Lisbon is one of the warmest welcomes in Europe — a city where the pace is unhurried, the people are genuinely friendly, and the learning curve for visitors is gentle. But a few practical details can catch first-timers off guard: the hills are steeper than you expect, the metro closes earlier than you think, the bread basket at restaurants is not free, and the difference between a €1.65 tram ride and a €3.20 one depends on a small plastic card you should buy in the first ten minutes.
This guide covers everything you need to know before your first visit to Lisbon — from airport transfer to transport cards, from tipping customs to the shoes that will save your feet on those seven legendary hills.
Getting from the Airport to the City
Metro (Best Option)
Lisbon Airport has a metro station (Aeroporto) on the Red Line. Trains run every 6-9 minutes and reach the city center in 20-25 minutes. Change at Alameda for the Green Line (to Baixa-Chiado, Cais do Sodré) or at São Sebastião for the Blue Line.
Buy a Viva Viagem card (€0.50) at the metro station machines and load it with "zapping" credit (€5-10). Each metro ride costs €1.65 with zapping. The machine accepts cash and cards. The entire airport-to-hotel journey costs under €2.20 — making Lisbon one of the cheapest airport transfers in Europe.
Aerobus
The Aerobus (Line 1) runs from the airport to Cais do Sodré via Marquês de Pombal, Restauradores, and Rossio for €4 one-way (€6 return). Runs every 20 minutes from 7 AM to 11 PM. Useful if your hotel is on the route and you have luggage that makes metro stairs awkward.
Taxi & Ride-Sharing
Official taxis (cream-colored or black-and-green) use meters. Airport to city center costs approximately €10-15. A supplement of €1.60 applies for luggage in the trunk. Uber and Bolt operate in Lisbon and typically cost €8-12 from the airport. Both are reliable and avoid the occasional taxi meter issue.
Getting Around Lisbon
Metro
Four lines (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow) cover the main city. Trains run every 4-8 minutes from 6:30 AM to 1:00 AM. Key stations: Baixa-Chiado (central Lisbon), Restauradores (Bairro Alto access), Cais do Sodré (Time Out Market, trains to Belém/Cascais). The metro is clean, safe, and the station art — many decorated with azulejo tiles — is worth admiring.
Trams
Tram 28 is the famous one — vintage yellow trams rattling through Alfama, Graça, and Estrela. It is a genuine public transport line, not a tourist ride, and costs €3.20 (paper ticket) or €1.65 (Viva Viagem). Tram 15E is the modern tram to Belém from Praça do Comércio (20 minutes). Other tram lines are useful but less scenic.
Funiculars & Elevador
Three funiculars (Glória, Bica, Lavra) haul passengers up Lisbon's steepest hills. The Elevador da Bica is the most photogenic. Each costs €3.80 one-way (or €1.65 with Viva Viagem). The Elevador de Santa Justa costs €5.30 return — scenic but not essential, as you can walk up to the same viewpoint for free from Largo do Carmo.
Walking
Lisbon is walkable — but the hills are not a marketing gimmick. They are genuinely steep, cobblestoned, and relentless. Wear shoes with good grip and ankle support. Flip-flops on Lisbon's polished limestone sidewalks (calçada portuguesa) are a recipe for falling. The smooth, wave-patterned pavements are beautiful but slippery when wet. Flat shoes with rubber soles are ideal.
Tipping in Lisbon
Tipping in Portugal is appreciated but modest. Service charge is not included in bills (unlike France). The standard practice:
Restaurants: 5-10% for good service, or round up to a convenient amount. A €27 bill? Leave €30. Tipping more than 10% is unusual and unnecessary. At casual tascas, rounding up by €1-2 is sufficient.
Cafes: Leave small coins (€0.20-0.50) on the counter. Not expected for a quick coffee.
Taxis: Round up to the nearest euro. A €9.40 fare? Pay €10.
Hotels: €1 per bag for porters. €1-2 per night for housekeeping if you choose to tip.
The Couvert Tradition
This catches every first-timer. You sit down at a restaurant and before you have ordered anything, bread, butter, olives, cheese, pate, or various small plates appear on your table. These are couvert — they are not free and not mandatory. Each item costs €1-4 and will be added to your bill.
You have two options: enjoy them (they are usually good) and pay the small charge, or politely wave them away ("não, obrigado/a") and they will be taken back at no charge. Touching or eating any item means you pay for it. This is standard Portuguese restaurant culture, not a scam — just ask what the couvert includes if you are unsure.
Practical Essentials
Currency & Payments
Portugal uses the euro (€). Card payments are widely accepted in restaurants, shops, and hotels. Some smaller tascas, kiosks, and market stalls are cash-only. ATMs (Multibanco) are everywhere — use bank-branded machines and decline any "convert to your currency" option to get the best rate.
Language
Portuguese is the official language. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants in the center. Younger Lisboetas generally speak good English. A few Portuguese words go far: obrigado/a (thank you — male/female), por favor (please), bom dia (good morning), a conta, por favor (the bill, please).
Safety
Lisbon is very safe for tourists. Violent crime is rare. The main risk is pickpocketing — especially on Tram 28, in crowded elevators, and around Rossio/Baixa. Professional pickpocket teams target tourists on Tram 28 specifically. Keep valuables in front pockets and bags zipped and in front of your body on trams and in busy areas.
Weather & When to Visit
| Season | Temperature | Crowds | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar-May) | 16-22°C | Moderate | Best overall — warm, affordable |
| Summer (Jun-Aug) | 25-32°C | High | Hot, peak prices, festival season |
| Autumn (Sep-Nov) | 18-25°C | Moderate | Warm, good value, fewer crowds |
| Winter (Dec-Feb) | 10-15°C | Low | Mild, rainy, cheapest season |
Coffee Culture
Portugal has a serious coffee culture — and it is not the €5 latte variety. A bica (espresso) costs €0.70-1.00 at a counter. A galão (latte-like, coffee with hot milk in a tall glass) costs €1.20-1.80. A meia de leite (half coffee, half milk) costs €1-1.50. Standing at the counter is cheaper than sitting at a table in many cafes — the price difference can be 30-50%. Coffee is meant to be quick — stand, drink, chat briefly, leave. The leisurely laptop cafe culture is foreign to traditional Portuguese cafes.
