If a Lisbon city break has been on the back-burner, bring it to the forefront.

I booked an impromptu trip to Lisbon and it was hands down the best 5 days of my life. No exaggeration. So now I present to you 6 reasons why you should book a city break to Lisbon – and you won't regret it.

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1. It's cheap and cheerful

Compared to the majority of cities, including London, Dublin, Berlin, Lisbon is one of the most cost-friendly cities I've travelled to. I was SHOCKED by how little I spent over 5 days (£174.63 to be exact!) and I ate out for breakfast, lunch and dinner... bougie. Not to mention, I booked my flights and accommodation a week before I travelled to Lisbon, which was approximately £600 in total. So if you plan ahead, you can make some extra savings here also.

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There are hundreds of restaurants to choose from and the travel options are also relatively affordable. On average, I paid around €4 per day for a return journey. You can also get a day ticket (which includes bus and metro) for approximately €10 euros per day; it's a great way to get around the city and visit all the sites. This brings me nicely onto my next point...

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2. There are tonnes of attractions

All the fun attractions are within a 30-minute walk of the Lisboa's city centre. This includes: Bairro Alto, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, Marques do Pombal, Parque Edwardo VII and more. The other sites, such as Torre De Belém and LX Factory, are just a short 10 minute train ride away.

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Due to the endless sites to see, you'll never get bored! You're also only 20 minutes away from the incredible sandy beaches. So if you get a little sweaty and need a cool down, go and relax by the beach. Even though I went during peak summer time (end of June), the beaches were not ram-packed. Although, being on the Atlantic sea, it was quite nippy in the water... pun intended. Nevertheless, you must visit Praia de Carcavelos and Praia de Caxias!

3. Pastel de nata

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If you tell people you're planning a city break to Lisbon, you'll immediately hear: "Oh my God, you must try the pastel de Nata". And they're not wrong. These creamy custard tarts with a crumbly puff pastry are to die for. As much as you try, you won't find any knock-offs are the same. You must travel to the heart of Portugal to really experience the yumminess.

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But the plethora of pastries doesn't stop there! I also tried the pillow of Sintra: a light puff pastry in a sugar crumb coating, filled with a melt-in-the-mouth mixture of almond paste and whipped custard (*chef's kiss*). Are you salivating yet?

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4. Lisbon is very safe

One of the reasons I embarked on a Lisbon city break was because it was my first solo trip. I'm a 25 year old, 5'3" woman – so I needed somewhere that would ease my mother's worries and where I'd feel safe alone. Even walking around the city at night, next to the rowdy bars and dark side streets, I have never felt peace quite like this.

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You hear a lot of horror stories about tourists being attacked, pickpocketed, or worse, kidnapped. However, a trip to Lisbon will be met with calm and casual vibes. Obviously, wherever you travel to you need to be mindful, especially if you don't speak the language, but I found Lisboa to be a dream.

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5. Lisbon is very tourist-friendly

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Speaking of language barriers, the Portuguese are a very accommodating community. Almost everyone I spoke to had a very good understanding and knowledge of English, as well as a handful of other languages. This makes it much easier to communicate and ask for directions (or recommendations from the menu) if necessary.

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Similarly, the public transport is easy to use. I've been to a few countries where I'm lost at "Hello" and it takes me a hot minute to get my bearings. There are several information desks available if you need help – which the guides are more than happy to provide. You can even jump on the old Tram 28 for €3 which is a quick and fun way to sight-see if you're tight on time as it stops at most tourist attractions.

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Furthermore, if you're based in Europe and your mobile data plan was active before 2022, you can use your 4G/internet, too! So you can tour the city with Google maps in the palm of your hand and look like a native Lisboan.

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6. Lisbon is the best of both worlds

As well as beaches and a city hot-spots, Lisbon presents an opportunity to explore its old and magical town, Sintra. I took a day trip to visit Sintra, and it was unlike anything I'd ever imagined. Honestly, it was as though I'd been transported to a different era, where Kings and Queens reigned and wizards ran wild.

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One of the sites I mused at for over 2 hours to was Quinta da Regaleira: a fantastical building built in the early 1900s based on the concept of the biblical Garden of Eden. Here you will find a stunning well, waterfalls and beautiful botanical gardens. Then, take the 434 bus to Pena Palace, hop off at the Castelo dos Mouros – a jaw-dropping 12th century castle – and view the whole of Sintra from the mighty precipice. Pictures will never capture the beauty and the feeling that buzzes inside you. The only way to understand is to go and explore yourself...

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