Lisbon is one of Europe's most rewarding cities — but it has enough quirks, hidden costs and local nuances that first-timers regularly wish they'd known about beforehand. These 20 tips will save you money, time and the frustration of common mistakes.
Portugal uses the Euro and is part of the EU, but airport currency exchange desks still offer poor rates. Get a Wise or Revolut card before you leave — both offer near-interbank rates and work in ATMs throughout Portugal. This saves €30–80 on a week-long trip compared to using a standard bank card or changing cash at the airport.
Lisbon's best budget secret is the prato do dia — a daily lunch special that almost every tasca and local restaurant serves, typically €9–13 including a starter, main course, bread, drink and sometimes dessert. The quality is often better than à la carte at double the price. Look for a handwritten board at the entrance, or simply ask "Qual é o prato do dia?"
This is one of Portugal's most charming café traditions — the price of a coffee is legally required to be lower at the balcão (standing counter) than at a table. An espresso at the counter costs €0.80–1.20; the same coffee at a table on a terrace can cost €2–3.50. For a group having multiple coffees per day, this adds up. Stand like the locals, save money, and get a better local experience.
Portuguese restaurants have a tradition of placing bread, olives, cheese and chouriço on the table as soon as you sit down. These are not free — they will be charged to your bill, typically €1.50–4 per item. If you don't want them, simply say "Não obrigado" and the waiter will remove them. It's completely acceptable and not rude. If you did eat them, they should appear as individual line items on your bill.
The Lisboa Card (€21/24 hours, €36/48 hours, €44/72 hours) includes unlimited Metro, tram and bus travel plus free or discounted entry to over 40 museums and monuments including the Jerónimos Monastery (normally €10), Castelo de São Jorge (€15), and the National Tile Museum (€5). It pays for itself if you're visiting 3+ paid attractions per day. For a relaxed itinerary focused on walking and eating, a regular transport day pass (€6.80) is better value.
The rechargeable Viva Viagem card (€0.50 for the card) is the most convenient way to use Lisbon's public transport. Load it with a 24-hour pass (€6.80, covers Metro, tram, bus and funiculars) or a Zapping balance (pay per journey at reduced rates). Available from any Metro station ticket machine. Without the card, single-journey tickets cost more and require queuing each time.
Tram 28 is genuinely one of the great urban transport experiences in Europe — but it's also one of the most crowded. In July and August, queues at the main stops can be 30–45 minutes long. Go before 9am or after 5pm, board at Martim Moniz or Graça (further along the route, less crowded) rather than Praça da Figueira, and sit on the right side heading towards Alfama for the best views.
Uber is widely available in Lisbon and consistently cheaper than licensed taxis for the same journeys. The airport to Chiado by Uber costs €10–15; the same journey by taxi often costs €20–25 (sometimes more with luggage supplements). Download and register before you travel. Bolt is also active in Lisbon and sometimes cheaper than Uber. Licensed taxis are regulated — if you do use one, confirm the meter is running before you set off.
Driving in Lisbon is genuinely stressful. Streets are narrow and often one-way, parking is expensive and scarce, and local driving is assertive. For the city itself, public transport and Uber are far better. However, if you want to visit Arrábida Natural Park, the Alentejo or other areas not served by train, renting a car for one or two days makes sense. Pick up from outside the city (Cascais or the airport) to avoid urban driving.
For both Sintra (40 minutes from Rossio) and Cascais (40 minutes from Cais do Sodré), the train is faster, cheaper and more frequent than any shuttle bus or tour vehicle. Trains run every 20–30 minutes for both routes, cost €2.25 each way, and take you directly to the town centre. The journey itself — particularly the Cascais coastal route — is scenic and enjoyable.
Portugal is in the EU, so if you're travelling from another EU country, your domestic data plan almost certainly covers Portugal at no extra cost. UK travellers: post-Brexit, this depends on your network — check before you leave (EE and Vodafone cover Portugal; some cheaper networks don't). Non-EU travellers should consider an eSIM (Airalo or Holafly) or a local SIM (available at airports and phone shops for €10–15 with several GB of data).
Lisbon's hills and winding streets make navigation genuinely confusing even with data. Download the Lisbon region in Google Maps before you travel — it works offline and is essential for navigating Alfama's alleys, which don't follow any logical grid. Also useful when the Metro or your phone data is unreliable underground.
Pena Palace in Sintra does not guarantee entry without an online ticket in July and August — walk-up visitors frequently face 2+ hour queues and occasionally sell-out days. Book at least 3–4 days in advance in summer. The Sintra National Palace (in the town centre) and Quinta da Regaleira also benefit from advance online booking. Tickets are available directly on the Sintra municipality website or via tour platforms.
Book Sintra Tour with Skip-the-Line →Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Lisbon — including most small restaurants and cafés. However, the Feira da Ladra flea market (Tuesday and Saturday), some neighbourhood tascas, and street food vendors still prefer or require cash. Keep €30–50 on hand. ATMs (Multibanco) are plentiful throughout the city.
Lisbon's calçada portuguesa (hand-laid limestone cobblestones) are beautiful to look at and punishing to walk on for hours. They're uneven, slippery when wet, and hard underfoot. Comfortable walking shoes with good grip and cushioning are not optional — they're essential. High heels are genuinely dangerous on wet cobblestones. Break in new shoes before you travel.
Lisbon is on the Atlantic coast, and even in July and August, evenings can drop to 18–20°C with a breeze. A light jacket or cardigan is useful for rooftop bars, outdoor restaurants and miradouro evenings. September and October evenings are noticeably cooler — bring a proper layer.
Tram 28, Alfama, the Belém monuments and Sintra palaces are all significantly less crowded before 10am than at any other time of day. If seeing these places without fighting through tour groups matters to you, set your alarm. The light is also better in the morning — particularly for photography in Alfama and Belém.
English is widely spoken in Lisbon — more so than in most Southern European capitals. But a few words of Portuguese go a long way: Obrigado/a (thank you, male/female speaker), Por favor (please), Com licença (excuse me), Bom dia (good morning), Faz favor (to get a waiter's attention — literally "do me a favour", used universally). Lisboetas appreciate the effort even if they immediately respond in perfect English.
Portugal and Spain share the Iberian Peninsula but have quite different cultures, histories and identities. Portuguese people are generally quieter, more reserved and more melancholic in temperament than Spanish people — a trait the Portuguese attribute to saudade, an untranslatable concept of longing and nostalgia. Mentioning Spanish food, assuming everyone speaks Spanish, or comparing Portuguese and Spanish wine unfavourably to each other are all mild social faux pas. The Portuguese are proud of their distinct identity.
The biggest mistake most Lisbon visitors make is treating it like a checklist rather than an experience. The city is at its best when you sit in a café for an hour watching the trams go by, follow an alley that looks interesting without knowing where it leads, or spend three hours in a single neighbourhood tasca with a bottle of local wine. Schedule one main activity per day and let the rest happen organically. The best Lisbon memories are rarely from museums.
Secure your Sintra tour, fado dinner and any food tours before they sell out
Browse Tours → Find Hotels →Yes — Lisbon is one of the safest European capitals. The main risk is petty theft, specifically pickpocketing on Tram 28 and in crowded miradouros. Keep phones in front pockets, bags zipped and close to your body, and you're unlikely to have any problems. Violent crime targeting tourists is extremely rare.
Portuguese. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels and restaurants — Lisbon has among the highest English proficiency rates of any Southern European city. You can travel entirely in English without difficulty, though a few Portuguese words will be warmly received.
Yes — Lisbon's tap water is safe and of good quality. It can have a slightly chlorinated taste in some areas; if this bothers you, a small water filter bottle (LifeStraw or Brita) is the eco-friendly and cost-effective solution. Bottled water is widely available at €0.50–1 per litre in supermarkets.
Don't try to do Sintra and Cascais in the same half-day — you'll do neither properly. Don't eat at restaurants with touts standing outside — the quality is almost always poor. Don't book fado shows in Baixa — always go to Alfama. Don't rush — Lisbon's pace is slow and that's part of its appeal.
Google Maps (download offline) for navigation. Uber or Bolt for taxis. Booking.com for last-minute accommodation. GetYourGuide or Viator for tours. Moovit for real-time public transport information including tram delays.
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