Your time in Lisbon draws near! Here’s a helping hand so you might plan your escapades wisely, never get caught in a crosswind and make the most of any downtime you manage to get. Let’s go!
Your time in Lisbon draws near! Here’s a helping hand so you might plan your escapades wisely, never get caught in a crosswind and make the most of any downtime you manage to get. Let’s go!
The city of the seven hills is delightful but it comes with its set of challenges. Here are a few things to expect (and not) for your stay. All of these points will be less frustrating if you bring with you the right expectations:
Lisbon is slow. Traffic is heavy. Service can be incredibly frustrating. Schedule accordingly by adding a padding of 30% to 50% the amount of time you’d expect most things to take. Don’t trust ride app time estimates. Be ready for delays in general and you’ll have a much better time. Take a deep breath and enjoy the sights. Welcome to “Portuguese Time” - it is a thing.
Good news - Sun’s out and the Light here is to die for. Golden hour lasts for ages and sun-kissed tiles will sparkle in your pictures, but the temperature can swing quite a bit within the same day. The wind is relentless. Pack layers to protect yourself from it and as night approaches the temperature can drop considerably.
As cool as it sounds, placing your capital within and atop seven hills and keeping it there for one thousand years comes at a price. Bring comfortable walking shoes and be ready to climb ramps and steps. Public transport works for longer distances but the mesh is not at all fine. The place is jam-packed with people. Book your restaurants, rides and experiences in advance. Expect coordination failures to spring up from where you least expect. The streets were made for donkeys and not BMWs. Stiletto heels are a horrible idea.
Your favorite toiletries, foods and other commercial products and or brands that are common in other western countries might not be available here or be extremely hard to find. It’s not the end of the world but we thought it might be a good idea to give you a heads up. There is a utility section to this guide to help you navigate.
