Lisbon

Why Lisbon

Lisbon is the European capital that still feels like a discovery. The city drapes across seven hills overlooking the Tagus River, each neighborhood with its own personality — Alfama's fado music and narrow alleys, Bairro Alto's rooftop bars and late nights, Belem's grand monuments and custard tarts. What makes Lisbon special is the value: you get stunning architecture, incredible seafood, and genuine warmth at prices that feel like a different era compared to Paris or London.

Top Experiences

• Sintra Day Trip — The colorful Pena Palace perched on misty hilltops feels like stepping into a fairy tale, just 40 minutes from Lisbon by train.
• Belem Food & History Walk — Trace Portugal's Age of Exploration while eating the city's best pastel de nata at the original Pasteis de Belem bakery.
• Alfama Fado Night — Experience Portugal's soulful music genre in an intimate tavern in Lisbon's oldest neighborhood, where fado was born.

Where to Stay

Baixa-Chiado is the ideal first-timer base — flat terrain (rare in Lisbon), central to everything, and packed with restaurants. Alfama has the most character but the steepest hills. Principe Real is the trendy pick with great cafes and boutiques. Lisbon is remarkably affordable: $70-140/night gets you a solid mid-range hotel; guesthouses and hostels start at $25.

Flight Tips

Fly into Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), which is only 20 minutes from the city center by metro. Nonstop from NYC, Newark, and Boston, with connections from most other US cities via Lisbon's TAP Air Portugal hub. Lisbon is one of Europe's cheapest transatlantic destinations — sub-$300 round trip deals appear frequently from the East Coast.