LISBON BEFORE YOU GO

Quick Facts

How far is it from Lisbon airport to City Centre? Lisbon city centre is approximately 6 km from Lisbon airport and you can get there either by taxi, metro or bus.

Lisbon is probably best known for its colonialist history, ornate architecture and tradition of Fado music. But some of its best features are in the every day – spectacular hilltop vistas in Alfama or at St. George’s Castle, pleasant year-round weather and friendly locals.

The language in Lisbon is Portuguese 

Portugal is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter Portugal for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least six months. You need sufficient funds to support you during your stay and a return airline ticket.

Portugal uses the Euro for their currency. This does mean it should be fairly easy to obtain in advance and if possible it’s always best to see if your bank can obtain the currency for you before you travel. Buying the euro at the airport is convenient but will come with a hefty percentage fee.

ATMs can be a great way to obtain cash when you arrive in Portugal. Before you travel be sure to check with your bank to make sure you can use your card internationally. Also, ask about any fees that will be charged. Bank of America offers a partnership program that can allow you to withdrawal cash, however they also recently started charging a 3% fee, which makes the partnership less convenient.

Credit cards are widely accepted in Portugal; however, I do have a few tips for you if you want to use your card. First, American Express is not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard