LISBON, PORTUGAL
Lisbon is one of the few cities in Europe that everybody seems to love. This is not a surprise as it is situated on the Atlantic Ocean and was built using Manueline architecture. Lisbon is also home to Europe’s longest bridge and oldest library! I will always have a special place in my heart for Lisbon as it was the first city I visited on my three-month European adventure. Its beauty is truly mesmerizing and I predict that you will fall in love with it (as everyone does)!
Attractions:
Belém Tower: Currently a lighthouse and customs center, this is one of the most prominent structures in Lisbon! This tower used to defend the city and is situated right on the water. It is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00am-5:30pm and costs €8 to enter. Observing and taking photos from the outside is free, of course! To get access to Belém Tower and dozens of additional attractions (including many of the below) plus public transportation, I recommend purchasing the Lisboa Card for €22 per day. This will save you lots of money and time!
Padrão dos Descobrimentos: This monument celebrates explorers of Portugal’s past. The incredible view from up top makes this well worth the €10 entry fee! It is open daily from 11:00am-5:00pm. If you enjoy pastries, there’s a really famous pastry shop 10 minutes walking from here (Pasteis de Belém)!
Sintra: This small town is home to some of the most dazzling castles I have ever seen. Not to mention, it is one of the most charming little cities out there! Sintra is an absolute must do; you can easily spend a full day exploring the area. Getting here from Lisbon isn’t hard as trains leave every 30 minutes from Rossio Station. The ride is 45 minutes and round-trip tickets cost €4.50. Once you arrive, there are six main castles/estates you can visit: Moorish Castle, Palacio de Pena, Palacio Nacional de Sintra, Quinta da Regaleira, Monserrate, and Convent of the Capuchos. If you can only visit one, my personal favorite is Palacio de Pena!
Free Walking Tour: Like most cities in Europe, Lisbon has plenty of free walking tour options. You pay what you think the tour is worth at the end. Here is a link to learn more.
Praça do Comércio: This is the signature picture you see on postcards of Lisbon’s main public square lined with yellow cafes and shops. You’ve got to get a photo of this!
Praia de Carcavelos: Most beaches are 30-45 minutes from Lisbon depending on where you are staying. The beach near Carcavelos is the easiest beach to get to via public transportation. From Cais do Sodré Train Station, take the metro line towards Cascais and get off at Carcavelos. The ride is 30 minutes and a one-way ticket costs €1.50 (a 24-hour unlimited ride pass costs €6.40 which includes all Lisbon buses and trams).
São Jorge Castle: This castle has an epic view of the city and its orange-roofed buildings! It’s open daily from 10:00am-9:00pm and costs €12.50 to enter. Just a 20-minute walk from here is Carmo Convent, which is also a must-see! Speaking of which, where did its roof go?
Jerónimo's Monastery: In 1983, both Jerónimo’s Monastery and Belém Tower were named UNESCO World Heritage Sites; they are separated by a 15-minute walk. This monastery is one of the best example of the famous architectural style in Lisbon (Portuguese Late Gothic Manueline). It’s open Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00am-5:00pm and costs €12 to enter.
Erasmus Corner: Fun and inexpensive nightlife spot to meet fellow travelers!
Other things to check out include: Rossio (King Pedro IV Square), Vasco da Gama Bridge, Livraria Bertrand, Santa Justa Lift, and Lisbon Cathedral.
Hotel:
Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisbon: Since 1933, Tivoli Avenida Liberdade has been a staple and landmark in Central Lisbon. From royalty to heads of state, many of Europe’s elite have been guests at this magnificent hotel over the years. It’s not hard to see why when you walk through this 285-room museum of a hotel that is home to two exclusive restaurants and three bars (including Sky Bar, their rooftop venue). And that’s all before I’ve said a word about their award-winning spa. Take my word for it, you won’t want to stay anywhere else during your vacation in Lisbon. And as usual, by booking through my personalized Virtuoso Private Label Site, you will my Advisor complimentary amenities which include daily buffet breakfast for two, a $100 USD equivalent hotel credit, and the following subject to availability — early check-in, late check-out and complimentary room upgrade. Saúde!
Transportation:
Lisbon’s main train terminal is Santa Apolónia Railway Station; all trains below leave from here (unless denoted otherwise). The main bus station is Estação do Oriente; all buses below leave from here.
Cascais is 45 minutes by metro train from Lisbon and costs €2.25; trains leave from Cais do Sodré Train Station.
Sintra is 45 minutes by metro train from Lisbon and costs €2.25; trains leave from Rossio Station.
Coimbra is 2 hours by train from Lisbon and costs €21. The bus ride is 2.5 hours and costs €14.50.
Porto is 3 hours by train from Lisbon and costs €27. The bus ride is 3.5 hours and costs €6.
Faro is 4 hours by train from Lisbon and costs €28. The bus ride is 3.5 hours and costs €19.50.
Seville, Spain is 9 hours by train from Lisbon (indirect) and costs €65. The bus ride is 6.5 hours and costs €21.
Madrid, Spain is 11 hours by train from Lisbon (indirect) and costs €75. The bus ride is 8.5 hours and costs €23.
Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is 6km (4 miles) north of the city center and accessible via metro, local bus, shuttle bus, and taxi.
Metro: The ride from LIS to Rossio Green Line Metro Station is 30 minutes and costs €2.00 (€1.50 for the metro fare and €0.50 for the Viva Viagem card). Travelers board the Red Line at “Aeroporto” and take it to “Alameda” (20 minutes). They will then transfer to the Green Line towards “Rossio“ (5 minutes). Trains run every 10-15 minutes from 6:30am-1:00am.
Local Bus: The ride from LIS to Rossio Green Line Metro Station is 35 minutes and costs €2.00. There are multiple route options below:
Bus #744: Board just outside the airport entrance and ride the bus to “Rossio” (35 minutes). This bus runs every 15 minutes from 6:00am-9:30pm.
Bus #705 or #722: Board just outside the airport entrance and ride the bus to Areeiro Green Line Metro Station (10 minutes). These buses runs every 15 minutes from 6:00am-8:10pm. From here, travelers will transfer to the Green line towards “Rossio” (10 minutes). Trains run every 10-15 minutes from 6:30am-1:00am.
Bus #708: Walk outside the airport 10 minutes south to the intersection of Praça do Aeroporto & Avenida Almirante Gago Coutinho (Pç. Aeroporto); the #708 bus picks up here and drops off at Rossio Metro Station (25 minutes). This bus runs every 15 minutes from 6:00am-9:30pm.
Bus #208 (Night Bus): Board just outside the airport entrance and ride the bus to “Rossio” (30 minutes). This bus runs every 30 minutes from 12:30am-5:30am.
Shuttle Bus (Aerobús): The ride from LIS to Rossio Green Line Metro Station is 20 minutes and costs €4.00. Buses run every 20 minutes from 7:30am-9:00pm.
Taxi: The ride is 20 minutes and costs €20-€30 depending on the time of day.
Thank you, Frank Nürnberger (for the photo of the tram) and Tom Byrom (for the photo of the orange rooftops)!