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5 Mistakes Tourist Make in Lisbon — And How To Avoid Them

Updated January 2025

Lisbon street old lady walking

Lisbon, Portugal is the first country I solo traveled to and it was the best choice I made. Admittedly, I didn’t conduct enough research other than watching a few Tik Tok videos on whether ‘Lisbon is safe for black solo travelers’ — the answer is yes. I made a few mistakes along the way that other travelers can easily learn from. Let’s get into the 5 mistakes tourist make when visiting Lisbon!

Portugal’s national language is Portuguese, not Spanish

Despite Portuguese and Spanish being romantic languages that share almost 90% of the same words, these languages aren’t substitutes for one another. To the untrained ear the two can sound the same, but both languages are uniquely different. Do not expect a Portuguese speaker to understand Spanish or vice versa.  When navigating language barriers while traveling, I use the Google Translate App. The app allows for voice detection translations, word translations, and text translations for a variety of languages. Additionally, download the language you need translations for while connected to internet, so you can access the translation tool offline or without internet service. Lastly, make the effort to learn a few helpful phrases in the language, here are some that I found helpful:

  • Good morning –> Bom dia
  • Good Evening –> Boa noite
  • Hello –> Olá
  • Goodbye –> Adeus
  • Please –> Por favor
  • Thank you –> Obrigado/a
  • I need help –> Preciso de ajuda
  • Can I order… –> Posso encomendar
  • How much? –> Quanto custa isto?

Wear comfortable sneakers for walking

While I ran track and field competitively for 8 years, I was NOT prepared for the steep hills and valleys that I would be trekking in Lisbon. The steepness of the city streets was one of the first things I noticed about the city once I arrived. In addition to the steep streets, I had the bright idea to walk everywhere and explore. Despite the affordable ride share services in Lisbon like Uber, I walked to each attraction within the Lisbon city center. Don’t let the steepness of the streets deter you from exploring on foot. I highly recommend investing in a comfortable pair of running sneakers that have great cushion and arch support. Because of my inadequate sneaker choice, I ended my time in Lisbon limping (no exaggeration) since I experienced painful shin splints and aching knees. Still, I would do it all over again if I had the chance.

Bring a light jacket if your traveling outside of peak summer seasons

Often overlooked, be mindful of the season you’re traveling in, and as a precaution carry a light jacket with you. Despite the forecast saying the temperatures would be in the 60’s and low 70’s, my trip to Portugal in March was chilly. I underestimated the last bits of chill that the early spring brings and had to buy a jacket at a local store as a plan B. Paired with light rain showers, a light jacket was crucial for staying dry and warm. I recommend paying close attention to the season for your visit and plan your wardrobe accordingly.

Understand the various transit options

The availability of various transportation options stood out to me when exploring Lisbon. The city offers Uber/Bolt, Local Taxis, Trams, and underground Metro Subways. All of these options are affordable, much cheaper than pre-booking a ride with private 3rd parties. For reference, I hired a ride from the airport to my lodging for $16 USD but my Uber ride for the same distance was 9 Euro.

If you want to take the picturesque tram you have the option of purchasing a ticket onboard or buying a ticket in the metro station. Onboard purchases requires having the exact cash fare and runs the risk of crowding on the tram. I recommend buying a prepaid card at a metro station or considering the Lisboa Pass that includes unlimited rides for a specified duration.

Skip Queues – buy tickets online

While I didn’t do in-depth advanced planning, buying tickets to museums and other attractions before arrival saved me time when queuing. The only tour I booked in advance to my arrival in Lisbon was my Sintra full-day tour. Aside from that, everything else that required a ticket for entry, I purchased just minutes before arriving. I vividly recall walking past a long line for Castelo de São Jorge meanwhile I got to skip the line with my prepaid online ticket. Conduct research on the sites you want to visit, and consider reviews on long queues closely.