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Flight price per month

Per person in euros: cheapest direct return flight for 2 to 4 nights. Select a month for flight times, hotels and things to do.

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Discover Lisbon

Alfama, Lisbon
Alfama
Jerónimos Monastery, Lisbon
Jerónimos Monastery

City guide

About Lisbon

Lisbon spreads across seven dramatic hills overlooking the broad Tagus estuary. Portugal's capital is shaped by extraordinary Atlantic light, pastel facades, and open-air miradouros offering expansive water views.

It balances historic charm with effortless creative energy: vintage yellow trams clatter up steep cobblestones, mournful fado drifts from candlelit Alfama taverns, and vibrant riverfront docks host innovative food halls.

Best time to go
Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September and October) offer the most pleasant conditions, with daily highs of 22 to 26°C and plenty of sunshine. July and August can be hot, though Atlantic breezes keep evenings manageable.
From the airport
Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) sits just 7 kilometres north of the city centre. The Red Metro line connects directly to the urban network (transfer at Saldanha or Alameda) in roughly 25 minutes. Taxis and app rides to central locations usually cost between 15 and 20 euros.
Getting around
Walking is the best way to soak in the atmosphere, but the hills are steep and the polished limestone cobbles can be slippery. The metro provides quick transit, while iconic heritage trams and hillside funiculars tackle vertical climbs. Pick up a reloadable Navegante transit card.

What to see in Lisbon

  • Jerónimos MonasteryA stunning example of Manueline architecture in Belém, featuring ornate cloister stone carvings and the tomb of Vasco da Gama.
  • São Jorge CastleThe hilltop Moorish fortress watching over the city, offering pine-shaded bastions with panoramic views across red tiled roofs to the river.
  • Belém TowerThe 16th-century fortified stone tower rising from the Tagus waterline, once serving as the symbolic departure gate for Portuguese navigators.
  • Miradouro de Santa LuziaA romantic terrace in Alfama adorned with flowering bougainvillea and blue tile murals depicting historic battles.

Neighbourhoods

  • AlfamaLisbon's oldest quarter, an enchanting labyrinth of winding alleys, perched terraces, small village squares, and soulful fado taverns.
  • Bairro Alto and ChiadoChiado is refined with grand cafes, theaters, and bookshops; by night, adjacent Bairro Alto turns into a buzzing outdoor bar district.
  • BelémA breezy riverside district west of the centre, home to world heritage monuments, riverside parks, and the original custard tart bakery.

Food and drink

Treat yourself to a warm pastel de nata dusted with cinnamon. For dinner, try bacalhau à brás (shredded salted cod with crispy potato straw and eggs) or fresh grilled sardines. Stop at a hole-in-the-wall kiosk for a shot of sweet sour-cherry ginjinha liqueur. Diners sit down late, typically around 8:30 or 9:00 PM.

Questions about Lisbon

How many days should you spend in Lisbon?

Three to four days provide plenty of time to explore the main historic districts, visit Belém, and take a day excursion to Sintra.

Is taking Tram 28 worth it?

The route through Alfama is historic and scenic, but trams get very crowded. Board early in the morning at Martim Moniz to secure a window seat and avoid queues.

Month by month breakdown

Fotocredits (3)
  • Belém Tower door Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Alfama door Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Jerónimos Monastery door Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons