Lisbon, Portugal is an architectural foodie stunner of a European city. It is filled with cobbled streets, pastel de natas, blue tiles, and many hills with sweeping views at the end. Lisbon is filled with great things to do. It is a charmer and has become very popular with Americans. You will also get quite the workout exploring the ups and downs of this beautiful city. This is perfect because you are going to love the food in Lisbon. If you are thinking of visiting Lisbon, Portugal then use this list of the 12 best things to do in Lisbon to help inspire/plan your trip.
At Pragmatic Travelers, we only recommend what we have actually experienced. You will not find a round up of travel research here. Instead you will find straight up experienced travel advice.
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Make sure to check out 14 of the best restaurants in Lisbon, Portugal.
Lisbon Travel Tips and Tricks
- In Portugal, you will be using the Euro. I would recommend getting cash out. Some of the smaller stores and restaurants didn’t accept credit cards. Luckily, there are ATMs everywhere. PRO TIP: Do some research and open a bank account with a company that doesn’t charge international exchange fees.
- Most tourist sites are closed on Monday. So make sure you plan ahead.
- Speaking of tourist areas, the morning is always better. Attractions have shorter lines and you will deal with fewer people while walking around. I found Lisbon to be the most beautiful in the morning.
- I went during the last week of April and it was busy. Manageable but busy. If you have travel flexibility, I would visit during April/May or Sept./Oct. Fewer crowds and the heat won’t be brutal like from June-August.
- Safety: Lisbon is incredibly safe. You will only need to worry about pickpockets like in any major European city. So keep valuables in the hotel and keep your personal items close to you on transportation, sitting in cafes, and so on.
- Some men might come up to you offering drugs. Just a quick no and they will leave you alone.
- Skip Tram 28. It is the tram that goes around the major sites of Lisbon. It is usually crammed all day with tourists and looks like a nightmarish hellscape. I enjoyed exploring on foot so much more then being stuffed into a tram.
Lisboa Card-Is it worth it?
The Lisboa Card is a prepaid travel card that gives you access to over 20 paid attractions and public transit. You can buy it for 1 day or several days. I don’t think the Lisboa card is worth it unless you plan on crushing several paid attractions a day and using public transportation all day. It is a walkable city so pretty easy to get around and crushing multiple paid attractions a day can be exhausting. Most bloggers will recommend you get this card because they earn a commission through it. So really think this through before you start spending money on it.
Getting Around Lisbon
Lisbon is so easy to get around and walkable. There are plenty of public transit options like the Metro, trains, quick rental bikes/scooters, and trams. The Metro on average is 1.50 (Euros) one way. It is incredibly easy to navigate and efficient.
If you are traveling with others, I found UBERs or Bolt to be the best option. They are incredibly cheap and convenient. (Bolt ended up being the cheaper option.) Often Bolt was just a dollar or two more than the Metro. So this was my primary mode of travel aside from my own two feet.
How long to stay in Lisbon?
I think 3 full days would be the perfect amount of time in Lisbon. There is so much to do and taste that you don’t want to blitz through it. (I hate rushing through places but also understand that vacation time (PTO) can be limited.) I would spend 2 full days in Lisbon then take the third day for a day trip to Sintra, Obidos, or Evora.
Great Hotels in Lisbon
My Story Charming Hotel Augusta
My Story Charming Hotel Augusta is in the center of it all. Located in the pedestrian zone of the Chiado neighborhood. It is literally down the street from Praca de Comercio. This is the perfect location for exploring the city. Most of the major attractions are within walking distance. The hotel is a chain but is incredibly clean and affordable with friendly staff. The bed was comfortable and the room was so quiet. I thought with the restaurants right below my window I would have trouble sleeping…not the case at all! There were a few downsides to this hotel. The room is incredibly small, not a huge deal but remember that when packing. The neighborhood is very touristy. You will likely need to leave the area or do some research to find dining that isn’t just a tourist trap. I would recommend this hotel if you are looking for something centrally located and affordable.
Pro Tip: It is so easy to get to this hotel if you are coming by train from Porto. Get off the train at Santa Apolonia. Walk off the train and straight onto the metro. (The Metro entrance is right in the train station.) Take the blue line (the only line at the train station) and get off at Baxia-Chiado. Then it is a quick 2-minute walk to the hotel.
Casa Balthazar
Full disclosure: I didn’t stay at Casa Balthazar. My sister visited 2 weeks before us and stayed there and raved about it. She said the following about Casa Balthazar. “We loved this hotel. It is super cute, quiet, and small with great service. The rooms are beautiful and clean. It is in a great location that’s close to everything but still quiet. The terrace is beautiful as well as the pool area. The rate is moderately priced but could be a bit expensive for some. I highly, highly recommend this hotel.”
Not feeling either of these hotels? Check out other hotels in Lisbon.
Map of Lisbon Eats and Attractions
Use this map to help with your travel planning and Lisbon inspiration. The map includes our favorite restaurants, attractions and two great hotels. Happy Planning!
Make sure to check out 14 of the best restaurants in Lisbon, Portugal.
12 Best Things to do in Lisbon
Explore the city and the pavement
My favorite thing to do in any city is to get lost exploring the many nooks and crannies. Lisbon is built for this. The city is gorgeous and a joy to wander around/explore. There are so many squares to discover and great sites to experience. Not to mention the beautiful pavement tile art on Lisbon’s streets. So make sure you look down to appreciate the gorgeous mosaic tile work.
Lisbon Chill Out: Free Walking Tour by Locals
This is the free walking tour for you! The Lisbon Chill Out Free Walking Tour was fantastic. It was incredibly informative of the history of Lisbon but also in cultural information you don’t normally get on walking tours. Each tour guide is a Lisbon local who happily share their history and family stories with you. The tour guides keep the group number small and lighten up the walk with humor. The tour lasted over 3.5 hours. It went all over the city and was truly fantastic. I cannot recommend this free walking tour enough. It was one of the best things I did in Lisbon. Make sure to join this tour on your next trip.
Don’t be that tourist tip: Just because it is free, that doesn’t mean you don’t leave a tip.
Get lost in Alfama
Alfama is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Europe. It is one of the few neighborhoods that survived the massive earthquake that struck Lisbon in 1755. It is an absolute joy to get lost in Alfama. It is filled with cobbled streets, narrow roads, small squares, and twists/turns. Don’t worry about getting lost, just know that going down will bring you to the waterfront. One of my favorite experiences in Lisbon was wandering through the narrow lanes of Alfama in the morning. Also, it is filled with great sites to visit such as the Lisbon Cathedral and Castle of Sao Jorge. Not to mention some gorgeous viewpoints (miradouros). My favorite miradouros were: Miradouro das Portas do Sol and Miradouro da Graça.
Visit Miss Can
Miss Can is a small shop in Alfama that produces and sells canned (tinned) fish. The store opened in 1911 and has won awards for their tinned fish. You will find tinned fish stores all over Portugal but this was my favorite. The flavors are fantastic and they have a large variety from codfish to octopus. It was the perfect spot to sit down, rest, and have a snack. If you haven’t tried tinned fish before, then this is a must-do! Don’t skip Miss Can.
Time Out Market
I am not unique in recommending Time Out Market. Every blogger and influencer will mention this market. And they are not wrong. This place was fantastic. It is such a cool concept with highlighting some of the best chefs in a very foodie city. While also making their food approachable and affordable. I loved the food I ate here. I got food from Henrique Sa Pessoa and Manteigaria Silva and it was delicious!! I highly recommend sharing your food so you can sample more stalls. The only downside to this place is the insane level of crowds. It is like the Hunger Games trying to find seats for two. Forget it if you are in a large group; it would be better to split up.
Pro Tip: Go early to get seats OR split up. Someone finds seats while the other person grabs food. Then protect your seats. People will try to take it.
Eat and Drink Everything
The best part of Lisbon and really Portugal is the food. Yeah, I said it. The food is insanely good. The seafood fresh and delicious, the pork tender and flavorful and the wine freaking outstanding and cheap. The quality of food just blew my mind. And the prices! Goodness it was so affordable to eat fresh caught seafood with every meal. The same meal in the States would be out of my price range.
Then the wine. The wine is so wonderful and so affordable. We paid on average 4 Euros for a glass. (The pours were always generous.) Make sure to try Port,duh, but also Vinho Verde!
Just get away from the tourist trap restaurants. Skip the Italian food and focus on seafood and Portuguese food. (Tourist trap restaurants typically have people trying to get you into the restaurant or have colorful sandwich boards.) OH and eat pastel da natas and bfinas as much as you can!!
Make sure to check out our favorite restaurants while in Lisbon.
Rent Scooters/Bikes
The quick bike and scooter rentals are all over the city. I have never used them before but decided to try them out on the bike paths by the waterfront. In particular, between Time Out Market and the LX Factory. We hopped on scooters outside of the market and rode them to the LX Factory. The scooters were a blast to use and made even easier with plenty of safe bike paths. It cut down our walking time and was just a fun/different way to move through the city.
Visit LX Factory on Sunday
This old factory complex is filled with over 50 restaurants and shops. It is a creative area filled with different types of artists. On Sunday, it becomes even more alive with an artisan market. The stalls include people selling everything from herbs to vintage clothes to jewelry. It was bustling when I visited and a blast to walk around. There is plenty to see, do and eat there. If you are in Lisbon on a Sunday, I highly recommend visiting. It is about a 30-minute walk from the Time Out Market OR you could rent scooters and ride over.
Pro Tip: This is a great addition to a visit to Belem, as it is on the way.
Belem Tower
Belem Tower is a striking UNESCO-protected monument that was completed in 1514. It was built to protect the city from enemy ships. It is beautiful and one of my favorites. It is amazing how well it has stood the test of time and water. I thoroughly enjoyed my time admiring it. HOWEVER, it is not worth going in. The views from the tower are fine but not worth the money and time to wait in line. It is definitely a must visit while in Lisbon but not to go into the actual tower.
Padrao dos Descobrimentos
Just down the promenade from Belem Tower is Padrao dos Descobrimentos. A large monument to Portugal’s age of discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries. The monument was built in the 1930s. It is a lovely walk along the water from Belem Tower to the monument. I highly recommend the walk. It was beautiful and peaceful.
Pro Tip: You could combine this walk/trip with a visit to Jerónimos Monastery. I didn’t get a chance to visit but have heard great things about it.
Admire Elevador de Santa Justa
This is one of the most famous attractions in Lisbon. This elevator was completed in the 1920s and is a neogothic structure. It is incredibly popular. It is, also, not worth waiting for hours to ride. Definitely visit it but don’t wait for it. Instead go to the store H&M (which is just around the corner). Take the escalators to the third floor. Head over to the elevator and just walk onto the platform. This is free and you now have access to the gorgeous views without the headache of having to wait.
Enjoy the views from the Miradouros
Miradouros are gorgeous viewpoints. These will provide great views of the city. They are also great to visit during the sunsets. The list below were my favorites:
- Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
- Miradouro da Graça
- Miradouro das Portas do Sol
- Miradouro de Santa Luzia (Great blue tiles on the walls)
- Santa Justa (view from the elevator)
Your Thoughts…
This is a list of the 12 best things to do in Lisbon, Portugal. (My personal favorites!) What do you think is the best thing to do in Lisbon? What are you excited for? Please share in the comments. I would love to hear your thoughts.
