If you’re thinking about things to do in Lisbon, look no further. I’ve gathered all Lisbon’s top hits into one handy summary, organised geographically, including two day trips.
Lisbon in a nutshell
Lisbon has something for everyone, from its surprising number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites to the many opportunities to sip a caipirinha outside a shaded bar overlooking the sea.
It’s one of the most vibrant places I’ve been and it will undoubtedly leave you feeling cheerful. Its yellow trams give the city a retro feel when they rattle through the cobbled streets, dappled sunlight glinting on their windows. The combination of this with the orange-tiled roofs and the sparkling blue sea makes for bright and colourful scenes everywhere you look.
Lisbon is on the seafront so it naturally slopes steeply upwards inland. This means you’ll do a lot of walking up and down steep streets. But the stunning views out to sea and the city’s relaxed atmosphere make it all worthwhile.
There are so many things to do in Lisbon that I can’t possibly cover them all in this article! But hopefully I can give you some useful starting points.
Central Lisbon
Where better to start exploring a city than right in the centre? Here are some highlights from the central area of Lisbon.
Praça do Rossio (Rossio Plaza)
Also known as Praça Dom Pedro IV, the Praça do Rossio is a good place to start as you can catch the train easily to the Rossio stop. You’re spoilt for choice of cafés – although they’re rather overpriced and touristy, the Praça do Rossio is a nice place to sit and get your bearings before heading out into Lisbon properly.
Praça do Comércio (Commercial Plaza)
Head south from the Praça do Rossio to the Praça do Comércio. This is a grand, spacious square, outlined with important-looking buildings in a uniform pale stone. Walk around its arched cloisters and get a snap of the square’s iconic arch, looking towards the sea.
Time Out Market
Time Out Market is on the seafront at the western end of Lisbon’s city centre. You have almost endless choice of food, from locally-caught fish to the delectable and ubiquitous pastels de nata.
Sé de Lisboa (Lisbon Cathedral)
The other side of the city centre at the edge of the Alfama district (more on this district below) is Lisbon Cathedral. This is Lisbon’s oldest church, dating back to 1147. Pop in for some peace and quiet among the cool stones of this atmospheric cathedral.
Castelo de São Jorge
Between the Moorish Quarter and the Alfama District is the Castelo de São Jorge. This is an eleventh-century castle within a whole castle complex. It was largely used by the Moors when they occupied parts of the Iberian peninsula and its fortifications demonstrate its importance as a real fortress of Lisbon.
To get to the Castelo de São Jorge, it’ll be uphill all the way! The best fortresses are always at the top of hills, but I promise the views across Lisbon are worth it.
Alfama district
The Alfama district is one of Lisbon’s oldest areas It’s a winding maze of cobbled streets and narrow stone steps, full of little cafés and bars.
Bar Terraço de Santa Luzia
The Bar Terraço de Santa Luzia was my favourite spot in the Alfama district and I returned there several times. Halfway up one of the Alfama district’s steep hills, it has stunning views out across the sea and over Lisbon’s red tiled rooves.
Sitting here in the evening drinking a caipirinha or a vinho verde is something I can highly recommend!
Fado Museum
From there, head out for dinner in the Alfama district and catch a fado performance.
Fado is a traditional Portuguese singing style, mournful in style and conveying a sense of nostalgia or loss. Its cultural significance is such that it appears on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Fado singers perform in many of Lisbon’s bars during the evening. If you want to learn about fado during the day, you can visit the Fado Museum where you can learn about the history and culture of fado as a Portuguese treasure.
Western side of Lisbon
There are just as many things to do in Lisbon’s western side!
Lisbon’s western side harks strongly to Lisbon’s seafaring history, transporting you back to the days of explorers and sea battles.
To get to these landmarks on Lisbon’s western side, you can either take the train or walk down the river. I chose to walk down the river. It’s quite a long walk but there are some cafés along the way. You also pass the Ponte 25 de Abril, which looks uncannily similar to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery)
Your first stop on Lisbon’s western side is the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gothic window-frames and arches separate neat squares of manicured grass. The atmosphere is hushed and contemplative as befits a religious building.
The Jerónimos Monastery is best-known as the final resting place of the explorer Vasco de Gama. But it’s a large site, with cloisters on two levels and a large, ornate chapel.
Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries)
Head down to the seafront as there are several interesting seafaring and military monuments here. The first is the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries). This is a sculpted tower with a queue of stone people climbing up the side. It commemorates 500 years since the death of Prince Henry the Navigator, a key figure in Portugal’s navigational heyday.
Torre de Belém (Belém Tower)
A little further west is the Belém Tower. This is a fortified medieval tower right on the sea. It was a point of entry and departure for long-ago Portuguese explorers so it symbolises Portugal’s golden age of discovery and exploration.
The Belém Tower is another UNESCO World Heritage Site – that’s two in this area!
Monumento aos Combatentes do Ultramar (Monument to the Overseas Combatants)
Finally, take a moment to sit beside the peaceful Monument to the Overseas Combatants. This is dedicated to the Portuguese soldiers who died fighting in the Overseas War over Portugal’s African territories in 1961 to 1974.
The monument is a tall triangular structure beside a turquoise pool. It is an incredibly peaceful space to sit and reflect.
Day trips
You won’t be stuck for things to do in Lisbon but if you’ve got some extra time then I recommend doing some day trips.
Sintra
Sintra is a mid-sized town to the west of Lisbon, about 40 minutes away by train from Rossio Station. Sintra is best-known as home to the Pena Palace, a brightly-coloured former royal residence on a hill to the south. Complete with turrets and battlements, and decorated with red and yellow paint or colourful tiles, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a fairytale.
I would recommend a whole day for Sintra. The Pena Palace will take you a few hours at least. You’ll then also have some time to explore Sintra town centre and other sites such as the Castelo dos Mouros, a tenth century Moorish castle.
Cascais
Cascais is an upmarket seaside town about 40 minutes west of Lisbon on a slow train. One thing Lisbon lacks is nice beaches, but you can find these in Cascais. The beaches are tucked into small inlets, sheltered by rocks. You can hire a paddleboard and go out to sea, or a bike to cycle up and down the coast path. Up the steps into the town, the seafront is lined with restaurants, specialising in fresh fish and seafood. All in all, Cascais is an ideal mini-trip out of Lisbon, and a perfect seaside complement to Portugal’s capital city.
Cabo da Roca
Cabo da Roca is the most western point of mainland Europe. I recommend combining it with a trip to either Sintra or Cascais as there is a bus between the two of them which calls at Cabo da Roca. Stand on the edge of the windswept cliffs, looking out at the shallow waves crashing ashore. There’s a small café where you can have a cup of coffee and a cake.
Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy Lisbon as much as I did! If you’re sticking around in Portugal and want to explore more of the country, check out my one week in Portugal itinerary.