Cool Things To Do In Lisbon & Best Day Trips

 

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Lisbon, welcome, you’re in the right place! This beautiful and charming city with many historic buildings is blessed with pleasant weather all year round. Many of the places to visit in Lisbon are within the central area, making it easy to explore the city. In this post I will also show you the best day trips from Lisbon, so you can see some of the beautiful nearby destinations.

In recent years, Lisbon has become a magnet for tourists from all over Europe and other parts of the world and has transformed its reputation from old and tatty to edgy and cool. Set in seven hills, you can enjoy some magnificent views from many parts of the city.

That also means you should wear comfortable shoes to walk around the cobbled streets, climb stairs and walk uphill. As a real fan of the city, I’ll share with you my favourite Lisbon attractions, so you won’t miss out on the best places to visit in the city.

Portuguese people tend to speak English more than their neighbours in Spain. But if you know a few words in Portuguese, it will be easier to make friends in Lisbon and the rest of the country. Start by saying the thank you in Portuguese, which is “obrigado”, but there are lots of other ways to say it in this link.

Things To Do In Lisbon: Classic Attractions

Visit The Iconic Torre de Belém

Built in the early 16th Century, when Portugal dominated some of the world’s most important sailing routes, the tower is Lisbon’s most iconic landmark. It displays a number of architectural styles, especially the one known as Manueline. It served as a lighthouse, a customs house, a fortress and even a prison. Its location, right by the River Tejo, adds to the beauty of the tower.

Jeronimos Monastery, Among The Top Lisbon Attractions

Not far from Belém Tower, you will find the grand Jeronimos Monastery, a monumental building erected to celebrate Portugal’s glory at the time of the great explorations. It is one of the top Lisbon attractions. Here you can walk in the patios and admire the stunning architecture. But to some, what makes Jeronimos Monastery even more special is the fact that Camões, one of the most important Portuguese poets, is buried here along with explorer Vasco da Gama and King Dom Manuel 1st.

Praça do Comercio (Commerce Square)

Praça do Comercio is a large square by the River Tejo and one of the most popular of all Lisbon attractions. The square has been a stage to many important historical events, and the buildings that surround it seem to be kept intact for centuries, keeping a very distinct design. There are many places to eat, drink and enjoy the view of the river.

Stroll In The Alfama District, One of the Best Places To Visit in Lisbon

Alfama is Lisbon’s oldest district and one of the best places to visit in Lisbon. It is the ideal place to get more acquainted with Portuguese culture and, despite the crowds, you will find the most pleasant and genuine Lisboetas.

Alfama is very charming and packed with historic buildings, chapels and the beautiful Lisbon Cathedral. It is also a good place to watch a good Fado show or simply get lost in its narrow streets.

Use The Famous Santa Justa Lift

This may seem an odd thing, but Santa Justa Lift became a tourist attraction as soon as it was inaugurated back in 1902. The lift had the sole purpose of taking people from Bairro Alto district to Baixa, as in those days it was very hard to go from one area to the other. It is still in operation and connects some of the best places to visit in Lisbon. Santa Justa lift is part of Lisbon’s public transport system and is included in the day travel pass.

Chiado District

Chiado is another district in central Lisbon that oozes charm. With tiled historic buildings aplenty, it has also become popular with tourists because of its bars, restaurants and nightlife. Here you can also see some important landmarks, such as the statue of writer Fernando Pessoa, Luís de Camões Square and the centuries-old Bertrand Bookstore, that first opened in the 1700s.

São Jorge Castle

Castelo de São Jorge is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Lisbon and can be seen from most of the historic part of the city. The castle dates back to medieval times and to reach it you need to climb a lot of steps. But don’t let that put you off, because the views from there are truly worth the effort and this well-preserved castle is a must in your tour of Lisbon.

Quirky & Alternative Places To Visit In Lisbon

Explore The City’s Foodie Side

Portuguese cuisine may not be as well-known as their Italian or Spanish counterparts, but it is equally rich in flavours and variety. You can try local dishes in the many restaurants found around Alfama, Chiado and Baixa, or go on a Lisbon food tour with a local guide to get a better insight into the different styles and flavours.

Just make sure you don’t miss out on classics such as the pastel de bacalhau, or simply cod cake, and pastel de nata, a small custard tart that’s a favourite among all local desserts.

Wander Around Pink Street

The street called Rua Nova do Carvalho was once the centre of Lisbon’s red-light district, a place where sailors and lone local males came in search of a good time and company for the night. In 2011 it was included in a regeneration project and has since changed its image and reputation.

Now known as Pink Street, it is one of the best places to enjoy Lisbon’s nightlife, breaming with bars, discos and good places to eat.

Visit Parque das Nações/Lisbon Expo Park

This area, redeveloped to host the Lisbon 1998 Expo, is a stark contrast to historic part and one of the newest tourist attractions in Lisbon. What was once an abandoned wasteland, became the heart of the city’s corporate and financial world, Lisbon’s answer to London’s Canary Wharf. With a modern residential area, pretty gardens and a casino, Parque das Nações is popular with tourists and Lisboetas alike.

“Dive” Into The Oceanarium

Visiting the Lisbon Oceanarium was one of the most fun activities I did in the city and I highly recommend it. Located within the Parque das Nações complex, it is the second largest oceanarium in Europe.

The main attraction is a large and very impressive aquarium, the Oceanarium’s centrepiece with sharks, stingrays and hundreds of fish and marine life. Visiting the Oceanarium is one of the best things to do in Lisbon with children, but it is a fun activity for people of all ages.

Mercado da Ribeira, One of The Top Places To Visit In Lisbon

There are quite a few food markets around Lisbon, but Mercado da Ribeira is still my favourite one. The market, located at Cais do Sodré, is the city’s oldest, with two different sides to it. On the ground floor, you have a traditional market where you can buy or just browse around the stalls that sell fresh fruit and vegetables.

On the upper floor, you will find Time Out Market, a concept market with 3,000sq metres and dozens of restaurants and stalls offering seafood, home-made burgers and international cuisine. This part of the market also hosts a number of cultural events.

Day Trips From Lisbon

Portugal is a very small country and you can cross the whole country from the Algarve in the south to Braga in the north in just a few hours. With that in mind, there are many places of interest that make for great day trips from Lisbon. So, if you have a few extra days, don’t miss out on some of these places to visit near Lisbon.

Cascais: Beachside Town Near Lisbon

The coastal city of Cascais makes for a great day trip from Lisbon. It is just a 30-minute drive from the capital and has some very nice beaches popular among Lisboetas and tourists during the summer months.

Sintra: Best Day Trips From Lisbon

Most people who head to Sintra only visit the famous Pena Palace, which stands on a hilltop with the valley and town below. That is understandable, since it is one of the best castles in Portugal. But the town of Sintra is also worth a visit, with its beautiful historic houses and mansions.

Other places you should visit are the Castle of the Moors, not far from the city, and the UNESCO world heritage site of Quinta da Regaleira, an estate with a palace, a chapel and beautiful gardens.

Fatima: Favourite Among Religious Pilgrims

The city of Fatima is considered the religious capital of Portugal and makes for one of the best day trips from Lisbon. It was here that Our Lady of Fatima appeared to three shepherd children in 1917. Here you will learn more about the apparitions and also visit the great oak tree, near which the Virgin Mary appeared, as well as the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, among other churches and chapels.

Sesimbra and Arrábida

These two places can be visited on the same day and are just a short drive from Lisbon, across Vasco da Gama Bridge, the longest in Europe. Sesimbra is a fishermen’s village with a quiet atmosphere and beautiful rocky beaches. Some of these beaches, like Ribeiro do Cavalo, are only reachable by boat.

Arrábida National Park is located near Sesimbra and from its mountains, you’ll enjoy great views of the landscape. Not far from here you can also visit some vineyards, including the well-known José Maria da Fonseca vineyards.

What’s The Best Time To Travel To Lisbon?

The best time to travel to Lisbon is in spring and fall/autumn. Winter temperatures are not bad, they rarely go below 8C and you can get some sun, but it this time of the year that the city gets most rainfall. During summer it gets very hot, the city gets crowded and prices go up. So March to late May and September to late November are definitely the best times to visit Lisbon.