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24 Best Things To Do In Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal. It’s one of my favorite places so I have to share my best things to do in Lisbon. I love being surrounded by beautiful water and my bedroom balcony overlook the Tagus River in Alfama, the oldest district and home of Fado music. The city is known as the city of seven hills; thus, you must wear comfortable walking shoes. The food is amazing, people are kind, and it’s affordable. Let’s explore some best things to do, see, and eat in Lisbon!

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Alfama District

Alfama, I adore you! Our Airbnb apartment building survived the town’s massive earthquake in 1775. It has a rich history, character, and is centrally located. The famous Tram 28 passes our  apartment and we had to walk pass the oldest church in Lisbon, Lisbon Cathedral. It’s a lovely sight at night climbing the the cobblestone hill. 

 

Lisbon’s African Roots Tour

Check out this unique walking tour through Airbnb Experiences “Lisbon’s African Roots Tour” and discover the rich history of the African diaspora in Lisbon. You’ll learn about the experiences of African people during the Portuguese transatlantic and colonial area. 

 

Bacalhau

I had the traditional Portuguese fish, Bacalhau, cod for lunch on the first day. The waiters were hilarious & restaurant in Alfama charmingly cute. The olive oil seasoning gave it a sassy flavor.

Strolling through Praça do Comércio, we came across a stylish restaurant serving the “Portuguese Experience.” It was the Pastel de Bacalhau (fried cod fish with cheese that comes with a glass of wine). It’s not the real deal but the beautiful decor had us feeling fancy eating fried cod egg. 

 

Traditional Dinner Tour

In the evening we had a fun-filled traditional dinner tour with We Hate Tourism. We visited Torre de Belem and the famous Pasteis de Belem. Despite the windy, cold rain, our tour guide was fantastic and had us out at castles drinking tawny port and learning Portuguese history. It was fun meeting new people, exploring the old town, and admiring the architecture. We returned during the day to visit Torre de Belem and Pastel de Belem. 

 

Ginjinha

 

 

 

Pasteis de Nata

Lisbon has the best pasteis de nata and we ate so many luscious pastries, we needed to walk all seven hills. Pao de Deus (God’s Bread) is divine with its sweet, soft and tasty buttery dough. There’s a bakery on every block looking for sinners.

Pasteis de Belem is delicious with its flaky, fluffy custard tarts. The cafe is charming with decor. Manteigaria in the Bairro Alto makes one of the best pasteis de nata. The sprinkle of cinnamon and powdered sugar give boost the flavor. Cinnamon is omnipresent in their desserts.

Excited I got to taste two Portuguese specialty pastries called the Pillow and Cheese. Scrumptious, infused with apple and bursts of cinnamon.

Everyone drinks fresh orange juice with their God’s Bread ham brioche. I’ve never tasted juice so fresh. Walking up the hill raises metabolism so there’s a balance and I didn’t gain weight during this trip. 

 

Sintra

A visit to Lisbon is not complete until you visit the romance town of  Sintra and Palace of Pena. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and touring through the scenic streets and quaint shops.

 

Palace of Pena

The National Palace of Pena is bold, vibrant, and mountainous. The decor is lavish with striking views. If walls could talk, the construction and history are fascinating.

 

Cabo da Roca

We stopped at Cabo Da Roca for a gorgeous view on our way to Cascais. This beautiful beach was on my list and it was blissful. I couldn’t believe I was standing in the reality of my dream in Portugal. 

Our tours were booked through Viator and they were excellent! We covered 3 towns within 8 hours and wasn’t rushed. The guide was highly informative and we enjoyed the history lessons. 

 

Cascais

Cascais, Cascais, Cascais! If you love a beach with beautiful, stunning view in a cozy town, you will adore Cascais. We sat quietly in admiration, reflecting on the magnitude of this adventure. 

 

Elevador de Santa Justa

Elevador de Santa Justa is a fancy sight in the middle of a passage way that you can ride up and down. It’s located in the center at Praça do Comércio around shops and restaurants. 

 

Stroll the Squares

Enjoy the sights from around the city and neighborhoods. Walking through Alfama we saw a man sharpening is knife with a bicycle machine. We got to people watch at the Praça do Comércio and the Rossio Square.

ProTip: If someone asks you if you want coke, just say NO. They DON’T mean Coca-Cola.  

 

Gelados Santini

After our day tour, it was time to visit the famous Gelados Santini to celebrate my cousin’s birthday. I ordered the tantalizing pineapple and passion fruit cone that was delectably perfect. It was a wonderful spot to relax before heading to dinner. Yes, we ate dessert before dinner because we are on vacation. 

 

Bairro Alto

The Bairro Alto has amazing views of Lisbon and is a party, fun neighborhood where people hang in the streets drinking, dancing, and playing music. The architecture is beautiful and its an artful area with graffiti along the way. If you can’t walk down the steep hills, you can always ride the funiculars. We discovered the Pink Street, where the pavement lights up pink at night. 

 

Funicular Trams

If you need help climbing the steep hills of Lisbon or just want to enjoy a ride, take a funicular tram that rides up and down the hill.

 

Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara

For a breathtaking view of the city, you must visit Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara. It’s along the Bairro Alto and a marvelous spot at sundown to relax, sip wine, and listen to live music. It has a very chill, romantic ambiance and it glows at night. 

 

Castelo De S. Jorge

Castelo De S. Jorge is a historic landmark and fortress in the Alfama District. It was a fantastic tour and if you’re into fortifications, knights, and and castles, you will enjoy it. The structure and vastness are fascinating. It sits on a hilltop with the most stunning views; however, the stairs are steep.

Colorful peacocks prance around the grounds giving us a fabulous show. There’s a cafe onsite and a vendor selling fresh strawberries. I’ve never seen strawberries this big in my life!

 

Padrao dos Descobrimentos 

Padrao dos Descobrimentos known as the Monument of the Discoveries celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery during the 15th and 16th centuries. The towering architecture is bold and beautiful. A well crafted historical monument along the shore of the Tagus River estuary located in Belem. 

 

Azulejos

There are spectacular painted tiles “azuléjos” throughout the city. Stunning designs on buildings, pavements, in the metro, and throughout every neighborhood. The art form is rich in history and  quite impressive from antique panels to more modern work. 

 

Tagus River Sunrise Cruise

On our last night in Lisbon, we took an amazing Tagus River Sunrise Cruise. Our tour guide was superb and passionate about the history of Lisbon and Portugal. He even let us drive the boat and had a good sense of humor, making the cruise even more enjoyable. Of course, you can’t cruise without champagne and it was all you can drink. 

We passed the Ponte 25 de Abril (25th of April Bridge), which is a suspension bridge connecting Lisbon to Almada. The bridge is similar to the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge because it’s built by the same company that designed the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. If you look closely, you can see the Christ Redeemer look-alike statue on the hilltop. 

Cruising the Tagus River, watching the sunset, sipping champagne was a marvelous way to end a fabulous vacation!

 

Check out my Airbnb review of Alfama Balcony Airbnb: Awesome Tagus View if you’re looking for a nice place to stay in the city.