PORTUGAL -Lisbon Portugal Travel Tips- Reviews
Portugal Travel
Lisbon highlights
The feel of Lisbon, Portugal, is diverse; the city at night gives people a calming feeling.
Downtown/Baixa – This is the most historic area in Lisbon. Lisbon was devastated by an earthquake in 1755, and a lot of the downtown area was rebuilt. You can still visit the oldest operating bookstore in the world in the Chiado section of the city, Livraria Bertrand
The Chiado area is my favorite section to relax, walk around, sit down, and people watch. Alfama – This is a very old area in downtown Lisbon where you can find the best live Fado. The music sounds like opera
Day trips
Sintra is a must-do and see.
Visit Pena Palace. Quinta da Regaleira (the well is insane)
Cascais
Lisbon Airport
You need 3 plus hours to comfortably pass through the Lisbon airport
Why?
1. The parking/drop off is busy
2. The airline check-in could be on any floor
3. Portugal security check-in with your carry-on bags is in one location for all airlines.
The line is always long for @1 hour
4. You have to walk through a huge wrap-around duty-free store that is crowded (to get to the gates)
5. You have to walk the hallway, passing name-brand stores, shops, a food mart, and crowds
6. Lots of walking
7. Passport check is after the stores
But before your gate
In the USA, the passport is checked at check-in when you hand in your checked bags
8. A random number of people on each flight are chosen for additional screening - you will know because your boarding pass will be stamped
Which takes extra time-
You have to remove your shoes, take your carry-on bags off cell phones off, have your carry-on bags checked, and have your hands swabbed
This takes time ( only a few people per flight)
9. Then, in Portugal, most airplanes are not at the gate; the passengers are bused to the airplane in stages.
This means the gate closes 30 minutes before takeoff
I love Portugal. It’s my favorite place to go, and I think it’s helpful to know the situation. My flights are usually around 11 am, so that could be why the crowds are large.
Lisbon airport
The airport can be busy one day and not so busy another day. The day of the week and time of departure or arrival matter.
Arriving at the Lisbon airport for a departure, allow 4 hours for non-Schengen destinations and 3 hours for Schengen ones. If you are returning a rental car at the airport, allow an extra 30 minutes for its return near Terminal 1.
Upon reaching Terminal 1, a large plasma screen in the main entry area informs you of your flight's check-in area. Each airline has a designated check-in area labeled A, B, C, D, E, F, with corresponding numbers. Some airlines will only check you in 3 hours before the flight.
For checked luggage, follow your airline's assigned letter and number to the specific check-in line. If you have carry-on only, check in online or use the self-check-in kiosk to get your boarding pass. We usually fly on American Airlines. The staff is extremely helpful. After we check in and drop off the checked bags, we head to the AA lounge upstairs above the food court.
After check-in, follow signs for the "Boarding Gates". You will only need your boarding pass to enter these gates. You will then join the line to clear carry-on security. These lines can be long. There is a sign stating the approximate minutes to clear security. The line zigzags back and forth. This is only checking you and your bags. You still need to clear passport security after the food court.
After carry-on bag security clearance, you enter a large food court and duty-free shops. The airline lounges are upstairs. The lounge has a plasma illuminated screen telling you which flights are boarding. Flight gates and locations are displayed there. Gates for USA or Canada flights (N41-47) are past the food court; Do not hang around the food court for long, as Non-Schengen travelers will have to undergo passport control, sometimes taking 30-45 minutes. Terminal 1 gates are divided into S7-26 for Schengen and N41-47 for non-Schengen. The new e-gates have opened, allowing for passport checks to be quicker than before. I think there are more than 50 kiosks to check your passport.
E-passport kiosks at passport control are available if all travelers are over 18, Portugal was the Schengen entry point, and you have an electronic passport. All USA passports are electronic. My husband is a Portuguese citizen, so I go with him, and we can remain as a group. He has an EU passport.
Post-passport control, you enter the "non-Schengen" transfer area near the gates, featuring smaller cafes and shops.
Heads up: There is a hidden passport check for travelers going to the USA. If your boarding pass has a red circle on the bottom left, you will have additional screening at the gate. I was randomly picked last year. This took an additional 25 minutes to board the airplane. I had to have all of my bags checked, passport screened, and I even had to remove the case on my cell phone for scanning.
Things I do not like about the Lisbon Airport:
Random extra screening at the gate
Departing passengers and arriving passengers are in the same areas.
Passport check is after the food court and shopping areas.
There is a lot of walking to get to the gate when you are departing.
It feels like you're in a loud maze when you arrive at the airport from your airplane.
People are in line to enter their airplane; people are strolling around the airport; other passengers are trying to exit the gate, get their checked bags, and exit the airport.
Things that I like about the Lisbon Airport
You can purchase a Vodafone SIM card in the baggage claim area for your travels within Portugal. I paid $35 euros for unlimited data for 30 days.
The restaurants are reasonably priced, and the food is good.
Taxis are in front of the airport. You can't miss them.
It is clean.
The staff is friendly and helpful.
What is Portugal known for?
Portugal is known for its Atlantic coastline, the Algarve, Lisbon and Porto, fado music, port wine, and its historical role in the Age of Discovery. The vast number of castles, Palaces, and royal homes in Portugal is noteworthy. Lots of buildings in Portugal are older than America. It offers amazing handmade goods to bring back home for gifts. The food in Portugal is seasoned and fresh.
Is Portugal expensive to visit?
Portugal is among the more affordable destinations in Western Europe, generally cheaper than Spain and significantly cheaper than France, Germany, or the UK. There are 3 types of tax on products in the stores. The highest tax of 23 % is on non-essential items. Food and essentials are taxed at a low. Eating out and food shopping are affordable in Portugal for visitors. Clothing, canned fish, and shoes are affordable in Portugal. Automobiles, housing, and electronics are expensive in Portugal.
What language do they speak in Portugal?
Portuguese is the official language. English proficiency is high, particularly in Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve. Most Portuguese citizens under the age of 30 can speak English.
Lots of Portuguese speak Spanish, French, and Italian.
Is Portugal safe to travel to?
Portugal is consistently ranked among the safest countries in the world. According to the Global Peace Index GPI, Portugal is the 7th safest country in the world
Do I need a visa to visit Portugal?
It depends on your nationality. EU/EEA citizens can enter freely. Many non-EU visitors can enter visa-free for short stays up to 90 days under the Schengen rules.
Portugal Travel
If you are visiting Lisbon, Portugal, and want recommendations for places to eat:
Where to eat in Lisbon
Belem=You must try a Pasteis de Nata.
Check out the beer museum downtown.
Alfama is the oldest area in Lisbon. The cafes are our favorites.
Food tours are a great way to taste lots of different types of local dishes.
Portugal Travel
Restaurant Recommendations in Lisbon
Some restaurants have a dress code. Check it out before you go
Restaurante Pinóquio
Pinóquio $$$$$
Praça dos Restauradores 79 80, 1250-188 Lisboa
21 346 5106 https://g.co/kgs/oKPT24
Restaurante Zé dos Cornos, grilled fish and meat ( Iberian pork included):
Beco dos Surradores 5, 1100-591 Lisboa. They don't take reservations; first-come, first-served. $$$$$
Ze is fabulous! They opened up a second restaurant, Ze De Mouraria 2, nearby! Double-check the hours for both for a dinner reservation, as it looks like ze 2 is open for dinner and ze 1 just for lunch.
One of the most beautiful squares in Europe, Praça do Comércio opens out onto the river Tagus. Under its arches, you'll find market stalls, restaurants, the Wines of Portugal, the Beer Museum, and the oldest restaurant in Lisbon, Martinho Da Arcada, which was established in 1782. Walking around this area feels like you are transformed back 100's of years.
Bonjardim – This is a restaurant in downtown. They make a signature Portuguese BBQ chicken (a typical dish with piri piri -spicy)
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How to eat on a budget in Lisbon
We eat lunch or dinner at the Continente grocery store. Our favorite is in Telheiros, Lisbon, walking distance to the Sporting Stadium.
They have 3-4 plates of the day for @$5 euros
The dish could be cod and potatoes with nata ( cream sauce)
Chicken and rice
Fish and potatoes
Pasta
Other
They have a small cafe with cooked meals, coffee, bread, and sweets
They usually have soup and salad too
Some days, we buy a rotisserie chicken and a bag of fresh potato chips. We picnic outside or at a rest area. This is fun and a low-cost meal.
What to see in Lisbon
St. George Castle is vast and charming. The streets of Alfama are paved with cobblestones and can be slippery. Although it is very steep, it is very worthwhile.
The Jeronimos Monastery (Jeronimos Monastery) is beautiful,
One of the must-see attractions in Lisbon is the Belem district. It is located in the coastal area of Lisbon. The tower has a history of the navigators and travels of Portuguese sailors
. No credit cards are accepted, and the ticket is 6 Euros.
São Jorge Castle is a very worthwhile attraction.
Bairro Alto is one of the oldest areas in Lisbon. The buildings are historic and remarkable
There are lots of bars and restaurants in the upper city. We enjoyed the fado music and dinner. The music can seem loud and dull to some people. When my children were young, they were not fans of Fado.
Are there tour guides in Lisbon?
We enjoyed a tuk-tuk tour of the city. We prefer to book ahead of time and check for reviews.
A guided walking tour of Benfica Stadium
Bus tour
Open-air bus tour
Private tour guide
So much to see and do.
One trip, one week, or one month is not enough
Boa Viagem
WATERFRONT in Downtown Lisbon
If you are looking for a great dining experience, then Belem is for you. Their specialties are a local steak dish and exceptional seafood. Prices can be on the high side, but the dining is superb, and the food is delicious. The Discoveries statue next to the restaurant is my favorite statue in Portugal. It was inaugurated in 1960. It stands @ 170 feet tall. It celebrates Henry the Navigator and all the discoveries Portugal enjoyed.
June Festa
As summer brings heat to Lisbon, so starts its annual month of celebration of the Saints. St Anthony (Santo Antonio), often revered as the true patron saint of Lisbon, gives his name to this June event, which combines religious celebration with extensive amounts of non-religious activities and lots of sardines with wine.
Portugal St Anthony Day Lisbon events -traditions
The Santo Antonio Festival is quite a protracted affair, and for the whole of June, there are concerts, theatre, puppetry, vendors, sports, and exhibitions all over the city, including fado musicians in the trams. However, the main focus is on more traditional festivities in the oldest Lisbon neighborhoods (bairros) where the streets and squares are decorated with colorful decorations, paper flowers, and streamers. You will smell sardines as they are grilled by households, restaurants, and bars. Lots of Portuguese citizens and visitors eat out in the street, creating a party for all the family, with music and folk dancing to accompany them.
Outside Lisbon
Outside the city
Sintra is a town of palaces, castles, summer retreats, lush gardens, and forested walks. Located 25 kilometers from Lisbon, this entire area is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is touristy.
The best way to visit Sintra is to either book a guided tour or take the 40-minute train ride from Lisbon to the town center. The train departs from Rossio station in Lisbon ($5 euros.) However, a guided tour will give you more opportunities to see more sites within Sintra. Sintra looks like a painting of a make-believe place in a dream. The brilliant colors and the historic buildings leave a mark on your soul.
When you are there, make sure to try the traditional cakes from Sintra, they are called Queijadas. They are made in a 160-year-old bakery called Casa Piriquita,
The Pena Palace is the most visited in all of Portugal. (TOURISTY)
At Quinta da Regaleira, you can view a wonderful home with amusing gardens.
The National Palace at Sintra is the best-preserved medieval royal residence in Portugal. The white chimneys that protrude from the kitchens make for iconic photo opportunities. The Palace has been inhabited since the 15th century.
Lisbon Airport
Upon reaching Terminal 1, a prominent screen in the main entry area guides you to your flight's check-in area. Each airline has a designated check-in area labeled A, B, C, D, E, F, with corresponding numbers.
For checked luggage, follow your airline's assigned letter and number to the specific check-in line. If you have carry-on only, check in online or use the self-check-in kiosk to get your boarding pass.
After check-in, head towards the "Boarding Gates" sign for airport security. You will only need your boarding pass to enter these gates. You will then join the line to clear security. These lines can be long. There is a sign stating approximate minutes to clear security.
Post-security clearance, you enter a large food court and duty free shops area shared by Schengen and non-Schengen passengers. Flight gates and locations are displayed there. Gates for USA/Canada flights (N41-47) are past the food court, you can head there even if your gate has not been announced. Do not hang around the food court for long as Non-Schengen travelers will have to undergo passport control, sometimes taking 30-45 minutes. Terminal 1 gates are divided into S7-26 for Schengen and N41-47 for non-Schengen.
E-passport kiosks at passport control are available if all travelers are over 18, Portugal was the Schengen entry point, and you have an electronic passport.
Post-passport control, you enter the "non-Schengen" transfer area near the gates, featuring smaller cafes and shops.
Once your gate is announce head to your gate and wait to board.
Wishing you all a safe flight
Planning a trip to Portugal involves choosing the best time to visit (spring or fall for pleasant weather), selecting key destinations like Lisbon, Porto, Algarve, Sintra, and Madeira, booking flights and accommodation, planning an itinerary with historical sites and local cuisine, arranging transportation (trains, buses, rental cars), packing appropriately, and using the Euro (€) as currency. Learning basic Portuguese phrases can enhance your experience, such as greetings
Olá, Bom Dia, Bom Tarde
Portugal Travel
Day trips from Lisbon
Lisbon to Fatima, A1 Highway has tolls
Fatima can be a day trip from Lisbon or a stop-by on the way to Porto.
Leaving Lisbon, head north on A1 toward Porto.
Exit at Fatima, approximately 1 ½ hours from Lisbon.
Where to park in Fatima
Park behind the Basilica near Lot #7. The parking is free, and there are some shady areas in Lot #7. There are public bathrooms behind the Basilica, between the parking lot and the Church. The bathrooms are not always clean, nor do they always have toilet tissue. The walk is long but on a wide sidewalk. Enter the Church and pray. Take lots of photos. Be prepared to walk down steep steps or go to the side of the Church and walk down the long slope toward the shops and the small church.
Where is Fatima?
You will hear people speaking various languages. The feeling of pure joy tingles through your body as you see people crawling on their knees toward the small Church and circling the Chapel, praying in the Chapel, meditating, lighting candles, and enjoying the peace of the area.
Why are people crawling into the lot and around the Chapel? People make promises to the Lady of Fatima for help with their loved ones, their health, or care for a family member. The person then walks from their town in Portugal to Fatima. It could take days or weeks to complete this pilgrimage. Then, when they enter the large lot in front of the Basilica, they begin the crawl into the lot on the tile path and crawl around the Chapel.
Across the huge lot, you can see the new Church. The new Church is basic and modern. Enter the new Church on the side of the building. There is a gold textured mural behind the altar with a large statue of Christ on the Cross. For the daily mass, an endless procession of priests enters on the right side of the building, walking down the aisle on the right toward the altar. The altar servers carried large photos of Jacinta, Francisco, and Lucia. When the choir sang, the pipe organ joined in. The sound of the music and singing was like feathers falling from the sky. The large pipes on the wall vibrated in elegance. The seats were set up like a theater. The building felt cold and damp. The architecture was modern and plain. The interior of the Church was disappointing. The mass was wonderful, and the choir was breathtaking, but the building was too blah. There were no books or pamphlets to pick up.
An interesting fact about the Chapel.
In the Chapel of the Apparitions, there is a statue of the Lady of Fatima with a gold crown. Built into the crown is the bullet removed from Pope John Paul ll after an attempted assassination.
On the 13th of each month, thousands of people flock to Fatima to celebrate, pray, and ask for help with a loved one. From May to October 13th, larger crowds gather in Fatima to pray and celebrate the visions of the Virgin to the three shepherds.
The large Basilica was built in 1928 and renovated several times over the years. The large Church is dominated by a tower rising 70 meters high.
Places to Visit on the Way from Lisbon to Porto
Fatima Luso Coimbra Tomar Nazare Aveiro Sintra Obidos Figueira do Foz
Journal for Portugal Travel
The Lisbon Oceanário is amazing to visit! It is the largest indoor aquarium in Europe.
The aquarium was built for the Expo in 1998.
We visited then and loved it. Lots of walking
A very common question.....where to watch the sunset in Lisbon? Go to Belem, spend the afternoon there, and watch the sunset along the water by Torre de Belem
Lisbon, June 2024 / 2025 Saint Anthony Day
The Biggest Celebration in Portugal
What is Saint Anthony's Day?
The Santo Antonio (Saint Anthony) Festival is the most important annual festival in Lisbon.
This historic event celebrates Saint Anthony, the patron saint of Lisbon, of marriages, and of lost things.
Who was Saint Anthony?
Considering that Saint Anthony is the patron saint of marriage, you’ll get a glimpse of newly married couples who are celebrated during the event, too!
Your experience at the Santo Antonio Festival
The highlight of the Santo Antonio Festival is the procession along Avenida da Liberdade. Locals wear incredible, elaborate costumes with colorful gems, feathers, rhinestones, and masks. Dancers and musicians all add to the electrifying atmosphere on the streets.
What to Eat during the Saint Anthony Celebration in Lisbon
There will be lots of delicious treats to eat, like grilled sardines, beef sandwiches (bifanas), Portuguese cabbage soup (calde Verde), sangria, wine, and beer will give you the energy to party until the sun comes up.
Best views of the Santo Antonio Festival in Lisbon
The Santo Antonio Festival takes place on the historic streets of Alfama, Bica, Bairro Alto, Castelo, and Madragoa.
How to Get Around During the Saint Anthony Festival in Lisbon
The streets of Lisbon will be filled with locals and residents on June 12 and June 13, so it can be difficult to get around unless you walk. Before and after the festival, you can choose from Lisbon’s many choices of public transportation, including the tram, train, buses, metro, taxi, tuk-tuks, bicycle, ferry, and funicular, which are all great ways to see the city.
If I had one week to spend in Lisbon
Day 1
Chiado, Downtown, lunch, waterfront, Aquarium, Belem
Day 2
Sintra, go early, it gets busy- take the train or a guide- parking is limited
Pena Palace (14.00 euros), Castle Mouros (8.00 euros), lunch
Take the tour bus and visit around the town ($6.90)
train fare ($4.50)
start the day EARLY
FYI, the hills are steep
dinner in Lisbon downtown
Day 3
Cascais
sit on the beach, enjoy the old town, cliffs, and Estoril, walk around, dinner in downtown Lisbon
DAY 4
Day trip to Peniche, Obidos, Nazare
See an olive tree, cork tree, Eucalyptus tree
DAY 5
Day trip to Fatima and Tomar
Eat in Fatima- way more choices
DAY 6
Sailing tour of Lisbon
Cristo Rei Statue
Day 7
tuk tuk guide, Lisbon
Fado downtown at night for dinner
You can take lots of day trips from Lisbon. It depends on your interests. I prefer Nazare, Fatima, Tomar, Berlengas, Cascais, and Obidos. You can drive to Porto and stop at a few of these cities. You could stay a few days in Coimbra or Nazaré and see Central Portugal from there.
In Porto, you can do day trips to Braga, Douro Wine Valley, Aveiro, and Murtosa.
It seems easy to me to travel to Portugal because of the size of the country. It is about the size of New Jersey.
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Setubal
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