Sustainable Tips for Lisbon

In a world where many of the things we buy, do and use have a very strong environmental impact, a new awareness is emerging. Choices are becoming more thoughtful and information about the consequences is accessible to all. 

But it is not always easy to juggle the thousands of possibilities, and here we give you some tips for visiting and experiencing Lisbon with a conscious and sustainable approach.  

Throughout the city you can find sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives in transport, clothing, food and more.

The aim is to support small local productions, recycling, second hand.

Sustainable transport 

In the city of Lisbon it is very easy to get around, thanks to the presence of many transport options, operated by: Metropolitano de Lisboa (metro), Carris (city buses, trams and funiculars) and Comboios de Portugal/CP (suburban trains connecting Lisbon with neighbouring cities and the entire metropolitan area).

Gira is Lisbon’s public bike sharing system, operated by EMEL (Empresa Municipal de Mobilidade e Estacionamento de Lisboa). This service allows users to rent bicycles via app, both classic and electric, distributed in more than 130 stations around the city, thus contributing to a more sustainable urban mobility. Although Lisbon is a somewhat difficult city to get around by bicycle, there are cycle lanes that allow you to cycle through the most important and attractive areas.

There are different types of season tickets to suit different needs.

There are several companies operating in Lisbon offering e-scooters that can be easily used via an app registration. Some examples of companies offering scooter-sharing in the city are Lime, Bolt, Voi, Tier, Whoosh. 

If you plan to explore the Tagus River, perhaps at sunset, to enjoy a breathtaking view of the city there is the possibility of using boats and electric ferries. If you have loaded your Navegante card with certain types of passes, you can enjoy the river crossing without having to buy any other tickets.

Instead on Get Your Guide you can find various offers.   

Sustainable shopping

All over Lisbon you can find shops offering ethical, vintage and environmentally friendly products. 

One of the best known is Humana Vintage, which focuses on the sustainable management of textile resources. There are many locations around the city and you can often find super discounts that make the second hand even more accessible for everyone. It also organises collections of second-hand clothes to avoid waste. 

Other well-known vintage shops in the city are New Jester Vintage, Pop Closet and Mess Vntg, which offer a careful selection of garments.

If you are looking for souvenirs or handicrafts that support small local productions, A Vida Portuguesa is for you. You can find traditional Portuguese products such as handmade textiles, soaps and ceramics. 

For market lovers, there is the Feira da Ladra, a popular market dating back to the 13th century. 

On Tuesdays and Saturdays, at any time of year and whatever the weather, you will find an incredible variety of items in the Alafama area of Campo di Santa Clara. 

The Feira da Ladra attracts both locals and tourists looking for bargains and unique treasures. 

You can find vintage clothes, old books, handicrafts, decorative items and much more. 

Another important market is Feira do Relojo, held every Sunday on Avenida Santo Condastàvel in Chelas since the mid-1970s. It is the largest fair in Lisbon and for the locals it is like a Sunday ritual. Always a place to meet and socialise, this fair offers anything and everything, from fruit to flowers, clothing and all kinds of objects.

Tips for making sustainable choices and saving money on food

In addition to the various markets scattered around the city, where you can find healthy, zero-mile food, we would like to point out an app that has been helping many businesses to reduce food waste and many people to eat tasty meals at low prices for a few years now. We are talking about Too Goo To Go, thanks to which shops and cafés sell leftover products of the day at very low prices. Often those who rely on Too Good To Go do not know exactly what they will find in their bag, which also makes it fun.

Another tip is to use the numerous drinking water fountains to fill your water bottles or recycled bottles, avoiding too much plastic.