OK, I'm going to land in LIS in mid-December and I have about a week. Your budget suggestions for accommodations or whatever would be most welcome. Middle-aged female solo traveler, so we can skip the nightclubs. Would like to visit Tagus and/or Sado Estuary, or any other good natural sites if it's possible to do so easily without renting a car. I prefer to avoid driving when I'm jet-lagged if I can.

LIS can be rather cold and rainy in December, maybe not the best time to be outdoors there. On the other hand, there are lots of museums and other "indoor" places to see.
For "solo" sightseeing, I find Gray Line to be always efficient and well organized.

http://www.grayline.com/franchise.cfm/action/details/id/41

Otherwise, you can use train or metro, which are also pretty decent. BTW, Lisbon's metro stations deserve to be seen! Each one of them was designed by a different architect, so it's like traveling through art exhibitions.

Yeah, I've got my raincoat planned -- actually two of them. Should it be the livid pink or the metallic gold raincoat? ;) Unless it's really pouring, I'm pretty good at strolling in the rain. I'll check out this Metro station art, as you are not the first to mention it. Sounds most intriguing. I'm also into tiles and mosaic, although not very knowledgeable about it, so I expect I will have a real learning experience.


LIS can be rather cold and rainy in December, maybe not the best time to be outdoors there. On the other hand, there are lots of museums and other "indoor" places to see.
For "solo" sightseeing, I find Gray Line to be always efficient and well organized.

http://www.grayline.com/franchise.cfm/action/details/id/41

Otherwise, you can use train or metro, which are also pretty decent. BTW, Lisbon's metro stations deserve to be seen! Each one of them was designed by a different architect, so it's like traveling through art exhibitions.

If you have the time, DO go to the Gulbenkian Foundation. It includes several absolutely fantastic collections. Gulbenkian was amazing in his eclectic interests and the collections (paintings, sculpture, rugs, Lalique etc. etc.) are overwhelming. If you're there on a Sunday, I think admission is FREE the entire day. ^ Metro stops about 2 long blocks away from the Foundation.

If you rely on taxis, they are quite inexpensive - compared to the rest of Europe. (Just be careful what they try to charge on the way to or from the airport. The drivers very often like to cover up the meter before you really have a chance to see the final price.)