Need To Know

Welcome to Lisbon!

This city is Europe's second oldest capital, after Athens, and it's sometimes referred at as 'The City of Explorers' because it was home to many great explorers throughout history, like Vasco da Gama and Magellan.

Lisbon is one of the safest capitals in Europe but always be careful in crowded places and rush hour, pickpockets love to target tourists!

Also, as for restaurants, you have to know this: you'll usually encounter bread, butter, olives or something of the sort on the table, or they will bring it as soon as you sit down. In general, they are NOT FREE! If you want to eat it, ask for the price or if it's free before, so as not to get ugly surprises when you ask for the check. If you don't want to eat it, you could just leave it there untouched or ask the waiter to take it away.

Shops tend to open from 9:00 or 10:00 to 18:00 or 19:00. Shopping malls open until midnight.

Portuguese usually eat lunch between 12:30 and 14:00 and dinner from 20:00 or 21:00.

The best way to move around the city is walking, so you take in all the beautiful details of houses and shops, although keep in mind you'll possibly encounter some hills on your way. To avoid hills or for longer distances you have these options:

The cheapest way: Public Transport

The Public Transport system is very good in Lisbon, it includes metro, buses, trams and trains. With the metro you can go to almost any part of the city. A single ticket costs € 1.40. If you're planning to use the public transport more than twice, it would be cheaper to buy a Viva Viagem card, which costs €0.50 and you can charge it with money. You can also charge it with a daily bond of €6 if you're planning to make more than 5 single trips.

The Lisbon Card includes unlimited rides in Public Transport.

The private way: Taxis, Uber or Cabify

Taxis are either beige colour or green and red. They have a taximeter that starts from € 3.25 during the day and from € 3.90 at night. Uber and Cabify services can be asked for through their apps and they're usually cheaper than taxis.

The fun way around: tuk-tuks

This may be the fun way around, but it's often more expensive than taxis and Uber. They cost € 45-50 for an hour with the driver generally making as a guide on the way. You can either get from one spot to another directly or book a tour, which you can do in this link.

The most comfortable and Panoramic way: Hop-On-Hop Off buses

I explain them in the following square.

With these buses you'll get to go around the city and get off and on at your desired stop.There are 4 companies:

- Lisbon Sightseeing Gray Line: it offers a 24 or 48-hour ticket and it has 4 different lines with 54 stops throughout Lisbon and its surroundings. The price goes from € 15. You can check more details and buy tickets in this link.

- Sightseeing Portugal: this service is valid for 24 hours and it has 2 different routes with over 40 stops along the way. The price goes from € 25. You can check more details and buy tickets in this link.

- Yellow Bus: this company offers 48 hour tickets valid for a 3 different bus tours with different stops around the city and one boat tour. The price goes from € 31.50. You can check more details and buy tickets in this link.

- Tram Sightseeing: this isn't a bus tour, but a tram tour. It's valid for 24 hours and it has 9 stops throughout the most famous neighbourhoods of the city. The price goes from € 18. You can check more details and buy tickets in this link.

Portuguese can be a hard language, but locals love to help out tourists and they usually speak English or they'll find a way to communicate. Here are some useful words if you want to give them a try:

Good morning = Bom dia

Good afternoon = Boa tarde

Good evening / good night = Boa noite

Thank you = Obrigado

Please = Se faz favor (If it's a bit complicated, you can also say "Por favor")

There are different ways to get from Portela international aiport to the center of Lisbon:

The cheapest way with Public Transport: Metro

The metro goes from the airport all the way to Baixa-Chiado station in the city center in 40 minutes. A single ticket costs € 1.40. If you're planning to use the public transport more than twice, it would be cheaper to buy a Viva Viagem card, which costs €0.50 and you can charge it with money. You can also charge it with a daily bond of €6 if you're planning to make more than 5 single trips.

The cheapest way with private transport: AeroBus

This bus runs every day from 7:30 am to 11:00 pm, leaving every 20/25 minutes. A single ticket costs € 3.60 per person and it has 2 lines, both of them with many different stops on the way. You can check more details and book tickets through this link.

The comfortable and cheapest door-to-door option: Shared Transfer

This service is a door-to-door shuttle in shared vans. The cost depends on where you're going, but calculate € 4.90 per person, and the time depends on whether the van is full of passengers or not, and if you're the first ones to be dropped off or the last ones. You can book a transfer in this link.

The comfortable and faster door-to-door option: Private Transfer

With this service your driver will be waiting for you at the arrival hall and you'll avoid long queues for a taxi. The price is €17.90 per group up to 4 people and it takes approx. 45 min. to get to destination. You can book a transfer in this link.

This card is valid for either 24, 48, or 72 hours. It includes access to 23 museums and historic buildings, such as the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower and a ride in the Santa Just lift, unlimited travel on the public transport and some other discounts. The price goes from € 20 per person. You can check more details and buy it through this link.