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Time Travel Turtle

A travel blog with stories beyond the brochure

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LISBON

I’ve spent a lot of time in Lisbon, exploring it as a tourist and experiencing it as a local. It’s one of my favourite European cities and I’m pleased to be able to share what I know.

Michael Turtle – TIME TRAVEL TURTLE

For a long time, Lisbon wasn’t on the standard tourism route of Europe. It was kind of tucked away over to the west, with no major sites and no popular romanticism about its culture. Well, hasn’t that all changed in the past few years!!

Portugal in general – but particularly Lisbon – is seeing a HUGE increase in interest from travellers. The city is suddenly cool and the lack of famous landmarks is actually part of the charm. Lisbon is now getting a reputation as somewhere you can spend time without the pressure to see particular things – just eating, drinking, and exploring.

After spending a lot of time in Lisbon myself, I think the reality is actually somewhere in the middle. There is actually a lot to see and when you start to plan out some sightseeing days in the city, you’ll realise there are some fascinating attractions. But there is also a vibrant dining and drinking scene that is not to be missed.

I’ve got quite a few stories here to help you plan a trip to Lisbon and make the most of what’s on offer. Have a look through this collection of blog posts, full of inspiration and practical suggestions. Some of the things to do are quite famous – but there are also lots of ideas you may not have heard about before.

THE LISBOA CARD >> IS IT GOOD VALUE? < <

If you’re planning to do a lot of sightseeing in Lisbon, then buying the official Lisboa Card could be great value for you. It offers free public transport and entry to more than 25 sights! I’ve done the maths for you in this Lisboa Card review.

THE FAMOUS 28 TRAM >> WHY YOU SHOULDN’T TAKE IT < <

A lot of guides suggest you take the Tram 28 through Lisbon as a way to see the highlights of the city without spending much money. While I think it’s a great idea in theory, it’s actually a terrible thing to do in reality – but I have an alternative for you here.

A DAY IN BELÉM >> HOW TO SEE THE BEST SIGHTS < <

Some of the most important landmarks in Lisbon are in the neighbourhood of Belém. If it’s your first visit to the city, you should make sure you see some of them. If you’ve got enough time, I’ve put together a guide on how to spend a day in Belém.

EXPLORING SINTRA >> YOUR ULTIMATE ONE DAY GUIDE < <

There’s something magical about the landscape at Sintra, which is full of romantic palaces and gardens. It’s very close to the centre of Lisbon and a popular side trip. Here are all my tips for the ultimate day trip from Lisbon to Sintra.

Travel stories about Lisbon

To explore more of my stories about Lisbon, you can

Use the map to choose by location

Read one of my featured articles

Click through to see all the posts

FEATURED STORIES

Lisbon’s underground art gallery

Artists have been expanding this incredible gallery for more than 50 years. It stretches under the whole city and is super easy to visit!

Amazing Graça: A neighbourhood guide

For a local Lisbon neighbourhood to explore, I would suggest taking a look at Graça. It’s got cool street art, local restaurants, and the city’s best views!

Once upon a tile in Lisbon…

The tiles in Lisbon are one of the defining elements of the city. This is the history of the azulejos and how they almost disappeared in the 1900s.

Read all my stories >> HERE <<

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