The 18 things to do in Lisbon

Visit Lisbon and its surroundings: What are the best things to do and see in the beautiful Portuguese capital located on the banks of the Tage?

Visit Lisbon the time of a weekend in Lisbon , a getaway of a few days or a week, is a must-see experience in Europe. Distributed on seven steep hills overlooking the Tage River, Lisbon offers all the pleasures you expect from the Portuguese star destination, without the tourist hustle of other European capitals (all depends on the period of the year).

Gothic cathedrals, monasteries, majestic castles and museums picturesque will be part of your activities, but you will take even more pleasure to stroll through the narrow streets of the different neighborhoods during your visit to Lisbon.

So what do we do in Lisbon? To better prepare your stay on site, we have prepared a list of ideas for things to do and to visit in Lisbon. Follow the guide!

1. Visit the Château Saint-Georges

The first thing to do when visiting Lisbon is the Château Saint-Georges. This imposing monument is located on a hill overlooking the historic centre of the city. Solidly fortified, it is a Maures castle that dates back as far as medieval times. Today it is extremely popular, and its shaded terraces called miradouro offer a superb view of Lisbon and the Tage.

In addition to the view, the visit of Château Saint-Georges offers you to discover a museum that preserves ancient ruins, towers – including the Ulysses Tower – the walls and gardens.

2. Get in the car Tour de Belém

A ride to see the Tour de Belém is highly recommended. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this fortified 16th century tower is impressive and magnificent, with its manuline architecture.

During your visit, you can contemplate the magnificent balconies and ornaments carved in limestone, turrets and the statue of Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Succès!

3. Penetrate in Hieronymous monastery

The Monastery of the Hiéronymites is an impressive monastery located in the parish of Belém. Started in 1501 and completed 100 years later, the monastery is an excellent example of Portuguese architecture.

Also listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, it is best to do with the Tour de Belém!

4. Borrow theelevator of Santa Justa

The elevator of Santa Justa is an architectural masterpiece of Lisbon that allows you to have a view of the whole city, its roofs, the surrounding hills and the Tage.

Built by Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard in 1902, this funny elevator is considered the most important tourist attraction in the Baixa district to be in Lisbon during your stay.

Good to know: Thanks to the , you get discounts but also free admissions in more than 20 museums and attractions as well as public transport including the Santa Justa elevator!

5. Climb to the top of theArc de Triomphe de la Rua Augusta

Located on the emblematic Praça do Comércio, you will not fail to see the triumphal arch of the Rua Augusta. Built following the earthquake of 1755, it symbolizes the renaissance of the city during its reconstruction.

It is possible to climb to the top of the ark to have a panoramic view of the city and the Tage.

6. Get aboard the mythical Tramway N°28

Take the line N°28 of Lisbon's mythical yellow tram, which is an attraction alone. This circuit is without hesitation the most beautiful and interesting of the city. It crosses the heart of Lisbon from Martim Moniz to Estrela / Campo Ourique, which allows you to see the most beautiful places in the capital! The ticket purchased on board costs 3 euros but access to the tram is free if you take the ticket .

The schedules of line N°28 range from 6:00 to 11:00. The yellow tram is often crowded in the day due to its success with tourists.

7. Visit the palaces Sintra

Sintra is a small historic town that deserves to be at least one day at your visit to Lisbon. Located within Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, it houses a number of important historical sites, including the Château des Maures , Pena National Palace and .

A little advice: Go up to the Château des Maures and the Pena National Palace on foot. This hike of about 7 km will offer a superb view of Sintra and its surroundings and will allow you to discover places that you will not see if you take the car.

8. Flip into the alleys of the city centre

Explore the different historical districts of Lisbon like that of Alfama , the neighborhood Baixa , Bairro Alto , the Chiado, Belém, or the Parque das Nações (Parc des Nations, very recent) is one thing to do when visiting Lisbon.

Each of them has many interesting sights and sights!

9. Enjoy lisboète gourmet specialties

What to do in Lisbon to taste the flavors of the city? Visit the Confeitaria Nacional (Praça da Figueira) founded in 1829, or the Café Fábulas (14, Calçada Nova de São Francisco) in the Chiado.

Taste the local liqueur Ginginha do Carmo, on the pâtissier flank including the best addresses to eat nata pasteis In Lisbon are located in Belém – and especially in the Pasteis of Belém – or refresh yourself with a delicious ice at Santini Chiado (9, Rua do Carmo) which has been there since 1949.

10. ♪ miradouros Lisbon

Because a breathtaking view of Lisbon cannot be denied, it is therefore necessary to go to one of the city’s palaces, or miradouro ; Especially when you know that the municipality officially counts sixteen! Here are some that you should not miss:

• Miradouro de Santa Luzia
• Miradouro das Portas do Sol
• Miradouro da Graça
• Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
• Miradouro de Santa Catarina

11. Admire the Monument to the Discoveries in Belem

Built in Belém in 1960, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos is a great monument (52 meters) that celebrates the time of the Great Portuguese Discoveries during the 15th and 16th centuries. It was also Belém that the great explorers were leaving as Vasco de Gama .

For a few euros, you can climb to the top of the monument to enjoy a breathtaking view of the Tage and the Belém district.

12. Listen to the fado around a glass or dinner

An excellent way to understand the heart and soul of Portuguese culture is to listen to the fado, this melancholic musical style born in the streets of Lisbon, especially those of Alfama. Powerful, tearing and bewitching, your senses will be captivated by the singing and notes of the fado. The tiny paved streets of Lisbon are lined with restaurants that offer fado shows that you listen to when you eat. What to spend an authentic evening in the heart of Lisbon.

13. Go eat at TimeOut Market

Known previously as the Ribeira Old Market, a passage to the TimeOut market is mandatory if you visit Lisbon. He's one of those. best markets City. We come here to meet you, eat a piece, drink a drink, buy specialties... In a few words, we come here to spend some good time!

If you’re looking for other nice places, go out in the evening in the Bairro Alto, or go to the LX Factory which is a very nice creative center. There's nothing missing in Lisbon!

14. Take a trip to Cascais

What to do in Lisbon again? Coastal city, Cascais is a former fishing village and a popular holiday place for Portuguese and tourists who seek to do in Lisbon and its surroundings. The seaside resort is 30 kilometres west of the white city and has many small beaches and several restaurants.

15. Surf from Praia do Guincho

Located 5 km northwest of Cascais, Praia do Guincho is an ideal beach for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. She is also famous for serving as a decor in the James Bond film In His Majesty's Secret Service .

16. Take a bath on the Costa da Caparica

Close to Almada, Costa da Caparica is worth a look if you are looking for a beach. It is the largest rectilinear beach in Portugal, with an area of almost 30 km long.

17. Make a boat trip

Lisbon is a city on the banks of the Tage, which leads to the Atlantic Ocean. Making a boat trip is therefore a good way to evade the time of an afternoon or day.

There are cruises on the Tage aboard a sailboat or a catamaran. We recommend that at sunset, which is more enjoyable to live after a day of visits. This cruise allows you to see the monuments of Lisbon from a different angle!

Another way to enjoy the area is to rent a boat with or without skipper. At the start of Lisbon, go to discover the sea of Paille or reach the estuary of the Tage. If you leave for several days, go north of Lisbon, and go through Cascais, Cabo da Roca or Carvoeira to reach the city of Ericeira.

18. Go to the Statue of Christ King

Inspired by Christ of Rio the Redeemer, Cristo-Rei watch over the city from the municipality of Almada. It was completed in 1969 and symbolizes the recognition of the country for being spared by the damage of the Second World War. A historic must in Lisbon during your stay!

To reach the statue of Christ, you can cross the bridge of April 25, which gives the impression of being in San Francisco, or to combine the utility to the pleasant by making a cruise on the Tage if you take the boat to access the site.

How to get to Lisbon?

Lisbon is very well served from France by the low-cost companies like Ryanair, easyJet but also the companies TAP Portugal, Iberia or Air France. The flights are direct and last about 2 hours. Prices are generally available from around 50 euros per round-trip. There are direct flights from Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille, Nantes, Lyon and Montpellier.

You can find your flight at the best price on flight comparisons, like Ulysses For example.

How to move to Lisbon?

Portuguese capital, the city is human-sized, which allows you to travel fairly often on foot in the center. However, if you want to use the tram or other means of transport, you can read our article on the transport in Lisbon .

We recommend you to opt for the , which is the official transport and tourist pass of the city of Lisbon. This Pass allows you to travel to Lisbon for free for 24, 48 or 72 hours with public transport. This map also offers free access to 26 museums and reduced rates for many monuments and sites protected by UNESCO of the city.

If you come to Lisbon by car or have opted for the car rental , you'll need to find out where to park in the city. In this case, read our article on parking in Lisbon .

Where to sleep in Lisbon?

The many neighborhoods offer a wide choice of places where staying in Lisbon during your stay in Portugal. To make the most of your stay, the ideal is to choose your accommodation in the most authentic areas of Baixa, Alfama, Bairro Alto, Chiado and Belém. Sleeping in one of these neighborhoods allows you to be close to the sights to visit and transport to easily travel to Lisbon.

To find a hotel at the best price in Lisbon, you can search this Compare hotels . There are also beautiful dwellings on Airbnb .

So you still wonder what to do in Lisbon?