You know the exercise of planning what to visit in a city by searching online "what to do in XXXX" and opening 10 tabs in an attempt not to let anything escape? And then not fully understanding what were the most relevant things for your kind of traveller? Well, I've been there multiple times!!!
That's why I though that, as a local in Lisboa who has explored everything this city has to offer, I can make things easy for someone planning to visit it by creating a single source of information with all that.
86 places split into categories to make navigation and priorization easy:
1. Lisboa-exclusive places you must go to (3 tiers according to relevance)
2. Places around Lisboa you should visit (includes Sintra, Almada and Mafra)
3. Hidden gems (again 3 tiers according to relevance)
4. Old trams / Elevators / Funiculairs (you can be a fan and go around all of them or simply pick the best ones, which I refer)
5. Viewpoints (again, either go to all of them or just my top picks)
6. Things you can do around the world and here are nice as well
On top of that you've got the ultimate Portuguese food checklist with 45 things you shoult try and whithout which your trip will be incomplete (90% of them can be found in Lisboa)
My main objective with this guide is not to go into detail about each of these attractions but rather to categorize and give some hints about it so you decide whether to put it on your plan or not. If it is a monument or museum requiring a deep explanation of the hitory around it, you'll find it there.
In case you have any question while planning your trip, we can also make a quick call for free ;)
I wish you enjoy this city as much as I do and please do send me a message with feedback on this guide, as I use that to improve on it.
This is probably the most graphical depiction of the Portuguese adventure overseas and places at an adequate place for that. Try to learn about the history behind each of the people represented there (especially the one in the front), whose names you you can also check in the photo bellow.
The best monument in Lisboa to get to know the adaptation that Portuguese people did to the Barroque arquitecture - the "Manuelino" style.
Trivia question #1: Can you imagine which kind iof elements we added to the barroque?
Trivia question #2: Who has originated the name "Manuelino".
Answer #1: nature-, sea- and navigation-related elements, such as ropes, corals and algae.
Answer #2: King Manuel II
The second best specimen of the "Manuelino" style (barroque adaptation) in Lisboa. Bu in this case it is in the middle of the river (even though it's been even more into the river in the past).
Trivia question #1: Can you guess where in the country the ex-libris of Manuelino style is?
Answer #1: In Convento de Cristo (Tomar)
Great place to see this old-fashioned way of moving used by the royalty and nobility in the past. Here there are dozens of these, from the ones with the simplest to the most complex designs.
Trivia question: Although "coche" means this kind of vehicle in portuguese, do you know what it means in Spanish?
Prices and schedule: http://museudoscoches.gov.pt/en/visite/
Regular ticket: 8€
Answer: In Spanish, "coche" literally means "car".
Great place to:
1. Get to know a brief history of the most relevant Portuguese people that lived
2. Appreciate baroque arquitecture
3. Apreciate a great view from it's rooftop over the city and the river (a hidden gem few are aware of)
Trivia question #1: the national pantheon is headquartered and mostly located here but officially spread in other cities of the country. Can you guess where?
Trivia question #2: the building of this church originated a portuguese saying. Can you guess which?
Full list of people her here: Manuel de Arriaga, Teófilo Braga, Sidónio Pais e Óscar Carmona (National presidents), Almeida Garrett, Aquilino Ribeiro, Guerra Junqueiro, João de Deus, Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen (writers), Amália Rodrigues (fado singer), Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (footballer) and Humberto Delgado (military involved in the fight agains dicatorship).
Prices and schedule: https://www.panteaonacional.gov.pt/171-2/visitar-o-monumento/
Regular ticket: 8€
Answer #1: Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Lisboa and also part of this guide), Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitória (Batalha) and Mosteiro de Santa Cruz (Coimbra).
Answer #2: "Obras de Santa Engrácia" is used to refer to long-lasting construction/renovation, as this church took such a long time to build.
The largest avenue in the city, connecting Marquês de Pombal to Restauradores (also in the guide). It is full of shadows from it very large trees and this is also where you can find the high-end shops and restaurants.
It's a major trafic route for the city, but most interestingly the place where the two largest football clubs come to celebrate when they win the national titles. Can you guess which two clubs are these? Their stadiums and one additional hidden gen are refered bellow in this guide.
In my opinion, the most scenic funicular trip in the city, right in the city centre, connecting downtown and the area with the most viewpoints. As such, it's also easy to incorporate in your tour.
This is thought to be the place where the first of these funiculars operated. Since 2024 it was relaunched with modern cabins, which creates an interesting experience of using a moder vehicle in an old-fashioned means of transportation.
This is the most central and famous of the typical trams, which will allow you to hop on and off at the most central and touristic Lisboa spots. However, it will be packed with tourists most of the times.
This is the best alternative for someone that wants to avoid the crowded tram 28 and even the risk of pickpocketing. It goes through larger and more spacious streets than the 28, so athough it is less typical, it is much more confortable to travel on the 24.
Although the infrastructure of this lift is quite notorious, let me tell you already that the way up or down doesn't ahve any special views. It's at the top that you can have wonderful views over the city. So if that's what you're looking for and you'd love to save a few euros, you can acess the top close to the Carmo Convent (which is also included on this guide),
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Viewpoints tour
In Portuguese we use "miradouro" as a place from which you can look out over someplace. My first two piccks are: Santa Luzia (1st) and Jardim do Torel (2nd), but if you're into seeing Lisbo from above and such scenic pictures, I leave you the 8 I know better.
This is my top choice for a viewpoint in Lisboa. Not only because of the view that reaches out ot the river but mosly of the ambiance. The wall over which Lisbon is observed is covered in tiles and very close to this wall there are some built pillars and structure that allows for some plants to grow and turn the ambiance greener. You don't need to be lucky to have some background music by a live player and some beautiful Lisboa paintings for sale there.
This is a great place from which to see the 2 central hills of Lisboa coming together creating to some extent a valley on which many of the famous avenues and Lisboa downtown runs.
This is a commeon palace for gatherings, including the ones of students from the nearby medical school (also on this guide).
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São Pedro de Alcântara Viewpoint | Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
This would probably be my 3rd pick for a viewpoint with nice sightseeing, interestingly spread over a large garden area.
It's very close to the top of the Glória Funicular, which might come handy.
Things you can do around the world and here are nice as well
These are some places which won't blow your mind. They are similar to the kinds of attractions you can find around the world. In case you've never been to such place or if you're a big fan and want to go, for example, to all the zoos around the world, then here are some more places that you shoould consider.
It's a very large garden close to Marquês de Pombal (also in this guide). If you come around in May you will probably find the largest book fair of the country here, but the days of each edition are different,s o check before you come.
Francesinha (“Little Frenchie”): This is the main traditional dish from Porto. It’s better to have it there, but in case you don’t go there, there are some franchises that sell it in other cities in Portugal, such as Taberna Londrina
Tripas à moda do Porto: This is the second most famous dish from Porto. I recommend to have it there
Leitão assado (suckling pig) - the areas with the most tradition in this dish are Bairrada and Mealhada, in the centre of Portugal
Carne de Porco à Alentejana: typical from the Alentejo region
Frango de churrasco (Piri-Piri Chicken)
Sande de Pernil: a very good place for it is in Porto
Bifana no Pão
Pica Pau
Alheira
Chouriço
Fish
Sardinhas Assadas (grilled sardines): especially good in the summer, during the Saints' festivities
Arroz de marisco (seafood rice)
Açorda (bread soaked in broth)
Cataplana de marisco (seafood stew)
Polvo à lagareiro (octopus with olive oil and potatoes)
Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato
Special section: Bacahau
In Portugal we say there are "1001" ways of preparing codfish. I hope you can go through at least some of those.
Bacalhau à Brás (“Brás” Cod)
Bacalhau com Natas
Bacalhau Assado com Batatas a Murro
Bacalhau com broa
Bacalhau à lagareiro
Bacalhau espiritual
Bolinhos/Pastéis de Bacalhau (cod croquets)
Punheta de bacalhau
Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá
Bacalhau de Cebolada
Bacalhau à Minhota
Deserts
Pastel de Nata/de Belém (custard tart): The best place to have it is Pastéis de Belém, its original place (in this place in particular they will call it “Pastel de Belém”). If you end up not going to that area (Belém), the best alternative are the ones from “Manteigaria”. There are several of them in Lisboa.
Queijo da Serra da Estrela
Travesseiro de Sintra
Pastel de Tentúgal
Pastel de Vouzela
Castanhas de ovos
Jesuítas
Baba de camelo
Pão de ló
Pão de ló de Alfeizerão
Farófias
Toucinho d céu
Arroz doce
Torta de laranja
Serradura
Pudim de ovos
Mousse de chocolate
Leite creme
Folar de ovos
Pastel de feijão
Natas do céu
Sericaia: most typical desert from Alentejo
Tigelada: typical from Abrantes
Bolo de Bolacha
Molotof / Molotov
Bola de Berlim: typically eaten while on the beach, bough to ambulant sellers
Ovos Moles: typical from Aveiro
Queijadas: these come in different formats from different places (Sintra, Vila Franca do Campo, Madeira, Pereira, Beja)
Brisa do Liz: typical from Leiria
Tarte de Amêndoa
Salame de Chocolate
Special section: Christmas deserts
Bolo rainha
Bolo rei
Rabanada
Aletria
Fios de ovos
Sonhos
Azevias
Coscorões
Filhós / filhoses
Drinks - non-alcoholic
Sumol: Ananás is the most remarkable flavour
Compal: Pera is the most remarkable flavour
Água das Pedras
Galão
Drinks - alcoholic
Ginja / ginjinha
Vinho do Porto (Port Wine; some of its variations are ruby, white, tawny, rosé, ...)
Licor Beirão
Jeropiga
Aguardente
Aguardente de cana
Aguardente de medronho
Licor de amêndoa amarga
Moscatel: typical from Setúbal
Vinho verde
Beer
Special regional section: Madeira
Madeira is the most vibrant place for food in Portugal because of all the specificities its gastronomy has. In the city of Machico there's even a 1-week-long "Gastronomy Fair". I totally recommend the island because of all there is to see, do and eat there.
Sopa de trigo
Lapas (limpets)
Bolo do caco
Maçaroca (milho)
Milho frito
Batata doce
Espetada
Bife de atum
Peixe-espada
Brisa
Laranjada
Poncha
Vinho da Madeira
Rebuçados de funcho
Broinhas de mel
Santos Populares
Santos PopularesSanto António / LisboaActually Lisboa has festivities going on for the full month of June and not only on the 13th June.Some interesting places to eat, sing and dance in these days are:Mouraria (Largo da Rosa)Vila BertaSão VicenteCampolideAlvaladeVoz do OperárioThe most typical food eaten theme days are:Sardinha assadaBifana no pão/pão com bifanaCaldo verde
Hello!
I'm an eager traveller of the world. I travel ligh in luggage but heavy in eagerness to mingle with the culture and people of a place.
I am also a Portuguese citizen who has lived in the 3 biggest cities of the country befrore settling in Lisboa and here in the capital I've explored from the biggest and most visible monuments to the narrowest of streets and most hidden of treasures.
Now I think it's worth sharing with whoever comes here that knowledge in a way that makes their trip much easier to plan and much more fruitful. Along the way, as I travel to less known destinations, I will probably end up uploading my own guides so everyone can make use of it.
I hope you find the value in my work. Looking forward to help you along the way in case you have any questions about my guide.
