I'm an American who visited Portugal for the first time. The affordability and walkability of Lisbon blew me away.

Rachel DubeJun 24, 2024, 21:22 IST

Lisbon is filled with colorful buildings and historical structures.Rachel Dube

I traveled to Lisbon for the first time and was surprised by many things.
The capital city felt smaller and more affordable than the other European destinations I've visited.

As someone who's spent their entire life in the tristate area, I'm always interested in comparing other metropolitan areas to New York City.

My mom and I have had the Portuguese capital on our travel bucket lists for a while and wanted to see everything it had to offer. We flew seven hours from New York to Madrid before hopping on a short hour-and-a-half flight to Lisbon.

We explored different neighborhoods, like Bairro Alto and Chiado, and visited sites such as the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery.

These were some of the biggest surprises during my first trip to Lisbon.

Editor's Note: The writer took this trip in February 2022.

The first thing I noticed was how much smaller Lisbon felt compared to the other European cities I've visited.

The Bélem Tower is one of the most popular sites in Lisbon.Rachel Dube

Each neighborhood had a distinct feel, and I couldn't believe how easy it was to tell them apart.

We took time to admire the city's pastel-colored buildings.Rachel Dube

I could walk almost everywhere I wanted to go in the city — but it was very hilly.

The view from my balcony at the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz.Rachel Dube

I'm so glad I visited during the off-season. The temperature was mild, and there were fewer crowds.

When I visited Lisbon in the winter, I was comfortable walking outside with a light jacket.Rachel Dube

The food, transportation, and souvenirs were more affordable in Lisbon than I expected.

The Rossio Square is located in Baixa.Rachel Dube

The famous Pastéis de Bélem were worth all of the hype.

I tried a Pastel de Bélem in Lisbon and talked about the delicious pastry for the rest of my trip.Rachel Dube

I felt like I only needed a few days to explore the city and regretted not seeing more of Portugal.

We walked by the water in Lisbon, which was very relaxing.Rachel Dube

Pictures didn't do Lisbon justice, so I recommend seeing the city with your own eyes.

The miradouros were the best places to get great views of the city.Rachel Dube

After traveling to over 40 countries, I have no plans to return to these 4 places around the globe

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