Lisbon, Portugal was named the most popular travel destination for millennials in 2019 by travel-planning site müvTravel. Lisbon is bigger than it looks and a bit colder during shoulder seasons than expected.
The experience is Instagrammable and affordable with great nightlife and restaurants.
You can easily spend a long time in Lisbon without getting bored. Enjoy the pastel-colored houses, hilltop views, vintage trams, and windy cobblestone streets. All the while, you can speak English if you feel uncomfortable with language barriers.
Although lively and busy, the rhythm of life here is slower. It has a modern vibe, but it respects tradition.
Here are our recommendations:
1. When to visit Lisbon
June through August is prime season for visiting Lisbon. The experience can be disappointing because it might be too hot for some people to be walking around, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees.
US News & World Report recommends going during shoulder season - March through May or September through October. Prices of accommodation and goods are higher.
The warm weather in Portugal lasts for about a year.
2. Walk
Enjoy puttering along cobblestone streets, sitting down at a cafe patio for some people-watching, or just getting lost on purpose.
Turn a corner and you won't know what you'll find next: maybe some colorful traditionally tiled buildings, a quirky crafts shop or a spectacular view of the river Tejo.
3. Speak in English
There isn't a single resident in Lisbon who didn't speak English, whether they were a waiter or an Uber driver. All restaurants offer menus with an English version (as well as a few other languages.)
4. Visit Chiado and Bica
Chiado and Bica are two very different neighborhoods sitting almost adjacent to each other. Chiado is the elegant and artsy district; a place for poets and writers. Bica is the more laidback and picturesque residential district.
What separates Chiado and Bica is Largo de Camoes: a popular meeting spot for Lisboners.
5. Party in Pink Street
Go to Pink Street in Cais do Sodré if you want to stay in one place partying. It is a regular nightlife area today. Pensão Amor has multiple floors and a cool burlesque-style interior. Many bars and clubs along Pink Street stay open until early morning.
6. See the sunset at PARK Bar
This hidden spot has turned into a tourist bar.You'll need to go inside a parking garage, take a graffiti-covered lift to the top floor, and then you'll find a cool bar up on the roof. The view is stunning.
7. Explore the creative hub of LXfactory
Located in the up-and-coming Alcantara neighborhood, old factory halls have been turned into a vibrant creative hub with various cafes, workshops, and small quirky businesses. Wily folk decided to reinvent it in 2008 to an absurdly hip mecca of cafés, bars, art spaces, vintage shops, tattoo studios, yoga studios and music venues.
Have a marvelous time in Lisbon!
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
