Lisbon: Your 14 Most Common Questions, Answered Honestly
I get asked about Lisbon more than almost any other European city. It's become the destination that everyone's heard about from a friend of a friend, and for good reason. Here's the honest FAQ.
Q: How many days do I need?
Four to five days covers the essentials without rushing. Day 1: Alfama and the castle area. Day 2: Belem (Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Tower, pasteis de nata). Day 3: Baixa, Chiado, LX Factory. Day 4: Sintra day trip. Day 5: whatever you missed plus a fado night.
Three days is doable but tight. Seven days lets you add Cascais, more neighborhood exploration, and repeated visits to your favorite pastelaria.
Q: When's the best time to visit?
March to May and September to October. Summer (June-August) is hot — 30-35°C — and increasingly crowded. Lisbon gets 300+ sunny days per year, so even shoulder season has great weather. April averages 20°C with occasional rain showers that clear quickly.
Q: Is Tram 28 worth it?
Honestly? Walk the Tram 28 route instead. The tram is iconic and photogenic, but the reality is a packed sardine can where organized pickpocket gangs operate daily. If you insist on riding it, use a Viva Viagem card (€3.00 fare), board at Martim Moniz (start of the line) before 9AM to get a seat, and keep everything in front pockets.
The route itself — through Graca, Alfama, Baixa, and up to Estrela — is beautiful on foot and you'll actually see the neighborhoods instead of peering through a foggy tram window.
Q: Are pasteis de nata really that good?
Yes. But with a caveat: the ones at Pasteis de Belem (the original, using a secret recipe since 1837) are the benchmark. A tart costs ~€1.30. Eat them warm, dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar. The cafe seats 400 but lines still stretch out the door — go before 9AM or after 4PM. The factory takeaway section is faster than sit-down.
But here's the thing: every bakery in Lisbon makes them, and many are excellent. Manteigaria in Chiado and Time Out Market's version are both superb. Don't limit yourself to Belem.
Q: What's the best neighborhood to stay in?
Baixa/Chiado — Central, walkable to everything, well-connected by metro. Mid-range: €100-160/night.
Alfama — Atmospheric, hilly, close to the castle and fado houses. More budget-friendly: €60-120/night.
Principe Real — Trendy, slightly uphill, excellent restaurants and bars. Quieter tourist-wise: €90-150/night.
Avoid staying in Belem — it's lovely for a half-day visit but isolated from the rest of the city.
Q: How do I get from the airport to the city center?
LIS airport is only 7 km from the center. Metro red line to Alameda/Saldanha: 20 min, €1.65 (plus €0.50 for the reusable Viva Viagem card). Uber/Bolt: €8-12 and usually the cheapest option for 2+ people. Taxi: ~€15 flat rate. Aerobus: €4.
Q: Is the Lisboa Card worth it?
The Lisboa Card (€22 for 24h, €37 for 48h, €46 for 72h) includes free public transport, free entry to 30+ museums including Jeronimos Monastery (normally €10) and Belem Tower (€8), and discounts on others. If you'll visit the Belem sites plus ride transit plus enter 2-3 museums, the 48h card pays for itself.
Q: What should I eat besides pasteis de nata?
So much. Bacalhau (salt cod) — Portuguese national obsession, prepared in allegedly 365 different ways. Try bacalhau a bras (shredded cod with potato and scrambled egg) at any tasca. Bifana — a pork sandwich in a crusty roll with mustard, €3-4 from a market stall. Francesinha — a Portugese croque-monsieur covered in melted cheese and beer sauce (actually from Porto, but available in Lisbon). Ginjinha — sour cherry liqueur served in a chocolate cup for €1.50 at A Ginjinha near Rossio Square.
For the best budget eating, find tascas (traditional taverns) where the menu is handwritten in Portuguese. Prato do dia (dish of the day) costs €8-12 with wine.
Q: Is Lisbon safe?
Very safe — one of Europe's safest capitals. The main risk is pickpockets on Tram 28 and in crowded tourist areas (Rossio, Belem, Alfama viewpoints). Keep phones in front pockets, bags zipped and in front. Standard European city precautions.
Q: Should I do a day trip to Sintra?
Absolutely. The Pena Palace — a psychedelic hilltop castle painted in yellow, red, and blue — looks like it was designed by a Disney animator on hallucinogens. It's 40 minutes by train from Rossio Station (€2.30 each way). Palace entry: ~€14. Go early to avoid the midday crowds.
The Quinta da Regaleira with its Initiation Well (a spiral underground tower) is equally extraordinary and less crowded.
Q: How hilly is Lisbon really?
Extremely hilly. The "seven hills" aren't a marketing gimmick. You will climb steep cobblestone streets daily. Wear comfortable shoes with grip — smooth soles on Portuguese cobblestones in the rain is a recipe for disaster. The funiculars (Bica, Gloria) are charming but the real reason locals use them is because the hills are genuinely exhausting.
Q: What about fado music?
Fado is Lisbon's soul. Traditional fado houses (casas de fado) in Alfama have cover charges of €15-30, usually including one drink. Silence during performances is mandatory — do not talk, take calls, or clink glasses while a fadista sings.
Popular houses: Clube de Fado (reserve ahead, more formal), Tasca do Chico (more casual, no cover, standing room), and Mesa de Frades (intimate, high quality). Even if you don't normally like live music, fado in a cramped Alfama taverna at midnight is something else entirely.
Q: Is LX Factory worth visiting?
Yes, especially on weekends when the market atmosphere peaks. This converted industrial complex under the 25 de Abril bridge houses independent shops, design studios, restaurants, and Ler Devagar — a stunning bookshop in a former printing factory. Free entry. Great brunch spots and craft cocktail bars. Allow 2-3 hours.
Q: Best viewpoints (miradouros)?
Lisbon is a viewpoint city. My ranking:
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte — Highest in Lisbon, unobstructed views, far less crowded. Bring wine and snacks for sunset.
Miradouro da Graca — Popular but excellent. Kiosk bar for drinks.
Miradouro das Portas do Sol — Best view of Alfama's rooftops cascading to the river.
