Visiting the capital city, Lisbon, is a must when visiting sunny Portugal. The city of seven hills with its brightly colored trams, beautiful landmarks, and delicious Pastel de Natas is a delight to wander around. This post is here to inspire you because nothing hurts more than returning home and discovering that you didn’t know about the existence of some of the best things to do! In this post, I’ll provide you with a list of 16 things to do and see in Lisbon and it will even include some day trips! Have fun reading!

16 Best Things To Do And See In Lisbon

Visit Jerónimos Monastery & The Church of Santa Maria de Belém

Let’s start this list with one of Lisbon’s architectural wonders. The building of the church and monastery was commissioned by King Manuel I in honor of Vasco da Gama’s discovery of a sea route to India in 1498. It is no surprise that this marvelous building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On the left side of the building, you will find the church of Santa Maria de Bélem. The church is free to visit and is not to be skipped. Meters tall pillars intertwining with the ceiling immediately took my breath away. It felt like I had shrunk to the size of an ant. The interior of the church is so impressive, but that is not all that attracts visitors. The church is also known for its tombs of Vasco da Gama and Luís de Camões.

On the right side of the building, you will find the monastery. Formerly, the monastery was populated by monks of the Order of Saint Jerome. Nowadays you can visit the monastery for €10 or €5 if you are a student.

Opening hours: open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 18:30 p.m
Entry fee: €12, there is a student & senior discount price of €7.5

Dive into the history of Lisbon at Quake Museum

Did you know that the Lisbon we can visit now is not nearly the same as the Lisbon back in 1755? Not because time has passed but because the city was completely destroyed by an earthquake, tsunami, and a firestorm? A series of interactive exhibits, earthquake simulators, and cutting-edge projection technology will bring you on an immersive experience where you will get to know the horrific history of Lisbon. And that’s not all! In addition, you will learn everything about earthquakes and seismic activity. Definitely an educational visit!

Opening hours: open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 18:30 p.m
Entry fee: €12, there is a student & senior discount price of €7.5

Visit Belem Tower

Built to protect the city of Lisbon, it now is a UNESCO World Heritage that is visited by thousands of tourists every year. The fusion of Mudejar, Moorish, Gothic, and Romanesque architectural styles can be appreciated from both the outside and the inside.

However, I must warn you about the queue and it is said that the interior is not worth the wait. I personally was content with simply enjoying its exterior. You can tip your toes into the river and rest in the shade of the park nearby, which is perfect for people-watching. If you do decide to head in, make sure you bring sunblock, a hat, and sunglasses because the queue is not shaded.

Belem Tower is located in the Belem neighborhood, just like the Jerónimos Monastery and the Quake Museum. This neighborhood is further away from the city center but easily accessible by bus or tram. I’d recommend spending a full day in the Belem neighborhood.

Opening hours: open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 18:30 p.m
Entry fee: €12, there is a student & senior discount price of €7.5

Enjoy the sweet taste of a Pastel de Belém / Pastel de Nata

Let’s remain in the Belem neighborhood for a little longer; here you will find Pastéis de Belém where you can get a traditional Pastel de Nata.

A Pastel de Nata is a Portuguese Egg Custard Tart Pastry often with a caramelized torched top. Nothing beats biting into the perfectly golden crust revealing a creamy custard filling.

Now what is the difference between a Pastel de Belém and a Pastel de Nata, you might be wondering. The only difference is the recipe. The recipe of a Pastel de Nata is a guess at the recipe of a Pastel de Belém because the ancient recipe from Jerónimos Monastery has been a secret for years. Only Pastéis de Belém has it. So if you want to try the authentical Pastel de Nata you have to queue for Pastéis de Belém, which is near the Jerónimos Monastery. Do not be afraid, the queue is worth it and the workers are insanely fast so you won’t have to wait long!

Cruise down the waterfront Promenade on an electric step

You’ll quickly see that Lisbon is covered in electric steps you can rent. They are literally on every corner. All you need to do is download an app and activate the step. I personally really enjoyed feeling the river breeze whilst driving from the Belem tower all the way to the Ponte 25 de Abril. You will pass Padrão dos Descobrimentos (a monument honoring the explorers) and MAAT (an electricity museum).

We decided to stop once we had passed the Ponte 25 de Abril and took the tram back. I’d recommend going on a bit further (you could even head all the way back to Praça do Comércio if you wanted to) because if you stop right after the bridge you will have to walk past Alcantara-mar station and that area was a bit sketchy. I know Lisbon is a very safe city, but this underground area is filled with junks, homeless persons, graffiti, and not too many other people around. I’m sure everyone will probably mind their own business and at worst ask for money, but it didn’t feel too great to be there.

Visit the heart of the city: Praça do Comérico

Praça do Comérico, also known as Commerce Square, is Europe’s biggest square. It’s the perfect place for a drink or to do some people-watching whilst the river breeze blows through your hair and the brightly coloured trams run by in the distance.

Definitely take a photo of Rua Augusta Arch, and walk through one of the arcades that seems to be going on forever. When you walk underneath the Rua Augusta Arch you will enter a pedestrian street with countless shops, restaurants, souvenir vendors, and street artists, hence why the square is seen as the heart of the city, at least for tourists that is.

At the other side of the square, you will see the Tagus River and even the Ponte 25 de Abril in the distance.

Roam around Alfama District

The complete opposite of Praça do Comérico is the Alfama district. This historic district is characterized by narrow cobblestone streets, historic landmarks, boutique shops, local cafes, and steep staircases. The best way to explore the Alfama district is by simply roaming around without a plan.

Still scared to miss some highlights? I’ve got you!

• Lisbon Cathedral – The Lisbon Cathedral is the main church of Lisbon dating back to the 14th century. The Romanesque building resembles a fort with two towers on each side. Trams frequently pass by the cathedral creating the ultimate postcard picture! Tickets are €5 per adult.
• Castelo de São Jorge – This is a Moorish castle on top of the hill. It overlooks Lisbon and provides a great viewpoint of the city down below. Inside is also a small museum with some historic artifacts. I personally found it a bit overpriced. Entry is €15 (adult above 25), and you basically pay to walk through the little museum and across the walls. There was a lack of information signs so I didn’t really learn a lot about the history of the place, which I think is a shame.
• Miradouro de Santa Luzia – Although it may not provide the same phenomenal view as Castelo de São Jorge, it is free and still a rather good viewpoint. Especially during sunset, it is popular, which is something you have to be aware of as it can get packed. During the day it’s a lot less busy.
• Fado Museum – Fado is a music genre dating back to the 1820s. In this museum, you can see, hear and feel Fado in interactive exhibitions. Entry is €5.

check out the view at any of the Miradouros

Besides the already mentioned Santa Luzia viewpoint and the Castelo de São Jorge, Lisbon has many more viewpoints which are also called miradouros. These are some of the best miradouros:

• São Pedro de Alcântara Viewpoint – located in the popular neighborhood Baixa, this viewpoint overlooks the castle, the old city, and the Tagus River.
• Portas do Sol Viewpoint – Is the Santa Luzia viewpoint too crowded? Head to Portas do Sol, which is only a few minutes walk away.
• Graça Viewpoint – located in the Graça neighborhood, this viewpoint also overlooks the castle, the old city, and the 25 de Abril bridge, making it a popular spot for photographers.
• Senhora do Monte Viewpoint – it takes a bit of work to get to this one, but you’ll get a great view. This viewpoint is the highest one in Lisbon. It is located near the Graça viewpoint. To those that aren’t capable of walking uphill; consider booking a TukTuk ride.
• Arco da Rua Augusta Viewpoint – You can actually access the arch leading to Praça do Comérico. From up there you’ll get a great view of the immense square. Entry is €3,50.

Visit the ruins of Carmo Convent

The Carmo Convent used to be a Catholic convent that rivalized the Lisbon Cathedral until it was destroyed in the devastating 1755 earthquake. The roof along with much of its structure was completely destroyed. Instead of rebuilding, the people of Lisbon decided to preserve the ruins as a symbol of Lisbon’s resilience.

The ‘romantic’ look of a roofless chapel is a rare sight to see. Additionally, the old nave of the church has been turned into a museum which houses an interesting collection of artifacts such as an Egyptian mummy, two Peruvian mummies, and the tomb of Ferdinand I among many other things.

Opening hours: open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 18:30 p.m
Entry fee: €12, there is a student & senior discount price of €7.5

TIP: When I entered the Carmo Convent I was greeted by lots of scaffolding which made my photographerheart shatter a little bit. Obviously, maintenance is necessary, but do look up maintenance days beforehand to prevent such a downer.

Visit Santa Justa Lift

You can perfectly combine Santa Justa Lift with a visit to the Carmo Convent as they are near each other.

Designed by Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard, the Santa Just lift is an intricately designed iron elevator. Its architecture might remind you of the Eiffel Tower, which isn’t a coincidence. Raoul Mesnier de Ponsard was an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel who designed the Eiffel Tower.

The Santa Justa Lift was built to connect the lower part of the city with the upper part of Carmo Square, so if you do not feel like taking the stairs and walking uphill to the Carmo Convent you can simply take the Santa Justa Lift.

Although long queues might not make it that simple. Nowadays, many people take the elevator to enjoy the gorgeous 360° view of Lisbon at the viewing platform. If you want to experience the same 360° view, but don’t fancy waiting in line; I’ve got good news for you! You can actually access the viewing platform for free and without a queue if you are willing to walk uphill. Walk to Carmo Convent, once there walk past the Carmo Convent to the back of it (you don’t need to go in the Carmo Convent), and there it is! The same view, for free!

If you do want to ride the elevator going up and down again costs €6, and the queue goes down at the end of the day.

Ride Tram 28 and others

While many cities use brightly colored tourist hop-on-hop-off buses, Lisbon uses authentic trams. Especially tram 28 is a popular route that brings you past all points of interest. The route starts in Martim Moniz, goes through the old town, Baixa, and ends in Chiado. Taking the tram will definitely spare your feet.

Tram 28 goes past Miradouro Graça, Miradouro Portas do Sol, Alfama district, Lisbon Cathedral, Praça do Comérico, Santa Justa Lift, Bairro Alto district, Time out market, and Elevador da Bico.

Unfortunately, the tram has become so popular that it is congested. You will often have to wait for another one merely because there is no more room. Don’t expect to be able to sit down in the tram. It does help to get in at Martim Moniz to beat the crowd.

Another option is to ride tram 25 or 12. These routes have a scenic route as well.

Tram 25 goes past Time Out Market, Bairro Alto District, Pink Street, and Praça do Comérico.
Tram 12 goes past Alfama district, Miradouro Portas do Sol, and Lisbon Cathedral.

Tickets: Tram tickets cost €3,00, which can be bought at the on-board ticket machines or from the driver. The ticket machines often needs the exact change.

Easier is to purchase the 24h public transport ticket which costs €6.80. It includes Elevador da Glória and Santa Justa Lift

Take pictures at pink street

The opinions about Pink Street and whether it’s worth a visit or not differ a lot online. Some would recommend going there, others won’t. I personally liked it but you have to visit it with the right mindset. Don’t expect to be there for hours. Pink Street is literally a street with pink asphalt. It is not big, it is not very clean, but hey, I like the pink vibe! It’s great for an Instagram photo and it turns into a vibrant nightlife scene at night.

Back in the days, that was a little different. The pink street was not a nightlife area filled with clubbing young adults, but instead it was a Red Light District.

Ride a traditional funicular

At first glance, they might look alike with them both being yellow, but do not mistake a funicular for a tram. Funiculars are cable rail systems on a steep hill, which Lisbon has a lot of. Each funicular has two carriages that move synchronously: one ascends whilst the other descends.

It is an interesting experience to ride one, although I might be biased. We don’t have any of these in the Netherlands. If you don’t want to ride it just because it’s fun, it also saves you intensive uphill walks. Lisbon really tries to make life easier for everyone with all the trams, funiculars, and elevators.

Two are worth visiting:

• Elevador da Glória – It connects Restauradores Square with Rua San Pedro de Alcántara in Bairro Alto. Right next to the exit at the top is the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.
• Elevador da Bica – runs through Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo to get to the Bairro Alto.

Tickets: €4,10 to go both ways.

Visit the Church of Santa Engrácia

Originally the Church of Santa Engrácia functioned as a church, but it was converted to a National Pantheon in which many Portuguese celebrities and important persons are buried. The church is located in Alfama, and its massive dome is very prominent in the east Lisbon skyline.

The building has had a turbulent history. It was cursed to never get finished because it was built on the site of a previous church that was desecrated by a robbery in 1630. The perpetrator was executed only for it to later be discovered that he was innocent. Before dying the accused man said that the new church would never be completed due to the conviction of an innocent man. For years it seemed to be true because the church collapsed during the first months of construction and financial issues. Eventually, the church opened in 1966 (mind you construction started in 1681).

Ever since the church has drawn in people with its unique design. You can climb the dome for a spectacular view of the symmetrical floor patterns or, if you’re afraid of heights, gawk at the immense height of the ceiling.

Opening hours:
October – March: open Tuesday to Sunday from 10AM to 5PM (last entry 4:40PM).
April – September: open Tuesday to Sunday from 10AM to 6PM (last entry 5:40).
Entry fee: €8

Go on a day trip to Sintra

A visit to Lisbon is not complete without a visit to Sintra. In fact, this fairytale town on top of a hill deserves its own post, and perhaps I will make one in the future. For now, I’ll try to keep it short: over the last decades, kings, queens, and rich Portuguese turned Sintra into their home, the result: a picturesque collection of castles, palaces, and exotic gardens.

Pena Palace

Where to go to

Here’s what I’d recommend visiting:

• Pena-Palace: A beautiful palace with a brightly colored exterior and lots of different architectural styles combined.
• The Moorish Castle: Ruins of a Moorish castle which provide a stunning view of Pena Palace and everything down below.
• Quinta da Regaleira: a neo-gothic mansion with a massive garden around it including an initiation well, waterfall, and many secret passages.
• National Palace: Medieval palace, which was the original palace.
• Monseratte Palace: an Arabian-inspired villa.

I’d recommend this order: Pena palace -> Moorish Castle (you can walk from Pena Palace to the Moorish Castle) -> Quinta da Regaleira -> Monseratte Palace.

You could always adjust this to your wishes! Often people recommend visiting Pena Palace as soon as it opens to beat the crowds (which I did) but in summer it is always busy no matter what time you visit.

I personally did not include the National Palace because it didn’t really appeal to me, but if you were to add it (depending on your mode of transport) I’d put it in between the Moorish castle and Quinta da Regaleira or before the Pena Palace.

Getting there and around

Getting there is quite simple: a 40-minute direct train will take you from Rossio station to Sintra. If your hotel is located up higher in Lisbon, like mine was, you could also take the train from Entrecampos station. In Sintra you have multiple options to get around. I do absolutely not recommend driving there yourself; Sintra simply isn’t built for the amount of tourism it gets. The roads are small and the parking spots are few, you will not be able to park your car at any of the spots. Also, do not underestimate the walking distances as Sintra is built on a hilltop. Some distances can be done on foot, but most can’t.

Tourist bus 434 & 435

For €15.20 you can get a hop-on-hop-off 24-hour ticket for the 434 bus and the 435 bus (there is no option for a one-way ticket). Tickets are purchased from the bus driver.

The 434 bus stops at Sintra Train Station > São Pedro de Sintra > National Palace > Moorish Castle > Pena Palace > Sintra Train Station.

The 435 bus stops at Sintra train station > National Palace > Quinta da Regaleira > Seteais Palace > Monseratte Palace > Sintra Train Station

This is often described as the cheapest and easiest way to get around Sintra. A bit of a warning though: these routes get extremely busy. It often happens you”ll have to wait one or even two buses because they are full and expect to be crammed into the bus like sardines.

Uber, Taxi or Tuk-Tuk

Another option is taking an Uber, taxi, or tuk-tuk. Especially when you are traveling with others it might be cheaper to go by Uber, taxi or tuk-tuk if you split the costs. It is also a lot more comfortable and they literally drop you off at the entrance.

If you want to have an even more relaxed day you could always book a day trip from Lisbon to Sintra. No stress and hassle about public transportation, routes, and what to visit. Here are some that I’d recommend:

Ticket prices:

Pena Palace: €20
Monseratte Palace €12
Moorish Castle: €12
National Palace: €13
Quinta da Regaleira: €12

Buy your tickets 3 days in advance online and get you’ll get a discount!

Go on a day trip to Cascais

A stay in Lisbon is often combined with a day trip to Cascais. Cascais is a beachside town with glamorous villas, golden beaches, museums, and a pretty harbor. After all the sightseeing in Lisbon it can be nice to rewind at the beach. Cascais is a 40 minute train ride away from Lisbon. A direct train departs from Cais do Sodré station.

Cascais is not too big or hilly so you could easily walk from sight to sight. Here are some things worth visiting:

• The Condes do Castro Guimarães – an extravagant villa.
• Santa Marta Lighthouse
• Parque Marechal Carmona – Great park to seek shade, you will also encounter lots of peacocks.
• Boca do Inferno – a unique cliff formation
• Praia da Rainha and Praia da Ribeira – Two beaches right at the center of the town.

Want to see even more of Portugal? Check out this blog post about Porto!

I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Let me know what you’d love to see best!

Love,

Sharon