Visit Lisbon

Lisbon is a cosmopolitan city, with good access and a few hours away from any European capital. And there is so much to see and do that it is difficult to have enough time to see everything you want at your leisure…
Here we present a selection of activities from amongst all those you can do, which cannot be missed in the Portuguese capital.

Where to go

1. Climb to the Castle of São Jorge and stroll through Alfama

Anyone coming to Lisbon and not going to the Castle of São  Jorge  will  have  surely missed an unforgettable moment. It is the highest point in  the  city,  set  amongst  the most typical of neighborhoods. A unique opportunity to feel and understand the city’s relationship with the river Tagus.

2. Listen to Fado

Whether or not you like the style of music, dinner by candlelight listening to fado in Lisbon

is unmissable. Consider yourself lucky and do stop if you hear it sung while strolling through

some streets in Alfama, Mouraria or Madragoa. This style is the so-called fado vadio, or amateur, sung when someone gets the urge to sing, with the guitars simply joining in.

3. Go to Terreiro do Paço

The largest square in Lisbon and one of the most iconic symbols of the city and its rebuilding after the great earthquake of 1755. Currently, it mostly offers a very pleasant walk along the river in the late afternoon. It is also a very beautiful view from the river as you pass on a boat.

4. Go up in the Santa Justa elevator

You cannot miss it when you pass it while ambling through the  downtown district. It offers

enviable views over this old part of Lisbon, and it is a privilege to travel in this elevator designed by Ponsard, a disciple of the great master of iron works, Gustave Eiffel, more than a hundred years ago.

5. Take a tram ride

The tram is a common means of transport for Lisbonites, but also one  of  the  best ways to travel through the historic neighborhoods. It looks good on any photo, and the sound of the trams running on their rails is one of the most characteristic of the city. The no. 28 is the best known, but there are others…

6. Visit the Jerónimos Monastery and the Tower of Belém

Lisbon has two unique monuments which are World Heritage Sites. They are two jewels of the Gothic Manueline style that easily impress. Apart from the vaults carved in stone that are a remarkable piece of engineering, the wealth of decorative elements linked to maritime aspects and the voyages of the Navigators is fascinating.

7. Taste a pastel de Belém

This is a highlight of Portuguese cuisine, and its recipe is a closely guarded secret that makes them unique. Not to be missed! A sweet pastry that Lisbonites like to eat along their coffee.

8. Visit the Oceanarium in the Parque das Nações The Parque das Nações is a success story in the revitalization of an industrial area, with a privileged location on the river. It is worth visiting the Oceanarium, one of the largest in Europe, where you can appreciate the flora and fauna of the  various  oceans  of  our planet.

9. Visit the National Tile Museum and the Coach Museum

These two museums are unequalled anywhere in the world.  One tells the story of the tile in Portugal from its first uses on 16th century walls to the present day; the other has an unrivalled collection of carriages, with fine examples from the 18thcentury.

10. Dine in Bairro Alto

Lisbon is also known for its very lively and busy nightlife. After an afternoon shopping in the elegant Chiado district, there’s nothing like a late afternoon at one of the viewpoints of Santa Catarina or São Pedro de Alcântara, then staying for dinner in the Bairro Alto. It’s the place to be for those who enjoy a night out having fun.