Looking for the best Lisbon travel tips? Here are 8 of my best tips from my two trips there.
My best Lisbon travel tips comes from my two trips there. One time I went with a group of friends, and because I loved it so much, I went solo.
Overall, Lisbon is one of my favorite cities in Europe. It is the perfect city for foodies, winos, and architecture lovers who are more or less on a “budget”. You won’t have to choose between a seafood dinner or nice bottle of wine ’cause you can have it all here since everything is so reasonably priced.
On top of that, there’s beautiful colors everywhere intricately laced into their tiles on the floor, walls, and even on the ceilings. Enjoy my top Lisbon travel tips curated from my two trips there!
From Lust Till Dawn is a reader-supported site. Purchases made through links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
1. Eat at Taberna da Rua das Flores.
This is the first of my Lisbon travel tips because it was one of my favorite places to eat (A Cevicheria is my other fave spot).
You can’t go wrong with any dish here. For real, everything is good here. They always have a long wait so go there an hour to hour and a half before you want to eat, put your name down, then walk a minute uphill to the square nearby.
Grab wine from the kiosk, and enjoy people watching and Lisbon’s colorfully tiled buildings. There may be a pair of couples fantastically dancing kizomba/salsa/?? that’ll make you sigh, “Hmmm… wish I could dance.”
After daydreaming, go back to the restaurant about 15 minutes before the time they said a table would be available for you, and wait in excitement until you get to order and eat!
2. Use Uber
Ubers in Lisbon were the cheapest I’ve ever experienced! Because Lisbon is quite hilly, and I can’t walk easily with my fibromyaglia, I took Ubers often and found most of my rides to be between €2-6.
It definitely made sense to take the Uber to the monastery or the beach because there were four people in my travel group. To the monastery, public transportation would’ve cost €4 a person and take about 30-40 minutes with walking. The Uber costs the same amount per person and took half the time.
As for the beach, because we didn’t take public transportation, we were able to go to a beach that wasn’t directly off a train stop. Instead we asked our driver if he could take us to a less crowded one and brought us to a nice one where locals hang.
Side note: I loved that the beach provided these red plastic cones that you could stick into the ground next to your towel. They’re cigarette butt holders! Then after you’re done chilling on the beach, you dump the out into the garbage, and put the cone back.
I LOVE this method of preventing people just throwing out their cigarette butt into the sand. If you’re a cigarette smoker, that’s cool, but cigarette butts are still litter. You may want to consider carrying around one of these cigarette butt holders my friend uses!
Ok got off track there… back to Lisbon tips.
If you wanted, you could even take an Uber from Lisbon to Cascais as a day trip. Normally it’s about 40 minutes by train, but with four people, Uber would be an economical choice too.
Taking Ubers over public transportation is definitely one of the most underrated Lisbon travel tips!
3. Eat as much seafood as possible.
The octopus, fish, and everything seafood related, are so fresh and cooked well. This city seems like it can do no wrong when it comes to seafood.
I highly recommend A Cevicheria. I went back again in one trip because it was so good! Get any ceviche and the grilled octopus.
4. Get the anchovy sushi from Sea Me in Time Out Market.
Alright, it seems like half of my Lisbon travel tips are related to food but that’s because I love food and eating is one of the best things to do there!
Definitely get the anchovy sushi from Sea Me in Time Out Market. Then go freak out a little bit because of the variety of delicious food you can have.
5. Go with 3 other friends.
Some places are good for solo trips (although I did do a solo trip there), but Lisbon is definitely not one of them because you’ll want to have a group of foodie friends who’ll want to order and share everything.
Four is a good number ’cause it works best with Ubers, and Taberna da Rua das Flores and A Cevicheria are small restaurants that probably can’t accommodate large groups. Yes, make your decision based on this one’s restaurant capacity.
6. Check out the Pink Street for bars and nightlife.
There’s a street called the Pink Street because the street is literally painted pink. I don’t know the name of the real street, and I could Google it for you and put it here, but I like just knowing it as the Pink Street. It’s near the Time Out Market. If you ask anyone around there to point you to the Pink Street, they’ll know.
Anyways, there’s a few bars and clubs on that street to hang out in. The whole street feels more intimate and fun to be in than Bairro Alto. With its cheap, sugar “cocktails” and crowds of loud, explicitly drunk people, it reminds me a bit of Mardi Gras; not an environment I want to be in when in Lisbon. On the flip side, locals think that the Pink Street isn’t cozy anymore, but for a tourist like me, it’s sure cozier than Bairro Alto.
7. Listen to Jazz at Tabernáculo Wine Bar
Tabernáculo Wine Bar, also known as Tabernáculo by Hernani, is a great place for music lovers. On some nights, there’s live music, and on all nights, they’re playing tunes by famous jazz artists. The whole place is practically a homage to late and great jazz musicians like Miles Davis, Nat King Cole, Nina Simone, and more.
The night I went, it was quiet and there was no one there, but that’s the kind of place I like– someplace comfy where I can have a good conversation with my friends, and every so often, play pinball on the Stars War pinball machine!
8. Wear sneakers.
This is a tip I normally tell everyone for most of Europe, but for Lisbon, it’s especially true because of all the hills. It is VERY hilly so sneakers (or Uber) all the way.
9. Enjoy Pastéis de Nata at Pastéis de Belém.
You can’t visit Lisbon without trying the local dessert, Pastéis de Nata. They are a custard filled dessert with a flaky outer crust.
My favorite ones at Pastéis de Belém, which is right next to Jerónimos Monastery, so you can eat and visit the monastery one.
If the line seems long, don’t worry. The takeaway line goes pretty quickly.
10. Stay in an Airbnb or Luxury Hotel
In my two trips to Lisbon, I stayed two Airbnbs.
- This Airbnb in Lisbon is right near Jerónimos Monastery and Pastéis de Belém. It’s great for 4 guests.
- Read about my experience and see photos of this Airbnb here or head right to the listing.
- This Airbnb is right near the Pink Street and is great for 6 guests.
I also stayed at this luxury hotel in Lisbon, which had an amazing spa!
Hope you enjoyed my top Lisbon travel tips, and thanks for making it all the way down to the end of the post. I’d love to connect.
Come say hi to me my Instagram @sarchetrit, especially if you found any part of this post to be helpful.
Till then, thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!
xo,
Sarah
Thanks for stopping by! xo.
Most Commonly Used Travel Items
If you liked my travel tips above, then you may like these other items I always travel around Europe with, or check out my complete Europe packing list.
Mel Butler
Thursday 9th of November 2017
I just love Lisbon and all the food especially the seafood that anchovy sushi at the marketplace sounds so amazing. My favourite is stuff squid made my mouth water. I not heard of Tabernaculo Wine bar before but I definitely would have gone there to listen to Jazz that sounds like a great idea. Great foodie guide there :-)
Adventographer
Wednesday 8th of November 2017
Wow, my mouth watered at all that delicious looking food! I'll bet the seafood in portugal is to die for too! The city seems to have a little bit of everything for everyone. As a photographer the architecture in the city draws my eye but as a wannabe foodie I'd love to sample all that local cuisine! Nice little guide here Sarah!
Paige
Wednesday 8th of November 2017
I love that this has a nice variety of things to do. Loads of eating, of course, but also quirky spots like Pink Street. I've not heard a lot of these things in many "must-sees". I love that you're only going to know it as the Pink Street - I too refuse to look it up now! Haha. Also, great tip on using Uber. I love getting as many budget tips as I can.
Sarah
Wednesday 8th of November 2017
Awesome! I'm glad you found these to be helpful.
Vibeke Johannessen
Monday 6th of November 2017
I would love to go to Lisbon. Looks amazing. All of that food looks tasty and unique. I am a bit of a sceptic to eat seafood, but if it looks good enough, I'll try it, and these dishes look delicious. The Pink Street is so cute, perfect for Instagram haha. It seems perfect to end the day at the wine bar. I hope I get to visit Lisbon soon, will definitely pin this for later :D
Sarah
Wednesday 8th of November 2017
Ooh thanks so much about the Pin!!
Ami
Monday 6th of November 2017
This is the first that I have heard of Pink Street. And it is so cute. I have been reading a lot about Lisbon and it sure appeals to me. I like your tips on this place, especially on getting around with Uber. Definitely seems like an option. Though don't they have a metro or something that might be cheaper? I like that tip about the cigarette butt holder. I have found that it is small things like these that make all the difference.
Sarah
Monday 6th of November 2017
Hi! They do have a metro but I didn't look into it because Uber was so cheap. Between 3 people, I thought it'd be just as affordable as going on the metro and more convenient.