10 Reasons to Visit Lisbon
Personal piece following trip
All photo credits to Devonne Coll
Lisbon is the underrated gem of Europe. With deep historical roots, an exciting foodie scene, bursting with creativity alongside its easygoing charm, it’s hard not to fall in love with. Let’s take a look at some of the city’s highlights, and why you need to make this your next European destination.
1. The Hills
Lisbon is known as the city of the seven hills – so be sure to bring your walking shoes! Exploring the city by foot is the ultimate way to get around, and the hills build the city’s character whilst also providing some breath-taking panoramic viewpoints across the city. There are seven main viewpoints, one for each hill. Visit the Miradouro de Santa Luzia to see stunning views across Alfama, one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, whilst the Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara in Bairro Alto is one of the largest viewpoints, showcasing many of the city’s landmarks including the Castelo de Sao Jorge. If walking up steep inclines isn’t your thing, you can hop into the beautiful trams that run throughout the city, or the ever popular tuktuks to climb the hills.
2. The Food
Lisbon is truly a foodie city through and through - and the food here is pretty unbeatable. Being so close to the Atlantic, you’ll be treated to fresh fish and seafood, with Bacalhau (codfish) and sardines being favourites. Local pork dishes are also a must, and you’ll be spoilt for wine with choices from Lisbon, Alentejo and Douro regions. Be sure to check out the local’s favourite waterfront restaurant Ponto Final for delicious Portuguese fare (hint - definitely make a reservation, this place is seriously popular!) For something sweeter, Pasteis de Natas are the dreamy Portuguese egg custard tarts, dusted with sugar and cinnamon. You can indulge in these all over the city, but you must try the original recipe from the bakery Pasteis de Belem, close to the historic Jeronimos Monastery, where it was invented by Monks here in 1837. If you simply cannot decide where to eat, the Timeout Market in the Mercado da Ribeira is a great choice – a food hall with nearly 40 venders serving local specialities, this will give you real taste of Lisbon.
3. The History – Blending Old and New
Being one of the oldest cities in Western Europe (dating all the way back to 1200 BCE), Lisbon has had a dramatic history, including its ruling by the Romans and the Moors, to becoming one of the wealthiest ports and trading centres in the world, to a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in 1755 which devastated the city. Despite this, you can read the city’s story from its surviving landmarks and maze of winding cobbled streets overrun with rickety trams speeding through the historic neighbourhoods. That said, Lisbon has also embraced modern additions, including the Portuguese National Pavilion, the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) and LX Factory, a historic industrial area which is now home to a collection of bars, restaurants and unique shops. The city is a perfect example of successfully blending new and old.
4. The Creativity
Lisbon has quickly become a digital and creative hub. Thanks to its great quality of life, relatively low cost of living compared to the rest of western Europe, and connectivity to nearby cities and countries, it has become a beacon for digital nomads and freelancers. The city itself oozes creativity; from the graffiti scrawled along street walls, candy-cane coloured buildings, to the myriad of coworking and startup spaces and cute cafes. Combine these with some creative minds and you have a winner!
5. Affordability
Lisbon is ridiculously good value for money! When you compare the costs of accommodation, transport, eating and going out to the rest of Western Europe, you remarkably get a lot more bang for your buck. In fact, Portugal in general has one of the lowest costs of living in Europe. Take for example, these average cost comparisons with London:
Local beer – 2 euros (London price: 6 euros / £5.00)
Cappuccino – 1.90 euros (London price: 3.70 euros / £3.20)
Monthly public transport pass - 35 euros (London price: 188 euros / £160)
Average one bedroom monthly rent in city centre – 1000 euros (London price: 2100 euros / £1800)
6. The Architecture
When you walk through the centre of Lisbon, you can’t help but take in the beauty of the surrounding architecture and spaces – from the Roman, Moorish, and Gothic influence, to the traditional ceramic Portuguese tiles, or Azujelos, embellishing the building facades, to the calçada Portuguesa, the cobbled limestone pavements so intrinsic to this country. Everywhere you turn throughout the narrow streets, you are bombarded with bright and colourful buildings, with ornately crafted details, showcasing the city’s personality.
7. Weather
Lisbon is officially the third sunniest city in Europe, with 2799 hours of sunshine a year! It is also frequently referred to as the City of Light, evident from the beautiful golden hues that exude throughout, intensified by the brightly coloured buildings lining every street. The temperatures can get pretty fiery during the summer months, but cooling breezes from the River Tagus and the Atlantic give a relaxing reprieve in the evenings.
8. The Nightlife
Lisbon during the day is great, but the city really comes alive at night. Bar hopping is the way to go in Lisbon, and from the numerous rooftop bars taking advantage of the stunning hilltop panoramas, to the countless bars in the meandering streets of Bairro Alto, there’s something to suit everyone’s taste. Be sure to check out Park Bar Lisbon, suitably perched on top of a parking garage with stunning views, and the Lumi rooftop bar and restaurant, part of the Lumiares Hotel. If you’re looking for something more traditional, many local taverns play Fado music – a soulful and melancholy style of Portuguese singing alongside guitars, historically used to express the torments and consequences of daily life, described by the Portuguese word ‘saudade’ which means ‘longing.’ For an unbeatable introduction, Mesa de Frades in Alfama is an intimately set venue inside a former chapel, hosting both established and emerging Fado performers.
9. Nearby Areas
There are many other picturesque towns just outside of Lisbon, if you fancy a change of scenery. Sintra is only 40 minutes away, and has been listed by UNESCO as a Cultural landscape. Take in the fairy-tale nature of this area, adorned with palaces and castles dating back to the 15th century - the most breath-taking being the Pena Palace.
If the beach is more your vibe, Cascais and Estoril are favourite seaside resorts along the Portuguese Riviera. These towns can be perfect day trips to escape the city, for some relaxing downtime.
10. The People
Nothing tells you more about a city than its residents, after all, people are what bring a city to life! The friendly and welcoming nature of Lisboetas is unrivalled, you will always find a local willing to help or offer information, and English is widely spoken, making travelling that much easier. In addition, Lisbon is a particularly safe city with low crime rate, making it ideal for solo and female travellers, and families.