How to get around in Lisbon

When we won last May’s Iberia contest to become the city’s #iberiamayors; we couldn’t resist our excitement!

Alfama narrow streets cutted by tramway rails, Lisbon

Lisbon is, without hesitation, our favorite Portuguese town and it brings us uncountable memories from the time I lived there while working as an intern for a sustainable architecture firm. Coming back in June was going to be huge! During this month, neighborhoods celebrate big festivities and sardins’ smoke as well as live music can be found in every corner!

It is worth to ride Tram number 28 while in Alfama

That’s how we got to spend from Saturday to Monday in Lisbon recording a video-guide that we’ll bring you as soon as it gets live on Youtube.

Trams are part of Lisbon inhabitants daily routine

Ladra’s flea-market, Alfama and its castle and neverending terraces, Baixa and St.Justa lift, a good bunch of viewpoints in 4 of the different hills, Camoes, Marques de Pombal square, Liberdade Avenue, Cristo Rei statue, April 25^th bridge, Belem and Xeronimos’ monastery, eateries, bars, clubs, Tram number 28, Baixa-Chiado subway station, Cais do Sodre Ferry Terminal and Tajo river were all in our itinerary!

New trams will take you from Lisbon city centre to Belem

Built on 7 hills, getting around in Lisbon is an easy but necessary art to master.

Poorly parked vehicles can cause big delays and traffic caos since tramways won’t be able to pass by. Alfama, Lisbon

A woman ready to get onboard, Lisbon

Railways in Alfama, Lisbon

Subway, public boats and trams or convoios – along with walking (Thank god, the urban and cosmopolitan city centre’s distances are walkable!) – would be someone’s best bets to arrive in time without having to break the bank.

Baixa Chiado subway station in Lisbon

Definitely not a rush hour at a subway station in Lisbon

Martim Moniz subway station in Lisbon

Lisbon’s subway

Crowds leaving the subway in Lisbon

On the other side, relying on public buses, trams and private motor vehicles of all kind can get you in a traffic jam quickly.

Bus stop in Almirante Reis, Lisbon

Urbanists and architects in charge of the city renovations that took part in 1755 after a big fire caused by an earthquake probably hadn’t in mind how much the city could enlarge and that traffic was meant to take over in these days.

Baixa, Lisbon

Finally, bikes are reserved for those fit enough to try.

Vespa parked in an Alfama corner, Lisbon

Thanks to VisitLisboa that provided us with two Lisbon cards to find our way around and to Next Hostel, my former and lovely apartment nowadays turned into a cozy and central hostel in the beginning of Almirante Reis street that gave us the opportunity of bringing back a lot of memories and curing our saudades (*) for a while. All opinions are, as always, our own.

St Xusta elevator, Lisbon