Why Visit Lisbon? 7 Reasons To Visit This Magical Place

Lisbon is one of those magical places you just want to visit over and over again when you’ve been there once, but if you’ve never been here, you might ask yourself: Why visit Lisbon?

Lisbon is a city filled with warm and friendly people, incredible food, a rich history, and so much more. Plus, the Portuguese wine scene is absolutely fantastic.

I’ve lived in Lisbon for a year and travel here twice a year, and based on all my experience, I’ve collected seven reasons why you should visit Lisbon.

I’ve also collected some cons, so you can consider both sides of the coin and make an educated choice.

The Pros of Visiting Lisbon

Let’s begin with the positives of visiting Lisbon. I’ve tried to limit myself, even though I could list 20.

1. The Amazing Food

It’s no secret that the food is amazing in Lisbon. Both Portuguese cuisine and worldwide cuisine are in Portugal.

Chefs in Portugal are so good at recreating food from all over the world, and then they continue to rise everywhere.

My favorite Portuguese restaurant at the moment is Pica-Pau.

I’m from Denmark, and we’re very well-known for our pastries. And I have to say that in Portugal, they recreate incredible pastries.

I strongly encourage you to go on a food tour and just snack through a day in Lisbon. Once you’ve decided to visit, check out my Lisbon itineraries to plan your perfect trip.

Some of the items you should try are:

• Bifana at The Bifanas of Afonso
• Pastel de Nata at Manteigaria
• Pastel de Feijão
• Pastel de Bacalhau at Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau
• Ginjinha at the small stand in the corner of Praça do Comércio

2. People Are Friendly / Safe Country

Coming from Denmark, where we’re very close people, it was so refreshing to see how open and warm people are in Portugal.

When they greet each other, they give a kiss on each cheek, and they’re so good at hugging and just talking with everyone.

If you go to a local café, you’ll find people drinking their coffee at the counter instead of sitting at a table on their phone.

The Portuguese people are very social people, and it’s incredible.

Another thing you’ll also experience is how safe the country is. I’ve walked around so many evenings without experiencing any issues.

Of course, there are places you want to avoid, but in the center(Bairro Alto, Chiado & Baixa), you’ll feel super safe, and in the surrounding areas as well.

The only place I would avoid during the evening is Martim Moniz.

3. There Are Green Areas Everywhere

Everywhere you go in Lisbon, you’ll find beautiful parks and gardens, even in the middle of the city.

One of my favorite parks is Jardim da Estrela, which is where I hung out with my current partner at the beginning of our relationship.

This is just one of many; another park I really like is Principe Real, which is located right in the center of Lisbon. It’s a small, beautiful park with a massive tree, markets every Saturday morning, and more.

Wherever you go in Lisbon, you’re always close to a park, garden, or a viewpoint.

4. Rich History And Culture

Portugal has a rich history, and you can feel that everywhere in the city.

I recommend you head to Belém to experience what Portugal has done and achieved in the past. You’ll get to see the Belém Tower, Jeronimos Monastery, and many other beautiful monuments.

Did you know they brought spices to India and tea to England? Portugal has done so much for the world, and it’s surprising.

They have beautiful churches, museums, and monuments that explain the history of this beautiful country.

As you walk around the city, you’ll also experience the stunning architecture, and I love how colorful the buildings are; it makes you so happy.

5. The Nightlife

The nightlife in Lisbon is super versatile; whether you want a club to dance, a cocktail bar to sip cocktails, or a wine bar, Lisbon has it all.

I’m a big fan of wine bars myself, and as the Portuguese wine is spectacular, it makes it even better.

One of my favorite cocktail bars is Rossio Gastrobar, a rooftop bar with incredible food and drinks.

For wine, I really like the wine bar by the wine, but there are so many incredible places.

If you want a lot of bars and clubs nearby, Bairro Alto is the perfect place to be.

6. The Weather

Lisbon is known to be a sunny Portuguese capital, and it is. The sun always shines in Lisbon all year round.

You will have rainy days during winter, but I’ve been there during December, in a short-sleeved T-shirt, walking around the capital city.

Some of the locals did look funny at me, but the sun is always warm all year round.

If you want the super warm weather, visit between April and September, but you can still experience incredible weather in the other months.

To help you decide, here’s my full guide on the best time to visit Lisbon.

7. Viewpoints

Lisbon officially has seven hills, but I can’t count how many beautiful viewpoints you’ll find around the city.

Whether you’re in Bairro Alto, Baixa, or Alfama, you’re close to so many beautiful viewpoints.

Alfama is the area with the most viewpoints, but that’s also because it’s the hilliest part of Lisbon, so wear some comfortable shoes before visiting Alfama. You can also take Tram 28 around Alfama.

When you get to the viewpoints, there is often a café where you can enjoy your victory of “climbing” to the viewpoint.

The Cons of Visiting Lisbon

Now, regarding the negative side of visiting Lisbon, and while these might not be deal breakers, I feel it’s important to mention them so you’re aware of them.

1. It’s Very Hilly

Lisbon is known as a hilly European capital, and you feel it immediately as you walk around in Alfama or Principe Real.

This also means you get many beautiful viewpoints of the city, but the negative side is that if you’re disabled, it’s a bit difficult to get around the city.

If you get tired of walking the many hills, I recommend using Uber or the beautiful yellow trams to get around.

The least hilly area is Baixa, where you can do a lot of shopping, as it’s right in the city center.

2. Driving and Parking Are Difficult

I don’t recommend renting a car if you’re planning to stay in the city center; it’s a nightmare to park in.

I rented a car with some friends as we drove to the Algarve, and it was a super fun experience.

So, if you plan on going on day trips to Costa da Caparica, Sintra, or other cities, I recommend renting a car.

Just be aware that driving in the city center is a nightmare, and you really need to be aware of your surroundings.

The narrow streets scared me when driving. If you’re walking around, they’re beautiful, but sometimes you’ll look down a narrow street and be like, I ain’t driving down there.

3. It Can Be Crowded

Visiting Lisbon in the summer months, from June to August, you’ll experience a lot of crowds in Lisbon.

However, I went there this June, and it was not as bad as I thought. And you can easily make it more enjoyable by planning a little bit.

I like to mix planning with being spontaneous. So book some restaurants and monuments from home before you leave to visit Lisbon, and then you’ll get to experience the city and restaurants without having to stand in the queue.

4. Scammers / Pickpocketing

This is probably the most annoying part about Lisbon, and that is if you’re in Baixa, you’ll experience people trying to sell you contraband; just say no or ignore them.

The police can’t do anything as what they’re selling is just flour.

So even though it’s annoying, as long as you ignore them, they won’t do anything.

When you’re on public transportation, be aware of pickpockets, especially on the famous Tram 28, where they really like to be.

I have never experienced any pickpockets, and I’ve been in Lisbon for years, so as long as you’re aware of your belongings, nothing will happen.

Should You Visit Lisbon?

The short answer is yes, you should visit Lisbon.

Lisbon is my favorite European destination; there is no doubt about it, and I love being in this beautiful city.

Once you’ve decided to go, take a look at my list of 40 things to do in Lisbon to start planning.

Even though it’s a hilly city, you can still experience the city center by public transportation to avoid walking too much.

If you’ve been in Lisbon for longer than a week, you might feel like you’ve experienced the city center, and then you can take a day trip to one of the nearby cities, like Sintra or Evora.

If you’re torn between destinations, I’ve also compared Lisbon vs Porto to help you decide.

Be aware of when you do certain things to avoid the big crowds. If you’re here in the summer months, getting up early will help you do more during the day and avoid the crowds.

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