resorts of the Cascais coast, and to Sintra from Rossio station. For a cheap, off-the-beaten track adventure and great views of Lisbon, take the little orange ferry boats or fast catamarans that leave from Cais do Sodré, Terreiro do Paço, and Belém to the south bank of the Tagus.
Funiculars & Elevators Carris runs a trio of cute funiculars that will haul you up to elevated districts: Glória, which goes from Praça dos Restauradores to Rua São Pedro de Alcântara; Bica, from Rua da Boavista in Santos to the Bairro Alto; and Lavra, from the eastern side of Avenida da Liberdade to Campo Mártires da Pátria. There’s also the Elevador de Santa Justa, an iron landmark constructed in 1902 and a stylish way (although you’ll have to queue) to rise from Baixa to Chiado. A pair of newer elevators will take you from Baixa to Castelo (they aren’t so picturesque, but are free and will save your feet).
Taxis & Ride Hire Taxis are plentiful, relatively cheap and easily hailed in the street in all but the busiest times. A 15-minute trip from riverside Praça do Comércio to the cool Campo de Ourique neighborhood will cost around 5€, for example. For a radio taxi, call
See also “Fast Facts” on p. 471.
Currency Exchange Currency-exchange booths at the Santa Apolónia station and at the airport are open 24 hours a day. But ATMs run by the Multibanco network offer better rates. They operate in English, and there are almost 3,000 around the city.
Dentists Among dental practices orientated to foreign visitors are: São Dente (www.saodente.pt;
Drugstores Pharmacies (farmácias) normally open Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm, and Saturdays 9am to 1pm. Most in the center will have staff who speak English. A list of “farmácias de serviço” that stay open late and on Sundays are listed on the windows of all pharmacies and on the website www.farmaciasdeservico.net.
Hospitals & Doctors The U.S. embassy has a list of hospitals and doctors: (https://pt.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/doctors). Good private hospitals include Hospital da Luz (www.hospitaldaluz.pt;
Internet Access Lisbon is a wired-up city. Most restaurants, cafes, and hotels have free Wi-Fi (just ask for the password). There’s also free Wi-Fi on buses, the metro, and in several public buildings.
Lost Property The Interior Ministry runs an interactive web page for locating lost property (https://perdidoseachados.mai.gov.pt), but it’s only in Portuguese. Failing that, the Lisbon police lost property office is at Secção de Achados da PSP, Praça Cidade de Salazar Lote 180 in the Olivais Sul district near the airport (
Luggage Storage & Lockers Lisbon airport runs a baggage storage system near the P2 car park (
Police For emergencies call
Safety Violent crime against tourists is rare, but pickpocketing and theft from parked cars are problems. Don’t leave valuables in cars if you can avoid it, even during daylight. Pickpockets and bag snatchers tend to focus on crowded areas where there are lots of tourists. The Chiado district and the Portas do Sol viewpoint in Lisbon are hotspots. They also operate on public transport: Take special care on packed Lisbon streetcars. If you are robbed, it’s best to report it to the police. They may not put out an all-points alert, but they will return stolen documents which frequently show up dumped by criminals after they’ve emptied purses and wallets of cash. Foreigners are frequently approached by shady characters offering cocaine or marijuana. What they sell is usually fake. They can seem intimidating and appear to operate with impunity. It’s best to politely say “no, thanks” and walk away.
Taxes Lisbon (and Cascais) imposes a 2€ city tax on hotel bills on a per-person, per-night basis for all visitors over 13, up to a maximum 7 nights.
Where to Stay
Lisbon has a wider range of accommodations than ever before. New hotels are sprouting up all the time, often in tastefully restored historic buildings. Unfortunately, as Lisbon’s popularity grows, so do the prices. Short-term rentals have also expanded rapidly in Lisbon, with over 18,300 vacation apartments—known as Alojamento Local—registered between 2013 and 2019. They cater to all budgets, are often in restored historic buildings, and can offer practical alternatives to traditional hotels. Check out platforms like Airbnb.com
