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1. They have The Best Custard Tarts in the World

Or more commonly known as egg tarts, in my part of the world, it’s a sweet, flaky pastry with a soft custard filling. You can find these world-famous pastéis de nata on almost every corner in Lisbon, but the original (and apparently The Best In The World) is found at Pasteis de Belém, just 10 minutes from the center of Lisbon. You’ll know you’re there when you see a long line forming outside, but it moves fairly quickly.

PS. Locals have them for breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper – yep anytime of the day! And you should too!

2. They have a little bit of everything

Shopping? Check. Culture? Check. Beaches? Check. Great food? Check, check, check! It’s such a well-rounded city that it has something for every type of person. Since it’s such an ancient city, your history textbooks really come alive here. Portugal also has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and they’re not too far away from Lisbon’s center.

They’ve even got their own type of music called Fado. It’s a melancholic style of singing that’s usually about topics of love, loss, and longing. This style of music was developed during the war times in Portugal and has now weaved itself into the Portuguese culture even until today. You can sometimes here Fado being sung along the streets, though most of the time you can watch Fado performances in Fado restaurants.

3. It’s one of the cheapest cities in Europe

You can really stretch your dollar in Lisbon. When compared to other popular western European cities like London, Paris and Rome, the prices in Lisbon are vastly cheaper for essentially the same stuff. Food and accommodation are fairly cheap, if you are wary about avoiding tourists traps. We managed to book a 2-bedroom apartment on Airbnb for just €180 per night – that’s about €45 per person, which is fair considering we were staying right smack in the middle of the city where all the action happens and didn’t need to take any trams or buses!

Pssst! Get $35 off your Airbnb booking following this link!

Related: Everything You Need To Know When Booking On Airbnb (Even If It’s Not Your First Time!)

4. Seafood is cheap

As a coastal city, you can find really affordable and fresh seafood here. And the Lisboetas really love their fish. You can get fresh seafood dishes for less than €10, of course, if you know how to spot the tourist traps.

5. It’s steeped in history

Being in one of the world’s oldest cities is like stepping into a time machine and going back in time; if you ignore the Zara’s and MANGO’s around… But visit Alfama, and you will really feel it. Alfama is Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood which actually survived the 1775 earthquake, so most of the houses you see here are from its original condition. It’s a quiet, quirky little neighborhood with winding alleyways and narrow streets that are perfect for just anyone to wander around without a map. It’s so quiet that it’s easy to forget that you’re actually still right smack in the middle of Lisbon city.

A lot of the families of this neighborhood have occupied their houses for centuries, being passed down from generation to generation. However, with the booming tourism industry, houses in this area are starting to get refurbished and being turned into Airbnb’s and holiday accommodation, so many of the original residents are starting to move it. It’s really sad to see, but the impending extinction of Alfama is near.

6. The weather is perfect

Did you know that Lisbon is Europe’s Sunniest Capital and we got rained out for 3 days when we were there? That’s just pure bad luck! This sunny capital gets over 2,799 hours of sunshine per year!

We visited in December, and the temperature was perfect for exploring the city, as we only needed a light jacket. Beats the icy cold winters in other parts of Europe!

7. It’s such a colorful city

Walk through Lisbon’s neighborhoods and you’ll find Portugal’s trademark tilework, beautifully named azulejos, plastered on the facades of buildings, which gives the city such a vibrant, romantic feel.

Every corner feels so photogenic, that you can’t help yourself but stop for pictures at almost every block. It’s hard to get tired of the beautiful azulejos all over the city!

8. Every day is leg day

No one told me that Lisbon was built on seven hills until I arrived. I learned it the hard way! But hey, it’s like getting a free workout every day while taking in the sights of this beautiful city. Plus, you’re gonna need to walk off all the delicious food this city has to offer. And all those pastéis de natas. And of course, hills mean you are promised countless amazing vantage points of this beautiful city, where you can stop for a photo, and rest your legs. Yup, killing two birds with one stone, that’s how we roll.

With that said, Lisbon is a really walkable city and you’ll find the streets packed with more pedestrians than cars (yay, zero-carbon emissions!). Wear comfortable shoes though, as with any ancient city, the streets are made with cobblestone so they can be quite hard to walk in with heels or stilettos.

If you’re not a fan of walking hills though (like me), Lisbon is a very well connected city, with tuk-tuks (yes, like the ones in Thailand!), buses, trams and the subway.

9. They have castles and cliffs less than an hour away

Just a short train ride away is the fairytale village of Sintra. It’s a little village filled with castles and palaces that it feels like you’re stepping into a Disney movie. My favourite was Quinta de Regaleira, with its lush green surroundings, that gives it such a magical vibe. There’s also the eye-catching, colourful Palácio da Pena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On the way back from Sintra, you can stop by the beautiful coastal town of Cascais, which was one of the highlights of our entire Portugal trip. Here is also where you will find Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in the whole of mainland Europe and it feels like the end of the world. I’d suggest making Cascais a day trip on its own though, as there’s so much to see too!

10. The tourists are starting to flock in

Lisbon isn’t exactly void of tourists and has its fair share of queues (we queued 2 hours for the vintage Tram 28!) but I wouldn’t say it’s that crowded yet. It’s still relatively easy to get reservations at highly-rated restaurants and not have to bump shoulders with strangers when you move on the sidewalks. The day we walked in Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhood, we pretty much were the only ones there, which is such a rare occurrence nowadays.

But that’s definitely changing. With so much to offer, this city is going to get crowded, and very soon.

Convinced? Find the best places for your stay in Lisbon here.

So if Lisbon isn’t yet on your bucket list, add it right now! You’ll want to appreciate its beauty before mass tourism hits as it has many other European cities. I hope this has inspired you to visit this ancient city! Til then, happy travels!

Visiting Lisbon Checklist

⇢ Compare flight prices to Lisbon
⇢ Compare accommodation options and prices on Booking.com | HotelsCombined.com | Agoda | Airbnb
⇢ Book train and bus tickets via GoEuro | Rail Europe
⇢ Don’t forget travel insurance! Travel insurance is the most overlooked purchase when traveling, but one of the most essential. Anything can happen when you’re on holiday and you’d want to be covered in the case of travel mishaps such as flight delays, personal accidents or theft. Choose World Nomads Travel Insurance, designed by travelers for travelers.

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