Lisbon solo travel: The best things to do alone in Lisbon

Picture yourself on your Lisbon solo travel adventure. You’re enjoying the most incredible food, served in a warm and inviting atmosphere. You’re treasure-hunting at a flea market with a sweeping view overlooking the city. You’re spending an intimate evening at a Fado bar, discovering Lisbon’s completely unique music scene. Along with these daydreams may come some serious questions, is Lisbon safe for solo female travellers? What are the best things to do alone in Lisbon?

There’s so much to fall in love with in Lisbon as a solo female traveller. Let me take you on a laid-back Lisbon city break that will help you unlock all of the warmth and hospitality this wonderful city has to offer.

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how to use this lisbon solo travel guide

I’ve organized this solo female travel guide to Lisbon into sections. Read it all or skip straight to the parts you need most! 

STAY: The best hotels in Lisbon for solo female travellers

DAY: The best things to do alone in Lisbon on your Lisbon solo travel adventure

NIGHT: The best things to do alone in Lisbon at night as a solo female traveller.

BITE: The best restaurants and cafes to visit on your Lisbon solo travel. Including vegan and gluten-free options!

INTERACTIVE Lisbon solo travel map

I made you a little interactive map with all of the places listed in this guide. Click on the pins to learn more about each destination including directions, opening times, phone number, web address, contact info, reviews, and more. Enjoy!

FAQ ABOUT LISBON SOLO TRAVEL

IS Lisbon SAFE FOR SOLO FEMALE TRAVELLERS?

Lisbon is generally considered safe for solo female travellers. The overall crime rate in the city is low. People who live in Lisbon report feeling 85% safe walking alone during daylight and 61% safe walking alone after dark.

In a survey of 104 solo female travellers, Lisbon earned a 4.6 out of 5 stars for safety. You should be fine so long as you keep to well-lit areas at night and stay mindful of pickpockets in crowded areas.

THE BEST PLACE TO STAY IN LISBON FOR THE FIRST TIME

Lisbon solo travel is popular all year round and the city boasts a variety of accommodations from charming guest houses to sleek 5-star hotels.

I’ve done some research for you and found that an ideal hotel to stay in Lisbon for the first time would be the Empire Lisbon Hotel. This clean, safe central hotel boasts air-conditioned rooms, private balconies and a highly rated breakfast. They’ll also arrange transit to and from the airport for you, making it a great choice for solo female travellers in Lisbon for the first time!

WHAT TO DO IN LISBON FOR A DAY

I would strongly suggest planning at least 3 days for your Lisbon solo travel! However, if you only have one day to spend in Lisbon, you can’t go wrong with maximizing your time with a small group food and wine walking tour. From there, make sure you check out the views from Castelo de São George and end your day with one of Lisbon’s famous Pastel de nasta pastries at Zarzuela, a top-rated bakery offering plenty of gluten-free options!

how to get to central lisbon from the airport

From Lisbon International Airport you can hop right on Lisbon’s cheap and easy-to-use Metro system and get right into the heart of the city.

lisbon solo travel quick facts

stay: the best places to stay on your lisbon solo travel

Casa do jasmine by Shiadu

Funky, eclectic and classic Lisbon décor, this stylish hotel feels like staying at a friend’s house. Don’t forget to check out the roof terrace!

Address: Rua do Jasmim 19, Misericordia, Lisbon

Lutecia Smart Design Hotel

This upscale design hotel is well connected to public transit and features a Portuguese fusion restaurant including vegetarian options!

Address: Av Frei Miguel Contreiras 52, Alvalade, Lisbon

day: the best things to do alone in lisbon

Explore Campo de Santa

Get your bearings on your Lisbon solo travel and head uphill! I went in search of a view and ended up stumbling upon a huge, rambling flea market at Campo de Santa Clara, a pretty spot in the shadow of the Panteo Nacional’s graceful white dome.

Look no further for endless tables full of odd and delightful treasures. Old fur coats? Check. Vintage nautical accoutrements? Look no further. Crystal jewelry? Old and hard-to-find records in great condition? Ever fancied owning an accordion? A Victrola? A rotary phone? You’re in luck.

Come for the junk, stay for the sweeping view of the river Tagus.  There’s a lovely little park overlooking the market where you can kick back with a coffee, enjoy the breeze, and plot your next move.

Browsing a flea market is one of my very favorite things to do alone in Lisbon…or anywhere else for that matter!

go on a street art tour

Street art is the beating heart of any great city, and Lisbon has a really vibrant street art scene. Why not go on a street art tour to learn more about it?

castelo de São George

The Castelo has some of the sweetest panoramic views of Lisbon that just about any scenic overlook in the city has. (And that’s saying something, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a gorgeous vista in Lisbon. Is that a weird metaphor? Do I care?)

The main terrace is dotted with built-in binoculars so you can ogle sweeping views of the river Tagus and its graceful bridges, spy on the locals living under Lisbon’s ubiquitous orange tiled rooftops, and get a bird’s-eye view of Bario Alto, Baxia and Praca do Comercio spread out below. Don’t forget to take a picture of yourself next to one of the castle’s big-ass cannons, if that’s your thing!

Castelo de. S Jorge also sports some lush grounds populated by some seriously sassy peacocks, a nice little museum of archaeological artefacts and some fun historical reenactments that made me wish I was a kid again. (Swordplay lessons with a knight dressed in chain mail? Yes please!) They also have an open policy about strolling the grounds with a nice glass of wine that I, unfortunately, didn’t take advantage of.

praco do commercial

Wander downhill and check out sunny Praca do Comercia, which is every inch as grand as you’d expect a main square in a European capital city to be, and directly overlooks the water to boot. Take some time to grab a gelato or a coffee at one of the many large open-air cafes that line the square.  I also made a pit stop at a little beach across from the square to collect some seashells and sniff the ocean breeze. There’s a lovely promenade along the river there where you can take in a glorious sunset or two if you chose.

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

This is Lisbon’s highest viewpoint, a wonderful place to take in a panoramic view of the entire city on your solo travel to Lisbon.

carmo convent

There’s something about ruins that are just romantic. Stories untold. Graceful, bone white architecture. Shadows and moss. Ruins are the bomb and Carmo Convent is the bomb diggity. Destroyed in Lisbon’s famed 1755 earthquake, it has since become a repository for random artefacts from all over the world. Come for the flying buttresses, stay for the hauntingly well-preserved South American child mummies.

tram 23

It’s worth taking a sluice around the city on the historic Tram 28. This vintage tram will give you a quick oversight of all of the sights in the city that you wish to explore on your Lisbon solo travel.

explore alfama

Alfama ended up being my favorite neighborhood in Lisbon! Alfama’s narrow cobbled streets, twisted staircases that lead to unexpected breathtaking views, and hole-in-the-wall bars and cafes serving up to die for traditional Portuguese dishes along with decently priced wine could be enough to enchant you for an entire weekend. Indeed, it was difficult to tear myself away from Alfama to explore the rest of the city.

take a day trip

There are so many amazing sights within striking distance of Lisbon that it just makes sense to add a day trip to your Lisbon solo travel. Sintra is another popular destination known for it’s colorful castles. Why not book yourself a day trip?

 

night: things to do alone in lisbon at night

experience fado

Of all the unmissable things I experienced in Lisbon, Fado has got to be at the top of the list. Wander down any quiet street in Alfama in the evening and you’ll hear music drifting from open windows and doorways. Fado is a distinctly Portuguese art form, wrapped up in the idea of saudade or simply, longing. I don’t know any other way to describe it besides telling you that it’s like going into a dark room with a stranger and hearing them sing their heart out to you about their deepest and most intimate sorrows. It is intense, it is personal and it is beautiful. And you can find it almost any night of the week in Alfama.

Some Lisbon solo travellers might feel awkward walking into a Fado bar alone. If this is you, don’t fret. There are group tours that will help you experience Fado with others. This one takes place in a historic setting and includes Port wine!

Whether you experience Fado solo or in a group, the important thing is that you do it! Fado was truly my favorite part of my Lisbon solo travel.

more about fado

Fado singers can range anywhere from amateurs to highly experienced and talented artists, and they’re usually accompanied by a twelve string Portuguese guitar. Fado bars often feature a rotation of singers throughout the evening. Our waiter even took the floor for his own set. If the music isn’t enough to melt your cares away, the tiny trays of olives, bread and cheese, traditional dishes like codfish cakes and the free-flowing liters of house wine will seal the deal for you. Honestly, I could have gone to Fado every night I was there as it encompasses three of the things I love most in life, food, song and community.

Take a Portuguese cooking class

It’s just a fact that you’re going to fall in love with the flavors of Lisbon on this trip. Why not learn how to bring some home with you with a Portuguese cooking class? It’s also such a lovely social thing to do alone on your Lisbon solo travel that will help you connect with other travellers!

go on a sunset sail

Take in the city from the River Tagus with a welcome drink in hand. A sunset cruise is always a good idea!

bite: the best places to eat alone in lisbon

Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Lisbon

Os Tibetanos

Sumptuous vegetarian Asian cuisine in a relaxing environment.

Address: R. do Salitre 117

Arkhe

Address: Rua de São Filipe Neri 14 – 1250-227 Lisboa

Encanto

Another Micheline starred gem, featuring freshly prepared local produce, wines, beers juices and Kombuchas. Encanto would be my top pick for dining alone on my Lisbon solo travel adventure.

The best gluten-free restaurants in Lisbon

Zarzuela

If you’re looking to try one of Lisbon’s famed pastel de nastas pastries but you need to avoid gluten, stop by Zarzuela, the perfect place for a gluten-free sweet treat on your Lisbon solo travel.

Address: R. Bernardino Costa, 23

Despensa No. 6

Billing themselves as a ‘healthy bakery’, Despensa No. 6 offers pastries, crepes, a full brunch menu and a variety of beverages.

Address: Avenida Sacadura Cabral, 6A, 1000-274 Lisboa

honourable mention:

Pharmacia

Pharmacia isn’t a dedicated vegan or gluten-free restaurant, but it’s just too cool not to mention! Housed in, you guessed it, Lisbon’s Pharmacy Museum, Pharmacia features quirky retro medical decor and a menu that is a modern twist on traditional Portuguese petiscos or, “small plates”. The view on the grassy outdoor terrace looked pretty sweet too.

the verdict

Whether it’s food, Fado, the people or the history, you’re bound to fall in love with Lisbon. I really hope you enjoy your solo female travel adventures in Lisbon. Let me know what you get up to in the comments!

get ready for your trip to Lisbon

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