Lisbon is the mighty capital of Portugal, with many different things to do. There are nice cathedrals, towers, monuments, food options, day trips, miradouros, squares, and more. The people are very pleasant and are all willing to help you find anything in the beautiful alleys of Alfama and other neighborhoods. There is so much to see and do that you can be busy for 5 days and see many sights. What is there exactly to do? Check it out:

Enjoy the views of the Miradouro da Graça

As all miradouros are Miradouro da Graça-free, you will have a fantastic view over the city and the castle. You can have a beer close by and drink it while enjoying the fantastic view. Almost always, you can have a spot, as it is not one of the most famous miradouros in the city. You will find other details every time you visit this miradouro. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 30 minutes

Enjoy the views of Alfama at Miradouro de Santa Luzia

This is another Miradouro, probably the most famous one in the city and probably the most popular. The view is less interesting than, for example, Miradouro da Graça, but the place itself is a bit prettier. There are often some street musicians, which improves the picturesque atmosphere. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 15 minutes

Take the famous Tram 28

Tram 28 is one of the most famous trams in the world. It goes from Praça Martim Moniz to Campo de Ourique. You can step up where you want on the line, but the tram is likely to be full. My two recommendations are: step up at the Campo de Ourique side as it is way more quiet, and go very early (before 8/8am) or very late (after 20/8pm) to reduce the crowds. This is a very fun thing to do, but it is not a must. There are better sights to see in the city. 

Price: €3,10

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How much time needed: 40 minutes does the whole line take, but you will have to include some or a lot of waiting time.

Have a stroll at Prazeres Cemetery

Is this Paris? No, this is the beautiful cemetery in Lisbon! This serene place is an interesting sight to visit. Of course, it is always a bit rough walking next to graves, but these graves are worth passing by. The cemetery is at the end or beginning of tram 28 at Campo de Ourique, which makes this an interesting combination. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Very Low

How much time needed: 30 minutes to walk around and enjoy the scenery.

Visit the more local market Mercado de Campo de Ourique

Unfortunately, I was here early, so I did not see the market as it should be. There are many stalls that serve very different kinds of food. You can do your groceries here, or you can have some food here. I would recommend visiting after 12 o'clock, when there are some crowds and everything is open. For me, I would prefer this market over the Time Out market. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Very Low

How much time needed: 30 minutes to have some food and relax a bit. 

See the less famous Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcantâra

I found this Miradouro by accident, and it was a great view from the western side of the city centre. You can see the castle and the many roofs of the houses. There are two layers where you can have a view of Lisbon from another side than the previous Miradouros I mentioned. There is a kiosk where you can get some cold beverages.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Very Low

How much time needed: 15 minutes.

See the impact of the earthquake at the Carmo Convent

In 1755, one of the biggest natural disasters in Europe occurred close to Lisbon when there was a huge earthquake that destroyed many parts of the city. At Carmo Convent, there is the biggest evidence of this tragedy, as the roof of this cathedral. There are also some cool rooms inside to visit, with one room giving information in a very cool room. This is personally one of the absolute highlights of the whole city, as it is so unique.

Price: €7

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 30-40 minutes

Only go for the view at the Santa Justa elevator

Although the Santa Justa Lift is a very unique site to visit, you can take the elevator up, but you will probably be in a long line, and you have to pay for just a ride up. You can better pass the elevator and walk up and you will have the same view from up there. This is nice, but not a must-do in the city. 

Price: Around €5

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How much time needed: 15 minutes.

Walk around the Praça do Comércio

Praça do Comércio is the most important square in the city and one of the biggest squares in Europe. The restaurants around the square are not my favorites as they are very touristic, but the square has great views, and the river Tagus is also just there. You also have the Arco da Rua Augusta, which makes the scenery even more perfect. You cannot miss this great square.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 15-30 minutes.

Climb up the Arco da Rua Augusta

The most obvious sight on Praça do Comércio is the beautiful Arco da Rua Augusta, which stands proudly in the middle of the square. Although many people see the beautiful arch, not a lot know that you can get up there and have a wonderful view over the square and many other sights of the city. You can even touch the statues above for a bit. The entrance may be a bit difficult to find, but it is a small entrance located on Rua Augusta. You will first go up by elevator, and then you have to walk some stairs, but it is not difficult to reach the top. 

Price: €4,50

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: 30 minutes.

Have some food at the Time Out Market

If you want to have a lot of different types of food in a short amount of time, the Time Out Market is a great place. There are local foods and international cuisine. There is also a normal market, which is fun to walk around as well. The market can get really crowded, so I would recommend the Mercado de Campo de Ourique.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How much time needed: 1 hour

See the classic sight of the city: Sé de Lisboa

Probably the most famous picture of Lisbon is the Sé de Lisboa, the monastery, where the famous tram 28 passes very closely. You can get in through the amazing window, which is my highlight of the cathedral, and have some great sightings of the inside. You can also get a nice view of the square. This is a must-do in Lisbon.

Price: €5

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 30 minutes

Be in-between locals at kiosks

Everywhere in the city, there are small kiosks that serve at least drinks and some food. There are often a couple of tables to take a rest. Many tourists skip this activity as it may not look as attractive as other places, so you are mostly between locals. My favorite was Quiosque dat Jardim constantino mostarda (see picture above), which is pretty far from the city centre.

Price: Depending on the beverages and food you order

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: Depending on the amount of rest needed.

Enjoy a local craft beer

I really like tasting craft beer in different kinds of cities and at different venues in a city. In Lisbon, real craft beer bars are not plentiful, but there are some very good ones:

• Crafty corner - Classic craft beer bar close to the Sé de Lisboa in the city centre
• Quimera Brewpub - My favorite as it is in a lovely cave-like tunnel, which is pretty scenic, although pretty far  (see picture above)
• Musa de Marvila - Far from the centre is this trendy craft beer bar with lovely staff
• Canil - This one is in the middle of the city centre has the most options for beers

Price: Depending on the drinks, but relatively cheap in comparison to European prices.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: Depending on your thirst

Wander in the beautiful neighborhood Alfama

Alfama is the most famous and the most beautiful neighborhood of Lisbon. There are very cute alleys and beautiful buildings. There are many bars and restaurants, and you can find most of the fado shows of the city. Wander around and enjoy the gorgeous streets and see the beautiful sights. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: Half a day

See the beauty of the Panteao Nacional (Pantheon)

The Panteao Nacional is a beautiful building at the eastern end of the Alfama district. The highlight is the fantastic dome, which you can see perfectly close on the inside as you climb that high. You also have a beautiful view from upstairs and from the terrace. Have a lovely walk through the building. There are also some tombs of famous Portuguese people like footballer Eusébio. Besides, the building is stunning from the outside.

Price: €8

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 30-40 minutes

Listen to live music at LX Factory

LX Factory is an alternative, trendy neighborhood in Lisbon. There are some very trendy shops and bars, like the bookstore Ler Devargar, the beer restaurant Beers Factory, or the chilled place with live music in Borogodo. There is also a great rooftop bar, but I did not get in because of the crowds. There is something for everyone, and that makes this area very nice. Although it is small, I will recommend visiting this place. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 2-3 hours with stops in shops, bars and restaurants.

Party at Pink Street

If you are in Lisbon on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, Pink Street is the place to party. The ground in the street is pink, which gives it its name, while there are cool umbrellas in the air. To be honest, this is not my favorite place in the city, and there are nicer places to be, but for a night out during the week, this is fantastic!

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How much time needed: 1 night is more than enough.

Wander the Jerónimos Monastery

Jerónimos Monastery is located in Belém, is one of the most famous buildings, and is beautiful. Unfortunately, because of its fame, it gets very crowded. I had a ticket on beforehand, as most people have, so there was a big line. People told me that they were waiting for more than an hour, and I was not going for it. Also for the church area, which is free, there was a very big line, so I wandered the beauty outside, and that was very nice as well. Get here as early as you can!

Price: The church is free and the monastery €12

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How much time needed: I don't really know as I did not go in.

Have the original pastry at Pastéis de Belém

The pastéis de nata is a very tasty custard tart and a pastry you should try at least once when in Portugal. At Pastéis de Belém, they were the first and are still very popular. The taste of them is more than fantastic, and I took 3 of them to enjoy the best pastry. There are two entrances. The takeaway entrance is on the right side, and the seating area is on the left. There can be a line for both of them, but it moves very fast, and there is not necessarily a line. 

Price: Free to enter and the pasties de nata is €1,40

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How much time needed: 30 minutes.

Be impressed by the Padrão dos Descobrimentos

This immense statue is the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, which stands for all the discoveries that were made around the world for Portugal. The famous explorers of Portugal, like Vasco da Gama and Henry the Navigator, stand proudly on this monument, which is very impressive. Personally, this monument was my highlight of the Belém district. The best part is that you can get all the way up, where you have a fantastic view over this lovely part of town. At the top, you can see the Torre de Belém, and especially the Jerónimos monastery, in a fantastic way. There is an elevator, and there are stairs to reach the top.

Price: €10

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 20 minutes.

Find the impressive Torre de Belém

Torre de Belém is the proudly standing tower in the water. The sight is absolutely beautiful from the outside. I did not go in, as people told me that the view from Padrão dos Descobrimentos was way better. There are many sights in the area, and this tower in the water is a must-see in Lisbon.

Price: €8

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: Outside around 10 minutes and I don't know about inside. 

Walk away from tourist at the Monument to the Overseas Combatants

The Monument to the Overseas Combatants is very close to other sights in Belém, but it is very quiet. The monument is a memorial to the Portuguese soldiers who died overseas in African colonies. There are guards, a gorgeous monument, a tomb, and a small church. This is a nice short stop in Lisbon. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: Outside around 10 minutes and I don't know about inside. 

Spot fish at the Oceanário

Oceanário is far from the city centre, but it is worth the trip as this is one of my favorite aquariums I have ever seen. The immense tank in the middle, which you will see very often from different angles, is very impressive and contains rays, fish, sharks, and the very special sunfish. There are several other aquariums and enclosures with birds, otters, and other fish. What is also very cool about this aquarium is the fact that they make you aware of bi-rays, fish, sharks, and the very special sunfish. There are several other aquariums and enclosures with birds, otters, and other fish. What is also very cool about this aquarium is the fact that they make you aware of conservation and that the earth should be saved and helped. There is also a beautiful movie lasting around 20 minutes and an exhibition about gardening under water. This is absolutely great to do in Lisbon.

Price: €25

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 2.5-3 hours

Enjoy the views from Castelo de São Jorge

Throughout the city of Lisbon, you can see the mighty Castelo de São Jorge, which is absolutely worth visiting. The views are the best of the whole of Lisbon (although there are many good contestants). The castle itself is nice, but not the most impressive in the world. There are peacocks, which makes it a very fun experience. The line can add up, but you can easily buy a ticket online, and you can walk in very quickly.

Price: €15 (online)

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1-1.5 hours

Experience a fado show

Fado is a Portuguese music style that is very emotional and impressive. It is often that you get some food, and in between the dishes, different people will sing fantastic songs. In Alfama, there are many bars and restaurants that offer fado and dinner. You can also do a tour. I had a great time at A Taco do Chico, where a reservation is recommended. This was one of my absolute highlights in Lisbon, and this experience is an absolute must-do in Portugal's capital, as it is from Lisbon.

Price: Depending the place, where you go

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: An evening

Head to a football match of Benfica or Sporting

I am an absolute football fan, and Lisbon has two mighty football clubs: Benfica and Sporting Club de Portugal. Both are almost every season in the top 3 of Portugal. I went to Benfica, and seeing the impressive stadium was a magical experience. The atmosphere around the stadium was also nice, as many people drank beer and ordered bifana. When you are in Lisbon for a longer time, check if one of the teams plays a game. You can buy your ticket at a Benfica store close to Rossio station.

Price: Around €30-50, depending on the seat

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 3 hours

Walk through the city of Lisbon

Lisbon has many sights, and except for Belém, most parts are easily walkable, and it is lovely to walk through the city. It is also great to walk outside the city centre and find many other lovely neighborhoods. There are some hilly areas, so that may be difficult, but walking in different areas is great. Maybe combine a walk outside the city center with a craft beer bar like Musa de Marvila or Quimera Brewpub. 

Day trip: Find castles at Sintra

The most popular day trip from Lisbon is to Sintra, a town with many castles and palaces. The surrounding nature around the town is also very interesting. The most important sights are Pena Palace, Moorish Castle, the National Palace, Quinta da Reguleira, and Monserrat Palace. The town itself and nature are worth visiting as well. Be aware that it can get very crowded, so try to avoid the weekend.

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How to get here: Sintra is easily reached by a 40 minute train ride from Lisbon Rossio station. 

How much time needed: You will not be able to visit everything in one day, but a day trip is perfect from Lisbon and you have to make your own decisions. You can also stay a night here and enjoy Sintra longer.

If you want to plan your trip to Sintra, check out: 

Half day trip: Have a beach moment at Cascais

Cascais is a lovely beach town, with some great beaches, a lovely restaurant, the lovely rough coast (Boca do Inferno, picture above) on the west side, and a lot of cool places to swim. This is perfect on a warm day to cool off in the beautiful ocean and be in Lisbon in the afternoon and evening. 

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How to get here: Cascais is easily reached by a 40 minute train ride from Lisbon at different stations. 

How much time needed: If you want to see the town, have a swim and find Boca do Inferno I would say half a day is sufficient, but longer is possible. 

Half Day trip: See the cute town of Óbidos

Óbidos is a very cute town with a lovely castle. This is the best town in Portugal to try chocolate and the local liquor, ginja. The town is very picturesque, and the views from the walls of the castle are stunning. There are some nice restaurants, and you can spend a while here, but the town is very small.

Tourist occurrence: High

How to get here: Óbidos is a 1 hour bus ride from Campo Grande in Lisbon. The bus goes from Terminal 2 (this is on the other side of the metro station than terminal 1. Reserve some time to figure it out when you are here.

How much time needed: I would say that 2-3 hours is absolutely enough. It is very small.

Things that I have not done, but could be cool

There are many sights that I have seen, and I think I covered the most important sights of Lisbon. However, if I were to say things that I missed:

• Parque Eduardo VII - a nice park with the biggest Portuguese flag in the world

• Boat cruise (or dolphin tour)
• Villa Underground - cool area
• Day trip to Arrabida - lovely beaches

Final Thoughts

Lisbon is a fantastic city and a real treasure to visit. There are a lot of amazing sights that can be visited in a couple of days. The vibe, the restaurants, the neighborhoods, the buildings, the river, and the hills make Lisbon a unique capital in Europe.

If you want to know more about Portugal, check out: