Visiting Portugal: The Ultimate Lisbon Travel Guide & the Best Things to Do

Today I’m taking you to Portugal to share my complete Lisbon travel guide. Featuring everything from where to stay, where to eat, the best shops, and more is included!

Lisbon Travel Guide

WHERE TO STAY

While there are plenty of beautiful luxury hotels to choose from in Lisbon, we decided to stay in an Airbnb. You can find some really nice places for way less than a hotel would charge. This is the exact apartment we stayed in – the location was absolutely PERFECT, close to tons of amazing restaurants and shopping. The flat itself was nicely updated with modern decor and everything was sparkling clean. It has a beautiful rooftop terrace with a table and chairs that’s perfect for watching the sunset. The owner of the apartment goes above and beyond to make sure you are enjoying your stay in Lisbon. I would highly recommend this flat if it’s available during your trip!

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK

• Boubou’s: We stumbled on this adorable little spot on our first night in Lisbon. It’s right around the corner from our Airbnb, and is an absolute gem. The ambiance / decor was so nice, they had live music playing, and the food was incredible. Really romantic date night spot! I recommend making a booking in advance.
• Naked: This is a really nice spot to grab breakfast or a light lunch. They do amazing smoothie bowls, as well as salads, avocado toast, etc. Tons of veggie / vegan options!
• PARK: Hidden away on the roof of a car park (you have to go on a really sketchy looking elevator to get there), this bar has one of my favorite views  of Lisbon. Come a bit before sunset to secure you spot, as it gets crowded! Definitely get the pitchers of sangria 😉
• Cabane: My mom and I both agree that Cabane was one of our favorite finds – we ended up eating here twice! It’s an incredibly tasty veggie / vegan spot that just opened 5 months ago. The decor gave me all sorts of Tulum vibes, and the food is incredible. I highly recommend the brunch and the açaí bowl!
• Juicy: If you’re looking for a quick spot to grab lunch, look no further than Juicy. They had everything from wraps to salads to smoothies, and everything is veggie / vegan friendly.
• Veggie Wave: If you’re in the mood for something refreshing, head to Veggie Wave. They’re an eco-friendly smoothie / juice bar that focuses on sustainability. You have to ride on a stationary bike to blend your drink (if you want some LOL’s head to my Portugal highlight on Instagram to catch me in action). The smoothies are also SO yummy.
• Bairro do Avillez: This spot came highly recommended to me by Whitney (in addition to blogging she also offers travel planning / consulting services and always knows the best spots!), and it didn’t disappoint. Try the crispy cod lettuce wraps and thank me later! A reservation is an absolute must for this spot.
• Mu Gelato: I wouldn’t normally take the time to mention a gelato spot, but this one was worth making note of. It was the best gelato I’ve ever had! I got the avocado, which is vegan and SO creamy and delicious. I paired it with dark chocolate and I’m still dreaming about it. If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat definitely make a stop here!

WHAT TO DO

• Visit the Time Out Market Lisbon. We had one rainy morning, and the market was the perfect place to escape the weather. There are vendors offering everything from pizzas to octopus. We walked around looking at all the different options before making a decision on what we wanted to eat. Even if it’s not rainy, this is still a really fun place to grab lunch and a drink.
• Try a traditional pastel de nata. These Portuguese custard tarts are everywhere, and you simply can’t go to Lisbon without trying one. Manteigaria is probably the most famous place to have one, as they ONLY make the custard tarts. My mom and I both loved them – I think we ate one every day! Try topping them with powdered sugar and cinnamon.
• Take a tram! One of the things Lisbon is most famous for is it’s old school tram cars. Not only do they make for a great photo opp, but you can also take them to get around Lisbon. We didn’t do this (the lines get really long), but the famous Tram 28 takes you around all the spots you would want to hit while in Lisbon and be a great way to see a lot of Lisbon in a short period of time.
• The prettiest and most Instagrammable spot we went to was hands down Miraduoro de Santa Luzia. It’s a gorgeous tiled patio overlooking the ocean and the Lisbon skyline. There are blooming bougainvillea everywhere and it’s truly a photographers heaven. Even if you aren’t an Instagramer, you’ll enjoy the breathtaking views here. Go early to avoid tourists!

WHERE TO SHOP

• Papua Market: This was my favorite little shop in Lisbon! My mom got two really cute blouses, and I got a bunch of really pretty dainty gold rings and earrings. Everything was reasonably priced and from brands I wouldn’t be able to get in London or back in the states.
• Embaixada: Located in a beautiful old palace, this shopping market is not to be missed. It’s home to lots of local Portuguese brands – this would be a great place to find a unique souvenir or gift! There’s also a bar and restaurant that looked really nice.
• Bernardo Atelier: This is another really cool concept store that’s home to many different local brands. They have everything from home goods, to kids, to women and men’s clothing and accessories. We spent a ton of time browsing around in here!

TRAVEL TIPS

• Lisbon is incredibly HILLY! Keep this in mind when planning your trip. I wore sandals the whole trip and was fine, but my mom wore flats / sneakers. Know your own body and wear what you will be most comfortable in – there is absolutely no reason to wear heels or wedges around the streets of Lisbon.
• Lisbon is very walkable city as long as you can tolerate the hills. We only called an Uber when we headed to the train station to leave for Porto, but the rest of our time there we walked everywhere!
• Pack layers. In the morning it was cool, and definitely jacket weather. By midday it really warmed up, and then when the sun went down it got chilly again. I recommend a jean jacket or light sweater for the mornings / evenings!
• Most places accept credit cards, but it’s always handy to have some Euros on you just in case you run into a cash-only situation.
• Portuguese is of course the national language, but most people we encountered in Lisbon spoke English. Even the menus at restaurants have both Portuguese and English descriptions.

Have you been to Lisbon? What was your favorite part? I hope you enjoyed this Lisbon travel guide, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have specific questions!

xx Mollie

What was your favorite part of my Lisbon travel guide?  Share in a comment below!