27 Best Things To See And Do In Lisbon

There are many amazing cities in Europe, and somehow Lisbon was never first on my list. But I’m so glad I finally went there! It’s a lively, fast-growing city with a great gastronomy and vibrant nightlife scene. And there’s plenty to see, too. Get lost in the cobbled alleyways of the Alfama neighborhood, hike up to one of the many miradouros or visit the beautiful historic sights. Here’s my list of the best things to do in Lisbon.

Table of Contents

Torre de Belém

The Belém fortress is listed as UNESCO cultural heritage and is one of Lisbon’s architectural highlights. The impressive tower rises 30 meters out of the river banks and provides an opportunity to learn about military history. You can wander around on your own and see the halls, port holes and prison cells.

Just be aware that the lines can get very long, in particular on Sundays when it’s free to enter before 2:00 PM. To avoid the queues book tickets online in advance. If you decide to buy tickets at the tower itself, buy the ticket in combination with the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. It allows you to skip the line at the monastery and saves you some money. Please know that buying a combination ticket is only possible at Torre de Belém and not at Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. Entrance with the Lisbon card is free, but you’ll still have to wait in line.

Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 06:30 PM (until 05:30 PM from October to May), last admission is 30 minutes before closing time; admission fee: €6,00 (or €12,00 combined with Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and Museu Nacional de Arqueologia), location: Avenida Brasilía, 1400-038

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

A national monument and listed as world heritage site by UNESCO, this monastery is part of Portuguese culture and identity. Build to commemorate the return of the famous explorer Vasco da Gama from India, it’s only fitting that his tomb was placed here. It took over 100 years to build and that shows. It’s magnificent and the grandeur overwhelms you upon arrival. Definitely a not-to-miss visit.

This is a very popular highlight in Lisbon, so it can get crowded. To avoid the lines book tickets online in advance. Go to Torre de Belém first if you still have to get your tickets, as you can buy a combination ticket for both attractions here. This is not possible at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. A combination ticket allows you to skip the line at the monastery and saves you some money. Entrance with the Lisbon card is free, but you’ll still have to wait in line.

Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 06:30 PM (until 05:30 PM from May to September), last admission is 30 minutes before closing time; admission fee: €10,00 (or €12,00 combined with Museu Nacional de Arqueologia), location: Praça do Império 1400-206

Squares

Walk around the city and you’ll come across many majestic squares surrounded by beautiful buildings, such as the Praça do Rossio and Praça do Comércio. The latter is the biggest and most popular square in the city. It’s located at the riverfront and the former location of the royal palace. One of the best places to sit down and enjoy a coffee, wine or gelato while life passes you by.

Santa Justa Elevator

This not-to-miss attraction is a century-old elevator which connects the city center to the Bairro Alto neighborhood. Enjoy the rickety 45 meters up and take in the spectacular views from the top. The views are even more beautiful in the evening, when the whole city lights up.

Opening hours: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM (until 10:00 PM from November to April); admission fee: €5,15 for a return ticket (free entrance with the Lisbon card) and €1,50 for the viewpoint, location: Rua Santa Justa in Baixa

Bairro Alto

During the day you might mistake this neighborhood for a sleepy residential area, but at night it comes to life. Come here for a wonderful dinner and enjoy some drinks afterwards in one of the many bars. Just walk through the myriad of streets and you’ll find plenty to go to. It’s recommended to go in June when the party turns up a notch for all the city festivals! Imagine all the streets filled with people celebrating on a warm summer evening. Probably doesn’t get a whole lot better than that.

Alfama

Get lost in the narrow cobblestoned alleys of the authentic Alfama neighborhood and enjoy the traditional Lisbon life. Especially in the early morning when residents, mostly women, sell fresh fish from their doorsteps. This old fishing neighborhood dates from the 5^th century and feels like a small village where everyone knows each. Like Bairro Alto, it’s worth visiting in June when there are many festivals in the city and all the houses and streets are decorated.

Castelo de São Jorge

This medieval castle lies on the highest hill overlooking Lisbon ensuring marvelous views of the city. A visit takes up a whole morning, as there is plenty to see. The castle and the towers are worth visiting, and there are a small archeological museum, a garden and a restaurant.

If you want to skip the line (which can get quite long), it’s possible to buy tickets online in advance at GetYourGuide.

Opening hours: 09:00 AM – 09:00 PM (until 06:00 PM from November to February) ; admission fee: €10,00, location: at the top of the São Jorge hill.

Se de Lisboa Cathedral

This magnificent cathedral is the oldest and most important church in the city. It’s built on the grounds of a former mosque to celebrate the defeat of the Moors in the 12^th century. The cathedral contains a cloister, which has the same style as the Jerónimos monastery. It also has a treasury which is made up of four halls with suits, jewels and historic relics.

Opening hours: cathedral: 07:00 AM – 07:00 PM, cloiser: 10:00 AM – 07:00 PM (until 05:00 PM from October to April), treasury: 10:AM – 05:00 PM and closed on Sunday; admission fee: cathedral free, cloister: €2,00, treasury: €2,50, combination cloister and treasury: €4,50, location: Largo da Sé 1100

Tram 28

This ancient wooden tram feels like a rollercoaster when it navigates the narrow streets of Lisbon. Thousands of tourists take this tram every day, but somehow it still feels authentic. Perhaps it’s the wooden interior or the squeaking brakes. Anyway, don’t forget to hop on and enjoy the ride.

Miradouros

Lisbon lies in between seven hills, so it’s inevitable that the views of the city are unrivaled. Some of the best miradouros (viewpoints) are:

Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte
Miradouro Padrao dos Descobrimentos
Miradouro de Santa Catarina
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
Miradouro das Portas do Sol

Bridges

Both the Vasco da Gama Bridge and the 25 de Abril Bridge are interesting to see. The first one is the longest bridge in the whole of Europe with 17 kilometers in length and connects the northern and southern parts of Portugal. The second one is the longest suspension bridge in Europe and looks a lot like its American brother in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge. Both were constructed by the same company which is why they look alike.

Jardim Botanico

In the heart of the city lies this serene patch of green. This huge garden has approximately 20,000 plants and brings peace and quiet in an otherwise somewhat chaotic environment. It’s great for a stroll or reading a book and offers the best picnic spots in Lisbon.

Opening hours: 09:00 AM – 08:00 PM (until 05:00 PM from November to March); admission fee: €2,00, location: Rua da Escola Politécnica, 58 1250-102

Fado

Fado is a music style that originated in Lisbon. It’s dramatic and melancholic, focused on living a hard life. Even though it’s not for everyone, I think it’s beautiful and it can really draw you in. To enjoy some traditional fado music, pay a visit to Tasca do Chico, Clube de Fado, Parreirinha de Alfama or Senhor Vinho.

Pastel de Nata

Don’t leave Lisbon without eating one of these delicious custard pastries. They’re everywhere and they’re cheap, so it’s actually hard to not eat one during your visit. One of the most famous bakeries is the Pastéis de Belém bakery, which has been around since 1837 using an ancient recipe from the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. You won’t regret it.

Time Out Market

Food halls are booming all over Europe, and Lisbon is no exception. In the Time Out Market there are two halls. One is an actual market with the best products of the city, and the other is a food hall with more than twenty restaurants and eight bars. A fun and yummy night out guaranteed.

Opening hours: 10:00 AM – 02:00 AM; no admission fee, location: Avenida 24 de Julho 49, 1200-479

Museums

Lisbon has many wonderful museums. If you’re interested, check out the following:

The National Tile Museum: Lisbon is known for its tiles, and this museum is a must-see for people interested in the history of tile making. The museum also houses some splendid collection of decorative tiles.
National Museum of Ancient Art: Home to the country’s most prestigious art collection dated between the 16^th and 19^th century.
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum: Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian’s collection comprises more than six thousand pieces of art, from many different times and parts of the world. Expect works by masters such as Rubens, Rembrandt, Turner, Degas, René Lalique’s largest set of jewels, and much more.
Berardo Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art: Enjoy a wide selection of works by, among others, Dali, Warhol, Picasso and Duchamp.
Carmo Archaeological Museum: This museum is impressive because of the unique building in which it is located, the ruins of an old church from the 14^th century.

Day Trip To Sintra

Even when you have limited time in Lisbon and haven’t seen everything yet, it’s still worth going on a day trip to Sintra. It’s only forty minutes by train (which costs approximately 5 euros), and takes you to a completely different world. A charming town in the hills with loads and loads of palaces and castles. It feels like something straight out of a fairytale. Don’t miss the popular and colorful Pena Palace and the impressive Castle of the Moors. The gardens of Quinta da Regaleira are delightful as well. You’ll live happily ever after.

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What are your travel plans? Let me know in the comments! And make sure to check out my other destination guides and my guide on how to find cheap flights before you go!

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