A Solo Traveller's Guide to Lisbon

Cinematic Lisbon is the kind of European city that, once visited, you’ll keep on coming back to. And travelling solo in Lisbon means you don’t have to worry about your partner feeling left out as you fall in love with its art and cafe culture. The compact centre is easy to navigate due to the grid-like street pattern of a city reshaped after an earthquake in 1755, which destroyed much of the medieval centre.

If you’re travelling alone, relax and indulge your senses as you stroll around the friendly neighbourhoods that define the city, stopping to eat, drink and join in.

Solo traveller or not, you’re in for a ride here. And not just on the old and faithful trams that rattle up and down the hilly streets. Lisbon is a city that keeps evolving, as historic neighbourhoods become hip – and it’s home to cool and characterful hotels, arts venues, restaurants and cafes serving heavenly custard tarts as yellow as the Portuguese sun, and bars that give the local nightlife a well-deserved reputation.

The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT)

In the once-neglected waterfront area of Belém, this low-slung museum on the banks of the Tagus is worth visiting for the exterior alone. Crackle-glazed ceramic tiles sparkle in the sun like sublime scales, and the overhanging roof creates welcome shade as you queue. You can walk under, over and through this curvaceous building, sister to the Central Tejo power station next door.

A walking tour of Lisbon

We all know the most authentic way to see a city is on foot – especially when you’re with an expert Local Insider who can reel off a stream of facts far better than Google could spew. Yes, you’ll see the top-rated tourist attractions such as the Elevador de Santa Justa, but also quirky cafes and top-secret shops as you amble around town. Expect a prize-winning picnic of cured meats, olives and other local goodies.

A guided walking tour of Lisbon is just one of many immersive activities you’ll experience on Culture Trip’s nine-day Portuguese adventure, led by our Local Insider.

Take a trip on Tram 28

Hold on to your hat and jump aboard this rickety old wooden tram, which now trundles along the most popular route in Lisbon due to all the landmarks that line the way. Shuttling through old neighbourhoods such as Alfama, Graça and Baixa, up and down through centuries of history, hop on and off to meander down Fado bar-lined lanes or for a photo at Castelo de São Jorge, the highest point in Lisbon.

Liberal Lisbon feels like one of the safest cities to visit in the world – because it is. Portugal ranked fourth in the Global Peace Index for 2021 (the fewer points the better), and second among European Union countries. While Lisbon generally enjoys a low crime rate, do keep an eye out for the pickpockets you get in any major city.

The Aerobus runs from Lisbon airport to the city centre every 20 minutes and takes half an hour. Taxis take around 20 minutes to the centre and are easy to hail around town or at ranks, stations and high-end hotels. Ridesharing is easy, too, with Uber and Cabify – a Spanish rideshare company – both available here.

Once settled in, slip on your comfiest walking shoes and saunter as much as you can to see every inch of the Portuguese capital. The Lisbon Metro is a fast and efficient way to get around, too, with just four lines to keep it simple, while regular buses run until past midnight. Whether your legs are tired or not, riding the bright yellow classic Lisbon tram is a must for any traveller.

Solo travel doesn’t have to be a lonely affair. Join other culturally curious travellers on Culture Trip’s nine-day Portuguese tour – designed to lift the lid on Lisbon, Porto and all the beautiful Portuguese culture and scenery found in between.