3 Days in Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital city and the largest in Portugal. It is the second oldest European capital after Athens, Greece. Exploring Lisbon will take you through numerous neighbourhoods ranging from lively shopping and nightlife districts to older, more scenic areas. I travelled to Lisbon for a few days this month to explore, enjoy, and photograph the city. I spent three days exploring the top spots in the city, including Baixa, Rossio, Bairro Alto, and Alfama. Also, the Belém area is trendy, but I was only there briefly and did not explore the area thoroughly. Here are some observations and thoughts from three days in Lisbon.

There are a Lot of Hills

If you have read anything about Lisbon, you’ll quickly discover that Lisbon was built on a series of hills. This is not something to take lightly; you must be prepared for it. The inclines are dramatic and numerous, and you will want to have excellent footwear if you plan to explore the traditional neighbourhoods. They can be very steep and cover many blocks, which can be exhausting. The cobblestone surface around the city can also make your hike difficult and quite dangerous, especially if wet. You will want to pay attention to your footing as many areas have dips in the surface, and the inclines with stairs can be damaged with missing pieces. The deterioration from thousands of years of use is impossible to avoid, but it’s something to note that if you carry a backpack with camera gear, every pound will make a difference. Trust me, you will feel it by the end of the day.

It Can Be Very Hot

We were in Lisbon in September, and although it was the end of summer, it was still sweltering from the temperature and the humidity. I can imagine June to August being scorchers. While walking around, we drank plenty of water, especially if we stopped for beer or wine. Also, note that air conditioning seems to be quite rare. Most restaurants have doors open all day, and windows open in many homes. Our Airbnb had two fans that helped, but it was still quite warm at night. Shade is a must when walking around the city.

It is a Crowded City

There has been a boom in tourism in Portugal as of late, and in the city, some areas can be challenging to navigate due to the large number of people in a relatively small area. Lisbon also has extremely narrow walkways, with some places 1-2 feet wide, making you either wait to get by or walk onto the street to continue. You will also be inches from passing cars at some points. We dined at Tomés Caffé Bar Petisqueira, and our “table,” a six-inch wide board, was practically on the street. It was amazing!

Photography Opportunities

Photography opportunities are plentiful in Lisbon as the city benefits from interesting geography, and the narrow alleys and inclines within structures give you attractive lighting for many hours of the day. If it’s sunny, there are opportunities to get exciting photos with harsh shadows, shapes, building details, people in silhouettes, etc. Getting up high to capture it over the horizon can also make for some interesting photos for sunrise and sunset.

If you plan to visit and see certain checklist spots, certainly do it, but you will benefit by just walking around and finding your way. Your most interesting photos will come from your exploration, as interesting sights are around almost every corner. There is a lot to photograph here.

As a side note, if you plan to go to any tourist spots that require entrance fees, I’d recommend doing it close to opening times to avoid the crowds. Some of these spots are very old, and space is limited. For example, the grounds of Castle Of Sao Jorge are pretty open and accessible to move around, but exploring the castle itself, you’ll run into narrow and steep stairways. Go early to enjoy the views and avoid the crowds to capture better photos.

Conclusion

Lisbon is a beautiful city filled with history and culture that offers a lot. It is scorching in the summer, and there is a lot of climbing to do in the city. Be prepared for the heat and exhaustion elevated from the physical activity you will be doing as you wander the many alleys you’ll encounter.