Neighborhoods to avoid in Lisbon and best areas to stay

To prepare your next weekend in the capital of Portugal, you ask yourself where to stay in Lisbon to visit on foot? Is Lisbon a dangerous city in 2024, are there neighborhoods to avoid, what is the best neighborhood to visit Lisbon on foot?

Neighborhoods to avoid in Lisbon

To answer these questions, here is the 2024 guide to the neighborhoods of Lisbon and my advice for choosing the best neighborhood for a tourist stay.

Is Lisbon dangerous?

NOT : At European level, Lisbon is a much less dangerous city than many Italian or French cities such as Montpellier, Nice, Toulouse, Rome ou Naples.

This is confirmed by the last Numbeo ranking on the crime level of 158 European cities. We can see that in 2024 Lisbon is among the least criminal cities in Europe with a very low crime rate (28.40).

Lisbon crime index table not dangerous city
Numbeo.com site map

But it is necessary to underline the subjective side of this type of classification which only takes into account the opinions of Internet users without any official statistics.

On the other hand, the crime indices are averages given for the entire city. But it is well known that insecurity in all major cities is concentrated only in certain places. In fact, apart from a few neighborhoods, the city of Lisbon is absolutely not dangerous. It's a much safer city than Barcelona, Paris, London ou Los Angeles.


Lisbon neighborhood map

Lisbon is quite extensive and includes 53 neighborhoods (parishes). I will not go through them all for you but I will only indicate below which are the worst and best neighborhoods in Lisbon.

And to help you spot the best and the neighborhoods in Lisbon to avoid, here is a map that can be enlarged to locate them.


Lisbon neighborhoods to avoid

Security in central Lisbon has improved considerably over the past 20 years. However, tourists are advised to avoid certain neighborhoods that have a bad reputation as there are in all major cities.

I present them to you below with their Google map situation.

Neighborhood to avoid in Lisbon: Chelas

Chelas often makes headlines in Portuguese newspapers and television. Shootings, car chases, assaults, vandalism ...

A few metro stations from the city center, Chelas is a neighborhood to avoid in Lisbon.

Neighborhood to avoid in Lisbon: Cova da Moura

This district which is located in the North West of Lisbon is a very poor district where housing is precarious and unhealthy. Cova da Moura has the nickname of Favela of Lisbon.

In this difficult social context, drug traffickers have settled down and are creating growing insecurity.

Neighborhood to avoid in Lisbon: Portugal Novo

Located between Areeiro and the beautiful Olaias district, this district has deteriorated for more than 40 years and has become a zone of anarchy. Portugal Novo developed in the 70s but since then the municipality has completely abandoned it. See article: Nas Olaias, em Lisboa, há um bairro que é new, but só no nome.

The accommodations are no longer suitable, some are squatted, others are used by drug dealers… See the article: The Bairro Portugal Novo is one of the most dangerous in the country: “ I went on vacation and when I got back my house was occupied ! "

Lisbon neighborhoods to avoid at night

Tourists who do not want to take unnecessary risks should avoid walking at night in the park of Monsanto. Located to the west of the city center, this park brings together several districts (Campolide, Benfica, Sao Domingos de Benfica, Ajuda, Alcantara, Santa Maria de Belém and Sao Francisco Xavier).

It is the same for the Eduardo VII Park, for the district of Martin moniz,Intendant as well as Cais do Sodre.

Red Light District in Lisbon

Without being like the red light district Amsterdam or Pigalle to Paris, Pink Street is the liveliest district of Lisbon at night. This street, which is actually called Rua Nova do Carvalho, has become very popular for spending a nice evening. Indeed, the real red light district of Lisbon is located Cais do Sodre just 100 meters from Pink Street.

Dangerous neighborhoods in Lisbon?

There is no truly dangerous neighborhood in the city center. On the other hand, it is advisable not to take accommodation in certain suburbs of Lisbon.

In fact, in the 1970s, neighborhoods extended to outskirts of Lisbon have started to develop. They have the reputation of being hotbeds of criminal activity (theft, concealment, drugs, prostitution, etc.).

As the newspaper indicates journaleconomico.sapo.pt, Greater Lisbon area has around ten shanty towns where more than 1800 families live. The municipalities of Seixal, Almada (Bairro Branco-Monte de Caparica), Loures (especially in Quinta do Mocho) and Amadora (Cova da Moura, Estrela d'África and Santa Filomena) are difficult and sensitive areas.


Neighborhoods to avoid in Lisbon and the best places to stay

Best neighborhoods Lisbon

The most beautiful areas of Lisbon are very safe for tourists but are familiar with the phenomenon of pickpokets. In fact, the wealth of tourists attracts thieves. We must therefore remain cautious even in the beautiful neighborhoods that I am communicating to you below.

Best neighborhoods to stay in Lisbon

All the neighborhoods in central Lisbon are nice. I am communicating to you below only those which have the reputation of being the safest and the most beautiful to find accommodation.

Best neighborhoods to stay in Lisbon around Chiado

Le Chiado is an area between the neighborhoods of Bairro Alto as well as Low.

This area brings together with the Principe Real district the the most chic and elegant districts of Lisbon. It is the ideal place to stroll, enjoy good restaurants and go shopping (Armazéns Chiado shopping center).

Baixa Pombaline

It is the historic and very lively district of Lisbon that is part of Chiado. Its streets are lined with traditional fish and seafood restaurants, bars and small shops. It is a district that also brings together some tourist attractions such as the Fashion Museum and the Santa Justa lift (see Baixa, an ideal district for tourists below).

Alfama

This district is a very old district and very popular with tourists. It has the charm of tradition, steep alleys and a few typical fishermen's houses.

Lisbon Alfama district

It is in this district that you can go out at night to listen to the famous Fado in some restaurants.

Mouraria

For those looking for authenticity, the Mouraria district is one of the most traditional areas of the capital.

Just above Alfama, near São Jorge Castle, it is a district of colorful houses, narrow streets, many stairs and walls decorated with azulejos.

Belém district

Belém is a little out of the way from the very center of Lisbon. But it is a district very frequented by tourists. This is where the Torre de Belém, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, the Hieronymites Monastery and the most famous pastry shop in Portugal are: the Pastelaria de Belém.

Best area to stay in Lisbon to visit

Le Baixa district is ideal when you want to visit Lisbon because it is very central. Despite a high population density and a fairly lively and therefore noisy nightlife, it is a neighborhood recommended for visitors who wish to be as close as possible to tourist sites. Especially since the district is full of bars, restaurants and shops!

The hotel that I indicate to you below is located in this beautiful district of Lisbon: Baixa Chiato.

Its location is ideal for tourists as it is in a quiet location but very close to Lisbon's sights and restaurants. In addition, this area is also ideal for shopping in Lisbon.

Cheap hotel in Lisbon

Located opposite the Tagus River, next to the train station and close to the metro, this hostel features a swimming pool and a rooftop.

It is recommended accommodation for travelers seeking exceptional value for money while being in a great location for visit Lisbon on foot.

4 thoughts on “Neighborhoods to avoid in Lisbon and best areas to stay”

  1. Hi,
    I read through your blog above, I am traveling to Lisbon, Portugal in the next afew months and I will have my kids with me.
    I am trying to family friendly places and safe places to tour too around Porto and Lisbon.
    Also is traveling by car around Portugal safe?

    I would love to hear back from you.
    THANK YOU

    1. Hello,
      Yes, there is no problem to travel by car in Portugal. I went there by motorhome 6 years ago and had no problems. The country is safe and the people are very nice. You just have to be careful in the big cities like everywhere else.
      You will enjoy it because it is a wonderful country.

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