, that is very artsy and “alternative”.  If you’re looking for fado restaurants, this is considered one of the better neighbourhoods to find something authentic. We suggest riding the Gloria Funicular to the top of the hill, then walking back down through Bairro Alto.

3. Alfama

Considered the most romantic of the neighbourhoods of Lisbon, Alfama is up another hill.  Here you’ll find narrow streets, cute houses, and charming cafes. There isn’t much public transport up here, so be prepared for a hike. You can take tram No. 28 to the top of the hill and work your way down.  Very picturesque, with miradouros providing views of the water and red rooftops.

4. Belem

Outside of the main portion of the city, this used to be a separate city. Here is where you’ll find the famous Belem Tower, a massive monastery, and the famous Pasteis de Belem (home of pastel de nata pastries). We suggest starting at the tower park and working your way back towards Lisbon city center. You’ll pass Padrao dos Descobrimentos (a huge monument along the waterfront), then the monastery, and finally the pastel de nata shop.  You can take Tram 15E from Praca do Comercio to get to Belem, which takes about 30 minutes each way.

5. Cais do Sodre

A busy neighbourhood downtown Lisbon. Here is where you’ll find Pink Street, and the nearby Time Out Market. This is considered a party spot, so go in the afternoon if you want to avoid the party scene.

Trams, Funiculars, Etc.

1. Gloria Funicular

One of the most famous funiculars, the Gloria Funicular connects Restauradores Square with Bairro Alto. At the top, you’ll find a miradouro that offers great views of the city. Also known as Elevador da Gloria.

2. Tram 28

The iconic yellow tram in Lisbon! We highly recommend riding it in both directions if you can. Expect lineups if you’re boarding in the Alfama neighbourhood, especially midday. We suggest getting on near Praca do Comercio and riding it east, to the end of the line, where you can get off and then get back on and ride it all the way to the other end. You can buy tickets with cash on board, tap your Visa/Mastercard to enter, use your Navigente card, or use your Lisboa pass.

3. Santa Justa Lift

One of the best views of Lisbon. You’ll find this massive elevator at the end of Rua de Santa Justa. It isn’t expensive to ride it up, but there are often lineups, so expect a wait. You can buy your tickets on board (6 Euro round trip), use your Navigente card, or use your Lisboa pass. If you don’t want to ride the lift up, you can walk to the top and pay a smaller fee (1.5 Euro) to enter the viewing area.

There are two other funiculars, Elevador do Lavra (the oldest in Lisbon) and Elevador da Bica (the most photographed).

Things to Do & See

1. Praca do Comercio

A massive plaza along the waterfront. Here you’ll find the iconic Arco da Rua Augusta, one of the most recognizable landmarks in Lisbon. There are tons of restaurants and shops lining the sides of the plaza, and you can catch lots of the trams right at the edge of the plaza.

2. Praca do Rossio

Considered the liveliest square in the city, it is known for its wavy tiling.  There are often live music performers, events, or even demonstrations happening here.

3. Praca dos Restauradores

Here you’ll find Monumento dos Restauradores, a massive monument. This square is lined with designer shops, high end hotels, and many restaurants and cafes. Nearby is the Gloria funicular.

4. Pink Street

A very popular street to walk down, lined with restaurants and covered in umbrellas. It can be very busy here, especially at night as it is in a party neighbourhood. Formal name is Rua Nova do Carvalho.

5. Time Out Market

A massive market with local goods, such as fish and produce, as well as restaurants.  If you want to buy local goods, go early as most vendors will be sold out or closed by about 1pm. The restaurant side can be super busy, especially around lunch time. Touristy, but worth a visit.

6. LX Factory

A little further outside the city center, this is an outdoor hub for shops, bars, local boutiques, and other vendors.  It’s a super cool area to explore, with lots of artwork and murals. Tons of food options here!

7. Belem Tower

In the neighbourhood of Belem, you can pay to enter the tower or just walk around the park.  The tower is only 6 euro to enter, but there can be significant lineups. Nearby, you can find the Monument of the Discoveries, which is a massive monument and very cool to see up close. If you have a Lisboa pass, the Belem Tower is included.

8. Jeronimos Monastery

A massive monastery in the Belem neighbourhood. You can buy tickets to enter, which we had read was well worth it. However, we waited too last minute to look for tickets and couldn’t get any.  Make sure you purchase in advance and allow time for the large lineup!

9. Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara

A beautiful plaza with a view of the city. There is often live music here, and various food vendors. You can get here by climbing the hill or taking the Gloria Funicular up.

10. Carmo Convent

This is the ruins of a former Catholic Convent.  You can buy tickets to go in, or just pass by the outside (which is what we did) for free.

Other things to do (that we didn’t get to)

• Castelo de Sao Jorge
• Miradouro de Santa Luzia
• Miradouro das Portas do Sol
• Take a TukTuk tour of the city
• Museums (such as National Tile Museum or the Museu do Fado)
• Sunset cruise on River Tagus
• Parque Eduardo VII
• Take a walking tour of Alfama, Rossio, & Chiado neighbourhoods

Day Trips

There are TONS of day trips you can book using Get Your Guide! While we didn’t use them for day trips in Lisbon, we’ve had great luck with them elsewhere. Many Trip Advisor tours also get great reviews.

1. Sintra

This is the day trip we opted for.  You can book a tour, or do this self-directed. It is an easy train or Uber ride from Lisbon. We took an Uber here, and the train back. There are a few spots here that are worth your time: Pena Palace and the attached park, Quinta da Regaleira, and the Palace of Monserrate.  If you want to go to the first two, you must book tickets ahead. We booked well in advance for the National Palace of Pena, but didn’t look at Quinta da Regaleira early enough so we missed out. 

The park attached to Pena Palace is so enchanting, and you can easily spend a couple of hours exploring.  We took an Uber to get here, because we could get dropped right off at the gate. We then walked back into the town of Sintra to explore. A note that while your Lisboa pass will cover the train to get to Sintra, it will not cover entrance to any museums/sites in Sintra.

2. Cascais

This is a beach town about 40 minutes from Lisbon. We didn’t get here, as we went to Sintra instead, but have heard nothing but good things. You can do a full day or half day here, and it’s best to visit on a sunny day. The train is apparently the best way to get there and easy to navigate.

3. Nazare

A bit further from Lisbon, it is about a 2 hour train ride away. Nazare is known for is massive waves, and therefore surfing as well. If you can time it to watch a surf competition, you’re in for a treat! In addition to surfing, Nazare is well known as a fishing village.

4. Obidos

Again, a bit further than some other possible day trips, Obidos can be anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours from Lisbon depending on what trains you catch. Obidos is a walled town that is considered one of the most picturesque in the region.  We had a few recommendations to come to Obidos and family who loved it, but again, didn’t have enough extra time in Lisbon to set aside for a day trip here. Another option is to combine Obidos with Nazare, or stop at both of these on your way between Lisbon and Porto.

MAP of Things to Do in Lisbon

HOW TO USE THE MAP: Click on the Wanderlog logo in the bottom right corner to open the full-size map up in a new tab. There, you can choose to just look at one type of activity at a time or see all the activities on the map at once (click the 3 squares in the top right to choose). You can also export the map to Google Maps, share the map with others, or save the map.

Helpful Planning Tips

I rely on these tools when planning my trips:

• Get Your Guide – book experiences like Tuk Tuk tours, Pena Palace in Sintra, or the Sao Jorge Castle
• Airalo eSIM – get Portuguese mobile data instantly on arrival, without roaming charges
• Stay22 – compare hotels across Lisbon, near neighbourhoods like Alfama, Baixa, or Chiado
• Wanderlog – organize your itinerary and map your Lisbon days efficiently

For even MORE things to do, tours, and activities, explore below: