Lisbon, Portugal is a beautiful city and one of the most affordable in Western Europe. It’s no wonder tourism is booming there. After staying in the city for six weeks (October and November), we came up with this list of our favorite “must see” attractions and things to do in Lisbon. We hope it’s helpful in determining what not to miss on your trip to Lisbon!

What you’ll find in this post:

– Best Lisbon neighborhoods to explore
– Where to stay in Lisbon
– Free things to do in Lisbon 
– Tasty local foods you shouldn’t miss
– Our favorite day trip from Lisbon
– Attractions you can skip
– Tips for seeing Lisbon on a budget
– Guided tour recommendations
– Access to our free map of self-guided walking tour itineraries

The detailed maps of our self-guided Lisbon walking tour itineraries are available via e-mail. 

* Get access to our Lisbon walking map here *

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Video: Glimpses of Lisbon in 38 Seconds

 

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What Not To Miss in Lisbon

If you’re looking to visit Lisbon on a budget, there are plenty of things to see and do for free or very cheap. Depending on your personal interests, you may wish to splurge on a museum or nice dinner here and there. The following are our top recommendations.

If you’re interested in seeing more Lisbon museums and attractions, then  save time and money with the Lisbon card. This pass gives you unlimited rides on public transportation and free entry to 20+ museums for a period of 24-, 48-, or 72 hours, plus discounts at various vendors.

>>Click here to order your Lisbon Card <<

Top Lisbon Neighborhoods to Visit

Wandering the streets is one of the best free things to do in Lisbon. But where to go? Traditional, historic neighborhoods are marked in light gold on Google Maps.

We recommend prioritizing these three areas:

Baixa

The central district of Lisbon is called Baixa and it includes a number of large plazas, shopping streets, cafes, Rossio train station, and the Santa Justa lift. It’s bordered by the stately Praça do Comércio and the Tejo River.

Baixa also tends to be the flattest area of Lisbon, with the city’s famous hills fanning out from the center.

Alfama

Alfama is a beautiful, historic district along the river. The first couple streets are on sea level and then the terrain quickly inclines, allowing for several beautiful viewpoints overlooking colorful buildings and the water below. The São Jorge Castle is perched at the top of this district. It’s also home to the Fado Museum.

Want to go inside? St. George’s castle lines can be long. Consider getting a skip-the-line ticket in advance.

Alfama is a beautiful area to wander, though unfortunately, the boom in tourism has increased crowds, raised prices, and even pushed out local residents. Learn how to how to have authentic, meaningful travel experiences in touristy areas here.

Belém

This former port was enriched by Portuguese explorers who brought back treasures from around the world. Today, it’s home to many of Lisbon’s most stately attractions, including Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, and the waterfront Monument to the Discoverers.

You can visit the main Jeronimos chapel for free, but the popular monastery and Belem Tower have entrance fees and lines can get long. You can buy entrance tickets in advance for  Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower. Or, if you have the Lisbon Card, both entrances are free. 

If you’re staying in central Lisbon, you’ll want to take public transportation out to Belém for the day. Transit is free with the Lisbon Card. It’s also nice and flat along the river if you prefer to ride a bike.

For our detailed Lisbon walking tour itineraries, get our free Lisbon map by e-mail:

A note about where to stay in Lisbon

The explosion of tourism in Lisbon has had an unfortunate effect on housing in the city. New hotels and vacation rental companies have bought out historic properties and driven up housing prices, pushing out many locals who can no longer to afford to live in their old neighborhoods. Please be conscientious as you choose your accommodations and support small, locally owned businesses whenever possible.

In our opinion, the best areas to stay are within 1.5 miles of Praça do Comércio where you can walk to just about everything. The closer in you are, the fewer hills you’ll probably have to climb. Of course, public transit is also an option if you stay further out.

We found a locally-owned Airbnb apartment near the Intendente metro station. It was a nice, downhill walk to the town center through a multi-cultural neighborhood.

Other neighborhoods like Alfama, Baixa, Bairro Alto, and Rossio are very nice but may be a bit more spendy. We know several people who enjoy staying in the Belem area, though it requires more time on the metro or tram to visit most attractions.

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Miradouros

As you wander around Lisbon, be sure to keep an eye out for the miradouros – or viewpoints overlooking the neighborhoods and the river. Though they may require an extra hike uphill (sometimes there will be a funicular), the views are well worth the effort.

For our favorite miradouros, check out our map and walking tour (sign up above or at the bottom of this post).

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Admire the Street Art

One of Lisbon’s most stunning features are the colorful streets. These have both historic and modern origins.

Azulejos

Wall tiles, called azulejos, are commonly found on the buildings in Lisbon. They serve both a practical and decorative purpose.

Of course, you can see all kinds of different tiles for free as you wander around. But if you have the time and want to learn more about them, check out the Tile Museum on the Northeast side of town. The museum depicts the variety and progression of tile work in Portugal, as well as parallel tile work in other countries.

Murals

Lisbon has a growing street art scene with countless murals hidden throughout the city. Even some famous artists have done installations here. (We’ve highlighted a few on our Lisbon map. Access it via e-mail through the form at the bottom of this post.)

If you prefer to join a tour and learn more about street art from a local expert, join this 3-hour Lisbon Street Art Tour.

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What to Eat in Lisbon

Of course, Portuguese food and Lisbon specialties are a highlight of any trip. In our opinion, the top foods you shouldn’t miss in Lisbon are:

Seafood

Lisbon has long been a fishing town. We had the privilege of taking a guided seafood tour, through Culinary Backstreets, which we highly recommend. The tours focus on neighborhood history and authentic culture, often led by local journalists who have personally researched the area. (Use our referral code INTLTRVL for 5% off.)

Pasteis da Nata

These delicious egg custard pastries are a local icon and can be found all across town. Our tour guide’s favorite are found at Manteigaria, which has a couple locations in town. Pasteis de Belem is said to be “the original” and is probably the most famous. It often has a long line (which moves quickly) and the price is slightly higher than elsewhere in town.

We also enjoyed  Fábrica da Nata, where you can sit and enjoy your creamy custard tarte with a coffee in a classic cafe atmosphere or outside on the terrace. While there, check the workshop window to catch a glimpse of the pastries being made.

Landeau Chocolate Cake

While this may not be traditionally Portuguese, it’s quite possibly the best chocolate cake we’ve ever had. With a couple different layers, a predominantly mousse-y texture, and dark cacao powder on top, this is perfection. They also have coffee and drinking chocolate.

There’s one especially hip location at LX Factory and another on Rua das Flores.

Attractions to Skip in Lisbon

If you have time and money to see it all, then more power to you. If you’re wondering which of the typical tourist attractions you could skip, here’s what we’d recommend. Granted, this is totally subjective.

• Riding the Santa Justa lift or other funiculars – While these are undoubtedly very cool to see, unless you have the Lisbon Card, the prices are pretty steep for what you get. In our opinion, you get just as much out of walking around the top and bottom of Santa Justa. Same with the other lifts and funicular trains. Go and see them. Take photos. But if you skip them, you’re not missing much.
• Going inside São Jorge Castle or Belém Tower – These are two more major attractions you can admire from the outside. Based on mediocre reviews, we opted out of both and don’t regret it at all.
• Tram 28 – This one is borderline, and the main issue is that so many tourists use it now. Lines are long, the tram itself is crowded, and it’s become a hot bed for pickpockets. You can try going first thing in the morning to grab a seat on the first stop. Or ride one of the other historic tram lines, like Tram 12, instead.

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Tips for Seeing Lisbon on a Budget

• Wander on foot. It’s the best way to see the city, and it costs nothing!
• Pre-pay on the Via Viagem card for public transit (underground metro, trams, buses). This will give you  a discount on the fare you would pay onboard a bus or tram. You’ll find machines to purchase and load a card in the metro stations.
• Grocery shop. Lunch is often the cheapest meal to eat out in Lisbon, so consider cooking your own breakfast and dinner. Or pick up food for a picnic. Supermarket prices are usually very reasonable, especially for products from Portugal.
• Stay local. Aim for a place within 1.5 miles of Praça do Comércio so you can walk everywhere. Note that neighborhoods like Alfama, Baixa, Bairro Alto, and Rossio are very nice but are likely more spendy.
  Whenever possible, stay with local families rather than supporting chain hotels or rental management companies.

The Lisbon Card: Is it right for you?

If you’re planning to take public transportation as well as visit some museums or other paid attractions, then you can save time and money with the Lisbon card. This pass gives you unlimited rides on public transportation and free entry to 20+ museums for a period of 24-, 48-, or 72 hours, plus discounts at various vendors.
>> Click here to order your Lisbon Card <<

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Our Top Tips for Intentional Travel in Lisbon

• • • Try to make a local connection, whether it’s meeting a friend-of-a-friend you find through social media, staying with locals, or hiring a local guide (see below)
    • Shop at locally owned, independent businesses rather than familiar chains like Starbucks or Walmart
    • For more guidance, see: how to have authentic, meaningful travel experiences in touristy areas and our simple rules for intentional travel series.
    • Protect your Lisbon trip with insurance – We’ve started using Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing for affordable evacuation, international medical, and trip coverage.
      

 
 

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Looking for a Guided Tour of Lisbon?

We can personally recommend the following local-led tours:

– Get Lost Go Local: laid-back private walking tours with Nuno that focus on local spots tourists don’t typically see (alternatively, you can find him through Airbnb Experiences for small group tours)
– Culinary Backstreets: foodie tours that focus on neighborhood history and authentic culture (use discount code INTLTRVL for 5% off)

 

For further reading:

– Self-Guided Walking Tour Itineraries for 3 Days in Lisbon
– A Self-Guided Sintra Day Trip: Hiking to Sintra’s Palaces

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