12 Mistakes to Avoid on Lisbon Hop-On Hop-Off

The Dirty Dozen (And Fixes)

1. Starting after 11:00 — crowds build → start by 9:00.
2. Skipping Belém pastries — energy + joy → plan a pastry stop.
3. No windbreaker — top deck chill → pack a light jacket.
4. Ignoring boat timing — miss sunset → board ~16:30–17:30.
5. Overloading day 1 — burnout → spread museums across 2 days.
6. Not marking hubs — confusion → anchor at Praça do Comércio.
7. No offline maps — poor signal → download ahead.
8. Underestimating hills — fatigue → favor viewpoints.
9. Skipping water — dehydration → carry a bottle.
10. No photo plan — missed angles → seat strategy.
11. Late lunches — hangry → early Time Out Market meal.
12. No buffer — stress → 60–90 min margin for returns.