Don’t be a tourist: Lisbon Edition

Written By Merritt Murray

Now that I have been in Lisbon for two and a half years, I have found a few tricks and tips I would like to share! We dislike going to a city full of history and getting caught in tourist traps. So this post is to let you in on a few things I have found to help you with this in one of the oldest capital cities in Europe.

No one wants to be one of those tourists! Let me tell you some of the traps to avoid and things to do instead.

Santa Justa Lift (elevador)

  • This downtown attraction is 5 euros. However, you only pay for the ride, not the view. If you want the view, you can walk up the steps behind the lift and go across the bridge/catwalk for free. There is not a reason to wait in a long line for this view. There are better views in Lisbon. We use the word Miradouro, which means lookout or viewpoint. Some of my favorite ones are,

    • Miradouro das Portas do Sol, Largo Portas do Sol, Lisbon

    • Miradouro do Jardim do Torel

    • Miradouro de Santa Catarina

    • Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara (located next to the funicular)

Here is a small map of how to get to the bridge of the lift without waiting in line. As long as you are willing to climb a few steps, it is neat view!

  • Tram 28

    • If you are interested in riding the electric, I am here to tell you that you do NOT have to ride the 28. I will link other routes for you to take and where you can get on and off. The routes may not be as long, but they are for sure less crowded and more enjoyable.

    • Tram 12E

    • Tram 24E

  • Time Out Market

    • I believe this spot is a nice location to eat if you have a few people who have very different tastes in food and you cannot decide on one restaurant to go. However, there are SO many places to dine in Lisbon that it would be tragic to miss out on some. This dining hall is the first from the Time Out brand, but it is a bit overpriced and you can almost never find a seat.

  • Restaurants

    • A good rule to go by in terms of restaurants would be to never eat somewhere that invites you inside. If the place has to beg for guests to dine, then it is probably not a place I would recommend. See my next post about restaurants to try in Lisbon for further details.

  • Souvenir Shops


If you have more specific questions, I always enjoy helping people navigate through Lisbon. I want people to enjoy this beautiful city as much as I have and not get caught in tourist traps!

 

xoxo,

Merritt









Merritt Murray
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