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Featuring picturesque streets, iconic yellow trams, and a rich maritime history, it has seen a recent upsurge in tourists visiting the city from Europe and further afield.
If you can secure a good deal on accommodation, it's without a doubt worth a visit. However, is it worth paying a substantial premium otherwise? I'd say there are better alternatives out there.
A friend's wedding in Lisbon was a great reason to make an extended visit to one of Europe's most popular destinations for remote working. Having had it recommended to me by so many people as a great place to work from, my expectations were exceedingly high.
The cities growing reputation as a hub for remote work means there's a huge demand on Airbnbs in the city with prices to reflect it. Even when booking well in advance, your chances of finding a good value deal are slim to non existent, especially during the summer months.
Whilst you will probably never find a bargain, it's worth looking into alternative avenues to try find a good deal.
As you would expect from a city with Lisbon's reputation, there is no shortage of great places to work from. That being said, a couple which I did contact were at capacity for hot desking, so I would aim to sort something in advance if arriving during peak season.
Compared to other major European capitals, Lisbon remains a relatively good value option. However, while its reputation for exceptional affordability might have diminished from a decade ago, you can still find exceedingly inexpensive espressos and bottles of Sagres in the numerous small cafes that line the city's streets.
If you're arriving from another Western European country, budget similar to what you would at home and consider any spare change a pleasant bonus.
Lisbon has earned its enviable reputation as one of Europe's leading holiday destinations for good reason. An excellent array of culinary offerings and distinctive architecture make it a truly memorable destination. The area surrounding Bairro Alto serves as a hotbed of nightlife, with seemingly endless bars lining each street.
Portugal is an hour behind CET, aligned with the UK in GMT.
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Having only spent a week in such a big city I feel somewhat under qualified to comment on this but these areas stood out to me.
Lisbon WorkHub provides a large open workspace, about a ten minute drive from Alfama. There is a plentiful supply of large desks and comfortable chairs in an open-plan interior with various lounge areas to take a break away from your desk.
Numerous phone booths are available and with passable Delta espresso available near the reception.
A great option if you are based to the east of the centre or want to work in a more relaxed area out of the centre. Worked from here for a week and would have happily stayed a lot longer.
Portugal offers five visa options for remote workers who wish to live and work in the country:
My visit coincided with this popular two week festival celebrating the city's patron saint, Saint Anthony, with festivities featuring colorful parades, traditional music, local foods, and vibrant street parties.
If you are looking to visit at a time where there is a real party atmosphere then I could not recommend this more. Equally, if you are looking for a more sedate visit, you may want to give these weeks a miss.
June to August are peak season the city so you may be better off visiting a few months either side where the weather is still great but with slightly reduced demand. With that being said, I visited during the Festas dos Santos in June, which was an amazing time to see the city in full party spirit.
As you would expect from such a renowned tourist destination, during the peak summer months you are likely to see a high mix of visitors from across the world.
Lisbon is a year round base for a large remote work community, with many Europeans having moved to the city permanently. There is also a noticeably strong Brazilian expat community as a result of the countries long standing ties of association.
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