When to go and how long to stay
Spring (April–June) and early autumn (September–October) are warm and bright without the peak-summer crowds; June also brings the city's street festivals. Three full days cover the old quarters and Belém; four or five leave room for Sintra and the coast.
Book ahead and plan the hills
Sintra's palaces, the Oceanarium and fado dinners fill up, especially on weekends — decide early which slots the group wants, have one person book, and save the tickets in the trip so everyone has them. Lisbon is steep and cobbled: plan each day around one area, and use trams, the metro or short taxi rides between hills.
Where to stay as a group
Baixa and Chiado are flat, central and well connected; Alfama and Graça are atmospheric but hilly; Príncipe Real is quieter and leafy. For four or more people an apartment is often simpler than several hotel rooms — check for a lift, since many old buildings have long staircases.
Group tips
- Pack comfortable shoes for everyone: the cobbles are slippery and the climbs are real.
- Split up for an afternoon: some head to a museum, others to a viewpoint or LX Factory, and you meet again for dinner.
- Log shared costs as you go (tram passes, tickets, dinners, taxis) so settling up at the end takes a minute.
