Lisbon travel blog
Lisbon travel stories, tips and inspiration — updated regularly.
Lisbon summer 2026: heat, crowds, and how to survive both
The honest summer survival guide for Lisbon in 2026 — when to be out, when to hide, where to escape the heat, and how to make the most of July and August.
Lisbon 2026: what's changed and what hasn't
A current update on Lisbon in 2026 — what's different from 2022, what's stayed the same, and what returning visitors need to know before their next trip.
Lisbon Airbnb vs hotel vs hostel in 2026: where to stay decision
Airbnb, hotel, or hostel in Lisbon 2026? Neighbourhood costs, what each format gets right, and how to choose for your trip.
Where to eat in Lisbon, May 2026: what's currently good
A current update on the Lisbon restaurant scene in May 2026 — new openings, enduring favourites, and the places worth going to right now.
Spring 2026: when and where to see the jacaranda bloom in Lisbon
When and where to see Lisbon's jacaranda bloom in 2026 — the best streets, the peak timing, and what else spring has to offer.
The real cost of 3 days in Lisbon in 2026: an itemised receipt
A complete, itemised cost breakdown of a 3-day Lisbon trip in 2026 — accommodation, food, transport, attractions, and the line items most travel guides skip.
What I wish I knew before visiting Lisbon: 18 hindsight tips
18 things about Lisbon that guidebooks don't explain clearly — transport, food pricing, crowds, timing, and what surprises first-time visitors.
Lisbon day trips by season: which to do in which month
A month-by-month guide to day trips from Lisbon — which destinations work best in which season, what to avoid in summer, and the winter and spring surprises.
Private vs group day trip from Lisbon: cost, comfort, and what you sacrifice
Comparing private and group day trips from Lisbon — when the price difference is worth it, what you give up with each, and how to decide for your trip.
Sintra vs Cascais as a day trip: which one wins?
An honest comparison of Sintra and Cascais as day trips from Lisbon — crowds, cost, what you actually see, and which one to choose based on your trip.
Is the Lisboa Card worth it in 2026? A break-even analysis
We ran the 2026 numbers on the Lisboa Card: 24h, 48h, and 72h versions. When it pays off, when it doesn't, and which visitors should skip it entirely.
Lisbon in the rain: 30 things to do when the weather turns
A wet-weather playbook for Lisbon — indoor museums, covered markets, historic cafés, and the experiences that are actually better when it rains.
Santo António in Alfama: sardines, marchas, and the June madness
What June 12-13 in Alfama is really like — sardine grills, the marchas parade, the noise, and how to experience it well.
Lisbon with toddlers: what actually works, honestly reported
A parent's honest report on Lisbon with young children — what worked, what didn't, the logistics you need to know, and where to go with a toddler in tow.
Lisbon vs Seville vs Madrid: the Iberian weekend break shootout
Comparing three Iberian capitals as weekend city breaks — cost, food, culture, weather, and which city wins for different types of travellers.
Winter waves at Nazaré: chasing big-wave season at Praia do Norte
Visiting Nazaré during big-wave season — the swells, the cliffside viewpoint, logistics from Lisbon, and honest odds of seeing what you came for.
Lisbon on a shoestring: the sub-€50/day breakdown
A realistic breakdown of spending €50 or less per day in Lisbon in 2024 — where the money goes, what you sacrifice, and what you don't have to.
Which fado house is actually good: five venues in one week
A week attending fado houses across Lisbon — from tourist dinner shows to small locals-only clubs. Here is what I found and how to choose.
Comporta sunset from a dune: the slow coast beyond Setúbal
A day trip to Comporta — the rice paddies, the deserted beaches, the dune at sunset — and why this is the most different day trip you can do from Lisbon.
How I plan a 4-day Lisbon trip: my personal template
A personal 4-day Lisbon planning template — the exact sequence I use, the mistakes I've stopped making, and a day-by-day structure that consistently works.
Pastéis de Belém vs Manteigaria: the blind tasting result
We bought pastéis de nata from Pastéis de Belém and Manteigaria on the same day and compared them blind. Here's what actually happened.
Évora by train and foot: a solo day trip from Lisbon
A first-person account of a solo day trip to Évora — the Roman temple, the Chapel of Bones, the megalithic circuit, and the train journey back at dusk.
Tram 28 vs the tuk-tuks: two tourist icons, one honest verdict
Tram 28 vs tuk-tuks in Lisbon — a price and experience comparison, and an honest verdict on which is actually worth your time.
A day on the Sado with dolphins: the estuary trip from Setúbal
Taking the dolphin watching boat from Setúbal into the Sado estuary — what you actually see, the logistics from Lisbon, and why this day trip is underrated.
Learning to surf at Carcavelos: a first lesson, honestly reported
What actually happens during a first surf lesson at Carcavelos beach, 30 minutes from Lisbon — the conditions, the instructors, and whether it's worth doing.
Lisbon or Porto: an honest take after visiting both
Lisbon vs Porto — a genuinely honest comparison covering vibe, cost, food, day trips, logistics, and which one to choose for different types of trips.
Pena Palace without the crowds: the first-entry strategy
How to visit Pena Palace in Sintra before the tour groups arrive — the exact timing, ticket booking, and route that gives you the palace almost to yourself.
Getting lost in Mouraria: fado's birthplace on foot
Wandering the narrow lanes of Mouraria, Lisbon's oldest and most overlooked neighbourhood — the district where fado was born and the city still lives.
Tram 28 at dawn: the empty tram experience
How to ride Lisbon's iconic tram 28 before the crowds arrive — a pre-sunrise strategy that actually works, and what you see along the way.
48 hours in Alfama: fado, viewpoints, and pastéis at dawn
A first-person weekend in Alfama — the oldest district in Lisbon, where fado still echoes off tiled walls and every staircase leads somewhere unexpected.