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Original poster

What's Lisbon like?

23 replies

Fajtasu · 12/09/2025 13:13

Can someone please tell me from those who have been there?

I've been thinking about booking a spontaneous trip.

OP posts:
Cormoransjacket · 12/09/2025 13:19

We went a few years ago. I loved it. There are lots of museums, the food is excellent and all the people we met were lovely. I actually preferred it to places like Rome and Athens because it was much less crowded, but there was loads to do.

socks1107 · 12/09/2025 13:24

We booked a spontaneous trip and loved it. Beautiful city and walked right along the river one afternoon enjoying some lovely views and us time. I’d definitely recommend

TheChosenTwo · 12/09/2025 13:26

Really vibrant and beautiful, we went as a group of 4 women and found it easy to navigate, friendly and experienced good food and high spirits everywhere we went tbh.
I’d love to revisit with dh at some point but there are so many other cities I also want to visit for the first time so maybe in a few years I’ll get back there!

cardboard33 · 12/09/2025 13:39

Amazing.

It is one of my favourite cities in Europe by far. There's loads to do (culture, museums, gardens, beaches, transport methods, old town, easy trips elsewhere on public transport) whether you're a couple, group of friends or as a family. We have been 3 times for a week each over the last decade (when we barely ever go back to places) and haven't repeated many things. We took our 5 year old there last year and he would have been more than happy just going on all of the trams, trains, buses and to the carris museum.

I love Portugal in general as it has a much more friendlier vibe than other Mediterranean countries.

Homegrownberries · 12/09/2025 13:41

I thought it was nice enough. A bit seedy in places. I don't get the love for it tbh.

Dearg · 12/09/2025 13:43

I am with @Homegrownberries . It was a long time ago, but I found it seedy and not particularly pleasant after dark. But I think that can be said for most large cities.

AnnPerkins · 12/09/2025 13:48

I went with friends earlier this year and we all loved it. It was really friendly and the food and drink was excellent and cheap.

It is very hilly though. If you tire easily you will struggle to walk far.

Newton161 · 12/09/2025 13:48

It used to be a lovely city but has suffered very badly from the adverse impacts of migrants in recent years. It is a very different place nowadays. I was surprised at how much it had changed when I last visited.

Cannedlaughter · 12/09/2025 13:51

If you go put time aside for a day in Sintra it’s magical and beautiful. There’s a train straight too it.

Camera21 · 12/09/2025 14:09

I second a trip to Sintra. It’s really easy and cheap on the train.

fandjango · 12/09/2025 14:57

How are you mobility wise? it is very hilly, some are quite steep. Also a lot of cobbles. It’s a beautiful place with lots to see and do. I just found it not ideal for me as I use a stick and/or walker and it was quite hard to get around. That alongside some torrential rain made it a bit slippy for me. The rest of our group had no issues though and we really enjoyed it.

Original poster
Fajtasu · 13/09/2025 06:27

fandjango · 12/09/2025 14:57

How are you mobility wise? it is very hilly, some are quite steep. Also a lot of cobbles. It’s a beautiful place with lots to see and do. I just found it not ideal for me as I use a stick and/or walker and it was quite hard to get around. That alongside some torrential rain made it a bit slippy for me. The rest of our group had no issues though and we really enjoyed it.

Fortunately I'm perfectly fine

OP posts:
RummidgeGeneral · 13/09/2025 07:04

I second that comment about mobility. It is definitely a place for trainers. The pavements are often very smooth and do get slippy if wet. We had a great holiday though. The monastery at Belem is amazing. If you go, book online and walk to the front of the very long queue when it's your time to go in. It isn't very clear what you're supposed to do! Also book online for the castle to skip the massive queue. It's worth it when you get in. Amazing views and you can have a great priced cheese toasties in the castle grounds so you can hang out there for a while.

fandjango · 13/09/2025 07:53

Fajtasu · 13/09/2025 06:27

Fortunately I'm perfectly fine

Show quote history

Oh good. I’d definitely go for it then!

user1476613140 · 13/09/2025 08:01

Newton161 · 12/09/2025 13:48

It used to be a lovely city but has suffered very badly from the adverse impacts of migrants in recent years. It is a very different place nowadays. I was surprised at how much it had changed when I last visited.

DS was at a metal festival just outside Lisbon a few months ago and said it was full of migrants, he didn't feel safe at times especially at night near bus stations or train stations. Many had balaclavas on and he spotted one carrying a machete. For him he enjoyed looking around Lisbon but wouldn't say it was particularly safe. He's 18. Said all taxi drivers in the small city he was in outside of Lisbon were robbed by migrants. It's a real problem over there. And many wonder why locals don't trust migrants!

Esperanza25 · 13/09/2025 08:04

Fabulous. I was there for a couple of days last winter. Small and very friendly city, loads to see and do.

I’ll be going back.

aquashiv · 13/09/2025 08:12

This is a fabulous place! I didn't feel unsafe at all, and it was easy to walk everywhere. I loved my experience there.

notacooldad · 13/09/2025 08:14

I went by myself on January for a long weekend and really enjoyed it.
( F 60)

WonderingWanda · 13/09/2025 08:14

I loved it. Didn't see the seedy side but we stayed in Saldhana so slightly away from main centre and ate out there mostly in the evenings and it was lovely.

Shutupkeith · 13/09/2025 08:14

Homegrownberries · 12/09/2025 13:41

I thought it was nice enough. A bit seedy in places. I don't get the love for it tbh.

Me either. Of all the city breaks I have been in Lisbon is ranked bottom. We were harassed by drug pushers every evening, trod in dog shit (even the lady who owned the Airbnb told us to be careful) and bin bags ripped open with dirty nappies strewn on the pavement. Some of it was ok but overall a downtrodden rough feel about it.

Radiatorvalves · 13/09/2025 08:15

DS 19 has been there twice for short breaks and loves it. We’ve got friends out there now. It’s on my list.

BatOrange · 13/09/2025 08:21

Very steep in places but I loved it. We stayed at the hotel above the train station (https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/the-editory-riverside-santa-apolonia.en-gb.html) and everywhere we wanted to go was easy to reach by a bus outside the front door or across the road. The aquarium is fantastic, especially the Takashi Amano exhibit and I had the best hazelnut gelato at the Time Out market (though it feels a bit too busy for a meal). I’m not sure where the seedy places are but I didn’t find them while I was there.

ScoobyDoesnt · 13/09/2025 08:25

I went on my own 2 years ago, and absolutely loved it. I stayed in a martinhal hotel down near Time Out, and felt perfectly safe at all times (obviously was vigilant).

I chose that hotel as it was a family friendly one, as I felt that may be ‘safer’ for me on my own! It was truly lovely.

I saw nothing of issues with migrants referred to by PPs, but I guess I probably stuck to the touristy areas anyway, and saw nothing worse than you see in London, where I work regularly. I did the tourist bus which was great for seeing everything and being able to hop and off.

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