Things to do · Lisbon · Portugal
19 best things to do in Lisbon
19 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Lisbon are Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower and São Jorge Castle. Of the 19 picks below, 5 are free, 5 work on a rainy day and 5 suit children. Allow about 4 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Jerónimos Monastery
- Free sights
- 5
- Good on a rainy day
- Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
- Time to see the highlights
- 4 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerónimos Monastery | Belém | 1.5 hours | Mid-priced |
| Belém Tower | Belém | 45 minutes–1 hour | Mid-priced |
| São Jorge Castle | Alfama | 1.5–2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Tram 28 | Graça | 40–50 minutes end to end | Low cost |
| Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch | Baixa | 1 hour | Free |
| Santa Justa Lift | Baixa | 30 minutes plus queue | Low cost |
| Fado evening | Alfama | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia | Alfama | Half a day | Free |
| Miradouro da Senhora do Monte | Graça | 45 minutes | Free |
| Calouste Gulbenkian Museum | Avenidas Novas | 2–3 hours | Low cost |
| Lisbon Oceanarium | Parque das Nações | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| National Tile Museum | Xabregas | 1.5–2 hours | Low cost |
| MAAT and the Tejo Power Station | Belém | 1–2 hours | Low cost |
| Carmo Convent | Chiado | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| LX Factory | Alcântara | 1.5–2 hours | Free |
| Mercado da Ribeira and Time Out Market | Cais do Sodré | 1–1.5 hours | Low cost |
| National Pantheon and Feira da Ladra | São Vicente | 1–2 hours | Low cost |
| Parque das Nações and the riverside cable car | Parque das Nações | Half a day | Free |
| Cristo Rei | Almada | 2–3 hours including the ferry | Low cost |
The 19 best things to do
Religious site · Belém
1.Jerónimos Monastery
Begun in 1501 and paid for by the spice trade, this monastery is the masterpiece of the Manueline style, with stone carved into ropes, sea creatures and armillary spheres. The church holds the tombs of Vasco da Gama and the poet Luís de Camões, and the two-storey cloister is one of the most elaborate in Europe. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Belém Tower.
The church itself can be visited free through a separate entrance; save the paid cloister for early morning before tour groups arrive.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Ticket queues for the cloister are long in summer; buy online or with a Lisboa Card and arrive at opening time.
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Landmark · Belém
2.Belém Tower
Built between 1514 and 1519 to guard the entrance to Lisbon's harbour, this small Manueline fortress stands at the river's edge decorated with stone ropes, crosses of the Order of Christ and a carved rhinoceros. Inside, a narrow spiral staircase climbs to a terrace with views along the Tagus.
The exterior and setting are the highlight; walk the riverside path from the Padrão dos Descobrimentos and decide on the interior when you see the queue.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes–1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
Castle · Alfama
3.São Jorge Castle
Moorish walls and towers crown Lisbon's highest central hill, captured by Afonso Henriques in 1147 and later used as a royal palace. Visitors walk the ramparts and towers, explore archaeological remains of Moorish houses and look out over the Baixa, the Tagus and the bridges from shaded terraces where peacocks roam.
Go late afternoon for the light on the city, and take bus 737 or a taxi up if the climb through Alfama is too steep.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Kids
- Couples
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Experience · Graça
4.Tram 28
The classic yellow 1930s-style trams of route 28 rattle between Martim Moniz and Campo de Ourique through Graça, Alfama, the Baixa, Chiado and Estrela, squeezing through streets barely wider than the carriage. It is a working public route as well as Lisbon's most famous ride.
Board at the Martim Moniz or Campo de Ourique terminus early in the morning for a seat, and keep valuables zipped away: the route is notorious for pickpockets.
- Time needed
- 40–50 minutes end to end
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Kids
- Views
- Photo spot
Landmark · Baixa
5.Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch
The royal palace stood here until the 1755 earthquake; its replacement is a vast arcaded square opening onto the Tagus, with the equestrian statue of King José I and the Cais das Colunas steps leading into the river. The triumphal Rua Augusta Arch has a viewing platform over the square and the Baixa grid.
Sit on the Cais das Colunas steps at sunset, then walk west along the Ribeira das Naus riverfront to Cais do Sodré.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Architecture
Landmark · Baixa
6.Santa Justa Lift
Opened in 1902, this neo-Gothic iron elevator lifts passengers 45 metres from the Baixa to a walkway leading to Largo do Carmo, with a small viewing platform at the top. It is part of the public transport network, though queues can be long.
If the queue is long, walk up to Largo do Carmo through Chiado and reach the top-level walkway from there.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes plus queue
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Architecture
Experience · Alfama
7.Fado evening
Fado, the mournful Portuguese song of longing listed by UNESCO as intangible heritage, is performed nightly in small restaurants and fado houses in Alfama, Mouraria and Bairro Alto. Singers are accompanied by the 12-string Portuguese guitar, and audiences fall silent during songs.
Smaller tascas with fado vadio (amateur fado) are cheaper and more intimate than dinner shows; stay quiet during performances.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Popular fado houses fill up at weekends; reserve a table for dinner a day or two ahead.
- After dark
- Couples
- Food
- Iconic
Neighbourhood · Alfama
8.Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia
A walk down from the castle passes the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, with its tiled walls and bougainvillea, and the Portas do Sol terrace, then descends through stairways and alleys to the fortress-like Sé, Lisbon's 12th-century cathedral. Look out for tiny grocery shops, grilled-sardine stands and fado houses along the way.
Start at Portas do Sol early in the morning and get deliberately lost on the way down; most lanes eventually lead to the river.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Views
Viewpoint · Graça
1.Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
The highest of Lisbon's central viewpoints looks across the castle, the Baixa and the river to the 25 de Abril Bridge, under pine trees beside a small chapel. It is quieter than Santa Luzia and São Pedro de Alcântara, and the nearby Miradouro da Graça has a kiosk café for a drink.
Arrive about 30 minutes before sunset to find a spot on the low wall.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Museum · Avenidas Novas
2.Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
The oil magnate Calouste Gulbenkian's collection spans Egyptian antiquities, Islamic ceramics and carpets, European painting including Rembrandt, and a celebrated room of René Lalique jewellery. The Modern Collection reopened in 2024 after a renovation by Kengo Kuma, and both buildings are set in a landscaped garden with ponds.
Bring a picnic for the garden, one of the calmest spaces in Lisbon, which is free to enter.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
- Outdoors
Aquarium · Parque das Nações
3.Lisbon Oceanarium
Built for Expo 98, the Oceanário is one of Europe's largest aquariums, arranged around a huge central tank with sharks, rays and shoals of fish, surrounded by four habitats representing the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Antarctic oceans, with sea otters and penguins.
Book online for a timed slot and combine it with the riverside cable car and the Pavilhão do Conhecimento science centre nearby.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Weekends and school holidays sell out at peak times; reserve a slot online.
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
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Museum · Xabregas
4.National Tile Museum
Housed in the Madre de Deus convent, the Museu Nacional do Azulejo traces five centuries of Portuguese tiles, from Moorish-influenced patterns to Art Nouveau. Highlights are a 23-metre tile panorama of Lisbon before the 1755 earthquake and the convent's gilded baroque chapel.
It is east of the centre and away from the metro; take a bus or taxi and stay for lunch in the museum café's tiled courtyard.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
- Off the beaten path
Architecture · Belém
5.MAAT and the Tejo Power Station
The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology occupies a curving white building by Amanda Levete, opened in 2016, and the red-brick Tejo Power Station next door. Its sloping roof is a public walkway with views of the 25 de Abril Bridge and the river.
Walk over the roof at sunset even if you skip the exhibitions, then continue along the river to Belém.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Art
- Views
- Rainy day
Historic site · Chiado
6.Carmo Convent
The Gothic church of this 14th-century convent lost its roof in the 1755 earthquake and was never rebuilt; its bare stone arches now frame the sky above Chiado. The chancel holds a small archaeological museum with tombs, carvings and pre-Columbian mummies.
Combine it with Largo do Carmo, one of the prettiest squares in Chiado, and the upper walkway of the Santa Justa Lift next door.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Alcântara
7.LX Factory
A 19th-century industrial complex under the 25 de Abril Bridge has been turned into a creative quarter of restaurants, bars, design shops and studios. Its best-known tenant is the Ler Devagar bookshop, with towering shelves and a bicycle hanging from the ceiling.
Visit on a Sunday for the LX Market stalls, and stop on the way between the centre and Belém.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Art
Market · Cais do Sodré
8.Mercado da Ribeira and Time Out Market
Lisbon's 19th-century central market hall is split in two: one side is still a traditional market of fish, fruit and flowers in the mornings, the other is the Time Out Market food hall with stalls from well-known Lisbon chefs, bakeries and seafood bars around shared tables.
Arrive before noon or after 3pm to get a seat; the traditional market side is best early in the morning.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Architecture · São Vicente
9.National Pantheon and Feira da Ladra
The domed Church of Santa Engrácia took so long to build that 'obras de Santa Engrácia' became a Portuguese phrase for endless works; finished in 1966, it is now the National Pantheon, holding the tombs of the fado singer Amália Rodrigues and footballer Eusébio. The dome terrace looks over Alfama and the river, and the Feira da Ladra flea market fills the square outside on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Time your visit for a Tuesday or Saturday morning to browse the flea market first.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Shopping
- Architecture
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Waterfront · Parque das Nações
10.Parque das Nações and the riverside cable car
The former Expo 98 site is a modern riverside district with Santiago Calatrava's Oriente station, the 12-km Vasco da Gama Bridge on the horizon and a cable car gliding above the water's edge. Wide promenades, gardens and the Pavilhão do Conhecimento science centre make it the easiest part of Lisbon for children.
Rent bikes or scooters to ride the flat promenade towards the Vasco da Gama Bridge.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Viewpoint · Almada
11.Cristo Rei
On the south bank of the Tagus, this statue of Christ with outstretched arms stands on a high pedestal facing the city. A lift climbs to a platform with one of the widest views of Lisbon, the 25 de Abril Bridge and the estuary.
Take the ferry from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas for the river views, then a bus or taxi up to the monument.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours including the ferry
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, National Tile Museum, MAAT and the Tejo Power Station and LX Factory |
| History | Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, São Jorge Castle and Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia |
| Views | Belém Tower, São Jorge Castle, Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia and Tram 28 |
| Outdoors and nature | Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon Oceanarium and Parque das Nações and the riverside cable car |
| Food and markets | Fado evening, LX Factory and Mercado da Ribeira and Time Out Market |
| After dark | Fado evening |
| With children | Belém Tower, São Jorge Castle, Tram 28 and Lisbon Oceanarium |
| On a rainy day | Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon Oceanarium, National Tile Museum and MAAT and the Tejo Power Station |
What to book ahead
- Jerónimos Monastery: Ticket queues for the cloister are long in summer; buy online or with a Lisboa Card and arrive at opening time.
- Fado evening: Popular fado houses fill up at weekends; reserve a table for dinner a day or two ahead.
- Lisbon Oceanarium: Weekends and school holidays sell out at peak times; reserve a slot online.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Lisbon?
Jerónimos Monastery. Begun in 1501 and paid for by the spice trade, this monastery is the masterpiece of the Manueline style, with stone carved into ropes, sea creatures and armillary spheres.
+What can you do for free in Lisbon?
Praça do Comércio and Rua Augusta Arch, Alfama, the Sé and Santa Luzia, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, LX Factory and Parque das Nações and the riverside cable car. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Lisbon when it rains?
Head indoors to Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon Oceanarium, National Tile Museum and MAAT and the Tejo Power Station.
+What is there to do in Lisbon at night?
Fado evening are best after dark.