15 Best Things To Do In Lisbon Portugal

Stroll through Alfama Neighborhood

You cannot leave Lisbon without walking down the charming lanes of Alfama, the city’s oldest neighborhood.

The streets of Alfama are dotted with colorful old houses with hanging laundry, cobbled streets, quaint souvenir shops, and a number of Fado bars and restaurants.

You can easily spend an entire day ambling through the streets of Alfama, picking up knick-knacks, sipping cups of coffee, and enjoying splendid views of the many miradouros. Be sure to have your camera ready for some memorable captures.

End your day in Alfama with a Fado night at one of the popular Fado bars. This Alfama walking tour with live Fado music is the best way to explore this historic neighborhood.

📖 Related Read: If you’re visiting, be sure to check out our epic Alfama travel guide, which includes the 14 best things to do in this historic district.

Hop on Tram 28 in Lisbon

If you like bucket lists, Tram 28 should be high on your list of things to do in Lisbon because it passes through the extremely scenic neighborhood of Alfama.

Lisbon’s trams are antique, rickety vehicles in bright yellow and sometimes a bit of green and red. For centuries, they have been a symbol of the city.

However, an interesting fact is that the yellow trams of Lisbon were inspired by the trams of the USA. They were called Carros Americanos for a very long time.

You can couple your Tram #28 ride with a walking tour through some of Lisbon’s beautiful neighborhoods and learn more about the city’s history and Fado music.

✦ Pro Tip: Tram 28 is very popular among tourists. Therefore, it is extremely crowded, sometimes even early in the morning.
Board at Martim Moniz or Campo Ourique so that you have the chance to get a seat.
If you don’t like large crowds, take Tram 24, still a hidden gem in Lisbon.
Or join a guided tuk-tuk tour along the historic tram line instead of actually taking the tram.

Explore Sao Jorge Castle

If you are looking to add a castle to your Lisbon itinerary, then the Sao Jorge Castle should be it.

This castle has been here forever and is the true epitome of Lisbon’s history. It has been occupied by everyone you can remember—Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and Portuguese.

You can climb the rampart walls, visit the museum, walk through the gardens, listen to peacocks scream, and enjoy stunning vistas from the courtyards.

The castle also has a small archaeological site with evidence of Moorish and Portuguese settlements.

Visit with a local tour guide to make the most of your trip to Sao Jorge Castle. Otherwise, you’d just be looking at stone walls.

✦ Pro Tip: Sao Jorge Castle gets super busy, especially in the peak season. Be sure to book your skip-the-line ticket before visiting.

Visit the National Pantheon

The National Pantheon of Lisbon is an impressive Baroque monument on top of a hill in Alfama. It was built on the site of an earlier church.

Today, it is home to the tombs of many Portuguese presidents, notable Fado singer Amalia Rodrigues, and writer Almeida Garrett.

You can climb up to the dome of the Pantheon for the views.

However, more than the city views, I liked the view of the Pantheon’s marble floor from the top of the stairs. Symmetrical patterns dot the floor, and lovely pastel shades of pink, blue, and beige marble make it absolutely photogenic.

Once you are done exploring the Pantheon, head to Feira da Ladra or the Market of Female Thieves right next to the monument. It is held every Tuesday and Saturday.

✦ Pro Tip: Get your e-ticket for the National Pantheon and a city audio guide here.

Visit the Lisbon Cathedral

The Lisbon Cathedral, or simply the Sé, is a Romanesque structure with great religious and historical significance.

The Sé is Lisbon’s oldest and most prominent church in the city. And while the external architecture may not be that impressive to many, the Sé has been witness to a fair share of Portuguese history.

Apart from being a victim of the 1755 earthquake, the Lisbon cathedral was also the spot of many baptisms, weddings, and funerals of the Portuguese nobility.

The cloisters are beautiful, resembling those of the Jeronimos Monastery, though much smaller in size.

The Treasury houses a large collection of religious art and historical artifacts.

If you are a history geek and looking for some cool heritage landmarks in Portugal, you cannot miss the Lisbon Cathedral.

✦ Pro Tip: Book your Lisbon Cathedral entry ticket here.

Visit the Church of Sao Roque

Hidden behind a plain white facade on one of Lisbon’s many cobblestoned streets is an opulently carved church literally dripping with gold. That is the magnificent Sao Roque Church in Lisbon.

Located in the Bairro Alto district, Sao Roque is Portugal’s first Jesuit church. It was built with a lot of money to be as impressive as possible.

There are nine chapels within, all heavily embellished in gold. Designs are predominantly Baroque. And, you can see a lot of art in the adjoining museum.

Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcantara is close by if you want to get a good view from this side of the city.

✦ Pro Tip: In case opulence is not your thing, you can head to the more austere Church of Sao Domingos, a truly offbeat attraction in Lisbon.

Praca do Comercio & Arco da Rua Augusta

Praca do Comercio is Lisbon’s largest commercial square, overlooking River Tagus. It has been around since medieval times.

The Royal Ribeira Palace was located here, but it was completely destroyed in the 1755 earthquake. Since then, the square has undergone extensive remodeling.

Today, Praca do Comercio is an impressive center of Lisbon’s Pombaline Downtown, simply known as the Baixa.

You can stand in the middle of the square and stare all around to see yellow Pombaline buildings constructed to resist earthquakes. Then, gaze at the water and get lost in Portugal’s seafaring history.

And if that does not satiate you, go climb the triumphal arch of Arco da Rua Augusta, the highlight of Praca do Comercio, and enjoy gorgeous views of the city and the sea.

Relax at Rossio Square

Rossio Square is one of the most happening places in Lisbon. It is home to some of the city’s most famous restaurants and bars.

For long, Rossio has been home to historical revolts, celebrations, and executions—something I found out while researching facts about Lisbon. It has always remained a lively meeting place for locals.

In the middle of the Rossio Square stands a tall column with King Pedro IV on top. Therefore, it is also known as King Pedro IV Square.

I love the wavy Portuguese pavement adorning Rossio Square. This is the iconic black-and-white pavement that the Portuguese carried with them to all their colonies.

Visit the National Tile Museum

Housed in a former convent, the National Tile Museum has an exclusive collection of Portuguese azulejos, or glazed tiles.

From 15th-century pieces to modern tilework, you can find tiles of all kinds here and learn about the history of azulejos (over 500 years!) in Portugal.

Within the museum, there is also an old Baroque chapel opulently embellished in gold.

The highlight of the museum lies on the top floor—a 74-foot panel showing the Lisbon skyline before the 1755 earthquake. While many of the buildings have fallen down, you can try to identify some that still exist.

✦ Pro Tip: Get your Lisbon Tile Museum entry ticket here.

Marvel at Jeronimos Monastery in Belem

Also called the Hieronymites Monastery, the Jeronimos Monastery is one of the most impressive monasteries in Portugal. It is a classic representation of Portugal’s Manueline style of architecture.

The monastery, along with the Belem Tower, was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1983 for its unique architecture and designs.

Jeronimos Monastery has an interesting history that’s inextricably linked with Portugal’s Age of Discovery.

In the past, a church stood at the monastery’s location. It was called Ermida do Restelo. Since the church was so close to the sea, seafarers stayed there before embarking on their journeys.

Vasco da Gama also spent his last night here before embarking on his discovery of the Orient. Today, his tomb is inside the church.

You can enter the church for free but you need to pay to enter the cloisters.

✦ Pro Tip: There is usually a long queue at the church (which is free to enter), but the crowd thins around midday. So, if you can have an early lunch, between 12 and 2 p.m. is probably the best time to visit the Jeronimos Monastery.
Visit to the cloisters is included in the Lisbon Card. The queue for cardholders is really short.

Climb up Belem Tower

Belem Tower, or Torre de Belem, is part of the UNESCO heritage site along with the Jeronimos Monastery.

A 16th-century Manueline-styled structure, the Belem Tower was used as a port of embarkation/disembarkation for explorers and as a lighthouse.

You can climb all the way up to the top of the Belem Tower by using the narrow, spiral staircase. Since the stairs are very narrow, they have an interesting traffic light system to avoid overcrowding. Make sure you pay heed to the red and green lights.

There are several levels in the Belem Tower. You can get out on each and learn a bit more about Lisbon’s history here.

One of the tower facades has a rhinoceros carving, which represents the first rhino that came to Europe from India.

✦ Pro Tip: Get your skip-the-line tickets for Belem Tower here.

Taste Pasteis de Belem

Who can leave Portugal without tasting delicious Portuguese desserts? And who can leave Belem without tasting the delectable Pasteis de Belem?

The original Pasteis de Nata was first created by the monks of the Jeronimos Monastery in Belem.

You can still taste them at a family-owned pastelaria called Fábrica Pastéis de Belém, right next to the monastery. They have been making Pastéis de Belém since 1837, and the recipe is top secret.

There is usually a long queue in front of the pastelaria. But that’s usually for takeaway. If you want to eat inside, the queue is shorter.

Once you get inside, you will realize that the shop is a museum in itself, with painted tiles decorating galleries and walkways.

As you sit in one of the many halls and a waiter takes your order, take the time to smell the buttery custard and the fragrant cinnamon. Having a Pasteis de Belem here is equivalent to soaking in Portuguese culture.

📖 Read Next: The best Portuguese desserts that you must try when in Portugal

See the Discoveries Monument

The Discoveries Monument is a fairly new addition to the list of iconic attractions in Lisbon. But what it lacks in age, it makes up in magnificence.

A sculpture consisting of 33 Portuguese explorers led by Henry the Navigator is carved on it. They look ready to set sail on a ship and explore the world.

The Monument of Discoveries was inaugurated in 1960 to commemorate Portugal’s Age of Discoveries.

Ride up the elevator inside the monument and go up to the observation deck for stunning views of the Belem district and the adjoining marina.

Also, be sure to look down to see the huge mosaic of a compass with a world map in the center.

Visit Carmo Convent

Located in the Carmo Square of the Chiado neighborhood, Igreja do Carmo, or the Carmo Convent is a 15th-century Gothic building that was destroyed completely during the 1755 earthquake.

The roof collapsed on hundreds of devotees who had gathered to celebrate the feast of All Saints. The roof was never restored.

The pointy, skeleton arches that remain give the convent a desolate, haunting look. That makes it one of the most picturesque places in Portugal.

Further, you can visit the first-ever Portuguese museum located within the convent, which has some impressive tombs and a large collection of historical artifacts, including two mummies!

Go up in the Santa Justa Elevator

Only 5 minutes away from the Carmo Convent is the Santa Justa Elevator.

The elevator connects the lower downtown with the upper Carmo Square. It is the only remaining vertical urban lift in the city and, hence, a top attraction in Lisbon.

The Santa Justa elevator is a hit among families with kids in Portugal. Once on the top, you can get stunning views of Lisbon’s Pombaline Square and a unique angle of Carmo Convent’s ruins.

✦ Pro Tip: Santa Justa is almost always crowded and there will usually be a long line. So, be prepared to wait.
If you are not interested in the elevator, skip it and head to one of Lisbon’s many miradouros (viewpoints) for a more relaxing, crowd-free view.

What’s the best time to visit Lisbon?

The best time to visit Lisbon is in spring (March-May) and fall (September-October).

Portugal has become a tourist hotspot in recent times, and Lisbon is a favorite among travelers. Therefore, Lisbon is extremely crowded during the summer months.

On the other hand, the shoulder months have fewer tourists and hence cheaper accommodation. Plus, it is a little less hot than in summer.

If you can bear the cold, Lisbon is also one of the best European cities to visit in winter. With 9-10 hours of sunlight every day, it is just the perfect place to soak in some winter sunshine.

Where to stay in Lisbon?

Finding the best place to stay in Lisbon really depends on your preferences and budget.

If you do not want to commute a lot and are willing to spend a little more, then you should ideally stay in the city center or close to it.

Alfama is perfect for spending a couple of nights in Lisbon. Some of my favorite places to stay in Alfama are the Memmo Alfama Hotel, Alfama Lisbon Lounge Suites, and Pousada Alfama.

If you’re visiting on a budget like we did the first time, you can stay at Hotel Ibis Lisboa Alfragide. It was neat, and the staff was courteous. There is a bus stop right next to the hotel. And you can get to the city center in under 15 minutes. Plus, they serve amazing Pasteis de Nata.

Getting around Lisbon

Getting around Lisbon is not difficult. You can use the metro, tram, bus, and funicular. Or simply your legs.

We used all of them. And it was fun walking through Lisbon’s hilly roads. And jumping into a tram/bus whenever needed.

I would highly recommend getting a Lisboa Card which covers free and unlimited public transport apart from free/discounted entry to many historical landmarks like you have seen above.

If you are looking to get to cities outside of Lisbon, such as Sintra or Cascais, then you can use the train. You can also rent a car and drive. Check out my post on how to do 6 easy day trips from Lisbon by train.