Portugal is one of the most popular destinations at the moment, and we have a beginner’s guide to Lisbon including everything you need to know. How to get there, where to stay, and what it’ll cost you for food and drink.
Lisbon is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and well worth a vacation all it’s own. Head over to Troupe to get started planning your trip to this incredible capital city.
Guide to Lisbon
How to get to Lisbon?
There is only one airport in Lisbon and it’s only 30-45 minutes into the city center by Metro. The airport is at the end of the Red line.
There are 4 lines– Red, Green, Yellow & Blue- and the red connects to all of them. Simply figure out the closest stop to your accommodation, look at this Metro-for-Beginners Map (enjoy learning how to say the primary colors in Portuguese) and you’ll be good to go wherever you need.
If you’re not in the mood for navigating the metro, a taxi to the city center (and most of Lisbon) will only cost you about 20 Euros.
Within Lisbon, the funiculars are a fun, traditional way of navigating some of the cities steepest hills.
Where to stay in Lisbon
If you want to be in Tourist Central:
The main square (Praca de Comercio) in Lisbon is truly the heart of it all. The square is the starting point of the city and anything near Cais do Sodre (the main train station) is going to make it easiest to get everywhere you want to go.
If you want to be in The Heart of Nightlife:
Bairro Alto is definitely where you want to be. Just make sure this is actually what you want because the Portuguese know how to party so it’s going to be quite loud in the evenings.
If you want to be near the beach
For a Portuguese beach vacation you’ll actually want to head out of Lisbon and up the coast to the adorable town of Cascais. It’s a 45-minute, easy train ride to/from Cais do Sodre in Lisbon. Alternatively, venture a bit further to Ericeira if you’re interested in surfing. To get there, multiple buses leave from Campo Grande at the end of the Green Line and take about an hour to get to Ericeira.
Cost of food and drinks in Lisbon
Meal time is the best part of a day in Lisbon. And a guide to Lisbon wouldn’t be complete without discussing pastel de nata.
Here’s what food and drink in Lisbon will cost you:
- Food: $5-$15 per entree at a good restaurant. But at local places this would be even cheaper.
- Breakfast: (coffee and pastries) $3
- Beer: $2 give or take.
- Wine: $3 give or take (but you can also buy a good bottle at the supermarket for the same price- local portuguese wines are amazing and very affordable)
Most importantly, make sure to try the most famous Portuguese delicacy: a pastel de nata. These delicious little custard-y treats typically cost less than a dollar.
Things to keep in mind: guide to Lisbon
- Your green Viva Viagem metro card is refillable so make sure you hang on to it!
- If you’re taking the train to Cascais, you can get off early and walk along the beautiful, coast-hugging boardwalk, complete with plenty of oceanfront cafes. We recommend getting off around Estoril for a perfect 35 minute stroll the rest of the way to Cascais.
- Lisbon is entirely walkable but very hilly with slippery tiled sidewalks in parts so be sure to where comfortable shoes.
- Trains stop running at 1 a.m.
