21 Most Exciting Things to do in Lisbon

Lisbon is one of the most colourful and unique cities to visit. Portuguese people are also the friendliest I’ve encountered during my travels around Europe – except when they’re driving. Notably, Lisbon is known as the “City of Seven Hills”, so make sure you’ve got sturdy walking shoes and get ready to explore this beautiful place with me, with my list of the best things to do in Lisbon.

1. Do a Scavenger Hunt

One of my favourite things to do in any new city is to go on a self-guided scavenger hunt. It is a fun, interactive and affordable way to see not only big attractions, but also to find some more underrated gems. These games usually involve downloading an app and cost between 2€ and 20€. You can find the scavenger hunt I opted for on Get Your Guide here for 7€. It took me to places I probably never would’ve seen, like Praça dos Restauradores and the Pavers Monument, as well as to some more well-known attractions like the Santa Justa Lift and Praça do Comércio.

2. Visit The Fantastic World of Portuguese Sardines

Something you definitely can’t miss in Portugal is just how much the people LOVE their fish (particularly sardines). Right next to Rossio Square, there is a small colourful shop that is sure to grab your attention. It is one of the most fascinating and oddest places I’ve ever stumbled across. Once you enter, you will find a throne with giant sardines on either side. The walls are neatly lined with sardine cans from different years. This is a great souvenir gift – just make sure that you’re allowed to take it home with you, because it’s not allowed in hand luggage. But my favourite part was the ferris wheel in the front display case. It is merely a decoration, but instead of seats, it has – you guessed it – sardine cans!

3. See the fountains on Praça Dom Pedro IV (Rossio Square)

Situated in the centre of Lisbon, you’re bound to end up at Rossio Square at one point or another. On one end of the square you will find the Queen Maria II National Theatre. On the square are two baroque fountains and a statue built in honour of Dom Pedro IV. To this day, the square remains one of the top meeting spots in the city. It is surrounded by cultural hubs, including the one of the most famous cafés in Lisbon, Café Nicola.

4. Visit Largo do Carmo

Largo do Carmo is a small square in the Old Town of Lisbon. It is surrounded by Jacaranda trees, so if you visit in spring, you’ll be surrounded by purple flowers. There is a small restaurant here, and usually there are street performers as well. Right next to the square are the ruins of Carmo Convent, which, like much of the city, was destroyed in the earthquake of 1755. This was another one of our stops on our scavenger hunt.

5. Ride the Santa Justa Lift

The Santa Justa Lift was originally constructed as an elevator for the public, connecting two districts in central Lisbon. It stands out as it is one of the only industrial structures in this part of the city. The lift also goes further up to a viewing platform. Because the lift is technically part of the public transportation in Lisbon, you can ride it between the two districts with a normal 24-hour ticket or a single ticket. If you want to go up to the viewing platform, however, it will cost you 1,50€.

6. Buy a book at Livraria Bertrand

You’ll find the oldest operating bookshop in the world on the streets of Lisbon. It has several sections with old-fashioned wooden bookshelves and staircases. And don’t worry, there is an English section with books of all genres. Make sure to ask the cashier to stamp your new book when you pay – for free – with a certification that you bought it here. I got mine in both English and Portuguese!

7. Have a Piña colada by the beach

As you walk along the beach in Lisbon, you will come across little stands selling Piña colada – served in whole pineapples! This was one of my favourite things I did in Lisbon. Of course, there are alcohol-free cocktails available. And if you aren’t a fan of Piña colada, there are also stands selling watermelon cocktails (Yes, served in whole watermelons!).

8. Visit Praça do Comércio

Praça do Comércio is the most famous square in Lisbon. It was where the royal family resided for over 200 years, until the palace was destroyed by an earthquake, followed by a tsunami and a huge fire in 1755. The square is situated right next to the Tagus River, so it is a really popular hang-out spot for young poeple. There is always something happening either in or around the square, from street performers to traditional Portuguese festivals. On the way here, we coincidentally stumbled on a little pop-up food market, and had some frozen margaritas, which was perfect for the hot day we visited on.

9. Take a walk in Alfama District

Alfama is the oldest District in Lisbon. It stretches down the hill from São Jorge Castle down to the Tagus River. The neighbourhood is perfect to just stroll around and try to navigate the narrow streets. This part of Lisbon is infamous for its street art and colourful mosaic tiles, so keep your eyes peeled. You can make your way to places with stunning panoramic views, like São Vicente, Miradouro de Santa Luzia, and Praça Júlio de Castilho.

10. See the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maior

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Maior is one of the most well-known buildings in Lisbon. It is also one of the few monuments that withstood the 1755 earthquake. It is also located in Alfama District. You can get tickets to visit the inside of the cathdral for 5€.

11. Eat at Mercado da Rabeira

This indoor market is always packed – and for good reason. It has a huge variety of vendors, from fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish, to pastas and pastries. Besides being perfect for lunch, it is also arguably the best spot in the city to eat Pastel de Nata. This is also where I saw donuts that were bigger than my entire face!

12. Eat Pastel de nata

The most famous Portuguese pastry is a must-eat in Lisbon. It consists of a flaky puff pastry base, filled with a creamy egg custard. In the oven, the top of the custard caramelises and gives the pastry its distinct flavour. Don’t worry, you won’t struggle to find one, because these are sold around every corner in the Portuguese capital. But the most highly recommended place I’ve found is Manteigaria, which you will find at the Mercado da Rabeira.

13. Ride Elevador da Bica

What I refer to as the ‘Instagram Tram’, this is, by far, one of the most popular spots in Lisbon. Make sure you visit as early as possible in order to avoid the huge crowds – I unfortunately did NOT do that. There are constantly loads of people taking pictures and videos of the trams, so it might take a while to get a good shot if there are other people around. Overall, though, I still think it was worth the visit, since it only costs around 4€ for a return ticket. I recommend, however, just taking the tram up the hill and continuing your day by foot.

14. Take photos on the famous Pink Street

Pink Street is one of the most famous streets in Europe – and yes, it is painted pink. Rainbow umbrellas are hung up above the street. It is generally filled with tourists during the day, but it really comes to life after sunset. It is one of the top nightlife hotspots in the city, perfect for bar hopping.

15. Have breakfast at Mendo Cafe

This was a very random – but fantastic – find. Mendo is a small, trendy café with a great breakfast selection – pancakes, omelettes, fruit bowls, avocado toast, smoothies, and more. It is also incredibly cheap for what you get compared to other restaurants and cafés in the city. This café is the perfect breakfast spot for a day you plan to spend in Alfama District.

16. Watch dolphins on a boat tour

This was a really fun activity to do alongside our sightseeing. There are multiple companies that offer this type of boat tour – this is the tour we booked. It included drinks and snacks, as well as a short informational tour. The tour guides were very friendly, and we were able to watch a pod of dolphins from up close – they were swimming right next to our boat. It was also a great way to see the city from the river.

17. Visit Belém

Belém is the Jewish Quarter of Lisbon. It attracts loads of tourists, as many of the attractions from before the earthquake are located here. You can easily spend an entire day exploring this part of the city. You can book a walking tour with a guide, or do your own thing. Some of the most notable attractions include the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (monastery), the Torre de Belém (tower), and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (monument to sailors and explorers).

18. Take a day trip to Sintra

Sintra is a small town about 1 hour from Lisbon which consists mainly of castles and gardens. It is the perfect destination to spend a day in – or, if you’re like me, 2 days. In the olden days, the Portuguese royal family would spend their summer in the palaces here. Sintra has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to both its fairytale-like architecture and its abundant and well-preserved landscape. If you want to know which castles are worth visiting, as well as other tips for exploring this charming little town, check out my guide here.

19. Go up to the Cristo Rei statue

On a hill next to the Tagus River is the 28m-tall Cristo Rei statue. It was inspired, of course, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Because it is on the other sitde of the river from the rest of the city, it can be tricky to get there. You might have to take multiple buses, metros, and even a ferry to get there, depending on where you are and at what time you go. You’ll also have to walk around 10 minutes to get to the base of the actual statue. From there, you can take the lift up to the statue for 5€. There isn’t much to do at the top besides admire the stunning panoramic view, but that alone makes it worth it.

20. Take a day trip to Arrábida Natural Park

Arrábida Natural Park was the highlight of my trip to Portugal. Here you’ll find beaches with crystal blue waters, surrounded by lush greenery and mysterious caves. I would highly recommend booking an activity here. We did kayaking and snorkeling, which was an amazing experience. You can find and book activities on Get Your Guide or Viator. The only problem I had with this trip was that the public transport is not great. We had to take 3 buses and ended up getting a Bolt ride. So, if you are able to, try to book an activity that includes transport from Lisbon.

21. Visit Cabo da Roca

Cabo da Roca is the westernmost point of continental Europe. The view over the Atlantic Ocean is incredible, with the steep cliffs that drop down into the Atlantic Ocean, and nothing else visible as far as the eye can see. Not to be dramatic, but it’s one of those places where you realise just how big the world is (or rather, how small you are). Though it is a popular place for tourists to visit, there is not all that much to do here, so you probably won’t spend more than an hour here. I highly recommend combining this with a day trip to Sintra.

Lisbon is such a lively, colourful city. Hopefully, this list of my favourite things to do in Lisbon has helped you build your itinerary for your own trip.