GoToo · Portugal
Lisbon 10 Things You Must Know – Updated for 2026
Planning a trip to Portugal’s capital? Then this is for you. In this GoToo guide you’ll find the Lisbon 10 things you must know before your flight — practical advice on money, opening hours, transport, safety and a few insider tips that make the difference. Read this before you pack and you’ll avoid unnecessary stress while enjoying everything the city has to offer.
Lisbon is one of Europe’s most welcoming cities, blending history, sunshine and a relaxed pace of life. Understanding how things work locally helps you save time, money and energy. Let’s go through the ten essentials every traveller should know in 2025.
1. Currency and Payments
Portugal uses the Euro (€). Most hotels, supermarkets and restaurants in Lisbon accept debit and credit cards, including contactless. Smaller cafés, bakeries and local taxis may prefer cash, so it is wise to carry some notes (€5, €10, €20) for everyday expenses.
Avoid exchanging money at the airport — rates there are usually among the worst in the city. Instead, use official ATMs called “Multibanco”, which are safe, reliable and widely available. These machines let you withdraw euros at fair exchange rates directly from your home bank account.
Local tip: choose to be charged in euros when paying by card and decline conversion into your home currency. Dynamic currency conversion often adds extra fees with no benefit.
2. Opening Hours and Local Rhythm
Lisbon runs at a slightly slower rhythm than many big cities. High-street shops typically open around 10:00 and close near 19:00. Shopping centres and outlets stay open later — often until 23:00 or even midnight.
Restaurants follow local eating habits: lunch from roughly 12:00–15:00 and dinner from 19:00–22:00. Trendy areas such as Bairro Alto, Cais do Sodré and Príncipe Real may serve later, while residential zones close earlier and are quiet at night.
Banks and public offices open on weekdays only, usually from 08:30–15:00. For late-night needs, 24-hour pharmacies and supermarkets exist in central areas such as Avenida da Liberdade, Amoreiras and Saldanha.
3. Safety and Emergencies
Lisbon is considered one of Europe’s safest capitals. Serious crime involving visitors is rare, but petty theft — especially pickpocketing — can occur in crowded places such as tram 28, Baixa, Rossio and busy viewpoints. Keep your bag closed, avoid back pockets for phones or wallets and stay alert when someone distracts you.
In an emergency, dial 112, the European emergency number. The Tourist Police Station at Palácio Foz, near Restauradores Square, has officers who speak English and are used to helping visitors with reports and information.
If you lose important documents such as your passport, contact your embassy or consulate as soon as possible. Many are located around the Amoreiras, Lapa and São Bento districts.
4. Public Transport and Getting Around
Lisbon’s public transport network includes metro, trams, buses, ferries and suburban trains. The easiest way to use them is the reloadable Viva Viagem card (€0.50), available at metro and train stations. Top it up with credit or travel passes and you can move between different operators with the same card.
Standard fares are low — around €1.50–€1.80 per ride if you use the card. Note that many older trams and some metro stations were not designed with step-free access, so lifts and ramps may be limited. If step-free access is important for you, check station maps in advance.
For arrivals at the airport, late-night check-ins or travel between cities, a pre-booked private transfer removes a lot of friction. GoToo Trips & Transfers provides 24/7 door-to-door service with English-speaking drivers, child seats on request and flight monitoring. You can book your Lisbon airport transfer in advance and skip queues or price uncertainty when you land.
Bonus tip: if you are staying in hilly neighbourhoods like Alfama or Graça, consider a private car, tuk-tuk or tram ride for the steepest climbs and enjoy the views instead of battling the slope.
5. Health and Pharmacies
Portugal has a solid public health system and many private clinics. Pharmacies are marked with a green cross. Most open during normal business hours, and in every area there is always at least one pharmacy on night duty (farmácia de serviço), indicated on the door or online.
EU citizens should carry their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access necessary emergency care at public facilities. Travellers from outside the EU should have travel insurance that covers medical expenses, including urgent treatment and repatriation if required.
For minor issues, pharmacists are very helpful and usually speak English. They can suggest over-the-counter remedies for sunburn, colds, allergies or the inevitable extra pastel de nata.
6. Museums, Culture and Free Days
Lisbon’s museums are varied and fairly priced, with entrance typically between €2 and €10. Many public museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month. Highlights include the Berardo Collection Museum, MAAT – Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, the National Tile Museum and the Coach Museum.
Most museums close on Mondays, and some smaller galleries close for lunch breaks. Always check opening hours, especially around public holidays such as 25 April, 1 May, 10 June, Christmas and New Year.
If you plan to visit several attractions, the Lisboa Card can be good value: it combines public transport with free or discounted entrance to many museums and monuments.
7. Shopping and Local Products
Skip the identical souvenir shops around Rossio or Praça do Comércio if you want something genuinely Portuguese. Look instead for brands and stores that showcase local design and craftsmanship.
Good bets for authentic products include:
- A Vida Portuguesa – vintage-style goods and classic Portuguese brands.
- Conserveira de Lisboa – beautifully packaged tins of preserved fish, a Lisbon icon.
- Lisbonlovers – creative designs inspired by trams, tiles and the rooster of Barcelos.
Design lovers should explore LX Factory and Embaixada in Príncipe Real for independent concept stores, books and local art. If you are from outside the EU, ask shops about tax-free shopping so you can request a VAT refund at the airport.
8. Eating Out Like a Local
Lisbon’s food scene ranges from traditional tascas to Michelin-starred restaurants. As a rule, avoid places where staff stand on the street pushing menus into your hands — they tend to be expensive and forgettable.
A typical Portuguese meal starts with soup, followed by a main dish (often fish or meat) and dessert. Fish is the star: grilled sardines, cod (bacalhau in dozens of recipes) and octopus are local favourites. Don’t leave without trying pastel de nata fresh from the oven.
Tipping is optional but appreciated, usually around 5–10 % in restaurants if service was good. Bread, cheese or olives placed on your table are not always free; you pay for what you eat. If you do not want them, simply ask the waiter to remove them.
Quick rule of thumb: if you see Portuguese families and workers eating there, the place is probably authentic and worth a try.
9. Common Scams and What to Avoid
Like any popular destination, Lisbon has a few minor scams. The most common involve people offering bracelets “for free” and then asking for payment, or claiming to collect money for vague causes. A polite “no, thank you” and walking away is enough.
Be cautious when buying loose tiles (azulejos) from street sellers; some may have been removed from historic buildings. Instead, take photos of the façades you love or buy tiles legally at museum shops or specialised stores.
Avoid unlicensed taxis that do not show a meter or a visible company name. For reliable door-to-door service, choose licensed cabs or book a pre-arranged private transfer with clear pricing and insurance.
10. Staying Connected and Mobile
Free Wi-Fi is available in most cafés, hotels, metro stations and shopping centres. For longer stays, a prepaid SIM or eSIM is straightforward and inexpensive. The main operators are Vodafone, MEO and NOS, all of which offer tourist packs with generous data allowances.
To stay oriented without using data, download offline maps for Lisbon before you travel. Apps like Google Maps or Maps.me work well across Portugal and help you navigate narrow streets and viewpoints.
Power sockets follow the European standard (Type F, 230V). Travellers from the UK, US and other regions should bring a suitable adapter and make sure their devices support dual voltage.
Bonus Tip: Embrace the Local Lifestyle
Lisbon is not a city to rush through. Locals take time for coffee, long conversations and watching the river. Expect things to move more slowly than in London or New York and treat that as part of the experience, not a problem.
Learning a few basic Portuguese words — “Olá” (hello), “Bom dia” (good morning), “Obrigado/Obrigada” (thank you) and “Por favor” (please) — opens doors and usually brings a smile.
Ready to Explore Lisbon Stress-Free?
Whether you are visiting for a weekend or starting a longer trip through Portugal, a smooth arrival sets the tone. Skip long taxi queues and confusing ticket machines — GoToo Trips & Transfers offers reliable, licensed, English-speaking drivers who meet you at the airport and drive you directly to your hotel or apartment.
Book your transfer here: Lisbon Airport
Travel smart, travel safe and enjoy Lisbon. Now that you know the essentials, you are already one step ahead of most first-time visitors.
Lisbon is the starting point for most trips across Portugal, and our Portugal Travel Guide expands each topic with deeper cultural and travel insights. From the capital, visitors frequently explore Sintra for palaces and forests, or Cascais for coastal views. For a comfortable arrival, pre-booking your Lisbon Airport Taxi transfer avoids delays and long queues.
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