25 Best Things To Do In Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is one of those cities that keeps revealing itself the more time you spend in it. After almost 10 years living there and countless trips back since, I’m still finding things that make me go “how did I not know about this?” This list covers the 25 best things to do in Lisbon: pastéis de nata, 12th-century flea markets, UNESCO palaces, and riverside bike rides that blessedly involve zero hills. Come in spring, go slow, and for the love of all things holy, stop eating in restaurants with hawkers at the door.

What are the best things to do in Lisbon?

The best things to do in Lisbon span food, history, architecture, and neighborhood wandering. Must-dos include eating a fresh pastel de nata, visiting Jerónimos Monastery, exploring Alfama’s cobblestone streets, and watching the sunset from a miradouro. For day trips, Sintra is unmissable. Lisbon rewards those who slow down and get a little lost.

Lisbon has got it all: a rich history, mild weather year-round, top-notch beaches less than an hour away, and a food scene that punches well above the city’s size. The weather is kind, the food is cheap relative to most of Western Europe, and locals are warm in a way that doesn’t feel performative.

That said, Lisbon has changed a lot. The city I moved to in the early 2010s and the one you’ll visit today are not the same place. Airbnb ate Alfama. Tuk-tuks multiply faster than pigeons. Some of the best neighborhood restaurants have been replaced by overpriced tourist traps. Don’t get me wrong, none of this is a reason not to go, but it is a reason to be smart about how you go. This list will help. Let’s explore the best things to do in Lisbon, with the eyes of someone who actually lived there.

1Eat the one and only Pastel de Nata

I’m hungry, so let’s start with food. Pastéis de nata are also known as Portuguese custard tarts. If you haven’t tried one yet, you don’t know what you’ve been missing all your life.

They taste as delicious as they look and are available in virtually EVERYWHERE in Lisbon. Paired with a bica (Portuguese espresso), this is the favorite snack of Lisboners: morning, afternoon, any other time really.

2Awe at Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos)

Jerónimos Monastery was built as a glorious ode to the Portuguese era of Discoveries in Asia, Africa, and South America in the 15th century. The architectural style, Manueline, represents the fusion of those cultures in the details of every door, spire, tower, and column.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the building is truly magnificent both from the outside and the inside. Spend some time inside exploring the chapel and the indoor patios. Rushing through it would be a waste.

3All aboard the funiculars!

To deal with the many hills of Lisbon, funicular railways were built to transport people from downtown (Baixa) to the neighborhoods above. I’m not going to pretend these aren’t touristy. The vehicles will almost certainly be packed. That said, there’s still real joy in riding these 19th-century tracks uphill with the city unfolding below you. My actual ranking: skip the Santa Justa Elevator (it ends on a platform with no real exit, you’ll feel cheated), and go for Bica or Lavra instead. Both drop you into neighborhoods worth exploring on foot.

4Mercado da Ribeira

I love markets, anywhere. And I love what TimeOut (yes, the magazine) did when refurbishing the old Mercado da Ribeira, right in Cais do Sodré.

On one side, traditional stalls with some of the best local fruits and vegetables. On the other, a massive food court with modern and quirky restaurants. You can get anything from fresh Atlantic oysters to Portuguese wines, from codfish stalls to hipster burger joints. It also doubles as a venue for concerts, workshops, and other events throughout the year.

5Explore the streets of Alfama

Is Alfama still worth visiting?

Yes. Even though modern Airbnbs have replaced many old traditional houses and tourists have displaced much of the local population, exploring Alfama is still a peek into the old essence of Lisbon. Go early in the morning (before 9am) or on a weekday if you can: the light is better, the streets are quieter, and you’ll occasionally catch the actual residents going about their actual lives. Get wonderfully lost in the tiny cobblestoned streets and find surprises at every corner: little shops, restaurants, squares, and viewpoints with sweeping views over the city and river. Portas do Sol is a fantastic spot to grab a beer and watch the world go by.

6Give a chance to the modern Lisbon

The Universal Exhibition of 1998 (Expo’98) in Lisbon sparked a major urban redevelopment of the city’s eastern waterfront. When it ended, a new urban district named Parque das Nações (Park of Nations) was born.

Walking through this area gives you a dramatically different perspective from the rest of the city. Twin towers designed to look like giant sailboats, a ship-shaped mall, water gardens, a casino, and the longest bridge in Europe: Ponte Vasco da Gama. It’s contemporary architecture as an open-air portfolio.

7Live a fairytale in Sintra

Is Sintra worth a day trip from Lisbon?

Without question. Sintra is a village where imposing mansions and ancient palaces of former Portuguese kings coexist with exotic gardens and lush greenery. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, only about 40 minutes by train from Lisbon’s Rossio station, and one of the best day trips from Lisbon you can do.

One important caveat: Sintra gets absolutely mobbed in summer. If you’re going in July or August, take the first train out (around 7:30am from Rossio) and you’ll have the palaces to yourself for the first hour. Wait until 11am and you’ll be queuing in the sun with 400 other people wondering where the magic went.

8Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte

What is the best viewpoint in Lisbon?

If you only go to one miradouro in Lisbon, make it Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte in the Graça district. It offers the most complete panoramic view of the city: the Tagus, the castle, the rooftops, all in one sweep. It’s a challenging walk uphill (my calves have strong opinions on this), but worth every step. It’s also the least touristy of the main viewpoints, which means you’re more likely to find locals sitting on the benches than selfie sticks blocking the view. Come at sunset. Bring something to drink.

9Haggle at Feira da Ladra

Looking for the quirky, alternative side of Lisbon? Pay a visit to Feira da Ladra. This open-air bazaar has been running since the 12th century and is a popular destination for finding deals on antiques, clothes, housewares, old vinyls, and all sorts of random curiosities. These days it also caters to tourists with handmade tiles, cork items, and souvenirs.

Feira da Ladra opens every Tuesday and Saturday in Campo de Santa Clara. While you’re in the area, swing by two majestic monuments nearby: Panteão Nacional and Church of São Vicente de Fora.

10Ribeira das Naus

Ribeira das Naus is a riverside strip connecting Comércio Square and Cais do Sodré, filled with meadows, kiosks, riverside stairs, all backed by pastel-colored government buildings. If Lisbon has an urban beach, this is it.

It’s a lovely place to bike, drink a beer, sunbathe, or read a book, particularly on a bright sunny day. One of my absolute favorite spots in the city, and I think the reason is simple: it encapsulates everything that’s great about Lisbon. The river views, the mix of locals and visitors, and the effortlessly chilled vibe.

11Taste the seafood

Finding affordable, fresh seafood is extremely difficult in Europe. Portugal is the exception. The country shares most of its border with the Atlantic, which makes it arguably the seafood-friendliest country on the continent. Enough to say that the symbol of Lisbon’s biggest annual festivities, Santos Populares, is a sardine.

Walk into any typical Lisbon restaurant and order grilled dourada (sea bream), robalo (sea bass), sardinha (sardine), or one of the hundreds of bacalhau (codfish) preparations, the undisputed king of Portuguese cuisine. The rule of thumb I always give: the further the restaurant is from a major tourist sight, the better the food and the lower the bill. A neighborhood tasca in Mouraria or Intendente will serve you a better grilled fish for half the price of anything near Alfama or Belém.

12Comércio Square (Praça do Comércio)

One of the largest plazas in Europe and the most magnificent in Lisbon. It’s surrounded by yellow Pombaline buildings on three sides, with the south side opening onto the Tagus river. The plaza is home to fine restaurants (including Martinho da Arcada, the oldest in the city), museums, and even a club.

It’s literally “Trade Square”, named because this is where merchants and captains would offload their goods after returning from long sea journeys. The Augusta Arch at the north end is a symbolic entrance to Lisbon and worth climbing for the view.

13Grab a bike!

A few years ago, cycling through Lisbon would have been a nightmare. Since 2017, though, the city has invested heavily in bike lanes and a public bike sharing system called GIRA, with daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly passes available to visitors.

From Baixa, it’s possible to ride all the way to Belém or Parque das Nações along the river without touching a single hill. It’s one of the best ways to cover a lot of ground without the calves paying the price.

14Belém Tower (Torre de Belém)

Is Belém Tower worth the ticket price?

The tower itself? The interior is cramped, the queues are long, and the ticket (around €8) is not particularly good value for what you actually see inside. I’d skip it. That said, Torre de Belém is such an icon of Portuguese heritage and culture, sitting over the mouth of the Tagus since the 16th century, that it becomes a powerful thing to simply stand in front of. Explorers departed from this spot to Africa, South America, and Asia, and were received back here on their return. You can feel the weight of that just by walking around the outside. Save your money, but don’t skip the location.

15Have fun in Bairro Alto and Bica

Bairro Alto and Bica are among the most picturesque neighborhoods in Lisbon, but they come with a twist. By day, they’re quiet and photogenic. At night, the bars open up and eclectic crowds arrive, turning the streets into Lisbon’s nightlife epicenter. Year-round, you’ll find people hanging out in the street with a drink in hand. Lisbon really is that easy-going.

16Visit the best aquarium in the world

In the modern setting of Parque das Nações, Oceanário stands out as more than just an aquarium. The largest indoor aquarium in Europe and voted #1 in the world by TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice, it’s not only a place for kids. Over 15,000 animals and plants representing 450+ different species will make you stop and stare.

I’m usually not a fan of enclosed animal spaces, but Oceanário has been strongly committed to ocean sustainability from the very beginning, and whenever possible, they work to release animals back into the wild.

17São Jorge Castle (Castelo de São Jorge)

Originally built in the mid-11th century during the Moorish period, São Jorge Castle has survived the centuries to become one of the most iconic landmarks of Lisbon. Standing above Mouraria and crowning the highest hill of the city, the inner citadel is worth the visit. Come not just for the impressive walls and towers, but for the gorgeous open views over the city and the Tagus below.

18Chiado

Chiado is one of the fanciest and most culturally rich neighborhoods in Lisbon. It has inspired movies, books, songs, and entire chapters of Portuguese culture.

Don’t miss the statue of Fernando Pessoa, one of Portugal’s most important writers, sitting outside the café A Brasileira, his old writing haunt. Nearby, the Carmo Convent is a real-life witness to the 1755 Earthquake. The roof collapsed and was never rebuilt, but the stunning Gothic arches remain, creating a haunting and beautiful sight.

19Watch the sunset at Miradouro do Adamastor

Finish your time in Chiado on a high. Head to Miradouro do Adamastor, one of the trendiest viewpoints in Lisbon, perched above one of the main hills. It gets lively (street musicians, dancers, and tourists all sharing the space), but in the best possible way.

Come here at sunset, grab a beer or a glass of wine, and raise a toast to Lisbon. Difficult to beat.

20Sip on ginjinha, the famous Lisbon liqueur

Portugal has been celebrated for wine for centuries, but Lisbon has its own defining drink. Ginjinha is a delicious sour cherry liqueur made with aguardente, and Lisboners love it. You can drink yours com ela (with the cherry) or sem ela (without) at the tiny, wonderfully traditional shop A Ginjinha, which has been serving it since 1840. Order it in a chocolate cup if that’s on offer: you drink the liqueur and then eat the cup. It sounds gimmicky and it absolutely is, but also it’s great.

21Become a tile expert

What are azulejos and why are they important in Lisbon?

Azulejos are the decorative ceramic tiles that have become one of Portugal’s most recognizable visual identities. With roots in the Moorish presence in the city, these intricate and often colorful patterns appear on building facades, church interiors, and train stations throughout Lisbon. Before paying museum entry, take a walk through the Intendente neighborhood and look up: entire building facades are covered in azulejo panels, some dating back centuries. Then visit the National Tile Museum (MNAz) in Alfama, which tells the full story from the country’s imperial past to contemporary design. Give it a couple of hours and you’ll leave with a very different eye for the city.

22Rossio and Baixa Pombalina

This is Lisbon’s downtown. Completely shattered by the earthquake and tsunami of 1755, the area known as Baixa was rebuilt with a more ordered city plan that contrasts sharply with the organic tangle of older neighborhoods.

The heart of downtown is Rossio (Pedro IV Square), a place that has hosted a Roman circus, medieval public beheadings, and today, a pleasant plaza full of people-watching opportunities. From here and the adjacent Figueira Square, Baixa’s parallel streets run all the way to the river, including Gold Street (Rua do Ouro), Silver Street (Rua da Prata), and the very touristy Augusta Street.

23Hit the beaches

What are the best beaches near Lisbon?

There are no proper beaches in the city center, but Lisbon is surrounded by some fantastic Atlantic beaches. As a rule of thumb: the farther you go, the less crowded they’ll be. The best ones require a car.

24Time travel in Sé de Lisboa

In a city with dozens of churches, visiting the oldest one in Lisbon should already get your attention. Sé Catedral de Lisboa dates back to 1150, built to celebrate the city’s liberation from Moorish rule. It survived the 1755 earthquake (which many considered a miracle at the time) and still shows off its stark, powerful Romanesque architecture. Many call it the Portuguese Notre-Dame. Pay a visit to the treasury, a small chamber up the steeple.

25Party during Santo António!

If you’re in Lisbon in June, prepare for shorter nights of sleep. June is the month of popular Saints’ celebrations across Portugal. In Lisbon, Santo António (the city’s patron saint) is celebrated on the 13th, but Festas de Lisboa make the streets come alive with vibrant parties, folk music, and open-air restaurants serving grilled sardines and meats pretty much all month long.

Head to Alfama, Graça, Mouraria, or Sé for the biggest party atmosphere. It’s fun, well-spirited, and about as authentic as Lisbon gets.

Insider tips for Lisbon

• Avoid taxis, especially if you’ve just landed. There are far more reliable and scam-free options to get to the city center.
• “Drug” dealers in Baixa are completely harmless. Most of them don’t even sell real drugs. Say no and go on with your day.
• Start every morning the Portuguese way: a café (espresso) and a pastel de nata in any coffee shop. Repeat after lunch and dinner as needed.
• Whenever you see a sign saying miradouro, follow it. You’ll be rewarded with great views.
• Couvert items in restaurants (olives, cheese, bread) are not free and can be overpriced. If you don’t want them, just say so as soon as the waiter arrives.
• Do NOT eat in any restaurant where someone is actively trying to pull you inside. This is especially true on Rua das Portas de Santo Antão.
• Tipping is completely optional. Do it only if the service was clearly above and beyond.
• Best time to visit is between April and June, when temperatures are pleasant and the city isn’t at peak capacity.

Where to stay in Lisbon

Choosing the right neighborhood matters more than most people realize. For a deeper breakdown of what each area is actually like, check my guide to the best areas to stay in Lisbon. In short: Baixa and Chiado for first-timers, Príncipe Real for a more local feel, and avoid paying a premium to stay in Alfama.

Here are two hotels I can personally recommend:

Or find your own

Use this curated list of quality hotels and guesthouses to get started. All are located in central areas of Lisbon, with WiFi and a rating of 8 or higher.

Lisbon: go slow, go deep

Twenty-five things sounds like a lot, but Lisbon has a habit of pulling you in further than you planned. The city rewards the unhurried traveler: the one who stumbles down an unmarked alley in Alfama, ends up sharing a table with strangers at Mercado da Ribeira, and misses the sunset because a ginjinha turned into three. That is the Lisbon worth coming back for. And you will come back.

What is Lisbon best known for?

Lisbon is best known for its hilltop neighborhoods, historic trams, Manueline architecture, world-class seafood, and pastéis de nata. It's also famous for fado music, its Age of Discoveries heritage, and a relaxed café culture that makes it one of the most enjoyable capital cities in Europe to simply wander.

How many days do you need in Lisbon?

Three days is the sweet spot for a first visit to Lisbon. Day one covers Belém and Chiado, day two Alfama and the downtown, and day three can be a day trip to Sintra. If you have four or five days, you can slow down, explore neighborhoods like Mouraria and Príncipe Real, and squeeze in a beach day.

Is Lisbon safe for tourists?

Lisbon is generally very safe for tourists. The main things to watch for are pickpocketing in crowded areas like Alfama, on tram 28, and at Feira da Ladra, as well as overpriced restaurants on streets like Rua das Portas de Santo Antão where hawkers invite you in. Use common sense and you'll have no issues.

What is the best time of year to visit Lisbon?

The best time to visit Lisbon is April to June. Temperatures are warm but not brutal, the city is lively without being overwhelmed, and June brings the Festas de Lisboa street parties. September is also excellent. Avoid July and August if you can. It gets very hot and extremely crowded.

Is Sintra worth visiting from Lisbon?

Yes, Sintra is absolutely worth a day trip from Lisbon. It's only about 40 minutes by train from Rossio station and packs in UNESCO-listed palaces, castle ruins, and dramatic hilltop scenery. Go early to avoid the worst of the crowds, especially at Palácio da Pena.

What should I eat in Lisbon?

Start with pastéis de nata (custard tarts) with an espresso. For meals, try grilled sardines, bacalhau (codfish) in any of its many forms, and fresh Atlantic seafood. Drink ginjinha (sour cherry liqueur) at least once. The Time Out Mercado da Ribeira is a great place to sample many things without committing to one restaurant.