Top 10 Things You Must Do in Lisbon
-What You Need to Do On Your First Trip to Lisbon-
I firmly believe that Lisbon is the most underrated city in Europe.
When Ollie and I visited for 5 days, we were absolutely blown away by the sites, the food, and the culture.
Not only is it incredibly gorgeous, but it’s also surprisingly inexpensive.
By the end of this list I fully suspect that Lisbon will be added to your list of “must visit places”.
Or if you’re already going to Lisbon, then get pumped up cause this place is the cat’s pajamas.
This my guide for what you must do in Lisbon if you want to have an especially fantastic time, like we did!
#1 See a Live Performance of Fado
Fado music is a traditional portugese style of music that I would describe as a soundtrack for the broken hearted. Off the bat, that may sound terribly sad and technically it is. The lyrics usually are quite forlorn and intense.
But I’m guessing you probably don’t speak Portuguese anyways. So instead what you will hear is the most heartfelt and gorgeous sound your ears have heard in a long time.
This music is breathtaking.
Waiting in line for an hour to go into a tiny, poorly lit bar where we had to buy an overpriced jug of sangria became one of the most otherworldly travel moments I’ve ever experienced.
As soon as the guitarists began to strum their instruments and the singer began to belt out her song, I knew I would never forget this moment.
There was magic in the air.
I felt like I could cry because all of a sudden I was immersed in the Portuguese culture and I was astounded by how beautiful it all was.
This experience is why I’m now so adamant about experiencing an art form or live performance for every new place I go to. It’s one of the most soul-stirring ways to connect with a new place or culture.
If you do anything while you’re in Lisbon, then please go and see some Fado.
For a little taste of what Fado music is like, you can listen to one of my favourite songs here.
#2 Head to Belem for a Nata and a Tower in the Sea
A 20 minute bus ride from the city center is an area called Belem.
Belem is known for its stunning Tower and a little custard filled tart known as a pasteis de nata or nata for short. This little tart is simple, sweet, and good enough to eat about a dozen or so in one go.
If you continue to walk away from the city center and towards the waterfront, you will be greeted by the Tower of Belem. A 16th century outpost used at first used to defend the city then later turned into a lighthouse and is now a customs center.
It’s 6 euros to go in and see what lies in its historic walls.
Ollie and I chose to spend that money on ice cream and snacks instead, but to each his own!
The tower is perched in the water and ready at all times to pose for visitors, like you and me.
I highly recommend getting that ice cream and relishing the view of the Tower of Belem on your right and view of the 26 de Abril bridge to your left.
Once you’ve finished don’t forget to stroll past landmarks such as Mosteiro dos Jeronimos (Jeronimos Monastery) and Padro dos Descubrimentos (monument to the Portuguese age of discovery in the 15th and 16 century).
#3 Take a Trolley through the City riding the 28E Tram
Lisbon is known as the “San Francisco” of Europe. There’s a few very good reasons for that. 1. There’s the gorgeous hills of the city next to the water. 2. They have a very large bridge that resembles the Golden Gate Bridge (it’s even red!). 3. Lastly, they have trams that roll their way throughout the city.
The tram we’ll be going on is adorable and yellow and really fun to ride. Admittedly all of the trams are fun to ride.
Tram 28E is particularly special as it goes through some of the most popular areas of Lisbon and takes you past some of Lisbon’s most well-known sites. Along the way, you’ll pass the districts of Graca, Alfama, Baixa, and Estrela.
I recommend going as early as possible (between 7 am and 9 am) and departing from Martim Moniz so that you can grab a seat before all of the other tourists come and pack out the tram.
Another thing to note is that Lisbon’s public transportation is very reasonably priced. You can ride Tram 28E using your 24-hour public transportation card. These were about 6 euros per day. This is amazingly well-priced considering it includes the metro, the bus, the famous Elevador da Santa Justa and all tram routes.
#4 Go on a Day Trip
There are several day trips you can take from Lisbon, but the two most popular are to Sintra and Cascais.
Since my husband and I only had time to go to one location, we chose Sintra.
Sintra is a lovely town surrounded by mountainous forests, where ancient castles and inverted towers are tucked away as you wander through it’s remarkable attractions.
Sintra has it’s main town center where you can eat and explore easily since this is where the train stops. Here in the town center you’ll also be able to see the Palace of Sintra, the most well-preserved palace in all of Portugal and the oldest palace in the area.
If you’re willing to hike for a long time, take a bus, or hire a tuk-tuk/car, then you’ll be able to visit other attractions such as the Castle of the Moors, Pena Palace, Convento dos Capuchos, and Cruz Alta (the highest point in the Mountains of Sintra).
For the closest and, I would argue, most beautiful attraction in Sintra, all you have to do is take a magical twenty minute walk to arrive at Quinta da Regaleira.
Here you’ll find extraordinarily romantic palaces, gazebos, chapels, and even an inverted tower! Every structure is breathtakingly ornate. It’s honestly the stuff of dreams. I think of it as a small Rivendale (from the Lord of the Rings) come to life. It’s truly that stunning.
I almost forgot to mention, the travel for this little day trip from Lisbon to Portugal was less than 10 euros per train ticket. Such a steal!
#5 Drinks at PARK
For casual drinks with an exceptional view of the 26 de Abril Bridge, I recommend heading to PARK.
PARK is a “rooftop” bar that’s actually at the very top of a parking structure, hence the name.
Ollie and I visited PARK after a long day of sightseeing and it was the cherry on top to a wonderful day. We relaxed, had a drink or two, and savored the view and the atmosphere of a November evening in Lisbon.
Lisbon has mild weather so it was the perfect temperature for my British husband who cannot stand being hot lol.
I’d say that PARK is the perfect place for people who don’t want to go to an imposing bar scene and don’t want to get dressed up all fancy to relax and have a drink with a view.
PARK is casual, yet still nice and clean with great comfy seating options and a mellow vibe.
If that’s up your alley then this is a must do.
#6 Climb to the Castle & Wander Around Alfama
The neighborhood of Alfama is the oldest in all of Lisbon. From Sao Jorge Castle to the Tagus River, Alfama is full of ceramic shops, enchanting alleyways, captivating views, and trendy waterfront eateries .
I recommend exploring this area on day one as we did. If it’s your first time exploring Lisbon, this area will be like a breath of fresh air. The atmosphere will make you even more excited to delve into all that this gorgeous city has to offer.
The best thing to do is to take Tram 28E and get off at Portas do Sol. Here you will find one of the most iconic views of Lisbon.
Once you’re here take the opportunity to climb up through the maze of medieval stones and vibrant modern graffiti artwork up to Sao Jorge Castle.
Even the walk up to the castle is worth the time as we felt like we were able to have a fantastic introduction to the city of Lisbon.
One you’ve walked to the top and visited the castle, stroll down slowly. Explore the cute shops until you can make your way down to the waterfront to have a meal or a drink as a reward for all that walking.
#7 Explore Baixa
Baixa is the most central and prominent area of Lisbon. This neighborhood is full of shops, restaurants, main squares, and unique attractions.
While in the area be sure to stroll around Rossio Square, shop on the Rua Augusta, and ride from Baixa to Bairro Alto using the Santa Justa Elevador, an originally steam-powered elevator opened back in 1899.
There’s so much to do and see, whether you go towards the river to see the Arco da Rua Augusta (Arc of Augusta Street) and the Praca do Comercio (Comercio Plaza) or you head in the direction of Restauradores Square to dilly dally along Avenida da Liberdade (Liberty Avenue).
In fact, make sure to go in both directions. Give yourself ample time to see all that this area has to offer.
Even though I only speak about Baixa, Alfama and Belem in this post, please know that there are more amazing parts of Lisbon! This is simply the “must do” of Lisbon. If you have more time, I whole-heartedly recommend exploring through areas like Chaido and Bairro Alto.
#8 Find a Local Bakery to Have Breakfast and Get to Know Some Locals
When we stayed in Lisbon, we were lucky enough to notice on the first day we arrived that there was a local bakery on the corner of the street where our AirBnB was located.
We ended up going to this cafe every single morning of our trip, because the food was great, the coffee was 80 cents, and we got to enjoy conversation with the locals. Plus, we were able to support a small business!
This is something that we didn’t do on the next stop of our trip, which was Spain. We didn’t find a good local cafe until the very last day we were in Spain. It’s something I definitely regret not making a priority.
While in Europe, especially the Mediterranean, please find a local cafe or bakery that you can visit every morning. It provides you with all of the benefits that I listed above AND you won’t find yourself getting hangry every morning.
Besides, in Lisbon you can have Natas and delicious Portuguese style coffee for breakfast. It’s a no-brainer!
#9 Buy some Ceramics for your Home
Lisbon is known for its ceramics, specifically its ceramic tiles. They even have a brilliant museum dedicated to their ceramic tiles.
Though the tiles are beautiful, I personally didn’t really see a practical use in buying two or three tiles. Regardless, they have wonderful ceramic shops all over Lisbon (and the Alfama District). At these shops, there are tons of different hand-crafted ceramic items to choose from other than tiles.
I went a little crazy on the ceramics and bought a spoon holder, a trinket dish, and a ceramic swallow. Practical, beautiful, and full of treasured memories. Everything that I think a souvenir should be.
For the history behind the tiles and a place to buy them, wander over to Museo Nacional de Azulejo.
Or head to Nobre Povo near Sao Jorge Castelo (Saint George’s Castle) for lovely handcrafted pieces by local Portuegese artists.
#10 See Beautiful Churches
Lisbon is full of eye-catching baroque architecture and many of the more magnificent buildings are churches, monasteries, and convents.
Dotted all around the city, there are several places of worship that you can visit completely at no cost, such as the iconic Lisbon Cathedral and Basilica da Estrela.
Or for a small charge you can visit the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site Mosteiro dos Jeronimos (Jeronimos Monastery) or the roman gothic ruins of Convento da Ordem do Carmo (Carmo Church and Convent).
There are many more churches in Lisbon but I think these four are the most spectacular and if you have the time, I would highly recommend to see them all. Each one is unique and tells a special story of Lisbon’s rich history.
#11 Eat, Eat, EAT
One thing I haven’t mentioned yet, but certainly haven’t forgotten 😉 , is FOOD. If you’ve read any of my other travel blogs, then you’ll know how much I adore trying and exploring new foods.
It’s my favorite pastime!
Lisbon is full of so much good food that I had to write a whole other blog post about it here.
I wrote about the 10 foods you MUST try on your trip to Lisbon.
If you’re an unapologetic foodie like me then this post will be sweet music to your little foodie heart.
There is truly so much to explore in Lisbon. I plan on doing an itinerary for Lisbon that includes, in more detail, everything you should see on your first trip Lisbon.
And…if you’re interested in what to eat while in Lisbon, see my post here.
Let me know what you’re most excited to see and do in Lisbon!
As for you, Lisbon. You stole my heart. Can’t wait to see you again.
Until next time,
Angelica Fitzpatrick
