There's an apartment in Alfama. It's spotless. Original wooden floors, a balcony overlooking the river, Lisbon's light streaming through the window as if for the very first time. But it's empty. 340 days available on the calendar. Two reviews — one of them probably from the aunt who slept there to test the sheets.
It's not a lack of tourists. Alfama didn't lose its charm overnight. The problem is something else: nobody trusts a short-term rental with two reviews. And without reviews, there are no guests. Without guests, there's no ...