Travel Dates: June 2024 (Updated December 2025)
Things to do in Lisbon
Belém Tower – Don’t miss taking a day trip out of Lisbon downtown to see this beautiful fortification. We took an Uber as it was slightly quicker than public transportation (25 vs 35 minutes) and the cost was only $14.
Based on online research, people suggested arriving before 10am to avoid lengthy queues of up to two hours. We followed this advice and arrived at 9:50am, purchasing our €8 per person tickets at a stand near the tower entrance without any wait. Even when we departed around 10:40am, there was still no line. It’s safe to safe that visiting Belém Tower before 11am on a weekday should ensure a hassle-free experience without encountering long lines.
Jerónimos Monastery – People who take a day trip to Belém tower also stop by this monastery that’s a 15 minute walk away. We got here around 11am and the lines were long–we had to wait ~1 hour 15 minutes to get inside. There are two lines when you arrive: one on the left is for the monastery and the one on the right is for the church. You can purchase your ticket for €12 in-person, but we’d recommend immediately waiting on line and buying your ticket on the website. Buy for 30 minutes ahead of the time you arrive, as the ticket will be valid within 2 hours of designated entry time. You don’t have to worry about tickets running out as there are a lot available.
We only visited the monastery and not the church, and the monastery is indeed beautiful. We did notice that around 1pm there wasn’t much of a line for the monastery. Note that they are closed on Mondays.
Padrão dos Descobrimentos – Also known as the Monument to the Discoveries, this statue was built to honor Henry the Navigator. It’s across the street from Jerónimos Monastery, a 9 minute walk past a garden and through an underground pedestrian passageway.
From our experience, we’d recommend visiting Belém Tower in the morning first and then walking to Padrão dos Descobrimentos. Afterwards you can cross over to the monastery. Otherwise if you do the monument last, you would’ve crossed the street twice. This also provides a chance for you to go to the monastery in the afternoon when the line may not be as long.
Castelo de São Jorge – Although it costs €15 per person, the views of Lisbon downtown from the castle are nice. You may also enjoy the numerous peacocks that live on the premises. We got here around 2pm and waited 15 minutes to get in; close to 4pm we saw the line was longer. If you want to skip this, Miradouro da Graça was our favorite free viewpoint of Lisbon downtown (see below for more details).
Santa Justa Lift – There is no need to wait in line and spend money to take this elevator up, when instead you can walk up and behind the lift to see the same viewpoint. If you follow Google to Largo do Carmo (a small park), walk down the path in between Palácio dos Condes de Valadares and Museu Arqueológico do Carmo towards Santa Justa Lift. You’ll then see a staircase going up towards a small restaurant; take the staircase and you’ll be on a small bridge that connects to Santa Justa Lift.
Arco da Rua Augusta – This famous arch in downtown Lisbon connects to the main shopping area. It’s a quick and easy stop, but very crowded. The waterfront nearby is a good spot to watch the sunset if you have time.
Miradouros – Portugal is full of miradouros (viewpoints), and these were the ones we visited:
- Miradouro da Graça – A favorite miradouro of ours as there is a kiosk cafe here where you can order drinks and small bites (cash only). You can enjoy the beautiful views of downtown Lisbon while sipping on a nice cold drink in the shade.
- Miradouro das Portas do Sol – A nice scenic viewpoint a few minutes from Miss Can.
- Miradouro de Santa Luzia – Next to Miradouro das Portas do Sol, you’ll get a similar view although in my opinion it’s a bit more obstructed. What’s nice about this spot is the pergola and flowers in the garden.
- Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara – Although this is a nice view of downtown Lisbon, it’s a bit far so feel free to skip. There is a public bathroom at this park for €1 and it’s relatively clean.
- Miradouro da Senhora do Monte – A lovely viewpoint, though similar to Miradouro da Graça (which I prefer because of its kiosk and seating areas).
Santuário de Cristo Rei (Christ the King statue) – After the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon visited Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer, he wanted a version in Lisbon and thus the statue was constructed. You can see this on your way to Belém Tower and Padrão dos Descobrimentos. However, if you want to get closer you’ll need to take a ferry from Cais do Sodré ferry terminal to Cacilhas. There’s a ferry roughly every 30 minutes and it’s an 8 minute ride. You can buy tickets at the ferry terminal for €2 one way.
When I returned to Lisbon, we drove to Christ the King, which was much easier than taking the ferry and hiking up. To get there, you’ll need to pay a toll when crossing the bridge. We parked on the street outside the park, but paid parking is also available inside. Viewing the statue is free, and there’s a viewpoint overlooking downtown Lisbon and the bridge. Unfortunately, heavy fog blocked the scenery during our visit. You can also pay to climb up inside the statue. There’s also a café on-site and a free bathroom nearby.
Things to do outside of Lisbon
Sintra & Cabo da Roca Tour – This is a must-see if you are visiting Lisbon. We chose the tour run by The Cooltours due to price, itinerary, and pick-up and drop-off locations.
At 8am we met our guide and tour group (8 people in total) at Praça da Figueira, which is several minutes from our hotel. We then drove to the coastal town of Cascais and had 30 minutes to walk around and explore. Given the weather was gloomy and cold, we didn’t see much. Afterwards, we stopped at Cabo da Roca for 15 minutes to take some pictures of the beautiful coastline. In my opinion it would’ve been nice to spend more time here than in Cascais.
Next we visited Pena Palace, where we had 1.5 hours to explore by ourselves. Tickets for Pena Palace are not included in the tour, so you can either buy it online or in-person for €10. The line isn’t too long, but we’d recommend buying it in advance so you save time. If you also buy it 3 days in advance you can save 15%. Note, these tickets provide access to the grounds only and not to go inside the actual palace. Because this tour isn’t specifically to see Pena Palace, you won’t have enough time to go inside the palace as it is a timed entry and tickets tend to sell out.
From the ticket booth, it’s a 10-15 minute walk uphill to get to Pena Palace. If you don’t want to walk, you can purchase a roundtrip shuttle ticket for €3. The grounds are very vast so 1.5 hours will probably only give you enough to see the palace area and not the nature trails, lakes, etc. If you want to explore Pena Palace more, I’d recommend you come by yourself or find a tour specifically for this.
Afterwards, we were dropped off in Sintra for a little more than an hour to have lunch. We dined at Tulhas where we ordered Bacalhau à Brás with shrimp (shreds of cod mixed with onions and fried potatoes, bounded by eggs) and a garlic shrimp appetizer—both were decent. We then had some time to stroll around the town. We bought travesseiro (a strudel-like pastry but more airy, filled with almond-egg cream) from Piriquita and enjoyed a Ginja (cherry liquor) shot with dark chocolate at a wine shop. I highly recommend both as they were delightful.
Our final stop was Quinta da Regaleira to visit the famous Initiation Well. Tickets are included in the tour, and our guide accompanied us for 1.5 hours here, providing background and history of the estate. At the end of the tour, we were dropped off at Praça Marquês de Pombal. This is different from the pick-up location because apparently tour buses are not allowed to drop people off at Praça da Figueira after 5pm.
Overall this tour was good since you get to see a lot in one day, but it did feel rushed at times.
Where to eat in Lisbon
Pastéis de Belém – If you followed our recommendation above when visiting Belém Tower, Padrão dos Descobrimentos, and Jerónimos Monastery then this will be a 4 minute walk from the monastery and can be your last stop in that area for the day. Of all the pastel de natas we had in Portugal (including the ones in Porto), this is our favorite. It’s served warm, has a crispy shell, and is not as sweet as Castro’s. Be prepared there may be a bit of a wait, but it’s worth it.
Miss Can – Portugal is known for its canned sardines and seafood. Many stores sell cans to-go, but Miss Can is both a restaurant and a store where you can eat the fish before buying any cans. I highly recommend the mackerel in spicy olive oil with pickles and boneless sardines in olive oil.
Lisboa Tu e Eu 2 – A hole in the wall restaurant, the sardines here are delicious and cooked very well; just be mindful there are a lot of bones. This restaurant is cash only.
Dom Leitão – The suckling pig here is delicious. Every table gets served chips and roasted potatoes on the side, but these cost extra. Reservations are highly recommended as it gets packed. Conveniently, they have an on-site parking lot.
Cervejaria Ramiro – This spot is popular among tourists for seafood, but honestly, it was just okay. We ordered razor clams, scarlet shrimp, barnacles, scallops, and the famous filet beef sandwich. The only standout for me was the razor clams. If you plan to go, make a reservation in advance—they require a €25 deposit per person, which is applied to your final bill.
Sea Me Peixaria Moderna – The Taylor Made sushi experience is pricey but worth it for something unique. You choose a whole fish, which is then prepared in nine different ways—a mix of sushi, ceviche, and tempura. The variety makes it interesting, and the portions are decent. Reservations are recommended as it gets busy, and walk-ins may not be accepted.
Dear Breakfast – A nice breakfast spot near our hotel, I recommend the broken eggs (fried eggs, potatoes, onion, smoked paprika). If you’re lucky, you may get a seat by the balcony and a view of Lisbon’s famous Tram 28 passing by.
Fauna & Flora – Another good breakfast spot, although a little further away from our hotel. It’s a bit Americanized with bagels and avocado toast on the menu.
Red Frog Speakeasy – This speakeasy is hidden in the same building as Monkey Mash (you’ll see the signage for Monkey Mash on the building). We arrived just when it opened and got seated after people who had reservations. I had the whiskey highball which was nice and light.
Tapisco Lisboa – Although we arrived a little after it opened, we had to wait a bit to get seated. We ordered the prawns which were delicious, and the scallop rice which was very salty. Overall you can skip this because it seems like unless you have a reservation, it will be tough to get a seat.
Landeau Chocolate – I highly recommend getting the chocolate cake here. It’s like a cacao chocolate mousse, and is to die for.
A Padaria Portuguesa – One block from our hotel, this bakery sells delicious croissants. When you enter, you must take a ticket from the kiosk at the door as the workers will be calling out ticket numbers.
Nat’elier – I tried the crème brûlée-flavored pastel de nata, which was nicely torched and served warm. However, it didn’t taste like crème brûlée overall. One interesting thing to note is apparently they do pastel de nata cooking classes here.
Ponto Final – You’ll need to take a ferry from Cais do Sodré ferry terminal to Cacilhas to get to this restaurant, which has become popular from social media given the scenic views. If you do not have a reservation, you need to wait on a staircase next to the restaurant. A decent amount of people started waiting more than 30 minutes in advance of the restaurant opening. Once the restaurant opens, they provide seating for those who have a reservation first. All in all, we waited about an hour to get a seat. The octopus salad here is good, while the cod fish was salty. They also only serve wine by the bottle. Overall I wouldn’t recommend coming here since it was a hassle. But if you plan to see Christ the King statue, then you could stop by here for a meal–though I would highly recommend trying to get a reservation (they apparently book out two months in advance). Otherwise, the restaurant recommends you arrive early to try and get a walk-in seat for lunch as it’s easier to get a table than at dinner time.
O Trevo – Although this was the bifana place that Anthony Bourdain visited, it unfortunately wasn’t that great when compared to what we had in Porto. It’s very cheap though if you do want to try it (cash only).
Where to stay in Lisbon
MeraPrime Gold Design Hotel – Our hotel was conveniently located in downtown Lisbon, near the main shopping streets. It’s also relatively walkable to several sites in the city. The downside was our room was a bit small and it was facing the main street so it was noisy at night, especially when they had an event at Praça do Comércio (the public plaza nearby). Breakfast is available at an additional cost, and the hotel offers a free walking tour every Saturday at 10am.
Lisbon Marriott Hotel – If you have a car, parking in downtown Lisbon can be difficult, and you’ll also need to be mindful of the city’s low-emission zone regulations. When I returned to Lisbon, we had a car so finding a hotel with on-site parking became a priority, which meant staying a bit farther from downtown. Parking at the Marriott costs €25 per night.
As Platinum members, we had access to the executive lounge, which included free breakfast and complimentary light bites and drinks in the evening. We also received a free bottle of water in the room. While the Marriott was nice, I wouldn’t stay here unless you need parking, since the hotel is a bit far from downtown.
The Ivens – If you’re looking for a more luxurious hotel in a prime location, The Ivens is a great choice. It’s within walking distance of many major sights, making it very convenient for exploring the city.
We were welcomed with a drink at check-in—either prosecco or water—and also received a festive welcome package for Christmas and New Year’s. This included another bottle of prosecco, Portuguese Christmas cake (Bolo Rei), raisins, ginger shots, a candle, and face masks.
As Marriott Platinum members, non-alcoholic drinks from the minibar were complimentary, and breakfast was included as well. With its central location and generous amenities, this hotel is an excellent option—but it does come at a higher price point.
Verride Palácio Santa Catarina – For a boutique hotel experience with fewer guests and excellent hospitality, Verride Palácio Santa Catarina was top-notch. The service and included amenities really stood out. We had complimentary drinks in the in-room minibar, welcome pastries and wine in our room, a welcome drink at the bar, a free 15-minute massage, and complimentary breakfast.
The lobby offers free drinks, and the reading room by the outdoor pool also has complimentary drinks and pastries. The rooftop bar provides beautiful views of the city, and it’s an especially great place to stay for New Year’s Eve—we were able to watch the fireworks directly from the building.
One thing to note is that this hotel is located in a restricted driving zone. You’ll need a passcode and directions from reception, and rideshares like Uber can’t access the entrance directly—they’ll drop you off outside, and you’ll walk in. The hotel called us on the morning of our arrival to explain the process. There’s also no parking directly in front of the hotel, so if you arrive by car, staff will take your keys and move the vehicle for you.
Overall, this is a lovely, intimate hotel. The main downsides were thin walls—we could hear our neighbors—and a bathroom designed probably for accessibility, which meant there was no divider for the shower, causing water to splash everywhere when showering.
Other tips for visiting Lisbon
Ubers – It may take a while for one to be available and come pick you up, but it was overall convenient and relatively cheap, and was definitely quicker than public transportation at times.
Metro from Humberto Delgado Airport – You can access the underground metro from the airport, which can take you to downtown Lisbon or to Oriente station where you can connect to the train for Porto. Buy a ticket at the kiosks before you enter the metro turnstiles. It is €1.80 per person for a one way ticket. We purchased the non-refillable ticket, although if you plan to use public transportation throughout Lisbon, you can buy a refillable card instead and add money to it. Either way, the ticket or card will be used to tap in and out of the metro station, so don’t throw it out!
Dining out – Many of the restaurants we went to asked for reservations. If you don’t have one, try to come right when it opens to guarantee a seat and minimal wait. Compared to Porto, it was interesting to note that many restaurants in Lisbon asked for optional tips. Additionally, bread is often served automatically and is always charged—if you don’t want it, be sure to let the staff know right away.
Walking around – Lisbon is very hilly and at times can be a bit steep. Be ready for a leg workout–a 5 minute walk from Google is actually a bit longer because it’s all uphill.
Tram 28 – If you’ve done your research on Lisbon, you may have come across their famous Tram 28 that takes you around the city. Take caution, you’ll be packed like sardines (no pun intended) in these trams as all the tourists flock to it. If you just want a tram experience, you can look up other options–we saw one next to Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara that offered a very quick ride up or down the hill.
TAP Air Portugal – We had a horrible experience with TAP airlines when coming back to America. Because we were the first people to arrive at the gate, they forced us to check-in our luggage despite it fitting in their carry-on box check. They claimed they had to save overhead compartment room, though once we boarded the plane there was actually a lot of overhead luggage space available. It might be best for you to get to the gate a little later (obviously make sure you have enough time to go through security and customs first).
Check out my Porto blog for other tips when traveling in Portugal (i.e. currency, adapter, etc.).
Globe Trotter 