Walking Sticks in Lisbon?

I have bad knees. I occasionally use hiking poles and in other situations, sometimes a cane. In Lisbon, some days I used a cane. I typically used the cane at the end of the day when my knees were sore and I wanted some stability, particularly when going downhill. The advantage of a cane is that it can go in carry on luggage, and I find that generally, people are more cautious around people with a cane.

I am retired, in good health, and walk/hike for exercise. At home, on trails with elevation or rocks, I use hiking poles. When I was in Lisbon in May 2023, I did alot of walking, including on hills. I did not have hiking poles and did not miss them.

It's not just the hills, but the pavers are uneven and very slippery in the rain. We saw a few people take a nasty fall and I slipped a couple of times myself, but luckily did not hit the ground. I was holding onto a handrail, which saved me from the ground, but didn't feel so good regarding my arm/shoulder. I like to hike and am used to uneven ground, so no problem with that, but going downhill on a slippery sidewalk, not fun. This was winter and spring after it had rained. If it's summer and you expect no rain, you probably don't need to worry about it.

My mobility is unfortunately declining, for various reasons. I used my walking stick every day in Lisbon. It was especially good to have in Alfama, which is quite hilly and has lots of stairs and very irregular, uneven cobbled street and “sidewalk” surfaces. My stick telescopes down to about 27 inches so I can strap it onto my backpack when I don’t need it. I have found that when I do use it, not only on irregular terrain but also in airports when wearing my pack, I am often accorded a certain amount of deference and given a little more space in which to move. That has been really helpful at times (and much appreciated).

Forgot to mention that I put a softer rubber thing like a crutch tip or chair leg tip on my walking stick. The hard nylon tip is ok for trails but slips easily on polished flooring (such as airports, museums, some train stations, etc.).