Rick Steves Snapshot Lisbon

by Rick Steves

You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you  really  need to know when visiting Lisbon.

In this compact guide, Rick Steves covers the essentials of Lisbon, including the Tejo River, Belém, and the Bairro Alto district. Visit Lisbon's São Roque Church, taste the world's greatest selection of ports at the Port Wine Institute, or observe art spanning 2,000 years at the Gulbenkian Museum. You'll get Rick's firsthand advice on the best sights, eating, sleeping, and nightlife, and the maps and self-guided tours will ensure you make the most of your experience. More than just reviews and directions, a Rick Steves Snapshot guide is a tour guide in your pocket.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

120 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2009

About the author

Rick Steves is an American travel writer, television personality, and activist known for encouraging meaningful travel that emphasizes cultural immersion and thoughtful global citizenship. Born in California and raised in Edmonds, Washington, he began traveling in his teens, inspired by a family trip to Europe. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in European history and business, Steves started teaching travel classes, which led to his first guidebook, Europe Through the Back Door, self-published in 1980.
Steves built his Edmonds-based travel company on the idea that travelers should explore less-touristy areas and engage with local cultures. He gained national prominence as host and producer of Rick Steves' Europe, which has aired on public television since 2000. He also hosts a weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored dozens of popular guidebooks, including bestselling titles on Italy and Europe at large.
Beyond travel, Steves is an outspoken advocate for drug policy reform, environmental sustainability, and social justice. He supports marijuana legalization and chairs the board of NORML. He has funded housing for homeless families and donates to anti-hunger and arts organizations. In 2019, he pledged $1 million annually to offset the carbon emissions of his tour groups.
Steves is a practicing Lutheran with Norwegian ancestry and continues to live in Edmonds. He has two adult children and is in a relationship with Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee. Despite health challenges, including a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024, Steves remains committed to his mission of helping Americans travel with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding of the world. His work reflects a belief that travel, done right, can be both transformative and a force for peace.

Reviews

[Darryl]

This excerpt from the noted European travel guide Rick Steves' book on Portugal is an excellent short guide to the capital city for the first time visitor, which includes three recommended walking tours with maps, information about hotels, museums, restaurants, shops and music, and brief descriptions of three popular destinations outside of Lisbon, namely Belém, Cascais and Sintra. Also included is a handy list of words and phrases with pronunciations. This e-book is an essential reference, as it can be read and referred to on smartphones and tablets while sightseeing, and it is a perfect pocket companion.

[Illiterate]

A useful guide to downtown walks, Belem, and Sintra.

[Deanna]

I read this over the last few weeks as a prep for an upcoming trip.
His books are helpful, but there is a bit of redundancy between locations, and a bit too much information for short trips.
Even so, the format is same regardless of location so it does make the job of travel prep a bit easier.

[Erik]

Although his not-to-scale maps of central Lisbon drove me a bitty batty as I was trying to not get lost in the maze of the Baixa district in his detailed self-guided tour, Rick’s wealth of information never makes for a dull moment. Other highlights include his well-researched day-trip to Sintra, and – back in the western end of Lisbon – the Belem area. These are two sights not to miss. However, I disagree with his dismissal of the Castelo San Jorge in the Alfama district just east of the Baixa (incredible views that you can’t get anywhere else), and his self-guided tour of the Bairro Alto and Chiado districts. The latter were underwhelming. (Would that I had done this last bit before going to Sintra and Belem, which are spectacular.) On the flip-side, Rick’s warning about being ripped off by the taxi drivers who meet you at the airport is worth the heads-up, as I was stiffed a few extra euros, supposedly for my baggage. Check the meter before paying and stand your ground. You’ll be glad that you did. (Or better, don’t leave the airport before establishing with your driver that baggage does not come with a surcharge.)

[James Ward]

Rick Steves is a great tour guide for Europe and this book doesn't disappoint. I appreciate his frank opinions on what sites are worth spending money on and his tips to save money. His guided walkthroughs are very descriptive. Highly recommend this or other books by him when traveling to Europe.

[Pauline]

Nice short primer to get you up and running quickly in Lisbon. Easier to use than one of his larger books covering a larger region or the full country. Good tips on getting into and around Lisbon, suggestions on cheap to pricey lodgings and restaurants, and a phrasebook cheat sheet at the end.

[Cyndee Cummins]

Great to read and take along on our trip to Lisbon Feb 2018

[Gina]

Rick Steves is the best

Rick Steves walking tours are wonderful. I love the audio tours as well as the ones in the books. He s Recommendations are always correct.

[Paul DePuma]

Rick Steves as always offers the best overview of European countries. Well done

[Joan Entwistle]

Made the mistake of using the times listed, not Google, so missed a couple of great places, even though this was supposedly a new edition. Was helpful otherwise.

[Hanneleele]

No lugesin ikka pretty much kaanest kaaneni v.a restoranide review'd nii et see loeb.

[Tri Le]

An okay guide. Brief and concise and very portable.