Lisbon Solo Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Eat and Explore
Lisbon is one of the safest and friendliest cities in Europe for solo travellers. Stay in a social hostel in Baixa or Cais do Sodré, ride tram 28 through Alfama, eat your way through the food markets and pastéis de nata, and use the metro and trams to get around cheaply. English is widely spoken and the city is very walkable.
Lisbon was one of the first cities I travelled to completely alone, and it remains one of the easiest places in Europe to do it. It is safe, it is friendly, English is widely spoken, and the city is small enough to feel at home in within a day. The hills will wear out your legs and the food will win you over fast. Here is everything I wish I had known before my first solo trip to Lisbon.
💳 Before you go
Sort the boring bits first so the trip runs smoothly. A Wise card lets you spend in euros at the real exchange rate with no bank markup, which matters when you are watching your own budget on a solo trip.
And grab an Airalo eSIM so you land with working maps and can stay in touch. Travelling alone, having data the second you arrive is reassuring as much as it is useful.
🛏️ Where to stay
The single best decision for a solo trip is staying somewhere social and central. Base yourself in Baixa, Chiado or Cais do Sodré. These areas are walkable, well connected and full of life.
A social hostel is the easiest way to meet people and find others to share a meal or a day trip with. Hostelworld has the best range of sociable, well reviewed hostels, and the reviews from other solo travellers tell you exactly which ones have a good common room and a relaxed vibe.
If you prefer your own space, small guesthouses and boutique hotels in the same neighbourhoods are good value. Compare a few on Trip.com before you book.
🚊 Getting around
Lisbon is built on seven hills, so comfortable shoes matter. The historic tram 28 is the classic ride, rattling through Alfama, Graça and Estrela past many of the best sights. Go early in the morning to actually get a seat, and keep your bag zipped, because this route is the city's pickpocket hotspot.
The metro, buses and other trams are cheap and easy. Buy a rechargeable Viva Viagem card and load it with credit, which works out far cheaper than single tickets. After a flight, a pre-booked airport pickup means a driver is waiting for you with a fixed fare, which is one less thing to think about when you arrive alone.
🏘️ The neighbourhoods to wander
Alfama is the soul of Lisbon, a maze of tiled lanes, washing lines and fado music drifting from tiny bars. Climb up to the Miradouro de Santa Luzia or the Miradouro das Portas do Sol for the view in the photo above, then get lost in the streets below.
Chiado and Bairro Alto are the place for shopping by day and a lively bar scene by night. Belém, a short tram ride west, is home to the monastery, the tower and the original pastéis de nata bakery. Give yourself a slow morning in each.
🍮 What to eat
Start, of course, with a pastel de nata, the warm custard tart that Lisbon does better than anywhere. Then work through grilled sardines, bacalhau salt cod, and a bifana, the simple grilled pork sandwich locals queue for.
Eating alone can feel awkward at first, so I love the Time Out Market in Cais do Sodré. You order from whichever stall you fancy and sit at long shared tables, which makes solo dining easy and often turns into a chat with the person next to you.
🌄 A day trip to Sintra
If you have a spare day, take the short train to Sintra, a fairytale town of palaces and gardens in the hills. The colourful Pena Palace is the star. Book your tickets and any guided tour ahead through GetYourGuide so you skip the queues, and use code ALLCHECKEDIN5 for 5% off worldwide.
🛡️ Staying safe solo
Lisbon is very safe, and walking alone in the central areas in the evening feels comfortable. Use the same common sense you would anywhere. Keep your bag in front of you on tram 28, watch your phone at busy viewpoints, and trust your gut. Travel insurance is the safety net I never skip when I travel alone, and SafetyWing makes it cheap and flexible.
Lisbon is the kind of city that gives a solo traveller confidence. It is safe, it is beautiful, and it is easy to meet people. Go, climb the hills, eat the tarts, and let the city charm you.
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Happy Travels! ✈️🇹🇭