Travel Tips :: Lisbon

Here are a few things I find noteworthy when going to Lisbon. 

     1. Weekend Subway

----> During the weekend the subway has only 4 instead of the usual 6 cars, so go to the front end of the platform if you don't want to make a mad dash for the nearest car. If you don’t know where the front end is then check where most people are waiting or go wait in the middle. 

     2. Fee Admission

----> Go to Belém on Sunday because most of its main attractions like the Tower of Belém, Jerónimos Monastery and the Maritime Museum are for free until 2pm.

     3. Save up on the Metro 

----> A lot of Lisbon’s top attractions are situated in the old town. Instead of riding the metro to every destination, I just bought two single tickets per day (to go to the town center and then back to my hotel) and walked between attractions.

     4. Wear Comfortable Footwear

----> Lisbon is probably the cobble stone capital of the world. Comfortable footwear is a must! Plus it’s also very hilly. You will be walking up and down all day long. 

     5. Food

----> Try their seafood, it’s one of the best I’ve tasted in Europe. Then for dessert, grab those local custard tart specialty of theirs -- divine! Meals are relatively cheap compared to other European countries. For €10-€15 you can have a complete meal (drink included). A local told me that if a place charges more than that then I should run the hell out of there. 

     6. Appetizer Trap

----> It’s a local custom that can turn into a tourist trap. I dined at a restaurant and the waiter just so happened to speak German. We started to chat and he told me that in Lisbon it is customary to put appetizers on the table while the customer waits for his order. It can vary from bread sticks to an assortment of cheese, and it’s NOT for free. If you eat anything then you have to pay for it. In many countries I’ve visited, if they put something on your table it’s on the house. It was good to know because no other waiter bothered to tell me this. While unknowing tourists curiously take a bite, locals already raise their hand in refusal as a waiter approaches with the appetizers. 

    7. Santa Justa Lift

----> You don’t have to pay to see the view from the top. You can easily get there for free if you walk your way up. Locals willingly point the way.

Hope this post helped someone. :) Have a great time in Lisbon! 

Thanks for reading!