The People’s Guide to Lisbon
The People’s Guide to Lisbon
Featured Articles
This week's English language news in Lisbon, Portugal: Trash Talks, Facebook Fascists, Crime-Genius Hackers, the Biggest Pride Festival in Europe, Metro Renovations, Corruption, and much more! an Applicants, Wave Goodbye to 500€, and much more!
The Week em Breve - January 17
This week's English language news in Lisbon, Portugal: Doctor's Debt, Stabilizing House Prices, Racists on TV, More Jobs Than Applicants, Wave Goodbye to 500€, and much more!
The Week em Breve - January 10
We found the best local bars, clubs, and parties for hip-hop, r&b, and rap in the city.
The Best Local Spots for Hip-Hop in Lisbon
This is the last leg of your 50-city tour, so throw your vehicle into high hear and get ready to get a little dirty.
Driving Through Portugal: See it All in 50 Stops (Part 3)
This week's English language news in Lisbon, Portugal: Tourist Tax Doubles, Algarve Disneyland, Overcharging Taxis, Rental Tax Breaks, Green Airlines, and much more!
The Week em Breve - January 3
Not all Lisbon markets are created equal, nor are the vendors who comprise them. Here's where to go if you're keen for a stroll as you shop or bargaining before you buy.
The Thirteen Best Markets In Lisboa
Strangers do things that annoy us, make us laugh, and make us cry in the great city of Lisbon. Here is the place to share your stories anonymously.
The Page of Disquiet
If a Lisboeta tells you to go to a certain place whose name you've never heard — and you're not quite sure where to find it — here's what they mean.
Lisbon Implied, or How to Talk About Locations Like a Local
Whether you're a Lisbon local or are just visiting, you've probably gone to Miradouro de Santa Catarina and asked yourself, "What the hell happened to Adamastor?" Well, this is what's happened...
The Fight for Miradouro de Santa Catarina
Jofre Correia and his team run some of the most successful — and, from personal experience, the most worthwhile — walking tours in Lisbon. Read what he has to say about tourist traps, employing the unemployed, and wearing chainmail.
The Chap Behind the Chainmail: A Q&A With Jofre Correia
In her hometown, Porto, the cellist Guilhermina Augusta Xavier de Medin Suggia was affectionately known as "the eccentric Englishwoman." This nickname, earned by someone who was, in fact, flesh-and-blood Portuguese, reflects the extent Suggia was ahead of her times — as a cellist and as a woman.
The Eccentric Englishwoman: Guilhermina Suggia
Things to Do
Events Calendar
There’s a lot going on in Lisbon, but we curate what’s up so you know…
Museums
What are the top places for art, history, puppets, and more? We’ve done the legwork.…
Parks and Gardens
Lisbon’s top outdoor spaces range from miradouros, to green parks and gardens, and yes, cemeteries.…
Shopping
We love Lisbon because it’s a small town wrapped up inside a big city. Prices…
Restaurants
Restaurants, cafes, kiosks, and more, Lisbon's got all kinds of kitchens, and we've reviewed them…
Bars
With incredible vinho and cheap beer everywhere, you'll need a guide to get your drink…
Clubs
Put on your dancing sapatos! Party ’til sunrise like a Lisboeta at one of these…
Golfing
If you judge a course by its par threes, these two courses near Lisbon won’t disappoint…
Biking
It may be hilly and bumpy, but bike lanes are popping up in LX and…
Surfing
Here’s some info on the top three spots to grab a wave and get maps of dozens more surf…
Rock Climbing
There’s tons of climbing around Lisbon, even multi-pitch trad if you…
Essentials for Visitors
This is the last leg of your 50-city tour, so throw your vehicle into high hear and get ready to get a little dirty.
Driving Through Portugal: See it All in 50 Stops (Part 3)
Whether you're looking for an intimate dinner with friends, dancing at a club until 7 am, or just watching the fireworks, there is something for everyone to make Lisbon's passage into 2019 the best new year's eve you could imagine.
The Best of New Year’s Eve in Lisbon 2019
If a Lisboeta tells you to go to a certain place whose name you've never heard — and you're not quite sure where to find it — here's what they mean.
Lisbon Implied, or How to Talk About Locations Like a Local
Portugal is fighting back against industry giants in the tourism sector with the launch of a Portuguese-built hotel aggregator, Click2Portugal.com.
Booking Portuguese Hotels the Portuguese Way: the Launch of Click2Portugal
Bairro Alto is the party neighborhood of Lisbon, and if you’re visiting, it is a “must-go” spot. But please, do it in style and find the best bars.
Bairro Alto Alternativo
2 for 1 drinks and dishes means your dining just got that much cheaper. Here are our tips for using the Zomato Gold membership in Portugal to its fullest.
How to Use Zomato Gold for 2 for 1 Food and Drinks in Portugal
There are many travel guides for Lisbon, and each tends to suit a certain traveler. Luckily, we've had a look at the best to save you the legwork.
The Best Travel Guides to Lisbon
Going to a concert in Lisbon often means getting there early, but it is possible to book online for big-name bands and festivals — and even some of the smaller ones.
Planning Ahead: How to Buy Lisbon Concert Tickets Online
GIRA works off your phone: download the app, give them your financial details, and you’re ready to bike. This Atlas correspondent was able to do all of that in about 10 minutes. But then the problems began.
How to Use GIRA, Lisbon’s Only Bike-Sharing Option
This year's festas de Lisboa are being treated as one big secret, but we've done the digging so you can do the partying. Here are the top events around town this year.
Festas de Lisboa 2018: Atlas' Top Picks and Best Parties
Lisbon is known for long wait times, but only if you don't plan ahead. The locals know a few tricks to make life move just a little faster here. Avoid long lines, avoid frustration, do more stuff with these tips.
How to Avoid Queues, Lines, and Waiting in General in Lisbon
Lisbon DJ Van Der suggests the baddest music venues around the city for you to get that techno-fix.
Techno in Lisbon: An Insider’s Guide
Are you planning a trip to Lisbon? Do you have questions? We have answers!
The No-Nonsense FAQ for the Visitor to Lisbon
Renting cars here is much like anywhere else, with a few peculiarities such as restrictions on taking the car out of Portugal, where exactly you'll be picking up the car, how the rental companies in Porgugal handle damage coverage, and a very weird, counter-intuitive and ridiculously overpriced toll system that you'll have to plan for before you rent.
Renting a Car in Portugal: What to Expect and How to Prepare
Tiago Pais managed to compile an easily digestible yet comprehensive text on the best tascas in town — the only thing missing is the smell of the food as you peruse the pages.
Tiago Pais' Hunt for the 50 Best Tascas in Lisbon
Living in Lisboa
There are dozens of museums in Portugal’s capital and within a short drive, and almost all charge admission. Here are a few tips to do it on the cheap - or for free.
Lisbon Culture on the Cheap, Part 2: Museums
There have been some recent changes to Recibos Verdes (Green Receipts) that you’ll need to wrap your head around. This is for all the self-employed English-speakers battling their way through the Portuguese bureaucracy.
Public Service Announcement: Changes to Recibos Verdes / Green Receipts
Strangers do things that annoy us, make us laugh, and make us cry in the great city of Lisbon. Here is the place to share your stories anonymously.
The Page of Disquiet
If a Lisboeta tells you to go to a certain place whose name you've never heard — and you're not quite sure where to find it — here's what they mean.
Lisbon Implied, or How to Talk About Locations Like a Local
Vintage, up-cycled, second-hand, or just plain USED: whatever you call not-new clothes, here's where to find them in Lisbon, from bargain bins to boutiques.
Getting Thrifty: The Second-Hand Stores of Lisbon
Bairro Alto is the party neighborhood of Lisbon, and if you’re visiting, it is a “must-go” spot. But please, do it in style and find the best bars.
Bairro Alto Alternativo
2 for 1 drinks and dishes means your dining just got that much cheaper. Here are our tips for using the Zomato Gold membership in Portugal to its fullest.
How to Use Zomato Gold for 2 for 1 Food and Drinks in Portugal
There are many travel guides for Lisbon, and each tends to suit a certain traveler. Luckily, we've had a look at the best to save you the legwork.
The Best Travel Guides to Lisbon
You’ve just arrived in Lisbon. Right about now you’re probably wondering what the hell you got yourself into. Well, perhaps it’s time for an introduction.
Erasmus Lisbon Welcome Day, or How Not to End Up Drinking Alone
For lovers of vinyl, Atlas has compiled a list of the best places to get records in Lisboa. Whether new releases, oldies, or anything in between.
Digging in Bins: The Record Shops of Lisbon
How blessed women are to bring a child into the world! Bullshit. If you are giving birth here in Portugal, I've got some tips for you as someone who has been through it twice.
Preparing for Childbirth in Portugal
In Lisbon you can visit one of the many swimming pools in sports halls, gyms, and rooftops year-round to get more deeply in touch with its favorite of the four elements.
The Waterworld of Lisboa
GIRA works off your phone: download the app, give them your financial details, and you’re ready to bike. This Atlas correspondent was able to do all of that in about 10 minutes. But then the problems began.
How to Use GIRA, Lisbon’s Only Bike-Sharing Option
Lisbon doesn’t seem like a live music hub, but scratch the surface and you'll find one of the freshest music scenes in Europe, from punk to classical.
For the Love of Punk: A Guide to Live Music in Lisbon
Lisbon is being heralded as the next big thing, frequently referred to as “the new Berlin." But how well is this underdog really doing? Lisbon ranked 42 out of the 77 cities by prices of goods and services. This general figure is a little skewed, however, by the cost of things such iPhones. And rent.
How the Stats Stack up: Lisbon Vs Berlin
Lisbon is known for long wait times, but only if you don't plan ahead. The locals know a few tricks to make life move just a little faster here. Avoid long lines, avoid frustration, do more stuff with these tips.
How to Avoid Queues, Lines, and Waiting in General in Lisbon
Renting cars here is much like anywhere else, with a few peculiarities such as restrictions on taking the car out of Portugal, where exactly you'll be picking up the car, how the rental companies in Porgugal handle damage coverage, and a very weird, counter-intuitive and ridiculously overpriced toll system that you'll have to plan for before you rent.
Renting a Car in Portugal: What to Expect and How to Prepare
These spots, unlike some of the more traditional cafés around the city, don't mind at all if your lunch date is your laptop. Just be sure to order something and you'll be left alone.
Eight Cafes for You and Your Laptop Around Lisbon
Latest Restaurant Reviews
Bairro Alto is the party neighborhood of Lisbon, and if you’re visiting, it is a “must-go” spot. But please, do it in style and find the best bars.
Bairro Alto Alternativo
2 for 1 drinks and dishes means your dining just got that much cheaper. Here are our tips for using the Zomato Gold membership in Portugal to its fullest.
How to Use Zomato Gold for 2 for 1 Food and Drinks in Portugal
One of Pessoa's favorite cafés for watching the world go by. Sure, there are cheaper coffee shops, but here you are on Praça do Comércio.
Martinho da Arcada
Authentic Turkish street food, traditionally prepared. This Restaurant ticks all the right boxes for an authentic Turkish meal in Anjos.
Ottoman's Bite: Pizza Tradicional Turca
Go for the grilled flavor and friendly staff and try to ignore the forgetful service.
Madragoa Vinho e Petiscos
Lisbon Events
Jan
18
Fri
22:30
MUSIC | Favela Chic: Brazilian P...
MUSIC | Favela Chic: Brazilian P...
Jan 18 @ 22:30 – Jan 20 @ 04:00
Favela is a Brazilian Portuguese word for “slum” or a low-income urban area in Brazil. Chic is commonly defined as “elegantly and stylishly fashionable.” For these and other reasons, “Favela Chic” is maybe not the[...]
Jan
19
Sat
08:00
Weekly | MARKET | Feira da Ladra...
Weekly | MARKET | Feira da Ladra...
Jan 19 @ 08:00 – 18:00
The biggest and still the best outdoor market in Lisbon, every Tuesday morning and Saturday pretty much all day. “Ladra” means “thief” – while you can get some nice artisanal jewelry, 17th-century tiles, copper pots,[...]
09:00
MARKET | Antiques | Estrela
MARKET | Antiques | Estrela
Jan 19 @ 09:00 – 18:00
Antiques of all kinds, some crafts and artisanal goods, both edible and wearable, all in a get-away-from-it-all setting. Everyone’s selling antiques in Lisbon these days, and the market held in Jardim da Estrela everything third[...]
09:30
to Jan 31 | PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT ...
to Jan 31 | PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT ...
Jan 19 @ 09:30 – 18:00
Nowadays, everybody’s a photographer. But that wasn’t the case 50 years ago. And, on second thought, it’s not really the case today either. Because selfie-takers don’t count. The Portuguese Institute of Photography (IPF), however, has[...]
Latest Posts
- The Week em Breve – January 17 January 18, 2019
- Golden Visas Are Going Green January 15, 2019
- Jardim Botânico Tropical de Belêm January 14, 2019
Blog Categories
Interviews with Lisboetas
Viajantes: Poetry, Photos, and Maps for the Love of Lisbon- When we think of Lisbon, what comes to mind are the churches, monasteries, castles, and azulejos. We think of fado, and, naturally, the writings of Camões and Pessoa. But that's not all the city has to offer. Portuguese writing has evolved like the city itself. It is built on the same foundations, but what is […]
A Q&A with Claudio Carbone: Director of Another Lisbon Story- "Another Lisbon Story" follows the community that makes up Bairro da Torre — a Lisbon favela — and their active participation in the future of their neighborhood. Director, Claudio Carbone, who was kind enough to answer some questions for Atlas.
Bivar Books: The English-Lover’s Book Nook- An exclusively English bookstore in Lisbon might be unorthodox, but in Bookshop Bivar’s case, it's just business. Besides paying special attention to Penguin editions (Atlas' favorite), it also occasionally host local artists such as Portuguese writer/journalist Isabel Stilwell and Irish author Peter Murphy. There was also a mini-exhibition of posters of the Lisbon Players' past productions […]
History and Customs
- Lisbon Culture on the Cheap, Part 2: Museums- There are dozens of museums in Portugal’s capital and within a short drive, and almost all charge admission. Here are a few tips to do it on the cheap - or for free.
The Forgotten Side of Cervejaria Portugália- If you've ever wondered about the huge abandoned building attached to the famous Portugália restaurant on Almirante Reis, you're in luck. Atlas photographer Lorena Velasco takes us on a tour inside the crumbling walls of the former Germânia beer factory, established in 1913 and designed by architect António Rodrigues da Silva Júnior. The fábrica originally occupied a 15,000-square-meter lot […]
Abandoned Castle in Alentejo: Montemor-o-Novo- Montemor-o-Novo is situated just an hour outside of Lisbon by car. The town itself is as charming as it is unpretentious, built around a small park at its nucleus and a rather impressive public pool (as it can get very hot in the summer) nearby. There are plenty of cute spots to duck in out […]
Lisbon Street Team
Golegã’s National Horse Fair- We caught the Feira Nacional do Cavalo in Golego and were blown away not only by the horses, but by the riding culture atop them.
oBike Falls Afoul of Portugal’s Bureaucracy and Unscrupulous Users- oBike arrived in Lisbon last month with 350 bikes and looked set to be the go-to bike sharing service in the city. However, as of Tuesday, their once proud fleet has begun to be swept from the streets.
Marcha Global da Marijuana: Fighting for Legalization in Lisbon- Weed, marijuana, pot — the list is endless, and the conversation about legalization in Portugal is in full swing. A proposal was originally submitted to parliament by Bloco de Esquerda and Pessoas-Animais-Natureza, seeking to legalize medical marijuana and cultivation for personal use. However, this seems to have been a step too far, and after resistance […]
Trips outside Lisbon
This route won't necessarily show you everything, but it will surely guide you through way more than just the highlights. Start from the capital or jump in at any point in the loop: here's an idea of what not to miss in each of these stops, but how long you stay or what you skip is up to you.
Driving through Portugal: See it All in 50 Stops (Part 2)
This route won't necessarily show you everything, but it will surely guide you through way more than just the highlights. Start from the capital or jump in at any point in the loop: here's an idea of what not to miss in each of these stops, but how long you stay or what you skip is up to you.
Driving through Portugal: See it All in 50 Stops (Part 1)
Eighteen years ago, Portugal gave up its role in Macau, leaving practically no political or economic influence and very little saudade among most of the Chinese population.
Macau: Going Both Ways and Coming Out Again
Athens might look disorganized but it's delightfully chaotic. If you've only got 24 hours, here's how you can enjoy the highlights and feel the pulse of the cradle of Western civilization.
How to Spend 24 Hours in Athens
Flying to Scotland is cheap and easy thanks to budget airlines, so Atlas went exploring and have some tips for visiting Skye, the Highlands, and Edinburgh.
A Long Weekend in Scotland
If you're looking for a quick and inexpensive holiday, here's a look at the cheapest airlines in Europe — and what the ticket prices don't include.
Breaking Down Budget Airlines Flying In and Out of Lisbon
In Batalha, just 2km outside of Fátima, lies the Grutas da Moeda, a 45-meter-deep cave that spans over 350 meters in length, and it is magical.
Off the Beaten Path: Grutas da Moeda, an Alternative to Fátima
On the Rota, well-marked trails take you along the stunning coast and through towns large and small until Cabo São Vicente.
