The guide to Lisbon for solo female travelers

Made by NomadHer with love💚

How much does NomadHer recommend Lisbon for solo female travelers?(😩 Bad, 😊 Fine, 😍 Amazing)
Our score is : 😍 Amazing

Lisbon, Portugal’s seven hills capital, where the sun is shining most of the year and the people are nice and always smiling (we’re thinking because it’s always sunny ☀️)
Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe . It was founded 1,200 BC, but did you know that almost all of Lisbon was destroyed in 1755? An earthquake followed by a tsunami and firestorms destroyed 90% of the buildings.

This travel guide was created to help women navigate their stay in Lisbon.

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Words to remember

Bom dia: Good morning
Boa Tarde: Good evening
Obrigada: Thank you
Fala Ingles?: do you speak english?
Pode ajudar por favor?: can you help me please

Emergency Numbers

112 is the national emergency number.
God forbid you’re in a situation in need of police, ambulance… call it! it’s free.

Transportation

Lisbon has a large public transportation network (bus, tram, metro, taxi.. ) you will have no trouble getting from one place to the other.
I had no trouble going to the most known places, or to the malls through the metro .

Do’s

Do expect nice people
Portuguese are some of nicest and welcoming people, we think it’s because it’s always sunny, so people are happier 😂

Do lose yourself in Lisbon’s streets
In our experience, Lisbon is better experienced on foot,  you see so many things and explore at your own pace, so we encourage you to!

Do eat Pastel de Nata
Portugal’s must eat pastry, an egg custard tart dusted with cinnamon that will melt in your mouth. 🤤
We loved the ones from Manteigaria & Pastéis de Belém.

Do say Obrigada
”Thank you” in Portuguese depends on your gender. Obrigada for women, Obrigado for men, we hear a lot of women making this mistake and saying Obrigado instead of Obrigada!

Do ride the E28
Operating since 1873, there are six lines of Lisbon’s eléctricos, the most famous one is the E28, it passes by Lisbon’s most famed attraction sites. Enjoy your ride!
PS: A single ticket is 3€ but it’s best to purchase the 24h pass at 10€, giving you access to all transportation!

Do expect to hear Não sei a lot
Portuguese are some of the nicest people, but you’ll often hear “Não sei: I don’t know” when you’re asking about something. 😂

Do expect to feel safe
Lisbon may be the first city I’ve traveled to where I felt safe walking at night (not in unsafe neighborhoods of course, one must always keep her wits about her).
I felt a sense of serenity and calm I’ve never felt elsewhere.

Do wear comfortable shoes
Lisbon is very hilly, if you haven’t worked out in a while, you’ll get in an intense leg day ;)  or week, depending on how much you’re going to stay.

Don’ts

Don’t be surprised to hear that English is widely spoken!
It’s true that you’ll have no problem communicating in English in big and touristic cities, we had no problem
And surprisingly, you won’t hear any accent!

Do pay attention to whom you’re talking to
In the city center, especially near the famous “Pink Street” , people were always coming to me and asking me something in Portuguese, I later found out that they were asking me to buy drugs.

Don’t get afraid on bus rides
It’s crazy how bus drivers drive in Portugal, with the narrow streets and hills and speed they go at, you feel like you’re on a roller coaster!

Don’t be afraid to enjoy the slow pace.
Lisbon is one of those cities where once you set your feet upon it, you feel all your stress melting away.
You hear music playing in every corner, artists singing and performing in every square.
Enjoy it!

Things to see

Praça do comércio
Formerly known as Ribera Palace, this was the royal residence of the ruling family.
It was destroyed during the great earthquake of Lisbon in 1755 and then rebuilt as Praça do comércio, (Commerce square)  to commemorate a new era of trade in Lisbon.

Baixa chiado
Lose yourself in the streets in Baixa chiado, let yourself be enchanted by the vibrant and peaceful vibe.
Walk to the rhythm of artists singing and playing music and make a stop or two to enjoy a street performance.
To fellow bookworms, the gem of Baixa Chiado would be Bertrand, the oldest operating library in the world since 1732.

Belém
The tower sitting in the Tagus River was built in the 16th century, it served as a fortress protecting the city of Lisbon. It served at one point as a prison, all prisoners daunted being held there for fear of drowning when the tide’s too high as the cells were located below.
It is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site and open to visitors.

LX Factory
Sitting directly under the 25th April bridge is the hidden gem of Lisbon, LX factory is one of the coolest, vibrant, trendy and creative hubs in Portugal.
You will find art everywhere in galleries, buildings, workshops.
It is home to many restaurants, cafés and shops and libraries.
I tried Axe throwing for the first time in a restaurant there called USAxe club, it was fun, the vibe was chill, the staff would play with you if you came alone, and whenever you threw the axe in bullseye, customers would start cheering on you.

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Boca do Inferno
Nestled in the municipality of Cascais, Boca do Inferno was originally a sea cave before it collapsed, leaving it looking like a sea arch.
You can watch the waves crashing continuously, they sometimes look like an erupting volcano, hence its name Boca do Inferno (Hell’s mouth).

Sintra
One hour away from Lisbon and nestled in the mountains is charming Sintra, a must do if you ever find yourself in Lisbon. Extravagant Villas and Moor palaces are the main attraction there.
I went to Pena Palace, a castle frozen in 1910, when the nobility fled Portugal, depicting how they lived back then.
My favorite was Quinta de Regaleira, which looks like something out of a fairytale with its lavish mansion and park. Lose yourself in the park, take the many hidden passageways and underground walkways.

Cabo da Roca
A quick 30 minutes stop between Sintra and Cascais, Cabo da Roca is a headland marking the most westerly point of mainland Europe. The rugged, untamed land was believed to be the edge of the world in the 14th century.

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‍Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
Just a few steps away across Belém, the Jerónimos monastery is a UNESCO classified site recognized for its Manueline style (Portuguese late Gothic) known for depicting maritime and naval objects discovered in naval expeditions. We urge you to visit and take many pictures in its cloisters, they are amazing!

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Where to eat

Lisbon has an abundance of restaurants and cafés where you can eat and drink.
So for whatever you are in the mood for, whether it be to contemplate a nice view, enjoy the atmosphere and vibe or gorge yourself on food, here are some places that I loved and wanted to share with you.

100 Montaditos- Cascais
Delicious tapa-sized sandwiches.
You can choose from a variety of sandwiches. We actually had a hard time finishing our plates, we thought they would be too small and would do nothing to us, so we ordered a lot, and we were actually surprised by the size, they were medium sized.

Usaxe club- LX Factory
Well, this was a delightful surprise.
We were walking around with my friend in LX Factory and wanted to eat.
Me, I was so hungry, I just wanted to sit somewhere and eat while she wanted to eat somewhere special.
So there we were, roaming around and bickering about food when we saw people throwing axes and heard bells ringing, and people clapping, so we just stopped and kept watching outside the restaurant like creeps. 😂 Basically the concept is you eat or drink and throw axes while doing it.
The staff were super nice, they would show you how to throw and come play with you.

Rio Maravilha- LX Factory
We went to the bar one night to enjoy LX Factory in the evening, the place is vintage decorated and there are a lot of weird decorations, I remember one crystal ball with a face inside and the eyes following you everywhere.
A statue of a Woman is on top of the roof bar. It’s placed to face the monument of Cristo Rei on the other side of the Tage river.

Quiosque Ribeira das Naus- Tagus River
A nice terrasse in front of the Tagus River, if you just want a moment of quiet, just by yourself, watching the sunset reflecting on water, this place is it for you.

Capricciosa- Alcantara
View and food go hand in hand here, their pizzas are yummy, and the spot is perfect, you have the Ponte 25 de Abril ( often compared to the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco)  on top of you, and the Tagus.

Casa de Alentejo
Are you in a mood to go back in time and dine in a a Moorish castle?
Casa de Alentejo is one of Lisbon’s many unique buildings, when you enter you feel like you traveled back in time and space to one of Morocco’s Riads.
Don’t miss out on visiting this magnificent jewel!

Ponto Final
For an amazing view on the Tagus and Ponte 25 de Abril and also yummy seafood.

Principe do Calhariz
Looking for eating typical Portuguese food? well, look no more, this restaurant was recommended by one of our NomadHers due to its delicious food.  It’s so good that you have to sometimes queue, but the wait is worth it!

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Disclaimer

Our guide was made with care & love, but that doesn't mean that we always get everything right. Please know that the information above can be outdated and measures in countries may change overnight because of Covid-19. Don't hesitate to correct us with better recommendations or latest knowledge!

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