Lisbon Travel Guide
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Learn before you go
Electricity
- Plugs have two or three round prongs
- Power sockets are type F
- Standard voltage is 230V & 50 Hz
Driving Rules
- Drive on the right and pass on the left
- Seat belts are mandatory for all passengers (front and back)
- Using a mobile phone while driving is prohibited
- You should always carry a red warning triangle and the fluorescent waistcoats
Speed Limits
Motorway: 120 Km/h (75 mph)
Dual carriageway: 110 Km/h (65 mph)
National roads: 90 Km/h (55 mph)
Urban areas: 50 Km/h (30 mph)
Opening times
Shops
Monday-Saturday (9am – 1pm & 3pm – 7pm)
Supermarkets
Monday-Saturday (9am – 11pm)
Post offices
Monday-Friday (8.30am -5pm)
Pharmacies
Monday-Friday (8.30am – 7.300pm)
Banks
Monday-Friday (8am – 4pm)
Entry requirements
- Portugal is a Schengen area country
- Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned date of departure from the Schengen area
- Two pages required for entry stamp
- Tourist visa: not required for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- You may be asked for proof of sufficient funds and/or a return plane ticket
- Exchange restrictions on entry or exit set at 10,000 euros or equivalent
Where to go in Portugal
Long Weekend
Discover one city: Lisbon or Porto
One Week options
Lisbon + Cascais and Sintra day trip + Évora or Óbidos day trip
Porto + Douro Valley day trip + Gerês day trip
Algarve > For Sun & Beach
Azores > For pure nature
Weather Seasons
Spring (April – June)
Temperatures: 11°C to 22°C | 57°F to 72°F
Weather: Mild and pleasant, occasional rain
Summer (June – August)
Temperatures: 18°C to 28°C | 64°F to 82°F
Weather: Hot and sunny, occasional heatwaves
Autumn (September – November)
Temperatures: 15°C to 23°C | 59°F to 73°F
Weather: Mild and pleasant, occasional rain and wind
Winter (December to February)
Temperatures: 4°C to 18°C | 48°F to 59°F
Weather: Cool and damp, occasional rain and wind
Cost Seasons
High Season
July & August
Christmas, New Year and Easter
Shoulder Season
April-June & September-October
Low Season
Nov-Mar
Airplane Tickets
Cheapest on January and expensive in July or August
Public Holidays
1 Jan (Sat) New Year’s Day
15 Apr (Fri) Good Friday
17 Apr (Sun) Easter Sunday
25 Apr (Mon) Freedom Day
1 May (Sun) International Workers’ Day
10 Jun (Fri) Portugal Day
16 Jun (Thu) Corpus Christi
15 Aug (Mon) Assumption Day
5 Oct (Wed) Portugal’s Republic Day
1 Nov (Tue) All Saints’ Day
1 Dec (Thu) Portugal’s Restoration of Independence
8 Dec (Thu) Immaculate Conception
25 Dec (Sun) Christmas Day
Getting there by plain
Humberto Delgado Airport
Locally also known as Portela airport
7 kilometers away from the city
Domestic flights
- Direct flights from Porto, Faro, Ponta Delgada (Azores) & Funchal (Madeira)
International flights
- Direct from most EU capitals, including London, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Madrid or Paris
Direct Flights
From UK
London Gatwick: EasyJet & TAP
London Heathrow: British Airways & TAP
From Ireland
Dublin:Aer Lingus, Ryanair & TAP
From Canada:
Montreal & Toronto: Air Canada, Air Transat & TAP
From USA:
Boston, New York City (JFK): Delta & TAP
New York (EWR), Washington: United & TAP
Chicago, Miami, San Francisco: TAP
Getting there by cruise
- Cruise ships arrive at Lisbon Cruise Port (2 terminals)
- Distance to city centre: 1 km (15 min. walk)
- The terminal is next to Santa Apolónia station (train and subway)
- Buses to city centre (728, 735)
Subway (Metro)
Airport -> São Sebastião station (Red Line) -> Santa Apolónia station (Blue Line) One-way €1.80, daily pass €6.80
Airport -> Alameda station (Red Line) -> Cais do Sodré station (Green Line) One-way €1.80, daily pass €6.80
Taxi or private Transfer
Taxi fare costs around 20€-25€
Taxi fare is regulated but taxi driver may try longer routes
Private Transfer is cheaper for multiple passengers
Walking
- Downtown attractions (Chiado, Bairro Alto, Alfama) are within walking distance
- The attractions of the Belém district are within walking distance from each other
Hop-on hop-off bus
- Yellow Bus 24H from 22€
- City Sightseeing 24H from 22€
Tram, Trolley & Funiculars
- The 28 streetcar, the bica funicular and the santa justa elevator are icons of Lisbon (watch out for pickpockets)
- The classic way to go to São Jorge Castle or the Sé Cathedral is to take tram 28
Bus
- Bus network is extensive
- Donwton operation time: usually from 5:30 am to 1:00 am
- Round-trip tickets can be purchased on board
- Multitrip tickets were replaced by Viva Viagem electronic card
- Recharche Viva Viagem card at kiosks & vending machines
Metro (Subway)
- Fastest and cheapest way to get around Lisbon
- Operation time: 6:30 am to 1:00 am
- The stations are signaled with an Red M sign
- There are 4 lines (red, blue, green and yellow) interconnected with each other and with other transport (bus, train and ferry)
Rent-a-car
- It is only justified to move outside the metropolitan area (but not to go to Porto city)
Taxi & similar services
- Taxis in Lisbon are relatively cheap comparing with other european capitals
- Taxi with green light on top means it’s available
- Taxi urban fare (regular): €3.25 + €0.47 per km
- Taxi urban fare (night, saturday, sunday, holidays): €3.90 + €0.56 per km
- Uber is also available at Lisbon
Driving Rules
- Drive on the right and pass on the left
- Seat belts are mandatory for all passengers (front and back)
- Using a mobile phone while driving is prohibited
- You should always carry a red warning triangle and the fluorescent waistcoats
General conduct
- Smoking indoor spaces & transports > Prohibited
- Dinner Guest > Bring small gift (E.g. wine bottle)
- Pointing at someone > Impolite
- Late for a dinner reservation > call ahead
- Photo ban > Usually signed
- Churches during ceremonies > Don’t visit. If you do enter, stand in the back by the door and do not take pictures
Tipping
- Usualy not automatic or included in the bill
- Taxi drivers are rarely tipped (you may round to euro)
Some phrases
Good day– Bom dia (bohn dee-ah)
Goodbye – Adeus
Please – Por favor (poor fah-vor)
Thank you – Obrigado (oo-bree-gah-doo)
Do you speak English? – Fala inglês?
I don’t understand – Não percebo
Greetings
- Olá (oh-lah) – Hello
- Bom dia (bohm dee-ah) – Good morning
- Boa tarde (boh-ah tahr-deh) – Good afternoon
- Boa noite (boh-ah noy-teh) – Good evening/night
- Adeus (ah-day-oos) – Goodbye
Polite phrases
- Por favor (pohr fah-vor) – Please
- Obrigado/a (ohr-ee-gah-doo/ah) – Thank you
- De nada (deh nah-dah) – You’re welcome
- Com licença (kohm lee-sehn-tsah) – Excuse me
Basic questions
- Como está? (koh-moh eh-shtah) – How are you?
- Tudo bem? (too-doo behn) – Everything is ok?
- Onde fica…? (ohn-deh fee-kah…) – Where is…?
- Quanto custa…? (kohn-too koo-shta…) – How much is…?
- Você fala inglês? (voo-seh fah-lah een-glay-shuh?) – Do you speak English?
Other useful phrases
- Eu não falo português (eh-oo ohn-oh fah-loh pohr-too-geez) – I don’t speak Portuguese
- Desculpe (dehs-kool-peh) – Sorry
- A conta, por favor (ah kohn-tah, pohr fah-vor) – The bill, please
- Tenha um bom dia (teh-nhah oom bohm dee-ah) – Have a good day
- Até logo (ah-teh loh-goh) – See you later
Frequently Asked Questions
about Lisbon
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Lisbon is known for its charming historic neighborhoods, colorful tiled buildings, delicious food and wine, and beautiful views of the Tagus River.
The currency in Lisbon is the Euro (EUR).
The emergency number in Lisbon is 112 for police, fire, and ambulance services.
The official language of Lisbon is Portuguese, but many people also speak English, especially in tourist areas.
It depends on your nationality. EU citizens do not need a visa to visit Lisbon. Citizens of many other countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, can stay in Portugal for up to 90 days without a visa. Check with the Portuguese embassy or consulate in your country for specific visa requirements.
The best way to get around Lisbon is by using public transportation, including the metro, buses, and trams. Taxis and ride-sharing services are also widely available.
It’s recommended to spend at least three to four days in Lisbon to see the major attractions and get a feel for the city’s culture and vibe. However, you could easily spend a week or more exploring the city and its surrounding areas.
The must-see attractions in Lisbon include the Belem Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, Sao Jorge Castle, the Alfama neighborhood, and the Chiado and Bairro Alto neighborhoods for shopping, dining, and nightlife.
The best shopping areas in Lisbon include the Chiado neighborhood, which has many high-end boutiques and designer stores, and the Baixa neighborhood, which has a mix of local shops and international brands.
The Feira da Ladra flea market in Alfama is also a popular spot for vintage and secondhand finds.
Lisbon hosts a variety of cultural events throughout the year, including the Festas de Lisboa (Lisbon Festivities) in June, which includes parades, music, and street parties, and the Lisbon International Film Festival in November.
The best way to experience Lisbon’s nightlife is to explore the city’s many bars, clubs, and music venues.
The Bairro Alto neighborhood is known for its lively bar scene, while the streets around Cais do Sodre and Pink Street are popular for clubs and late-night music venues.
Yes, Lisbon hosts several music festivals throughout the year, including the Super Bock Super Rock festival in July, the NOS Alive festival in July, and the Jazz in August festival in August.
Tipping is not mandatory in Lisbon, but it’s common to leave a small tip if you receive good service. In restaurants, a tip of 5-10% of the total bill is usually appreciated. In cafes, bars and taxis, it’s common to round up the bill or leave small change.
Yes, Fado is a traditional Portuguese music style that originated in Lisbon. There are several restaurants and music venues in Lisbon where you can experience Fado performances, such as Clube de Fado and Sr. Fado de Alfama.
Yes, Lisbon has a rechargeable public transportation card called Viva Viagem. It can be used on buses, trams, metro, and trains within the Lisbon metropolitan area. The card can be purchased at any metro or train station and at some bus stations, as well as at some convenience stores and newsstands.
There are several options available for loading the card, including single trip fares, day passes, and pre-paid options.
In addition to the Viva Viagem card, there is also the Lisboa Card, which is a tourist pass that includes unlimited use of public transportation, as well as free admission or discounts to many museums, monuments, and attractions in Lisbon.
The Lisboa Card is available for 24, 48, or 72 hours and can be purchased online or at tourist information centers throughout the city.