Helpful Guide: Where to Stay in LISBON (5 CHARMING Neighborhoods)

In review: Chiado is the best neighborhood in Lisbon for first time visitors because it’s charming and close to everything you’ll want to see in Lisbon.

Where to Stay in Lisbon: Pros & Cons of Staying in Chiado

Pros

Chiado is as central as it gets. If you plan to explore Lisbon properly during your visit, this is the best neighborhood to base yourself in.
The neighborhood is very colorful and charming. You’re bound to see locals peeking out their windows in the evening hours, which is always so sweet.
There’s no clear layout to the neighborhood, so getting lost on the cobblestone streets is practically mandatory. It’s half the fun of staying in Chiado.
The area is well connected by metro, so you can easily get to where you need to go without tiring yourself out or relying on cars.

Cons

Chiado is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Lisbon, thanks to its central location, and the prices match. You can expect to pay more for hotels if staying in Chiado.
The hills are alive with the sound of ~~music~~ huffing and puffing people. There’s a lot of hills in this lovely Lisbon neighborhood so you should take not to plan accordingly. Although I will note, nothing is more humbling than getting passed by an 80+ year old local while you’re huffing up the stairs.

Best Things to Do in Chiado

Explore the Convento do Carmo: Built in 1389, the impressive Carmo Convent was a Catholic convent destroyed by the formidable 1755 Lisbon earthquake mentioned earlier. The earthquake forced the vault of the church to collapse and rendered the building unusable. The building has since been converted into a fascinating museum and houses the tombs of King Ferdinand I, Fernão Sanches (the bastard son of King Dinis I) and Queen Maria Ana of Austria.

Santa Justa Elevator: The Elevador de Santa Justa is one of the most unique things to do in Lisbon. Built in 1902 and towering a stately 150 feet, this iron structure offers one of the best views of the charming city skyline.

Baixa | Where to Stay Lisbon

One of the most confusing things about planning a trip to Lisbon is figuring out the lay of the land. You’ll often see Chiado and Baixa grouped together, but the reason is simple.

The two neighborhoods are right next to each other, and since neither is particularly big, you can easily step into the other without knowing.

Baixa is known as Lisbon’s modern downtown. The streets are relatively flat, compared to the other neighborhoods in Lisbon mentioned on this list.

Centered around the beautiful Praça do Comércio, the streets give way to long boulevards ripe for exploration. It’s in Baixa that you will find the best stores for shopping, especially if you enjoy name-brands.

Best Hotels Baixa

Baixa is the best neighborhood in Lisbon for first time visitors due to its central location and for less mobile travelers because it’s flat. If you don’t mind crowds and tourist hubs, you will enjoy Baixa.

Pros & Cons of Staying in Baixa

Pros

In terms of location, Baixa is hard to beat. This Lisbon neighborhood is central to everything.
The neighborhood has a lively buzz to it, thanks to the high number of tourist attractions in the area.
Great shopping, both high-end stores and charming local shops.
Great public transportation options.
This is one of the flattest areas in Lisbon, so if hills are a concern, this might be the best Lisbon neighborhood for you.

Cons

The neighborhood swells with tourists during the summer months. If you prefer to stay where the locals are, this neighborhood in Lisbon won’t fit the bill.
Thanks to the great location, hotels in the area are a bit more expensive than other areas.
Lack of non-touristy restaurants, the neighborhood is geared towards tourists, and the restaurants reflect that.
Since Baixa is the flattest area in Lisbon, you’ll need to hike uphill to access all the other places you plan to go.

Best things to do in Baixa

Praça do Comércio: Praca do Comercio is a public courtyard with cheery cafes and restaurants that sits on the Tagus River. This is one of the most famous places to see in Lisbon, so it swells with people during the daytime.

You might hear locals referring to this place as still Terreiro do Paco (palace yard). That’s because it used to the location of the Pacos da Ribeira, a palace that was destroyed during the great earthquake of 1755.

Rossio Square: Built in the 13th century as a gathering place for locals, this remains one of the liveliest squares in Lisbon to this day.

Alfama | Where to Stay in Lisbon

The Alfama District is one of the most charming (and oldest) areas in Lisbon. Thankfully it’s ripe for exploration, too!

In fact, during our month in Lisbon, we felt ourselves drawn Alfama almost daily. Between the warmth of the Portuguese culture, inviting al fresco restaurants, narrow streets and iron-clad balconies, we were smitten.

Alfama is the oldest neighborhood in Lisbon, which makes exploring it an absolute joy. The neighborhood sits atop a steep hill crowned by the Moorish Castelo de S. Jorge.

The tile-covered and pastel homes pepper the entire landscape, while miradouros give way to breathtaking views of the River Tagus below.

Best Hotels Alfama

Alfama is the best neighborhood in Lisbon for adventurous travelers that want a charming neighborhood with close proximity to the city’s main historic sites. The charm makes this a very romantic option for couples!

Pros & Cons of Staying in Alfama

Pros

Alfama is picture-perfect. The historic center is charming and offers breathtaking views at nearly every corner. This is the area most folks picture when they think of Lisbon.
What’s more, Alfama is home to some of the most notable historic sites in Lisbon. If you’re basing yourself in this neighborhood, you’ll find it easy to visit all of the important sites without much effort or planning.
There’s a lot of great restaurants in Alfama, not to mention fado!

Cons

Very expensive Lisbon neighborhood to stay in
Tourist hot-spot, especially during summer months.

The Lisbon castle, São Jorge Castle
Best things to do Lisbon

Best things to Do in Alfama

Sé de Lisboa (Lisbon Cathedral): Built in 1147, the Lisbon Cathedral is the oldest church in Portugal. This incredible structure miraculously survived the devastating earthquakes that have marred Lisbon over the years.

Admittedly the cathedral was severely damaged after the major 1755 earthquake, but it has been properly renovated over the years and was designated a National Monument in 1910.

The towering structure is a sight to behold and stands a stark contrast to the busy streets of Lisbon. As such, visiting this historic cathedral is one of the best things to do in Lisbon, especially for history buffs.

The São Jorge Castle (St. George’s Castle) is a popular landmark to see in Lisbon. Casting shadows on Alfama below, this impressive castle sits atop the highest point in Lisbon.

The castle was originally built by the Moors but has been heavily altered by subsequent occupiers. Today it’s hard to find much of the original construction.

As you can imagine, the panoramic views of Lisbon from this vantage point are some of the best in the city. The breathtaking views from the castle are worth the 10 euro admission.

Love Portuguese castles? You might enjoy a day trip to Sintra, Portugal. Here’s 5 Picture-Perfect Sintra Castles You Can’t Afford to Miss

Best neighborhood in Lisbon for Nightlife: Bairro Alto

Bordering Chiado is the liveliest neighborhood in the city — Bairro Alto. The historic feeling of this Lisbon neighborhood and the medieval layout might leave you demanding an explanation. But the past belongs to the past and today Bairro Alto is known as the nightlife hub of Lisbon.

Best known for its vibrant nightlife scene, an abundance of bars, and some of the best restaurants in Lisbon, this is a great neighborhood for night owls.

Take a stroll down the hilly streets after the sun sets and you’ll be privy to a lively scene! Open doors act as an invitation to the cheery bars, cozy speakeasies and boozy nightclubs.

You’ll find hoards of folks sitting outside or standing along the tile-covered walls, laughing and drinking into the late night.

The neighborhood exudes a very lively best and is flooded with younger folks! As you can imagine, that means sleep might be hard to get.

Best Hotels Bairro Alto

Pros & Cons of Staying in Bairro Alto

Pros

The nightlife scene is hard to beat. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a higher concentration of epic bars, clubs and restaurants.

Cons

It’s a very hilly place and public transportation leaves much to be desired, plan to walk or Uber.
We’re friends here, right? Allow me to be honest, Bairro Alto is LOUD. The vibrant nightlife means folks linger into the wee hours of the morning, and you’ll hear it.

Best things to Do in Bairro Alto

Catch sunset at Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara: Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcãntara is arguably the most beautiful viewpoint in Lisbon. It reminded me of the beautiful parks peppered throughout Paris, with the white sandy paths and iron benches.

Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
Best miradouros in Lisbon

Best Lisbon Neighborhood for LGBTQ+: Príncipe Real

Lisbon is known as a very easy-going city and doesn’t feel stuffy or overly upscale. Which is why Principe Real somewhat surprised us on our first visit to Lisbon, it’s definitely the most upscale neighborhood in Lisbon.

However, Principe Real has a very relaxed and genuine feel to it, making it a great spot to know about for folks researching where to stay in Lisbon.

The whole tree-lined neighborhood feels lush and the beautiful mansions don’t hurt either. You’ll find plenty of shaded benches and sunbathing opportunities in this charming Lisbon neighborhood, which ensures you won’t want for much.

Best Hotels Príncipe Real