Lisbon, the gorgeous heart of Portugal, is truly one-of-a-kind. You could spend your whole vacation in Lisbon and never tire of the food and the views. The novelist Erich Maria Remarque wrote about Lisbon, “By day Lisbon has a naive theatrical quality that enchants and captivates, but by night it is a fairy-tale city, descending over lighted terraces to the sea, like a woman in festive garments going down to meet her dark lover.”
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Lisbon Travel Tips
- Lisbon is the city of 7 hills. The hills are no joke. Be aware in case you have any joint issues. Fortunately Uber and Bolt are readily available to take you wherever you need to go, and the metro is easy to navigate. But bring comfortable shoes.
- Lisbon is very safe to walk around, including at night.
- Best time to visit: May or September/October for sunshine without heavy crowds
- Most locals speak English. A few polite Portugese phrases to know: olá (hello), bom dia (good day), and obrigada (thank you)
Best Views and Hidden Lookouts in Lisbon
If I could bottle the light in Lisbon at golden hour, I would. Here are my favorite places with views:
- Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
- Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara – in Principe Real, this was my favorite. Because this viewpoint has a wide stretch of garden, it was not at all crowded. Instead it was peaceful and quite, with a kiosk to grab a glass of wine.
- Miradouro de Santa Luzia
- Jardim do Torel
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