Living in Lisbon
Discover Lisbon, Portugal's vibrant capital city! Culture, history, gastronomy and unique opportunities to live and study in the city of Lisbon.
The Lisbon city
Lisbon is a mild-weathered city, where the sun shines most of the year. The famous ‘city of the seven hills’ extends over hillsides and down to the Tagus river, offering great scenery from its many viewpoints, some of which are located within historic buildings.
Recent archaeological discoveries show that the city was visited by the Phoenicians around 1200 B.C. Some of its tourist attractions include monuments such as the Castle of São Jorge, Lisbon’s See, the Tower of Belém, the Jerónimos Monastery, the Terreiro do Paço Square and the ‘Baixa’ downtown area.
Among other activities, Lisbon offers water sports, both on the Tagus river and on the beaches of its South bank and the Estoril Coast. Its gastronomy will delight the most demanding of foodies, with its ‘pastéis de nata,’ in particular, being renowned worldwide. The city has an energetic nightlife, in the bars of Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré, or in its numerous nightclubs, many of which are situated along the banks of the Tagus. For a quieter, more traditional evening, attending a performance of Fado, which was added to UNESCO’s list of the World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011, is highly recommended.
In recent years, it has gained international recognition for organising conferences, business events and initiatives linked to entrepreneurship, and has repeatedly been named one of the best European destinations for urban tourism, business and international events, reinforcing its position as a dynamic, cosmopolitan and competitive city on a global scale.
Living in Lisbon
On average, a student will spend around €860 monthly.
Accommodation
From €500/month
Food
Supermarket and sundry expenditures: approx. €200/month
Cafeteria Meals: €5,97
Transportation
Metro ticket: €1,90
Carris/Metro/CP: €11,90 (daily ticket)
Monthly travel pass: €40
Taxis start at €3.50; if shared, the fare cost per person may be cheaper than an individual public transport ticket.
Transport operators:
Local Events
Music festivals (June-August)
The warm weather ushers in numerous outdoor music festivals, with options for all tastes, from festivals headlined by world-famous artists, such as NOS Alive, Super Bock-Super Rock, Rock in Rio and Meo Kalorama, to thematic festivals such as Sumol Summer Fest and Musa, both taking place on the outskirts of Lisbon.
Feasts of the Patron Saints (June)
In the traditional neighbourhoods of Lisbon, from the Castle area to the Mouraria, the evenings are enlivened during this festival, with plenty of music and dancing to the refrains of traditional Lisbon songs. The streets are adorned with garlands and the air is filled with the aromas of grilled sardines and basil. The feast day of Santo António, 13 June, is a municipal holiday, and the evening of 12 June is host to the lively festivities in these neighbourhoods.