Lisbon has spent the last several years becoming one of Europe's most talked-about cities, and it's mostly earned it — hillside views over terracotta rooftops, some of the best seafood on the continent, and prices that, while rising, still undercut Paris or London by a wide margin for a comparable trip.
The city is built across seven hills along the Tagus River, which makes it genuinely beautiful and genuinely tiring to walk — pack accordingly, and don't be shy about using the trams and funiculars built specifically to solve this exact problem.
Where to stay
Alfama, the oldest district, has the most postcard-worthy views and narrow medieval streets, but its hills and cobblestones are punishing with luggage — better for a multi-night stay than a one-night stop. Baixa and Chiado are flatter, more central, and put you within walking distance of most major sights without the steepest climbs.
Where to eat
Seafood is the city's strength, and the neighborhood tascas (small, family-run taverns) consistently outperform anywhere marketed toward tourists. Grilled sardines are treated as a genuine delicacy here, not a novelty — worth trying even if the idea sounds unappealing. Pastéis de nata (custard tarts) are everywhere, but the version from the bakery that originated them, in Belém, is worth the trip out specifically to compare.
Getting around
The hills make walking scenic but slow — budget more time between sights than the map distance suggests. The funiculars and the famous Santa Justa elevator solve the worst of the elevation changes. For anything further out, like a day trip to Sintra, the train from Rossio station is cheap, frequent, and far less stressful than driving into Sintra's notoriously congested center.
Don't miss
Sintra is the single most common day trip from Lisbon, and for good reason — a hillside town of fairy-tale palaces that feels like nowhere else in Portugal. Go on a weekday if you can, and arrive at opening; Pena Palace in particular gets seriously crowded by mid-morning on weekends.