LANGUAGE

Portuguese & English

CURRENCY

Euro

BEST TIME TO VISIT

March to May & September to October

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION

Santa Apolonia Train Station

NEAREST AIRPORT

Lisbon Portela Airport(LIS)

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

112

INTERNET ACCESS

The majority of cafes and restaurants in Lisbon offer free wireless access, though it’s not always obvious, as few bother changing the name of their wi-fi network from the default ones that come with the router to their business name. Ask your server.

VISA

A Schengen visa is typically valid for six months and allows a tourist to stay in any of the Schengen countries for up to 90 days at a stretch. Foreigners & Borders Service Handles all foreigner-related visa business, but note that due to Lisbon’s more recent popularity, available appointments can be months away.

HOTEL

Lisbon’s historic Rossio neighborhood is the heart of the city’s old town center and the best place to stay for sightseeing, within walking distance of many of the city’s top tourist attractions and home to both the train station and the landmark Elevador de Santa Justa. The adjacent Alfama neighborhood sits on the northern side, crowned by the Castelo de São Jorge and known for its narrow streets with small shops. To the south, the Chiado neighborhood climbs to the Bairro Alto, home of Sao Roque and several other top attractions. Lisbon’s hilly terrain can make exploring the city by foot a challenge for some, but the multitude of small cafes provide frequent respite for the weary. The tram is perfect for getting to the highest points, where there are excellent views across the red rooftops and the broad Tagus River.

LUXURY

Avenida Palace

Heritage Avenida Liberdade Hotel

Memmo Alfama Hotel

MID-RANGE

My Story Hotel Rossio

Hotel Santa Justa

NH Collection Lisboa Liberdade

BUDGET

The 7 Hotel

Pensao Praca da Figueira

Ibis Lisboa Liberdade

COST OF LIVING

Just about everything, from accommodation to groceries, is affordable. Including rent, a couple can live comfortably in Portugal’s interior, or in small cities, from about $1,700 a month. A couple’s budget in Lisbon starts at about $2,100 or $2,200 a month. Though you can, of course, spend more. The cost of accommodation is reasonably priced, and standards are high, but the real value of Lisbon is discovered when, using public transport, sightseeing or eating out. Generally, a mid-range tourist should expect to spend €100 per day while in Lisbon. Medicines tend to be very expensive in Portugal. Always have travel insurance, as emergency and hospital cost are very expensive in Portugal.