Lisbon Expects 9 Million Visitors in 2026 as U.S. Arrivals Jump 90%
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 3
Lisbon Expects 9 Million Visitors in 2026 as U.S. Arrivals Jump 90%
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 3
Summary
More than 9 million visitors are expected in Lisbon in 2026, up from roughly 2 million a year in the mid-1990s, extending the Portuguese capital’s tourism boom.
A 90% rise in U.S. arrivals over the past four years has helped drive that growth, alongside Lisbon’s appeal to creatives, expatriates and retirees.
Food, art, weather and a relaxed lifestyle are central draws, with new restaurants helping position Lisbon as one of Europe’s more affordable culinary capitals.
The surge is reshaping the city itself: the metro is expanding, construction cranes crowd the skyline, and landmarks such as the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology symbolize a livelier cultural scene.
Tourism has kept climbing despite last year’s fatal funicular crash, which briefly jolted the city and prompted debate over Lisbon’s identity.