Our favorite things to do in Lisbon
The view of Lisbon from Sao Jorge Castle at sunset. All photos by John O’Boyle / The Empty Nest Explorers
Lisbon is now a very popular destination and has been on our list to visit for a long time. We live in New Jersey and Newark has a large Portuguese community so we are familiar with the wonderful food and friendly people.
Lisbon is often compared to San Francisco - the hilly terrain; the 25th of April Bridge often being called the Portuguese Golden Gate Bridge because of its striking similarity; the photogenic trams; plus, an earthquake destroyed Lisbon in 1755.
While we love San Francisco we enjoyed Lisbon even more. Portugal in general has more of an “edge” to it than it’s neighbor Spain but we always felt safe and enjoyed the ambiance.
Lisbon has so many attractions, with a wide variety of fantastic food. It’s walkable but also has a variety of accessible transit and the people are very friendly and genuinely want you to have an enjoyable visit.
Since Lisbon is now a crowded tourist destination and your time is limited we’ve put together a list of our favorite attractions, things to do, and tips on how to make the most of your visit.
The 25th of April Bridge.
São Jorge Castle
Walking the walls of São Jorge Castle high above Lisbon.
From the moment you arrive in Lisbon, you see St. George Castle looming over the city. The 12th-century castle sits high atop a hill in the Alfama district.
We planned on visiting on our first day in town. Normally I always purchase tickets ahead of time for major attractions but we were flying in and weren’t sure if we would be tired.
Unfortunately, it was Christmas week and the line to purchase tickets was enormous so we visited at the end of our trip with our pre-purchased on the phone.
You can pre-purchase a ticket here.
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São Jorge Castle would be interesting to visit without the view but the commanding view of the city makes it a must-visit. It’s a popular sunset spot and we highly recommend visiting at that time. Not only do you see gorgeous views of the city but you’ll enjoy the wonderful exterior lighting.
You can read more in our detailed blog post: Visiting São Jorge Castle in Lisbon: Is it worth it?
Jerónimos Monastery in Belem
The interior courtyard of Jerónimos Monastery.
The Jerónimos Monastery is about 30 minutes outside of downtown Lisbon. It’s easily reachable by “commuter” train or modern tram.
Many major attractions have a “skip the line” ticketing option, unfortunately, there is no easy way to skip the line at Jerónimos Monastery. We’d suggest purchasing the tickets online and arriving at least a half hour before the Monastery opens for the day.
If you visit at a busy time of year it may take you a while to get inside but the good news is that moving the line slowly means that the inside of the Monastery never feels crowded.
There is an impressive church that is part of the complex but requires entering via a separate line. Luckily the wait is usually short and it’s free.
The Jerónimos Monastery is gorgeous and very photo-worthy.
Purchase your Jerónimos Monastery here.
You can read our full blog post - Belem: A must-see when visiting Lisbon
Belem Tower and the Monument of the Discoveries
Belem is full of wonderful attractions. A short walk from Jerónimos Monastery are Belem Tower and the Monument of the Discoveries. Both are directly on the waterfront and provide great views.
Monument of the Discoveries.
Monument of the Discoveries, shaped like a ship, is located on the Tagus River where ships would depart to explore the world during the Portuguese Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries.
We admired it from the outside but you can take an elevator to a terrace that offers great views for €6.00.
Belem Tower at sunset is a magical spot
A short walk along the river leads to Belem Tower. The tower is a 16th-century fortification built to symbolize Portugal's maritime power.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site is open to visitors but we skipped the inside tour which often involves standing in line and spent our time admiring the outside at sunset.
Take a day trip to Sintra
The exterior of Pena Palace is an iconic symbol of Portugal.
It’s amazing how many major attractions are located in Sintra.
Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle, and Quinta da Regaleira are among the top attractions.
Sintra is about 15 miles from Lisbon so it’s an easy day trip. Train, Uber, or driving are popular ways of getting to Sintra.
Not only are Sintra’s attractions very, very crowded and the town’s geography is challenging. So I’d highly recommend reading our full blog post: Visiting Sintra and Pena Palace: what to see and do
Wander the city
Before we go too far with our list of great attractions I should mention that one of the joys of Lisbon is wandering the back streets.
You can put away your Google Maps for a bit and see where serendipity leads you. You are never far from mass transit and Uber is very cheap.
Beautiful side streets in the Alfama district.
Enjoy the great view from one of Lisbon’s Miradouros
Debbie and John enjoy drinks at Miradouro das Portas do Sol.
Lisbon’s hills might leave your legs a bit sore but they also create fantastic viewpoints, also called miradouros.
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara is located at the top of the Barrio Alto neighborhood. It’s directly next to the Elevador da Gloria, one of Lisbon’s funiculars.
Miradouro de Santa Luzia is an iconic observation point, topped with a pergola that offers sweeping views of Lisbon & the Tagus River. It’s small and crowded but the views are great.
Miradouro das Portas do Sol is located very close to Miradouro de Santa Luzia but it’s a much larger plaza. There are many tables and a snack bar kiosk. We spent a lovely hour enjoying coffee, snacks, and the wonderful view. Also, the iconic tram 28 passes right by so you get the full Lisbon experience from your seat.
São Jorge Castle is another great spot to enjoy the Lisbon skyline.
Ride one of the funiculars
Ok, I’ll admit it I have a thing for funiculars. They are quick treats that eliminate a long walk up a hill.
Lisbon has three funiculars, all of which were designed by Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard. He is also responsible for the design of the Santa Justa Lift.
You can pay on board or use your Viva Viagem Card for a slight discount.
Tagus River Sailing Cruise
A sunset cruise along the Tagus River in Lisbon.
After a busy day exploring Lisbon a sunset cruise on the Tagus River can be a great way to end the day.
Here’s a link to some well-reviewed cruises.
Try Pastéis de Nata or Pastéis de Belém
Pastéis de nata - or pastéis de Belém as they are known in the place of their origin - the Jerónimos Monastery in Belem is a traditional Portuguese egg custard pastry that you really have to try.
Finding the pastry isn’t hard, they are everywhere. The very best bakeries are easy to spot, they only sell pastries and coffee.
Often you’ll see the staff making more behind a window, they are so fresh you’ll often get them warm.
A few Pastéis de Nata were our breakfast most days. Luckily we found a place near home that serves them but unfortunately, they are not exactly as good as the real deal in Portugal.
Time Out Market
Time Out Market is a huge food court found in many cities, including Lisbon.
The restaurants tend to be a bit nicer and serve mostly local cuisine. We visited as an easy way to sample a variety of Portuguese dishes at one time.
You might think Time Out Market is only for tourists but you’ll see plenty of locals, including young people on dates. One of our visits was on a Friday and there was music and dancing.
LX Factory
Since I guess we are officially in the food section of our list it’s time to mention LX Factory.
LX Factory is located in a 19th-century industrial complex that is now home to cool shops, restaurants, bars, and even office space.
We had fantastic hamburgers at Micro Burger.
It’s fun to visit anytime but it really comes alive in the evening. We visited after our day in Belem since it’s right on the tram line halfway back to downtown Lisbon.
Lisbon Cathedral
The Lisbon Cathedral is the oldest church in the city, built in 1147. One of the highlights is the rose window over the main entrance.
The interior was austere, partly because of extensive damage in the great earthquake of 1755. Although there are grander cathedrals in Europe you’ll probably be strolling through the beautiful Alfama district so it’s certainly worth a stop.
You can purchase a ticket online here.
What’s not on this list:
Santa Justa Lift - The lift is a very cool-looking elevator that takes you up about 150 feet from one section of Lisbon to another.
The only problem is that the line is very long, clearly not worth the wait.
Admire the architecture and move on.
Tram 28 - Super controversial one here. Unless you are visiting in the off-season or don’t mind getting to the tram before 8 am I would advise to avoid taking tram 28.
The lines are extremely wrong. A few minutes after I took the photo below we witnessed an auto accident when the driver tried to avoid the people spilling out into the street.
While tram 28 does wind through some of Lisbon’s most beautiful neighborhoods the tram gets so crowded it’s hard to see out the windows.
Check out the photogenic trams as they snake through the streets but skip taking the ride.
Debbie and I hope you enjoy your visit to Lisbon, we can’t wait to go back.
Some well-reviewed Lisbon activities:
Other Portugal travel posts:
