Lisbon Travel Guide: What to See, Eat and Do in Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal’s sun-washed capital, spills down seven hills to the broad estuary of the Tagus River, just a few miles before it meets the Atlantic. It is one of Europe’s oldest cities, older than Rome by some accounts, and for centuries it was the launch pad of the Age of Discoveries: from the riverbank at Belém, Vasco da Gama sailed for India in 1497, and spices, gold and new ideas flowed back to make Lisbon one of the richest ports on earth.

Much of the city you see today was rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1755, when the Marquis of Pombal laid out the elegant grid of the Baixa. Around it, older neighbourhoods such as Alfama and Mouraria survived with their Moorish lanes, laundry-strung balconies and the mournful sound of fado drifting from tiny taverns. Porto lies about 310 km (roughly three hours by train) to the north, which is why Lisbon is the natural starting or finishing point of a Portugal journey with Palace Tours.

What to see in Lisbon

• Belém Tower – A UNESCO-listed 16th-century fortress rising from the Tagus, carved with ropes, armillary spheres and even a stone rhinoceros, built to guard the harbour mouth.
• Jerónimos Monastery – The masterpiece of the Manueline style, funded by the spice trade; its lace-like cloister is breathtaking and Vasco da Gama’s tomb lies inside.
• Alfama and São Jorge Castle – Climb through Lisbon’s oldest quarter to the Moorish castle walls for sweeping views over red rooftops and the river.
• Praça do Comércio and the Baixa – The grand riverside square and the Pombaline streets behind it, entered through the triumphal Rua Augusta Arch.
• Tram 28 – The vintage yellow tram rattles up impossibly steep streets through Graça, Alfama and Estrela, a sightseeing ride in its own right.
• The miradouros – Lisbon’s viewpoints, such as Santa Luzia, Senhora do Monte and São Pedro de Alcântara, are the city’s open-air living rooms at sunset.
• Calouste Gulbenkian Museum – A superb private collection spanning Egyptian antiquities, Persian carpets, Rembrandt and René Lalique jewellery, set in tranquil gardens.
• Sintra – About 25 km away, the forested hills of Sintra hide the fairy-tale Pena Palace, the Moorish Castle and romantic quintas, an essential day trip.

What to eat in Lisbon

Start with the city’s famous custard tart, the pastel de nata, ideally still warm and dusted with cinnamon, at the historic bakery in Belém that has guarded its recipe since the 1830s. Seafood is the soul of Lisbon cooking: grilled sardines, clams à Bulhão Pato in garlic, olive oil and coriander, and endless variations of bacalhau (salt cod), with bacalhau à Brás a local favourite. For a quick bite, order a bifana, a garlicky pork sandwich, at a standing-room counter.

Wash it down with a glass of crisp vinho verde or a bold red from the Alentejo, and finish with a shot of ginjinha, the sour-cherry liqueur sold from tiny bars around Rossio. Many travellers also love Lisbon’s beautifully packaged tinned fish, a delicacy here rather than a pantry staple.

Shopping & crafts

Look for hand-painted azulejo tiles, the blue-and-white ceramics that clad so many of the city’s façades, as well as cork goods, embroidered linens, filigree jewellery and colourful tins of sardines. Chiado and Príncipe Real are the best districts for design shops and long-established boutiques.

Best time to visit

Spring (March to May) and early autumn (September to October) bring warm, sunny days, pleasant evenings and fewer crowds. Summer is hot and lively, with the city’s popular saints’ festivals filling Alfama with grilled sardines and street parties in June. Winters are mild and green, though wetter, and a wonderful time for museums and cafés.

Good to know

• Lisbon is very hilly and paved with slippery limestone calçada; comfortable, grippy shoes are essential.
• Use the historic funiculars and the Santa Justa Lift to save your legs on the steepest climbs.
• Keep an eye on bags on Tram 28 and in busy viewpoints, where pickpockets work the crowds.
• Dinner is typically eaten from around 8pm; the bread, olives and cheese placed on the table are usually charged if eaten.
• For an authentic fado evening, choose a small casa de fado in Alfama or Bairro Alto and stay quiet while the singer performs.

Discover Lisbon on a Palace Tours journey through Portugal, pairing the capital with Porto, the Douro Valley and more. Call us at 1-800-724-5120 (US/CA), WhatsApp +1-786-408-0610 or +1-609-580-1372 internationally to plan your trip.