If you’re still putting off planning your Lisbon holiday, this might be for you. It is not by chance that you hear about this city continuously. Come with us on a short online journey to Portugal today and find out why Lisbon is a place you must visit at least once.
Why should I visit Lisbon?
Lisbon is one of the most talked-about vacation destinations for a reason. The capital of Portugal has a great location. Also, it is a place with a rich history. Indeed, one of the most impressive things is that a large portion of the city needed to be completely rebuilt. In 1755, there was an earthquake, which was soon followed by fires and a tsunami. These tragedies left a big imprint and ultimately led to the city’s destruction. However, nowadays Lisbon is a dream destination of many.
There are numerous reasons for visiting Lisbon. Being situated on seven hills, it offers a wide variety of views of the entire city. You can witness numerous breathtaking panoramic sites spread throughout the city. In addition to the viewpoints, or Miradouros in Portuguese, there are also other rooftop bars and restaurants. A handful of attractions also provide stunning panoramic views over the city.
Furthermore, there are several architectural treasures to admire – the colourful art-deco style buildings, ones covered with the traditional tiles, or other modern and quite recent ones. In fact, the azulejos (a very popular type of tiles found all around Lisbon and Portugal generally), are absolutely stunning and come in a number of styles. Typical blue and white designs can be seen, as well as vibrant patterns with a Moorish influence. In case you would like to learn more about these tails you might consider visiting the Museu Nacional do Azulejo (the national museum of tiles) which is actually one of the things to be included in your to-do list.
We would like to note that even if it is a very popular destination, Lisbon is quite affordable. It offers fantastic travel deals, including low prices at many of the accommodation alternatives. Moreover, dining out and entertainment are also reasonably priced.
When should I visit Lisbon?
Usually Lisbon is a place that offers good weather all year round. However, if you are the type of traveler who would like to explore the city on foot then visiting the city during the spring (Easter to May) would be a jackpot! Lisbon is becoming slightly more romantic as trees begin to blossom, the days lengthen, and rarely is there rainfall. The temperatures are pleasant – it is perfectly warm enough without reaching the point of heat.
However, fall time also has its charm. It may still be warm enough to visit some of the beaches close to Lisbon as late as September. In addition, there are famous film festivals with a wide selection of genres and preferences that are held in September and October. In late October, one can start feeling the slightly colder early mornings and late evenings.
In case you are looking for lively evenings, various outdoor activities, festivals, different events, and more, then you might consider the high season, i.e. June to September. On one side, there is a ton to do, and it’s fascinating to socialize with locals during music festivals and other outdoor parties with live music. On the other side, the number of people visiting Lisbon results in higher costs and fierce competition for accommodation.
If you are perhaps trying to find out the best time in terms of budget, then the low season is also a good option – from December until Easter. After the summertime crowds, traveling during the off-peak season, when there isn’t much going on, might feel like heaven too. There will be a lot of holiday-themed activities, street markets, and typical festive dishes offered at restaurants. Additionally, accommodation costs are at an all-time low, and even at the most popular attractions, the number of tourists drastically decreases.
How do I reach Lisbon?
Depending on your place of departure, you have a few options to reach Lisbon. You could easily go to Lisbon by bus or train if you are coming from another city. For tickets you might have a look here. However, if you are traveling by plane you will land at Humberto Delgado International Airport (LIS). It is about 6 kilometers from the heart of Lisbon and has daily flights from several major cities in the world.
From the airport, you can get to the city center via transfer, bus, subway, taxi, or perhaps transport by application. Moreover, there is an aerobus that operates between 7:30 am and 11 pm in every 20 mins. To your accommodation, a cab is a convenient and cost-effective transportation option. The typical fare to the city center is about €35. At the taxi rank, you can buy a pre-paid ticket so that you’ll know the fare upfront and avoid any surprises related to costs. Also, taking the metro is one of the fastest yet inexpensive alternatives. At that moment, there are four lines operating:
blue (Seagull): Amadora este – Baixa Chiado;
yellow (Sunflower): Odivales – Rato;
green (Caravela): Cais do Sodré – Telheiras;
red (Orient): São Sebastião – Aeroporto
As for the local buses, there are a few daytime lines and two night ones. They do not all operate according to the same schedule or during the same hours – it depends on the bus line. However most of them run from 6 am to 9 pm.
What are some tips to know before visiting Lisbon?
First of all, we would like to share with you one of the nicest ways to explore Lisbon during your stay. That is by getting a Lisbon Card. Since there are numerous places to visit you might consider this official tourist pass of Lisbon. It includes free access to many of the sites and a variety of discounts. In addition, it gives you the opportunity to get around the city with public transport for free. You can get it for 24, 48, or 72 hours – as you prefer. Indeed, you can cancel it for free up to 24 hours in advance. More information about the pass you can find here.
If you are tired of waiting in lines for very long to visit a certain place and sometimes just that makes you question whether you should even go, then we suggest you a solution for that, as well. You have the chance to buy a skip-the-line tickets for two of the most popular attractions in Lisbon. What are these tickets? By purchasing them you may avoid the lines for the Belém Tower and Jeronimos Monastery. Moreover, you can get them in advance – online.
Another practical advice to think about when organizing your trip to Lisbon is related to your flight tickets. You might want to check a website where you could find pretty good deals, depending on the time you have chosen to travel. Momondo is one of the options for instance. Nonetheless, TAP also has offers for direct flights to Lisbon from many countries.
Lisbon has a lot to offer, and we believe you’ll be pleasantly surprised. No matter what time of year seems best and most appropriate for you, it is essential that you arrange housing early enough. Due to this, we warmly invite you to have a glance at some of the most lovely accommodation options in Lisbon:
The way to your best stay! 