Why visit
Lisbon climbs seven hills of azulejo tile, fado houses, miradouro viewpoints, and the Tejo river. Belém's pastries and Jerónimos monastery anchor the west; Alfama's narrow lanes anchor the east.
Lisbon at a glance
City population
550k
Metro: 3.0 million
Elevation
2 m
7 ft
Time zone
UTC+0 (UTC+1 DST)
Europe/Lisbon
Airport
LIS
Humberto Delgado (Portela)
Founded
c. 1200 BCE (Phoenicians)
Getting around
Metro (4 lines), historic trams, elevadores, buses
Signature dish
Pastéis de nata, bacalhau à brás, bifana, ginjinha
Neighborhoods for travelers
AlfamaBairro AltoChiadoBelém
Portugal at a glance
Country center
39.5°, -8.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
92,090 km²
35,556 mi²
Country population
10.3 million
111/km²
Subregion
Southern Europe
Currency
Euro (€)
EUR
Dial
+351
Language
Portuguese
Demonym
Portuguese
Internet
.pt
UN
Member state
ISO code
PT / PRT
Where in the world
39.5° · -8.0°
Portugal
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Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world · CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Lisbon is older than Rome: founded by Phoenicians ~1200 BCE.
- The city sits on seven hills, like Rome. Trams crawl up them since 1901.
- The 1755 earthquake killed ~60,000 and destroyed 85% of buildings in minutes. Rebuilding invented modern urban planning.
- Portugal had the longest colonial empire: spanning 584 years (1415 to 1999 when Macau was returned).
- The oldest bookstore in the world still in operation is in Lisbon: Livraria Bertrand, since 1732.
Bordering Portugal
Traveler notes
- Tram 28 is scenic but pickpocket-heavy
- Time Out Market for a food sampler
- Day-trip to Sintra is a must
Plan checks
- Choose a neighborhood first: many capitals have tourist centers that are not the best places to stay.
- Public transport passes usually beat taxis and rideshares for multi-day visits.
- Verify swim safety, ocean conditions, and water-quality reports by month.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Lisbon
What currency is used in Lisbon?
Lisbon uses the Euro (€), ISO code EUR.
What languages are spoken in Portugal?
The primary language is Portuguese.
What is the international calling code for Portugal?
The calling code is +351.
What airport serves Lisbon?
Humberto Delgado (Portela) (IATA: LIS).
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