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Lisbon is one of our favourite cities in the world. There is so much history and the architecture is beautiful. The streets are bustling, but not overly touristy. There’s always something to do and the food is amazing. For a well-known European city, it is also very affordable. We’ve had the pleasure of visiting multiple times over the years and would love to spend more time there in the future. I’ve compiled a list of unforgettable things to do in Lisbon below.
To read about our road trip across the Algarve where we ended in Lisbon, click here.
DINE AT TIME OUT MARKET
Time Out Market is one of our favourite spots to eat in Lisbon. Even though many of the locals “poo poo” on it for being a tourist trap, we’ve only ever had great experiences there. Yes, it is very busy and crowded during peak hours, but that’s because the food market there is amazing. As a tourist or newcomer to Lisbon, who wouldn’t want to experience this? We usually go during quieter times to avoid the lunch rush and have found that evenings are not as busy as the day time.
Location: Av. 24 de Julho 49, 1200-479 Lisboa, Portugal. Click here for the map.
EXPLORE CASTELO SAO JORGE
Located in the busy Alfama neighbourhood at the top of a hill is the Castelo de Sao Jorge. This castle is a very popular tourist attraction in Lisbon and can get very busy, but it’s definitely worth a visit. You can walk around the castle grounds and climb up the walls for an amazing view of the city. We’ve spent over an hour exploring the sights of the castle, which includes admiring the beautiful but noisy peacocks that reside in the castle grounds.
Location: R. de Santa Cruz do Castelo, 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal. Click here for the map.
STROLL THROUGH LISBON’S JARDIM BOTANICO (BOTANICAL GARDEN)
Hiding behind a gated street entrance is the 10 acre botanical garden of Lisbon. I had no idea just how big this garden was. There are over 10,000 plants, many of which are exotic and unfamiliar to me. This is a great place to have some quiet time without leaving the city centre. Lisbon’s Botanical Garden is conveniently located in Principe Real and very close to Rato station. Admission fees were very affordable, at approximately 4 euros.
Location: R. da Escola Politécnica 58, 1250-102 Lisboa, Portugal. Click here for the map.
RIDE THE SANTA JUSTA LIFT
This is another tourist attraction that locals don’t speak highly of. It is very crowded and there is often a long line to enter the lift. Even if you don’t have the patience to try the elevator, it is still worth seeing due to its unique architecture and history. If you do get a chance to go into the elevator, there is an observation deck at the top which will give you a great view of the Baixa neighbourhood.
Location: R. do Ouro, 1150-060 Lisboa, Portugal. Click here for the map.
TAKE A TRAM TO BELÉM
Just outside of downtown Lisbon is the Belém district, Lisbon’s most historic neighbourhood. There are many beautiful monuments including the Belém Tower and the Jeronimos Monastery. The trip out to Belem from Lisbon city center takes about 30 minutes via tram. You can also take a public transit bus, or a hop-on hop-off bus. We opted for the tram as it’s the most efficient and direct way of getting there from Lisbon.
Click here for the map.
FEAST ON PASTEIS DE NATA
You can’t go to Portugal without trying their iconic custard tarts, also known as pasteis de nata. Lisbon seems to have a bakery on every street corner, many of which serve delicious pasteis de nata. We had at least one pastel de nata a day whenever we visit Lisbon! This is definitely one of my favourite things to do in Lisbon because love eating. I rounded up our favouite spots in Lisbon for pasteis de nata in a blog post here.
DISCOVER LISBON’S HISTORIC SQUARES
Lisbon is filled with many beautiful squares where local and tourists alike gather. Many of these squares have centuries of history, such as the main Praca do Comercio also known as the Commerce Square. Often times you can find street vendors situated at these squares, selling artisanal goods as well as delicious street food. We were fortunate to experience the Santo Antonio Festival one year, where the streets and squares came alive with vendors and live performances. Some other squares we enjoy are Rossio Square and Largo do Chiado.
TAKE A TRAIN TO SINTRA
One of the most memorable experiences from our first visit to Lisbon was taking a train to Sintra. We spent the day in Sintra where we explored two of the major attractions: Quinta da Regaleira and the Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors). Quinta da Regleira was one of the most magical places I’ve ever been to, it truly felt like a place from fairy tales. The Castle of the Moors was also fantastic, and we enjoyed exploring the castle grounds and walking along the walls. However if you have a fear of heights, the castle may not be the best attraction for you. I hope to return soon to see Pena Palace.
What are some of your favourite things to do in Lisbon? I hope to continue adding to and updating this blog post as we plan more return visits.
