Lisbon FAQ

For a first trip, 3 days is a great baseline: one central day (Baixa/Chiado), one old-neighborhood day (Alfama/Graça), and one riverfront day (Belém or modern riverside).

You can do Lisbon in 2 days, but it will feel more like highlights than depth. If you have 4–5 days, add a day trip and a slow garden day.

For maximum convenience, stay central in Baixa or Chiado. For romance and calmer mornings, stay in Príncipe Real or Estrela. For nightlife, stay near Bairro Alto or Cais do Sodré — but expect noise.

The biggest mistake is choosing purely by distance. Lisbon’s hills change everything.

Tram 28 is iconic — but it’s also crowded in peak season. If you care about the experience, ride early. If you don’t, skip it and walk the same neighborhoods at your own pace (it’s often more enjoyable).

Treat it as one classic moment, not a transportation system you must rely on.

Lisbon is generally considered safe. The main risk for tourists is pickpocketing in dense crowds — trams, viewpoints, nightlife streets, and busy markets. Use calm awareness: secure your phone and wallet and avoid flashing valuables.

Also watch your footing: cobblestones and steep descents can be slippery, especially after rain.

Sintra is the classic ‘wow’ day trip: palaces and dramatic scenery. Cascais is the easiest and calmest: a coastal reset with simple logistics. The best choice depends on your mood and how much planning you want to do.

Metropolitano de Lisboa states that all lines open at 06:30 and the last trains depart from terminal stations at 01:00. For most trips, that covers everything you need — but it matters for late nights and very early flights.

If you’re traveling outside metro hours, plan a taxi or ride share. It’s often the simplest way to avoid turning your first (or last) hour in Lisbon into stress.

It depends on your trip style. Lisboa Card tends to be worth it when you plan a dense sightseeing day with multiple paid interiors plus public transport, and less worth it when your days are mostly wandering neighborhoods and viewpoints.

A strong strategy is one intentional ‘card day’ (Belém is the classic) and the rest of the trip built around walking clusters and golden hour.

Feira da Ladra is Lisbon’s iconic flea market. Visit Lisboa lists it on Tuesdays and Saturdays at Campo de Santa Clara (behind São Vicente de Fora).

Go early for calmer browsing and treat it like a neighborhood morning — market wander, then coffee, then a short old-town walk.

Pastel de nata is the generic name for Lisbon’s custard tart. Pastéis de Belém is the famous Belém shop (selling since 1837), and it uses the name Pastéis de Belém for its pastries.

It’s absolutely worth doing the Belém ‘pastry ritual’ once — but you’ll also find great pastéis across Lisbon. The best strategy is a daily coffee-and-pastry moment, not a single obsessive quest.

Yes. UNESCO inscribed fado on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011.

In practice, the best thing you can do with that fact is simple: treat the night with respect. Choose one intentional evening, pick a smaller room if you want intimacy, and be quiet during songs.