Staying Fit
Lucky for visitors, Lisbon has remained less crowded than many other European destinations despite how much the city has to offer. “It’s been underrated,” says guidebook publisher and PBS host Rick Steves. “It has rich culture, a fascinating seafaring past, friendly people and beautiful coastline.”
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Day 1
Check into your hotel or Airbnb accommodations. (Before you go: Consider making a reservation somewhere in the up-and-coming Chaido neighborhood, where the Casa do Barão makes a good central base for exploring; rooms in the stylishly renovated 18th-century building include breakfast.) Buy a Lisbon Card, which you can purchase online, then exchange the voucher you'll receive for a card at the airport or tourist office once you get to the city. It's about $45 for a 72-hour pass and offers discounts or admission to many city attractions as well as free tram, bus and metro rides. Get oriented with a ride on Tram 28, the famously scenic streetcar route that rambles up and down the city’s hills. For dinner, stop at Time Out Market, a new bustling food hall in a 19th-century building. The city’s top chefs offer innovative takes on specialties such as ham, mackerel and octopus, all at bargain prices. Grab a glass of the country’s refreshing vinho verde (green or young wine), a fizzy, light summer drink.
