BEST THINGS TO DO IN LISBON – this blog post is all about the absolute best things to do in Lisbon, Portugal.
If you have read our previous posts, you know that we are a vegan family of 4 that moved from Austin, Texas to Portugal in July 2021. Check it out here: Portugal move. We spent the first 2.5 weeks in Cascais, then 8 days in Porto and now we are in Lisbon, where we have been living full-time since September 2021. We have explored Lisbon intensely and have to share all of the best things to do in Lisbon!
If you are only planning on spending a few days in Lisbon, I highly recommend the Lisboa tourist card. It’s a really good deal since it’s valid for all public transportation and free entry to most museums!
where to stay in lisbon
Check out this amazing list of places to stay in Lisbon: HOTELS AND APARTMENTS IN LISBON
FAVORITE PAID EXPERIENCES IN LISBON:
- Tagus River Sunset Cruise with wine and snack – one of the best ways to see the famous April 25 bridge, Cristo Rei and Lisbon
- Hop On/Hop off Bus Tour of Lisbon – I highly recommend that you do this activity the first day you are in Lisbon so you get a feel for the layout of the city and where everything is.
- Lisbon- History, Stories and Lifestyle Walking Tour – this is an awesome tour with an extremely knowledgeable tour guide. You will learn so much about Lisbon and the lifestyle here.
- Luz Stadium Tour and Benfica Museum Ticket – if you like futbol (soccer), then this is the perfect tour for you!
ALFAMA/SÃO VICENTE/GRAÇA AREA
Castelo de São Jorge – Built in the mid-11th century, during the Moorish period, this fortification is situated in the area most difficult to access at the top of the hill, making use of the natural slopes to the north and west. The purpose of the castle was to house military troops and in case of siege, the elite who lived in the citadel. Unlike most European castles, it was not meant as a residence.
history of Castelo sao Jorge
It still retains eleven towers, the most outstanding being the Torre de Menagem (Tower of the Keep), Torre do Haver ou do Tombo (Tower of Riches or Trumbling Tower), Torre do Paço (Tower of the Palace), Torre da Cisterna (Tower of the Cistern) and the Torre de São Lourenço (Tower of St. Lawrence) located on the hillside. Ruins of older structures and a cistern still remain in a second courtyard. Also found here is a small door on the northern wall called the Door of Treason which allowed secret messengers to enter or exit when needed.
This castle is one of my favorite places to go, especially with visiting friends. The view of Lisbon is fantastic, with the red-tiled roofs and white-washed buildings with a view of all the major hotspots of Lisbon. Plus, it’s free for Lisbon residents! For visitors, it’s 10€ per person or use this link to skip the line (which will save you some serious time)!
Don’t miss out on a FADO show!
Places to eat near here: Bar Boca (my fave!) and Al Sanpietrino fka Horacio Trattoria
Jardim da Cerca da Graça – Thankfully, most common travel guides don’t mention the areas of Graça and São Vicente very often. This is part of Lisbon’s historic center and “Old Town”, but they feel like independent villages in the capital’s center, and less touristy than Alfama. This garden has lovely views, green spaces and a cute kiosk, not to mention beautiful street art and murals. Nearby are important monuments like the São Vicente Church and the National Pantheon, which makes this a great area to explore for a couple of hours.
Places to eat near here: Push Tak, The Food Temple, O Gambuzino
Alfama area
Alfama neighborhood – You can easily get lost in this Moorish, hilly neighborhood. The streets are narrow and maze-like, but gives a sense of wonder to those willing to get lost and discover the nooks and crannies. There are a couple of fantastic Miradouros here – Portas da Sol, Santa Luzia, and Graça. Some nearby hotspots are: The National Pantheon, São Vicente de Fora Church, Sé Cathedral, Casa dos Bicos, Museu do Azulejos, and Fado Museum.
And if you are around on a Saturday and the weather is mild, definitely check out the Feira da Ladra (flea market). It’s colossal and the ambience is lively! You could also take one of the fun Tuk Tuk tours of Lisbon, especially if you want to save yourself from walking so many hills. If you are up for the challenge, you could go on this awesome walking tour!
Places to eat near here: Al Sanpietrino fka Horacio Trattoria, Tatoim, 26 Vegan Food Project
CHIADO/DOWNTOWN AREA
Chiado area – This is one of the main tourist areas of Lisbon. The main attractions are the Carmo Convent, Santa Justa lift, and walking around the area, checking out the shops and bookstores. In fact, one of my favorite views of the city is from the windows in the bathrooms at Armazens do Chiado! Our kids’ favorite thing to do in this area is get a vegan sorbet at Amorinos. During the holidays, this area is stunningly decorated and lit up. Make sure to visit the oldest bookstore in the world still in operation – Bertrand Chiado.
Places to eat near here: it feels like ALL of the vegan restaurants are in this area. Our favorite is Organi Chiado. Other places: Legumi Sushi, Plant Base, Jardim das Cerejas, 26 Vegan Food Project, Kong, A Colmeia, The Green Affair, Vegan Nata and Amorino.
The most touristic spot
Praça do Comércio, view of 25 de Abril bridge – Praça do Comercio is a short walk from the Chiado metro and the Terreiro do Paço metro. It’s a huge, wide-open area with a lovely view of the Tagus River to the South and the statue and archway to Rua Augusta to the North. This is a perfect place for an awesome photo! Walking towards Cais das Colunas (the columns in the river), you will see an iconic view of the 25 de Abril bridge to the west. This is one of my favorite spots to really absorb the Lisbon lifestyle and admire the beauty. A couple of stops nearby could be the Lisbon Story Centre and the Museu da Cerveja (at least look inside this place at the intricate, gold decor).
Rua Augusta – This street is incredibly busy, especially during the high tourist season, May-October. Before walking through the archway from the Praca do Comercio, don’t forget to look right and left at the striking architecture and beautiful archways to the east and west. This is a great spot for a photo! Then, walk on Rua Augusta towards Rossio Square. You may be approached a few times by the guys selling “hashish” which is really just laurel leaves, but they are harmless. Just ignore them and continue on your way.
Rossio Square – it’s interesting to walk around this square, and it only takes a few minutes. Plus, Scoop n Dough is nearby for the most amazing vegan donuts and ice cream. My favorite is the donut waffle with salted caramel ice cream. Delicious!
Places to eat near here: Scoop n Dough, Amorino, Manjerica
High-end/lux area
Avenida Liberdade – this is a really high-end, luxurious area. Both sides of the avenue are adorned with high-end brand shops. It’s a great area to walk and see the lovely calçadas (cobblestone walkways) and stop at one of the kiosks along the way to enjoy a fresh beverage. This Avenida will lead you to Marques de Pombal and Parque Eduardo to the North and Rossio Square to the South.
WEST LISBON – PRÍNCIPE REAL/ESTRELA/CAMPO DO OURIQUE
Príncipe Real – This area is really popular with tourists and expats, many of whom call this neighborhood home. Most of the apartments and shops surround the lovely park, Jardim França Borges where a Saturday Farmer’s Market takes place. My favorite part of the park is the huge, ancient tree supported by a steel trellis. As you walk around the park, you will find several enchanting views of the city looking towards the river Tejo and the 25 de Abril bridge. Nearby, you will find the Jardim Botânico and Natural History Museum. You could spend all day at the Natural History Museum, especially if you go with kids.
Places to eat near here: DaTerra, UAO Smart Italian Gelato, Cabane, Zest
Campo de Ourique, Estrela Garden – Campo de Ourique is a quaint, hip area that many expats call home. It’s a fun area to walk around and explore. You could walk around Jardim da Estrela first, enjoy the greenery, go to the Estrela Basilica, then stop at the Mercado de Campo de Ourique and make your way to the kiosk at the Jardim da Parada. There’s an adorable duck house in the pond. The evening ambiance at the kiosk is lively and fun.
Places to eat near here: Vegan Nata, Alter Ego (inside the mercado), Asoka
Instagram-worthy spots
See the pink street and the green street – these streets are absolutely adorable and hot spots for Instagram influencers and the like. From the Cais do Sodre station, walk two streets to the North and you will run into the Pink street. The green street is a little further away, in the São Bento/Bairro Alto area. From the pink street, walk to the east to Rua da Silva 22 and you’ll find the captivating, earthy green street. And now there’s a blue street! You can find it at Rua dos Bacalhoeiros in Santa Maria Maior area. If you look for these streets on Google Maps, it will show you the way.
Stop at one of the cute kiosks for a refreshing beverage – there are charming kiosks all throughout Lisbon. This is one of my favorite activities, especially during the summer. We love to find a kiosk, order a refreshing beverage and enjoy the company and partake in some people watching. The prices are quite affordable and the ambience is usually quite lively. Look for a future post about all of the amazing kiosks around Lisbon! Most Picturesque kiosk = Portas do Sol lookout
NORTH LISBON – PARQUE EDUARDO/ALAMEDA/ARCO DO CEGO
Parque Eduardo + Estufa Fria – One of my favorite viewpoints is in Parque Eduardo, looking towards Marque de Pombal, especially at night. It’s a lovely view of the manicured garden towards the roundabout to Avenida Liberdade with a slight view of the river. This is also a nice area to walk around. There are several restaurants in the park, but we haven’t visited them yet. This park also hosts the annual Book Fair and Winter Wonderland during the holidays.
Just west of the park, you will find Estufa Fria. Estufa Fria is a huge, indoor botanical garden/greenhouse. They have over 300 species of plants and 3 sections: cold greenhouse, hot greenhouse and sweet greenhouse. It’s so fun to explore and feel like you are in the jungle! And the price of admission is super affordable – 1-2€ each and on Sunday, it’s free entry.
Places to eat near here: My Mother’s Daughter, Beauty’s Bar, Oasis, The Green Affair Saldanha
avenidas novas area
Gulbenkian Museum and Garden – The Gulbenkian Museum is walking distance from Parque Eduardo. The Museum itself is quite astonishing, but the park is one of my favorite areas to sit down and relax. According to the museum, you travel through 5,000 years of history and discover the works collected by Calouste Gulbenkian in one of the most important private collections of international art. There are over 6,000 pieces in the museum, all collected by Gulbenkian. My favorite section is the Asian art. Hot tip: The museum is free on Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and the garden is always free. The Gulbenkian also has an orchestra and hosts many musical events throughout the year.
Places to eat near here: Oasis (hot tip: get it to go and eat at the Gulbenkian garden)
Visit Fonte Luminoso, esp at night when the lights are illuminated – I may be a little biased since we live close to here and walk by the park every day. Alameda Park is a huge green area in the middle of the city. Fonte Luminosa is the enormous fountain inside the park. At night, it’s all lit up and quite beautiful.
Where to eat: Shree Ram, Lisbon Vegan, VeganEats
REALLY NORTH LISBON
Campo Pequeno, Campo Grande, Museums (Bordalo Pinheiro and Museum of Lisbon -Pimienta Palace) – Campo Pequeno is really just a commercial shopping center with a bull ring inside of it and an event center for various musical events. The true magic of Campo Pequeno is the architecture, a neo-Arabic revivalist style. Campo Grande is an extensive park north of downtown Lisbon where many locals like to workout. One of our favorite kiosks is in the middle of the park, next to the strange sculpture titled “Childhood.” There are a lot of sculptures and other public art inside Campo Grande. You can also rent small paddle boats on the pond near the Padel courts. This park is popular with nearby college students and people who live close by. As it’s close to the airport, it’s common to see planes low overhead.
Places to eat near here: Giulietta, Mother’s Burger, Escolha Natura
Walk around Arco do Cego neighborhood – this neighborhood is close to Avenida Roma and is adorable! The houses are pastel-colored with quaint architecture. It’s interesting to see these 2 story houses in the middle of tall, multi-story buildings and how it feels very provincial, but inside a city.
Where to Eat: Radhe Krishna (we get food from here a little too often because it’s so addictive!)
Almost the suburbs Lisbon
Quinta das Conchas – if you venture this far up north to the Lumiar area, this park is a delight! It’s colossal and has something for everyone. It has huge lawns, ponds, water features, and kiosks.
Alvalade – Alvalade is a popular area for families and expats to live. There isn’t too much to do in this area other than walk around, explore Jose Gomes Ferreira Park, check out Inatel (an immense outdoor sporting area) and if you’re hungry, definitely go to Moko Veggie Cafe.
REALLY WEST LISBON – MONSANTO, ALCANTARA, BELEM
Monsanto Park – Monsanto isn’t the easiest place to get to without a car. You can take a bus or take the train to the Benfica station and walk to the park from there. Monsanto has been dubbed as the lungs of Lisbon. The area is covered in lush vegetation, native foliage and large trees. The most popular area to go to as a tourist is the Miradouro – an abandoned, crumbling building with graffiti and interesting street art. We have gone a few times to the Miradouro and to hike around the park. Next time we go, we will be seeking out the archery class that happens on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and is free.
Alcántara – go to LX Factory – The LX Factory is definitely one of the must-visit spots in Lisbon. There are charming local shops, exciting eateries, a delightful bookshop, amazing artists on the 1st-3rd floors of the main building, and cool murals to find. Fernando has a studio here (1st floor, Loja 14) so stop by to say hello if you go to LX Factory!
Where to eat: The Therapist, The Food for Real
a very busy, but beautiful area of lisbon
Belem – Jeronimos Monastery, Ajuda Botanical Garden, Belem Tower, The MAAT – this area is tourist central. I should probably do a blog post dedicated to just this area. Just know that Belem is amazing and it’s so fun to see all of the hotspots here. Look for a future post dedicated to this area!
Lisbon Street Art Tour – this is an amazing tour where you can see the famous Bordalo II and Vhils murals.
If you have extra time, you could go to Parque das Naçoes. The best way to get there is via train or metro. The area is fun to explore and marvel at all the new, futuristic-looking buildings. We like to walk along the boardwalk, near the river. An entertaining option would be to take the cable cars. This area reminds me a lot of San Diego, California.
THE BEST DAY TRIPS FROM LISBON
SINTRA – this would be an amazing way to spend the day in Sintra and surrounding areas, especially if you are only visiting for a short time!
Best Viewpoints
Miradouro da Graça (Calçada da Graça), Miradouro das Portas do Sol (Rua de São Tomé, 84), Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara (Rua de São Pedro de Alcântara), Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte (Largo Monte), Panorâmico de Monsanto (Alto da Serafina), Santuário do Cristo Rei (Avenida Cristo Rei, Alto do Pragal, Almada),
RELATED POST: VEGAN GUIDE TO LISBON
favorite places to eat
Organic Chiado, Bar Boca, Al Sanpietrino fka Horacio Trattoria, Plant Base, 26 Vegan Food Project, Ortéa Collective, O Gambuzino, Moko Veggie Cafe, Vegan Eats, Legumi Sushi, Radhe Krishna, KONG, Vegan Junkies, The Food Temple, The Therapist, The Green Affair, Shree Ram, Arkhe, Lisbon Vegan Restaurant, Manjerica, My Mother’s Daughter, Scoop n Dough, Amorino, A Minha Avó
Vegan shops: Green Beans, Moko Veggie Cafe in Alvalade, NAE Vegan Shoes
where to stay in lisbon:
- 3 bedroom comfy apartment in the city center
- Awesome location + great price
- Comfy + close to metro and city center
- Luxury + great location and price
- Amaging location + sustainable loft
- Super budget friendly + nice hostel
This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
OUR MUST-HAVE ITEMS:
- Merrell women’s light hiking shoes – these are amazing because they are lightweight, but are extra grippy and helpful for walking and hiking! I also have this pair that I always get compliments on: Merrell Rainbow shoes. And Fernando loves his Asics trail runners which are also grippy and perfect for walking and hiking!
- Thermoflask water bottle – like a Hydroflask, but more affordable! We don’t go anywhere without these water bottles full of purified water.
- North Face Aphrodite 2.0 capris – I seriously wear these pants every.single.day! I couldn’t live without these ultra-comfy, lightweight pants that dry so quickly. They are 100% worth the money!
- Osprey Day Pack – this is an awesome lightweight backpack. We easily put the belongings we need at hand for traveling around the city and on public transportation.
- Vegan Sunscreen – this healthy, non-toxic sunscreen is perfect for all your travels! I love this brand.
OUR FAVORITE TRAVEL SERVICES:
- DISCOVER CARS – If you want to rent a car while you’re in Europe, our favorite car rental aggregator is Discover Cars. We frequently rent cars and they always have the best prices and great quality vehicles.
- iTalki – if you want to learn Portuguese before traveling or while you’re here, then we love iTalki. We highly recommend their language services.
Have you been to Lisbon? What was your favorite thing about it? I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas!
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Planning a trip to Lisbon with my husband for NOS festival in July, and these resources are amazingly helpful – thank you! Is there a particular area you’d recommend that we look for an AirBnB in?
Hey Jessica! I’m so glad that you found the guide to be helpful! We are definitely fortunate with all the awesome vegan choices in Lisbon! The most vegan restaurants tend to be in Chiado (main tourist area) and Anjos (a hip multicultural area). The NOS Festival is in Alges though so you may want to stay in Alcantara, Santos or Belem. Wherever you stay though, you can get a paper Viva card (public transportation) and it’s so easy to travel via metro and train or even trolley or bus! Hope you have an amazing time!! Let me know if you have any other questions! Tara
Thank you so much for your reply. I’m just starting to put together an itinerary for our trip and was wondering if you knew of any vegan-friendly spas where we can relax and have a massage?