I spent a month in Lisbon, so I had a chance to see a lot of the sites, including some that are off the beaten path. There were definitely things I’ve seen recommended in other places that I didn’t think were worth the time, especially if you only have a few days in the city. I also could’ve spent a lot of money seeing all there is to see. But, my ability to travel indefinitely is dependent on my sticking to a budget. So I enjoyed a lot of free or cheap activities while I was in Lisbon. Here are my recommendations:
1. Take a Walking Tour
I like to start out in any new city with a walking tour. I did this free walking tour twice, with two different guides, so it was a different tour each time. It will help you get the lay of the land, and decide where you want to go back to on your own. Although the tour is free, the guides are freelancers and only get paid in tips, so it is expected that you will tip them what you think the tour was worth.
2. Explore some of the Neighborhoods on Foot
Lisbon is divided in “bairros” neighborhoods. Many are named after the Metro stop located centrally in the neighborhood. My top recommendations are Bairro Alto and Alfama.
Bairro Alto is where a lot of the restaurants, bars, and nightlife is, but there’s also plenty to see during the day. There are some museums and a lot of shops mixed in with the restaurants and bars.
Alfama is a neighborhood that used to be outside the walls of Lisbon. It was one of the few areas not destroyed by a huge earthquake in the 1755, so it is one of the oldest areas in the city. It’s a hilly neighborhood, so be ready to climb up and down winding streets and staircases. It’s seen a resurgence in recent years and is a trendy area of the city now. There are lots of artisans here, many tile and ceramic shops, and it’s also the home of Fado, a Portuguese style of song and dance. The Fado Museum is located here as well. You can take a walking tour just of this area to get some additional history about the neighborhood and the unique culture of the long-time residents here.
3. Explore the Gardens and Parks
You could spend days just exploring the many gardens and Parks throughout Lisbon. They range from neighborhood parks with a central statue or fountain and buskers playing on the corners, to the Botanical Garden. The Botanical Garden is next to the National Museum of Natural History and Science, and you can buy a ticket to see both for €6, or you can buy a ticket for just the museum for €5 or just the Botanical Gardens for €3.
4. Visit Belem Tower and the Monastery of St. Jerome
This is a great day or half day trip out of the city center. You can take a commuter train from Cais de Sodre Station out to Belem and walk between the Monastery and the Tower. There is also an archaeological museum directly next to the Monastery, and an additional statue celebrating the Portuguese explorers near the Tower. At the Monastery you can visit the church on the right-hand side for free, but you’ll need to pre-purchase a ticket for the Monastery itself for €10. The price is a little steep for what you get, and I hesitated to put it on this list, but I decided I enjoyed it enough to be worth the price. Take a break by Belem Tower at one of the cafes right on the water, or stop for some Wine With a View at the mini food truck overlooking the water.
5. Visit Sintra
Any trip to Lisbon should include a day trip to Sintra. Sintra was where the Lisbon royalty and rich built their country homes/palaces. It is filled with beautiful palaces and gardens and the town itself is also very cute and worth wandering through. I actually went twice. There is a train from the Rossio Train station that goes directly to Sintra. While it will be busy and it is touristy, it’s also worth it. See my separate post on what to see when you get there.
6. See the City from a Viewpoint
Lisbon is built on seven hills, so there are many places to look down on the city. A few of them are Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Miradouro das Portas do Sol, Miradouro da Graça, and the one closest to my apartment, Miradouro da Penha de Franca.
7. Take a Break in one of the Main Squares
If you are doing the other activities on this list; free walking tour, visiting Sintra, etc., you’ll most likely find yourself in the Praça do Comércio or Rossio square at some point. Take some time to explore around these and other squares in the city, or just find a bench and take a break for some people watching. Make sure to look down, as the Portuguese tiles in the squares and all over the city are exquisite, and in many cases tell the story of where you are.
8. Visit Cemiterio do Alto de Sao Joao
I haven’t see this mentioned on any of the “Things to Do” lists I read before I visited Lisbon. It’s a little out of the way, and I guess some people don’t like visiting cemeteries. So if that’s not your thing, no problem, there are plenty of other things to do. But if you, like me, think they are peaceful, beautiful and interesting, please check this one out. It is an active cemetery so be respectful of the grieving, but take your time to wander around the carved and decorated above-ground tombs.
9. Check out the Street Art
As you walk through the city keep your eyes up and stop to admire the beautiful street are when you come across it. Unfortunately some of it has been graffitied over, but there are pockets, especially on some of the staircase shortcuts up the hills, that are covered in pieces by various artists.
10. Visit the Oldest Bookstore in the World
If you know me, then you know I have always loved books. If you don’t know me, then I’m sure this will become evident the more you read my blog. I worked in libraries and bookstores throughout school and in my early 20s, and I’ve always liked a good story. So of course, I had to visit the WORLD’s oldest bookstore, Bertrand Livreiros. It is centrally located and fairly large, and has an attached cafe if you want to stop for a coffee as you browse. There is a foreign language section with a large selection in English, and if you purchase a book they will give you a stamp certifying the book was bought from the oldest operating bookshop in the world.
11. Santa Justa Elevator
A ride up the elevator will let you out at a platform with 360° views of the city. It costs about €5.50 to ride up the elevator, and you’ll wait in a long line to do so. BUT, you can avoid this. Skip the line and the cost and walk to the platform right below where the elevator lets out. It’s free, there’s no line, and the views are almost identical. The entrance is behind the Carmo Convent, as you head toward the Santa Justa Elevator; you’ll cross a bridge right to the elevator tower, so don’t go all the way to the base of the elevator.
12. Visit the Tile Museum
I am not the biggest fan of museums but I enjoyed the Museu Nacional do Azulejo. The easiest way to get here is by bus, as it is a little out of the city center. Which is good because it means it’s also a little less crowded than other more central museums. Entry is €5 for adults. After you see the museum, get a coffee at the cafe, which has a really nice outdoor garden. The gift shop here was also worth a look.
Overrated Tourist Attractions
Two things I’ve seen on a lot of “things to do” lists, but that I found underwhelming were the Green Street and the Pink Street. I stumbled on the Greet Street accidentally, which is filled with restaurants with tiny outdoor seating areas, but it is all for tourists. Otherwise it’s just a street that is painted green.
The Pink Street is likewise, a street painted bright pink. On one end there are hanging umbrellas, making this an Instagram favorite, but otherwise not worth a visit. Don’t go out of your way, but if you’re just wandering around and stumble on it, get your Insta shot. It’s also near one of the restaurants I recommend in my article on where to eat in Lisbon.
Getting Around
Transportation
Lisbon is easy to navigate. Get a transit card at one of the metro stations. You can use the same card for the metro, busses, trolleys, and commuter trains, including the trains to Belem and Sintra. When you purchase the card you can choose whether to get a single fare, or a multi-day pass, or to make it refillable and you choose how much money you put on it. Be careful here, because the card can only do one of these things at a time. Since I was staying for a month, I set mine to be refillable and just added money whenever I needed it.
Uber is also cheap and reliable. If you are traveling with two or more people, in many cases it might be more economical to get an Uber even if the Metro would take you close to your destination.
Lisboa Card
If you are spending 1-3 days in Lisbon, consider purchasing the Lisboa Card. It can be purchased online and picked up at the Lisbon Welcome Center or the airport. You can choose a 24 hour card (€21), 48 hour card (€35) or 72 hour card (€44). The time starts the first time you use the card, not when you purchase it or pick it up. The card works as your transit card, on all of the busses, metro, local trains. It also gets you free entry into many attractions, including some on my list above, including St. Jerome Monastery, Belem Tower, and the Tile Museum, and discounted tickets to still more attractions. Even if you were to just do these three attractions in one day, it would already save you money (the monastery costs €10, the Tile Museum is €5, and entering Belem Tower is €6, plus transportation to each one). If your time is limited, it’s a good investment. If you will be spending more than three days and spacing out your sightseeing a little more, it might not make sense as it is only good for up to three days.
How Long to Spend in Lisbon?
I was in Lisbon for a month, and while I didn’t go sightseeing every day, I also never ran out of things to do. I would suggest at least four days in Lisbon, giving you time for a day trip to Sintra, one day spent in the Belem area, and then two days in Lisbon itself. If you have more time there are other cities and towns nearby to explore on additional day trips. Whether you have four days or four weeks, you’ll have plenty to do, see, and eat while in Lisbon.
For more, check out my articles on where to eat and how to see Sintra and Belem.
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