How we spent one week in Lisbon
In September 2021, we were invited to a long-awaited, pandemic-delayed wedding in a vineyard near Lisbon. So what better excuse for a week-long trip to the city? And unlike our usual couple’s holiday, this time there was 15 of us involved.
We started our week in a seaside villa in Colares, a small beach town 45 minutes west of Lisbon. After a relaxing few days in the sun and by the pool, we drove into the city for four days in the Portuguese capital.
Things to do in Lisbon
In some destinations, a holiday with 15 friends might feel stressful. But here, where the main things to do are eat, drink, and explore in the sun, things went surprisingly smoothly
These were the main things we did in Lisbon in September:
Visit Sintra
Wander the seafront
Check out the local markets
See the Belem Tower and other historic landmarks
Catch a tram
Find the best viewpoints
Eat out! For our favourite foodie spots, read my blog: the best places to eat and drink in Lisbon.
Find out more about the best places we visited in our blog: Things to do in Lisbon.
Where to stay
Four of us rented a two-bedroom apartment on Rua Aurea, just south of the Elevador de Santa Justa in the central district of Baixa. It wasn’t the cheapest available, but our priority was to be within walking distance of everything we wanted to see and do in the city, and be close to our friends’ other accommodation.
For us, this was an ideal spot. We didn’t spend much time in the apartment itself, but it did have a balcony with views down to the Arca de Rua Augusta and the ocean.
Other friends stayed on the northern side of Barrio Alto, which was also conveniently central. However, for most of the places we ate and drank, we were able to walk in under 15 minutes.
A tram in Lisbon
Do you need to rent a car in Lisbon?
Because we spent a few days in Colares before arriving in Lisbon – and because our group was so large – we did hire a car for the first half of our trip. However, as soon as we arrived in the city we dropped it back at the rental office in the airport.
Even driving around Lisbon for 15 minutes to check into our Airbnbs was a stressful experience. There are so many cars, one-way systems, steep hills, and narrow streets to get through.
The trams, taxis, and buses are cheap and easy enough to catch. However, many of the main attractions here are easy to walk to. So in our experience, there is almost no point in renting a car in Lisbon unless you’re there for a long time and planning excursions outside the city.
What to pack for a week in Lisbon
The weather in September in Lisbon was perfect. For our whole trip the temperature stayed in the mid- to high-twenties with only a few downpours (which make the already slippery tiled streets treacherous.)
This is what I packed for a four days in Portugal in September:
A jumpsuit
Four dresses
A t-shirt
One pair of shorts
One pair of trousers
A light outer layer
Two pairs of sandals
A pair of trainers
Regular daily toiletries + SPF
For my full packing list, read my blog: What to pack for a week in Lisbon in September.