Portugal

AI may have contributed to this destination’s text and activity data. Confirm opening days, transport, prices and entry conditions with the relevant operator or authority; automatic live-data updates do not verify these descriptions.

Lisbon

Seven hills above the Tagus

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Lisbon Plan a trip around Portugal

Best time to visit: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Currency: EUR
Time zone: UTC+0
Country: Portugal

Photo: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0

Lisbon is Portugal's capital, an old Atlantic city of tiled facades, steep tram streets and river viewpoints. People come for the history, the food and the easy day trips to Sintra and the coast.

Largest cities

Lisbon
Porto
Vila Nova de Gaia
Braga
Coimbra

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: Portugal
Capital: Lisbon
City population: 545,796
Population of Portugal: 10.3M
Country area: 92,225 km²
Official language: Portuguese
Currency: Euro (EUR) · 1 USD ≈ 0.8934 EUR
Time zone: UTC+0
Calling code: +351
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 54 m
Plugs: C / F · 230V
Emergency numbers: 112
Best time to visit: Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	15°	17°	18°	20°	23°	26°	29°	29°	26°	24°	19°	16°
Low	9°	10°	10°	12°	14°	17°	18°	18°	17°	16°	12°	10°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$59
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$132
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$315

Plan a trip to Lisbon

Top things to do

≈ $17
Castle of São Jorge
Walk the Moorish walls and terraces for the best rooftop view over the Tagus and Baixa; go early or late to avoid the steep climb in the heat.
- Half day
- Alfama and Castelo
- Good for kids
Free
Alfama old quarter walk
Wander the medieval lanes that survived the 1755 earthquake, past laundry lines and fado houses; it is hilly, so take it slowly and wear good shoes.
- Half day
- Alfama and Castelo
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
≈ $13
Jerónimos Monastery
See the Manueline cloisters of this UNESCO site, the high point of Portugal's Age of Discovery; buy a timed ticket online to skip the queue.
- Half day
- Belém
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Closed: Monday
≈ $8
Belém Tower
Climb the spiral stairs of the riverside fortress that guarded the Tagus; the interior is small, so arrive at opening time.
- Half day
- Belém
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Closed: Monday
≈ $3
Tram 28 ride
Rattle through Graça, Alfama and Baixa on the city's classic yellow tram; board at a terminus and watch for pickpockets in the crush.
- Half day
- Baixa and Chiado
- Good for kids
Free
Time Out Market
Sample Portuguese chefs and regional dishes under one roof at the Cais do Sodré market hall; it is busiest at dinner, so go early for a seat.
- Half day
- Baixa and Chiado
- Good for kids
- Indoors
- Good in the evening
≈ $25
Sintra day trip
Take the train to the UNESCO palace town and visit Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle; book palace tickets ahead and start early to beat the crowds.
- Full day
- Belém
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $5
Cascais and Estoril coast day
Ride the coastal train to the seaside towns west of the city for beaches, the Boca do Inferno cliffs and a fish lunch; the line also stops at Estoril.
- Full day
- Belém
- Good for kids

Before you go

Entry and visas

Portugal is in the Schengen area, so many visitors from the Gulf, India and Latin America can enter visa-free for short tourist stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, while some nationalities need a Schengen visa applied for in advance; check your own nationality before booking. British citizens can travel visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180 days and may be asked for a return ticket and proof of funds. The EU Entry/Exit System now registers fingerprints and a photo at the border for short stays, at no cost, and can add time at immigration.

Official website

From the airport

Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is the main gateway, about 7 km from the centre. Metro, bus and taxi or ride-hailing take roughly 20 to 40 minutes into town depending on traffic.

Getting around

The metro, trams, funiculars and buses cover the centre well, and a rechargeable Viva Viagem card is the cheapest way to pay; the hills make walking tiring but rewarding.

Local tips

Wear shoes with grip: the calçada portuguesa pavements are slippery when wet and the hills are steep.
Meals run late; many restaurants only fill up after 20:30, and a small cover charge for bread and olives is normal.
Carry some cash for small trams, pastelarias and neighbourhood tascas, though cards are widely accepted.
Book Sintra and Belém sights early in the day, and keep an eye on your bag on tram 28 and in crowded Baixa streets.