Lisbon steals your heart within hours. The pastel buildings climbing steep hills, the scent of grilled sardines drifting from tiny restaurants, those yellow trams rattling past centuries-old tiles. This city knows how to charm visitors.
But here’s what your guidebook probably glossed over: some spots in Lisbon will leave you frustrated, lighter in the wallet, or genuinely unsafe. Tourist traps exist everywhere, sure. Lisbon has its share, along with neighborhoods where pickpockets work like it’s their full-time job.
Knowing where to skip or approach carefully doesn’t mean you’re paranoid. It means you’re smart enough to spend your precious time and energy on the Lisbon experiences that actually deserve your attention.
Places to Avoid in Lisbon, Portugal
Smart travel means knowing what to skip as much as what to see. Here’s the honest rundown on spots that locals warn each other about and tourists often learn about the hard way.
1. Rossio and Restauradores Square After 10 PM
These central squares buzz with energy during the day. Coffee shops fill up, tourists study their maps, street performers entertain crowds. Then night falls and the atmosphere shifts completely.
Groups of aggressive street vendors appear, pushing everything from drugs to counterfeit goods. They can get pushy when you decline. Really pushy. You’ll hear constant offers shouted at you, and refusing once doesn’t always end the interaction. Some travelers report feeling cornered or followed after saying no multiple times.
Pickpocketing reaches peak activity in these squares after dark. The crowds thin out just enough that thieves can work more boldly, but enough people remain that they blend in easily. Your phone becomes a target the second you pull it out to check directions. That distraction of dealing with persistent vendors? Perfect cover for someone else to slip a hand into your bag or pocket.
If you need to pass through these areas at night, keep moving with purpose. Don’t stop to engage with anyone trying to sell you something. Keep your belongings secured and in front of your body where you can see them. Better yet, take a taxi or Uber to your destination and skip walking through entirely.
2. The 28 Tram Route During Peak Hours
Every single travel article tells you to ride the famous Tram 28. They’re right that it’s iconic. They’re wrong about skipping the warning label this experience desperately needs.
This tram route has become pickpocket central. Thieves know tourists will be cramped together, distracted by the scenery, trying to take photos, and generally not paying attention to their belongings. The crush of bodies makes it nearly impossible to know who’s touching you intentionally versus accidentally. Your bag gets unzipped, your pocket gets picked, and you don’t realize until you’re miles away.
Peak tourist hours between 10 AM and 5 PM turn this tram into an absolute nightmare. You’ll wait 45 minutes in the sun only to be packed so tightly you can barely breathe. Forget about enjoying the view when you’re wedged between six other people, all trying to avoid stepping on each other. The romance disappears fast when sweat and frustration take over.
Here’s what works better: ride the 28 super early, like 7 AM, or after 7 PM when tourists have cleared out. You’ll actually get a seat, see the neighborhoods properly, and dramatically reduce your theft risk. Or honestly, just walk the route instead. You’ll see everything more clearly and take better photos anyway.
3. Cais do Sodré Late Night Street Scene
Cais do Sodré reinvented itself from sketchy port area to nightlife hub. The transformation impressed urban planners everywhere. But the late-night reality involves some serious downsides that promotional materials conveniently forget to mention.
Past midnight, you’ll see aggressive behavior spike outside the clubs and bars. Fights break out regularly. Extremely drunk people stumble into traffic or collapse on sidewalks. The party atmosphere that seemed fun earlier starts feeling threatening once inhibitions drop and tempers flare.
Street harassment targeting women becomes particularly intense here after dark. Groups of men catcall, follow, and sometimes physically block women trying to walk past. Even traveling in pairs doesn’t always discourage the most persistent ones. Solo female travelers consistently report uncomfortable or scary encounters in this area late at night.
Then there’s the practical problem: finding a taxi or Uber becomes a battle after 2 AM. Surge pricing hits hard, drivers cancel frequently, and you end up standing around in an area that’s gotten progressively sketchier as the night wore on. Plan your exit strategy before midnight if you choose to go out here. Know exactly how you’ll get back to your accommodation.
4. Martim Moniz Square and Surrounding Blocks
Martim Moniz sits right in central Lisbon, which makes its reputation all the more notable. This square and the nearby streets deal with problems that city officials keep trying and failing to solve.
Drug dealing happens openly here. You’ll see transactions occurring in broad daylight with minimal attempt at discretion. Dealers will approach you if you linger too long or make eye contact. The presence of drugs means the presence of desperate users, which unfortunately correlates with elevated property crime rates.
The square itself feels neglected compared to other central areas. Trash accumulates, maintenance lags, and the overall atmosphere registers somewhere between unwelcoming and actively hostile. Even during daytime, many locals avoid cutting through here, choosing slightly longer routes instead.
Tourist accommodations near Martim Moniz often advertise themselves as “centrally located” at budget prices. Now you know why those prices stay low. If you’ve already booked something here, stay alert, don’t walk around at night, and keep valuables in your room rather than carrying them unnecessarily.
5. Pink Street (Rua Nova do Carvalho) on Weekend Nights
Pink Street photographs beautifully. That famous pink pavement under string lights looks magical in Instagram posts. The reality of actually being there on a Friday or Saturday night often disappoints, and sometimes worse.
This single street packs in dozens of bars serving cheap alcohol to massive crowds. The noise level becomes physically painful. Music blasts from every doorway, people scream to be heard over it, and the cacophony bounces off the buildings until your ears ring. If you value your hearing or your sanity, this isn’t your scene.
Vomit decorates the pink pavement by 1 AM. Broken glass crunches underfoot. The smell of spilled beer, sweat, and worse assaults you from every direction. Sure, you might be there to party hard, but there’s a difference between fun chaos and genuinely unpleasant conditions.
Drink spiking incidents get reported here with concerning regularity. The crowded conditions, extremely cheap drinks, and party-focused atmosphere create perfect conditions for people with bad intentions. Watch your drink constantly or don’t drink at all. That sounds paranoid until it happens to you or someone in your group.
Visit Pink Street for a quick photo during the day if you must. Grab one drink at a calmer bar on a weeknight if you want to say you experienced it. Skip the weekend madness entirely unless packed, loud, messy crowds are specifically what you’re seeking.
6. Budget Accommodations in Intendente
Intendente has been “up and coming” for about a decade now. Some improvements happened, yes. Hip cafes opened. Street art appeared. But calling this neighborhood safe or fully gentrified? That’s wishful thinking.
This area still has Lisbon’s highest concentration of street-level drug activity. Dealers work the corners openly. Users hang around nearby. The presence of this drug economy brings associated crimes including theft, occasional violence, and general unpredictability.
At night, the streets empty of regular foot traffic. The few people you encounter often make you uncomfortable. Women traveling alone report frequent harassment and following. Even men mention feeling unsafe after dark when walking back to their hostels or budget hotels.
Sure, you’ll save 30 or 40 euros per night staying here instead of Baixa or Chiado. But you’ll spend that money on taxis to avoid walking home at night. You’ll stress about safety instead of relaxing. You’ll probably cut your evenings short because you don’t want to return too late. The savings aren’t worth the trade-offs.
Plenty of safe, affordable neighborhoods exist in Lisbon. Arroios, parts of Graça, even some areas of Alfama offer budget options without the safety concerns. Spend a bit more or look slightly further from the absolute center, but skip Intendente for accommodations.
7. Heavily Touristed Alfama Restaurants
Alfama charms visitors with its narrow lanes, fado music drifting from doorways, and medieval character. But the restaurants lining the main tourist paths? Those are traps designed to separate you from your money while delivering disappointing food.
You’ll see multilingual menus posted outside with photos of every dish. Staff members stand at the entrance, aggressively trying to convince you to sit down. They promise authentic fado, traditional Portuguese cuisine, and great prices. What you actually get? Reheated frozen food, watered-down wine, and a tourist menu that costs three times what locals pay elsewhere.
The fado performances at these places often feel theatrical and inauthentic. Real fado carries emotion and soul. Tourist fado houses pump out simplified versions for people who don’t know the difference. Meanwhile, actual Portuguese diners eat elsewhere, which should tell you everything.
Here’s the move: walk past the first three streets where restaurants compete for tourists. Head deeper into Alfama, where you see Portuguese families eating. If the menu isn’t in five languages and the staff isn’t harassing passersby, you’ve probably found somewhere legitimate. Or better yet, ask a local shop owner for recommendations. They’ll point you somewhere their own families eat.
8. The Area Around Anjos Metro Station
Anjos sits one stop from the city center on the green line. Some travelers end up with accommodations here because they found deals. What they didn’t find was information about why those deals existed in the first place.
This neighborhood lacks the infrastructure and investment that central Lisbon enjoys. Streets feel darker due to insufficient lighting. Graffiti covers many buildings, often not the artistic kind but the territorial marking kind. The vibe registers as neglected and forgotten rather than bohemian and authentic.
Drug-related activity happens frequently around the metro station itself and in the surrounding blocks. You’ll see people clearly intoxicated or high, sometimes aggressive, often unpredictable. Petty theft targets people perceived as outsiders, which includes anyone obviously carrying tourist gear or luggage.
Public transportation runs through here, so you might pass through. That’s fine. Stay alert, keep your belongings secured, and keep moving. What you shouldn’t do is linger, explore, or think you’ve discovered an undiscovered neighborhood. Locals avoid this area when possible. Follow their lead.
9. Oceanário de Lisboa on Weekends and Holidays
The Lisbon Oceanarium deserves its reputation as one of Europe’s best aquariums. The massive central tank, the variety of marine life, the educational exhibits all impress. But timing your visit wrong turns a great experience into a miserable one.
Weekends and Portuguese holidays bring absolutely crushing crowds. We’re talking shoulder-to-shoulder density where you can barely move through the exhibits. Kids run everywhere, screaming echoes off every surface, and you’ll spend more time waiting for viewing spots than actually seeing anything.
The ticket prices sting even more when you realize you’re paying €22 per adult to shuffle through in a stressed crowd. You won’t have time to read information plaques or watch the animals behaving naturally because people behind you are pushing forward. The experience feels rushed and frustrating rather than educational or relaxing.
Go on a weekday morning right when it opens, preferably during the school year. You’ll have space to breathe, actually see the exhibits properly, and enjoy the experience the way it was meant to be enjoyed. Book tickets online in advance to skip the entry line completely. The difference between a good visit and a terrible one comes down almost entirely to timing.
10. The Santa Justa Lift During Tourist Season
This Neo-Gothic elevator connecting Baixa to Carmo looks stunning. The views from the top? Legitimately impressive. The experience of actually using it during tourist season? Absolutely not worth it.
You’ll wait in line for an hour, sometimes longer, standing in the sun with no shade. The line moves at a glacial pace because the elevator is tiny and can only transport a handful of people at a time. By the time you finally get to the top, you’re hot, tired, cranky, and ready to leave rather than enjoy the view.
What makes this particularly frustrating is that you can access the same viewpoint by walking up adjacent streets for free. The Carmo Convent sits right there. You get identical views without the wait or the €5.30 ticket price. Yet hundreds of tourists queue up daily because their guidebook told them this was a “must-do.”
The elevator itself, while architecturally interesting, takes about 45 seconds to ride. You barely have time to appreciate the mechanism before you’re stepping out at the top. The entire experience boils down to paying and waiting for a view you could have gotten by walking five minutes.
If you really want to see the elevator, photograph it from the outside. Appreciate the ironwork and design without actually using it. Then walk up to Carmo through the regular streets, enjoy the same views, and feel smarter than everyone still waiting in that ridiculous line.
Wrapping Up
Lisbon earns every bit of praise it receives. The light, the food, the people, the history all combine to create something genuinely special. But experiencing the best of this city means being selective about where you go.
Skip these problematic spots and you’ll have more time for everything Lisbon does brilliantly. Wander through Belém’s monuments, lose yourself in the tile museum, eat your way through Time Out Market, watch sunset from Miradouro da Senhora do Monte.
Those experiences deliver exactly what they promise, leaving you with the kind of memories that make you want to return to Lisbon again and again.
