Is Lisbon Worth Visiting? My Honest Take After Two Trips

Lisbon has become one of those cities people suddenly love to call overrated.

Too crowded. Too expensive. Too touristy. Not what it used to be.

I first visited Lisbon about ten years ago, then returned recently for six days, so I was very curious to see whether all the complaints were actually justified.

And yes, the city has changed a lot.

But did that make me regret going back? Not at all.

If you are trying to decide whether Lisbon is still worth visiting, I am sharing what felt different on my second trip, what I still loved and the things I think you should know before booking.

So, Is Lisbon Worth Visiting?

Yes, Lisbon is still absolutely worth visiting, even with everything that’s changed since my first trip!

It’s busier than it was, prices have crept up, and you’ll definitely share the good viewpoints with a crowd, but the city underneath all of that is still exactly what pulled me back a second time.

If you’re a foodie especially, and I’ve written up my actual favourites in lisbon restaurants, this city is genuinely one of the best I’ve eaten my way through in Europe.

What Makes Lisbon Worth the Hype

The food alone is worth the trip, and not just Portuguese food either.

Between a Georgian restaurant, a Mozambican one, and more pastéis de nata than I want to admit to, I ate so well that I needed a proper detox afterwards.

The wine is absurdly good value too, I paid as little as one or two euros for a glass in several places, which barely covers a coffee back home.

There’s also a huge amount of history layered into this city, the Portuguese empire once ruled territory on nearly every continent, and you can taste and see that everywhere, from the food on your plate to the tiles on the buildings.

Doing a food tour on my first day, the same one I’ve reviewed in full over on my Eating Europe write-up, gave me a head start on all of it.

There is no shortage of things to do in Lisbon to fill even a packed week.

Even the journey in felt like part of the appeal rather than a hassle. I took the bus from Porto to Lisbon and would do it the same way again.

The Downsides: Overtourism and Rising Prices

I won’t pretend everything’s the same as it was a decade ago, because it isn’t.

Overtourism is a real, visible thing here now, cruise ships empty out into the centre on certain days, and it’s pushed prices up noticeably for both visitors and locals.

If you’re chasing the quieter, cheaper Lisbon of ten years ago, you’re not going to find it, and I think it’s more honest to say that upfront than to oversell the city.

That said, plenty of neighbourhoods still feel genuinely local rather than staged for tourists, which is something I get into properly in my guide to lisbon neighbourhoods.

How to Visit Lisbon Responsibly

There are small things you can actually do here that make a real difference.

Book a hotel rather than an Airbnb where you can, since short-term rentals have been a major driver of rising rents for locals in the city centre, and Lisbon’s own Lisboa Card page is worth a look since it also folds in free public transport rather than adding another private rental into the mix.

Skip the Starbucks and go stand at the counter of a local café for your coffee instead, it’s cheaper, better, and keeps the money with the people who actually live here.

Learning a handful of Portuguese words goes a long way too, and making a genuine effort to understand the culture rather than expecting everything to run like it does at home.

Visiting outside peak summer, and I’d point you to my guide on when to visit lisbon for exactly when, also takes pressure off the city during its busiest months.

When to Visit for the Best Experience

I visited at the end of August into the start of September, and while I had a genuinely good time, it was still busy, with plenty of cruise ship day-trippers around.

Spring or autumn would spread the crowds out and cool the temperature down without losing much of what makes the city good.

Lisbon’s own calendar of events is worth checking before you land, since the exact dates can shift what the city feels like week to week.

Would I Go Back?

Without question, yes, and I already know I will.

In terms of safety, I felt completely at ease the entire time, and I’ve written a full, honest breakdown of that in my is lisbon safe post if that’s on your mind before booking.

There’s a genuine depth to this city, in its food, its history, and its neighbourhoods, that a couple of crowded viewpoints doesn’t undo.

Lisbon changed since my first trip, but it hasn’t stopped being worth it.

If I went back, I would follow the same perfect 3 days in Lisbon itinerary and book into the same area I recommend in where I would actually stay in Lisbon.