Cursed by Cobblestones, Saved by Sangria

I arrived in Lisbon completely winded—and not from the flight. It was from hauling my too-heavy backpack up the sheer vertical of Bairro Alto, where my hostel was tucked. Note to self, and to you: Lisbon is built on seven hills, and they will test your spiritual well-being. Pack light, darn it.

But then I checked into the Goodmorning Solo Traveller Hostel (yes, that’s its actual name). It felt less like a hostel and more like accidentally crashing a very cool Portuguese family’s house party. They won a Hoscars award in 2025, I checked, and I can see why. It’s got a perfect 9.8 rating and is literally built for us lone weirdos. They have a free pancake breakfast, and honestly, that’s an immediate $5 saving right there. Dorms start around $22 USD a night, a total steal for the city center vibe (per Hostelworld data).

I met two people from Australia and a guy from Canada within 30 minutes. The instant social scene is the real solo travel hack in Lisbon. It turns a scary first night into a free sangria toast on the common room balcony, looking out over the glorious, impossible hills.

The €7 Day Pass and My Accidental Tram Adventure

Forget taxis. Forget Uber unless it’s 2 a.m. The real key to surviving Lisbon (and keeping your budget around the $\text{€}45}$/day sweet spot Nomadic Matt suggested) is the public transport system.

You absolutely need to get a Navegante Occasional Card—it costs €0.50 and you load it up with “Zapping” credit. It’s a game-changer. That single ride on the metro or bus drops to €1.66 from the ridiculous €1.85 you pay for a single ticket. The best part? The 24-hour Carris/Metro Pass is only €7.00 as of early 2025. It covers the metro, buses, and all those iconic, shaky yellow trams. Seriously, you take four trips, and it pays for itself.

I bought the day pass and hopped on the infamous Tram 28 near my hostel. It’s a must-do, but ugh, the crowds are thick. I bailed after three stops and wandered into the Alfama district, those winding, old alleys where Fado music leaks out of every open doorway. I got delightfully lost for two hours—the only way to see this place, really. It felt like I was walking through a history book, with laundry strung between the balconies overhead. Total sensory overload, the good kind.

My photo of the Tram 28 tracks curving sharply through a narrow, tiled alley in Alfama.

Eating Alone: Francesinha Fail and a Secret 1 Bica

Food is where the solo-travel guilt can kick in. Sitting alone at a fancy restaurant? No, thank you. Portugal excels because it is built for easy, casual dining.

I took the train north to Porto for a few days—a stunning city, but man, that Francesinha sandwich is a mission. It’s basically a heart attack on a plate: bread, ham, steak, sausages, cheese, and a beer sauce bath. I ordered one at a little taberna near the Ribeira district, paid €10.50 (right in line with the €8–12 average price for a local meal). I sat outside, totally overwhelmed by its sheer size, and the waiter, a giggling old guy, just brought me a newspaper. No judgment. Just peace. Sometimes, that’s all you need.

The real budget hack? Coffee. A bica (espresso) or a café is still around €1.00 in a small local spot in Lisbon or Porto. I’d grab a bica and a fresh pastel de nata (€1.20) for a killer breakfast that cost less than €2.50. Do this every day, and your food budget stays tight. Check out the markets, too; the prato do dia (dish of the day) is usually under €12 for a full, local meal.

The Royal Day Trip (My Aaaand My Credit Card’s Pain)

You can’t go to Lisbon without going to Sintra. Everyone tells you this. And honestly? They’re right.

It’s an easy day trip—just use that €11.00 day pass (Carris/Metro/CP) and the train is included. The views are straight out of a Disney movie gone slightly rogue. The Pena Palace, with its crazy red and yellow colors, is worth the crowds.

But here’s my splurge moment. I didn’t want to shuffle through the main line at Pena, so I booked a highly-rated Sintra Private Tour with a small local company (found a better price on travelgui.com after checking a few places). It wasn’t private, but it was a small group of six, and we got dropped off at the least crowded entrance of the Quinta da Regaleira gardens. This ticket (plus the tour) was about $75. Was it necessary? No. Did I skip the line, get amazing stories about the Initiation Well, and get a killer photo without a bunch of strangers? Hell yes. Solo travel is about the occasional, justified self-indulgence. This was mine.

My Safety Net: When “No, Thank You” Is a Full Sentence

Portugal is one of the safest countries for solo female travelers, consistently ranked high, with Lisbon often cited as a great place for first-timers. But “safe” doesn’t mean “zero effort.”

You still get the occasional sketchy wanderer near Cais do Sodré at night. I found myself walking back to my hostel late one night from the Pink Street bars (which, by the way, are pure chaos, and fun!) and a dude started following me. Fast.

• The Move: I didn’t reach for my phone to map. I didn’t panic. I remembered my friend’s advice: Act like you know where you’re going and you’re mad about it. I pulled my lips into the hardest scowl, looked straight ahead, and walked directly into the lobby of the first well-lit, big hotel I saw. I didn’t stop until I was near the reception desk. I saw him walk past the window and vanish.

It was a small, adrenaline-spiking moment that reminded me: Trust your gut over Google Maps. Being safe is sometimes about being loud, being rude, and creating distance—don’t be afraid to be impolite. Your safety matters more than their feelings.

Lisbon felt like a friend I didn’t know I needed. Go, get lost in Alfama, eat pastéis de bacalhau until you burst, and enjoy the glorious feeling of making your own rules every single day.

By Elara Vance, a wanderer with 10+ years diving into Asia and Europe’s hidden corners, sharing stories from real visits and verified sources.