Already a month into my volunteer program in Spain, I decided to visit another European country for the first time during the program. Thus, my first time visit to Lisbon!
I chose to visit Lisbon because it was not too far from Spain, thus being easily accessible! A lot of people who go through the CIEE Teach in Spain program visit Lisbon during their time, and since I heard great things, I wanted to hop on the bandwagon! Portuguese is also a similar language to Spanish, which made the trip much easier as well. However, plenty of people in Lisbon speak English!
Was it hard to travel from my small town in Castilla y Leon to catch a flight in Madrid? Not really, just time consuming. I took an early bus and reached the airport three hours later. I realized I had given myself too much time; my flight was ten hours after my arrival at 1 PM. Too much time is better than none, though!
On the way home Monday was the same thing but in reverse: flight from Lisbon to Madrid, subway to Principe Pio train station, and then the ride back to my village. Planes, trains and automobiles in real life, am I right?!
Lisbon resembles Spain in language, appearance, and food, but a guide is essential for first-time travelers. I spent two days there, seeing as much as possible, and here are my thoughts.
Lisbon is very safe, and highly recommended as a first-time solo trip
Therefore, it is totally fine to experience your first time visit to Lisbon solo! Not only do I believe this, but numerous travel articles echo the same sentiment. Portugal consistently ranks among the safest countries in Europe, and quite frankly, it’s no surprise at all.
There is minimal pickpocketing, catcalling, or petty theft in this city. I confidently advise others to remain cautious, just as they would in any city. With its lower crowd levels compared to other European cities, navigating here is straightforward. It is nearly impossible to get lost.
People here are also very friendly and almost everyone speaks English except the elders. The elders don’t work in tourism anyway, haha!
Do NOT take a taxi here, take an uber or public bus instead
Taxis are very expensive, and I spent 25 euros on one just from the airport to my hostel! However, when I ubered from my hostel to the airport, it was only 8 Euros. Uber wins!
Public buses are around 2 Euros per ride, but a pass is needed to board. They connect Lisbon’s heart to the Belem Tower and Christ the King statue, making the pass worthwhile!
Ubers are also about 8-9 Euros from the city centre to the Belem Tower area, so still not bad! The good news is that Lisbon is a very walkable city. You would only need to rely on transportation to get you to the Belem Tower area and across the bridge.
However, Lisbon is so hilly that by the end of your excursion, you might as well sign up for the Olympics! Get ready to conquer your daily steps while feeling like you’ve just scaled Mount Everest… with a pastry in each hand!
Even though Portugal colonized Brazil, there are still things Portugal borrowed from Brazil
This includes the boardwalk design, the Christ the Redeemer statue, and the caipirinha. However, since I am not sure when I will make it to Brazil, I decided to enjoy these sights!
If you haven’t been to Brazil yet either, enjoy these during your first time visit to Lisbon!
The iconic boardwalk design from Copacabana Beach boldly graces Rossio Square, which stands as the main hub for all city walking tours. The statue, a stunning likeness of Christ the Redeemer.
This is celebrated in Lisbon as The Sanctuary of Christ the King, crafted by the same master sculptor!
How to reach the Christ the Redeemer Copycat
There is a running joke in Portugal about why their monument is smaller and less known than Brazil’s. It is that the sculptor supposedly lacked the money or time for extravagance! True or not, this monument is right across from Lisbon’s famous April 25th Bridge and requires a steep ten-minute hike uphill!
The tour guide told me this was the only way to access the monument and even said “if you are brave enough…” Truth is, even if you are not, the hike is only ten minutes and totally worth it!
Enjoy a Brazilian drink during your first time visit to Lisbon!
Thirdly, the Caipirinha is a cocktail that everyone thinks started in Rio de Janeiro, but it actually originated in Sao Paulo. Me, being a cocktail person, still went ahead and tried it during happy hour and it was still really good!
Even though all these things are not originally Portuguese, they are still worth it in Lisbon.
If the April 25th Bridge looks like the Golden Gate Bridge, it’s supposed to!
The very same bridge that guides you to the magnificent Christ monument! This breathtaking suspension bridge, crafted by the visionary behind San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, is impressive. Isn’t it amusing that I’ve had the joy of crossing this one, yet the original remains a dream unfulfilled?
This bridge goes from the Almada to the Alcantara District and you can see it from any rooftop in Lisbon.
The Santa Justa Lift is a wonder but there is speculation on who the architect was
The walking tour guide told the group and I it was the same guy who built the Eiffel Tower. However, when I went to fact check this, I was told differently.
This attraction is located in the heart of Lisbon. Although it requires an additional fee, taking the ride will reward you with stunning panoramic views of the entire city!
If your first time visit to Lisbon is solo, stay in a hostel!
Enough about architecture, let’s move on to solo travel talk, lol! I stayed at a hostel on a hill (or should I say one of the many in Lisbon!), near the Alfama District.
This hostel boasts exceptional organization with a 24-hour reception. Also offering both mixed and female-only dorms (I opted for the female one for added safety). Additionally, it hosts daily activities, including exciting walking tours and lively pub crawls!
There was also a lounge area upstairs where the guests hung out together and got to know one another.
I bonded with a few people in my hostel, as we were all solo travelers who enjoyed sharing our experiences. Two of them and I also attended a walking tour of Lisbon together. Even though I was traveling solo, I never once felt alone!
Cristiano Ronaldo is a popular face in Lisbon
Is he from Lisbon? No. The iconic footballer is from the Madeira islands, but is the most famous person from Portugal.
In every FC Portugal store in town, there is a wax sculpture of him. Usually wax figures creep me out, but these ones were too impressive!
At the Saturday flea market, many Jerseys have RONALDO on the back, as well as FC Portugal magnets and accessories.
Lisbon has a lot of tiles, but the Portuguese did not start the trend
The Moorish had a lot of influence on Lisbon, and they brought the tiles there in the Middle Ages. I did not have time to go, but there is also a National Tile Museum in Lisbon that I’m sure is worth checking out!
Tile accessories are in nearly every shop in Lisbon and on many walls. There is also one interesting thing about the tiles developed by the Moorish as well. The Moorish took the fact that “Only God is perfect” very literally, as they should. So in every one of their works, one tile would be upside down.
In addition, the Sao Jorge Castle in Lisbon was not created by the Portuguese either. You guessed it, it was also built by the Moorish!
The Francesinha is the national sandwich of Portugal
It actually wasn’t originated in Lisbon, it was originated in Porto!
I literally searched EVERYWHERE in Lisbon for a restaurant that served this sandwich, and finally found one in the Alfama District! Before visiting, this was a dish I was dying to eat during my visit to Lisbon.
This sandwich is popular all throughout Portugal and consists of layers of toasted bread with melted cheese, thin steak, and ham all over hot tomato and beer sauce. There is also almost always an egg on top!
Often served with crispy French fries, this sandwich is a glorious indulgence that will leave you utterly satisfied! After eating, I instantly wanted more and discovered that the sandwich was in fact worth the hype.
Lisbon is one of my favorite places of all time. Earns an A+ in terms of affordability, safety, friendliness towards tourists, and walkability. Before traveling here, all first-timers need to be prepared for is the fact that it is very hilly, Ubers are significantly cheaper than taxis, and to see lots of fish and tiles!
Whether you are traveling solo for the first time or traveling with others, Lisbon is a great choice for everything!
Want to know more about Lisbon and/or solo traveling there? Feel free to contact me!
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