I visited Lisbon for the first time. Though I did a few things right, there's a lot I wish I'd known before I left.

"I made mistakes on my first trip to Lisbon, but I also got a few things right. I'm glad I did a guided day trip to Sintra and tried a tram, even though it wasn't very efficient. Visiting in late winter was a smart move to dodge crowds, but I wish I'd spaced out our itinerary. My dad and I went to Lisbon on a last-minute whim in February."

"We landed with no real plan beyond "eat, walk, repeat," which the Portuguese city rewarded - and then promptly humbled us with hills, staircases, and a few rookie mistakes. This is the playbook I wish I'd had: what mattered on the ground for a first visit, where we accidentally nailed it, and how I'd structure the days if I could do it again."

A last‑minute February trip to Lisbon with no plan beyond 'eat, walk, repeat' yielded rewarding food and walking experiences alongside challenges from steep hills and staircases. A guided day trip to Sintra proved worthwhile, while trying a tram was novel but inefficient. Visiting in late winter successfully avoided crowds and made navigation easier. Lack of pacing across the itinerary created fatigue and regret about crammed days. Future visits should space attractions more evenly, account for Lisbon's topography, choose guided excursions for distant sites, and treat vintage trams as charming but sometimes slow transport.

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