The Ultimate Lisbon Bucket List: 101 Things To Do in Lisbon

I haven’t met a person yet who hasn’t loved Portugal. From the first day I was there last October, I knew it was a place I wanted to spend a lot more time. The weather is beautiful, the people are exceptionally friendly (and love babies!), the food makes my mouth water, the houses are happy and bright, and there are just so many things to do. We made our way back to Portugal for the summer and spent two months exploring all that Lisbon has to offer. Here is our ultimate Lisbon Bucket List, conveniently organized by neighborhood. Whether you have a few days or a few months, we hope you can experience all of the amazing sights, sounds and flavors of Lisboa.

Alfama

1	Portas do Sol	Of the many beautiful viewpoints in Lisbon, this one is my favorite to watch the sunset. Overlooks the red tile rooftops of Alfama down to the Tagus River.
2	Miradouro de Santa Luzia	With a great view of Alfama and the river, the viewing area itself is beautiful with a large reflection pool and flowering pink bougainvilleas.
3	Doca do Jardim do Tabaco	In front of Santa Apolonia train station, former warehouses were repurposed into one of the trendiest areas in Lisbon with nightclubs, restaurants and shops.
4	The streets of Alfama	One of the best things to do in this neighborhood is just wander and explore. Maybe you’ll hear some authentic fado, be offered a small shot of Ginja, or happen upon your favorite facade covered with azulejos.
5	Se de Lisboa	Cathedral built in the 1100s. Exterior looks like a fortress, interior is mostly Romanesque architecture.
6	Tram 28	This tram runs from Campo de Ourique to Martim Moniz, but the funnest part is winding through the narrow streets of the Alfama. Take it the whole way up to Campo de Ourique to pass through Barrio Alto and see the Basilica de Estrela.
7	Castelo de São Jorge	Moorish castle overlooking Lisbon. The oldest ruins date from the 6th century, though most of it has been restored.
8	Museu do Azulejo	15th Century Convent decorated with azulejos.

Alcântara

9	LX Factory	Industrial buildings converted into retail space and restaurants with a hipster vibe and lots of street art.
10	O Bolo da Marta	Delicious cake shop in the Ler Devagar bookshop at the LX Factory.
11	Ler Devagar	Cool bookstore in the LX Factory.
12	25 de Abril Bridge	Not to be confused with the Golden Gate bridge, this red suspension bridge crossing the Tagus was built by the American Bridge Company which constructed the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. My favorite view is from Palácio das Necessidades.
13	Docas de Santo Amaro	These docks right under the 25 de Abril bridge are lined with restaurants and ice cream shops.
14	Capela de Santo Amaro	Circular church with beautiful azulejos and a stunning view of the river.
15	Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga	Collection includes painting, sculpture, metalwork, textiles, furniture and drawings from the Middle Ages to the early 19th century.

Avenida da Liberdade

16	Avenida da Liberdade	The Avenida is one of Lisbon’s main boulevard, lined with high end shops and palaces. The large, shady, and beautifully tiled walkways feature benches, fountains and several kiosks.
17	Avenida da Liberdade Market	Every second weekend of the month plus the fourth Saturday of the month. Upscale market with lots of antiques and jewelry.
18	Casa do Alentejo	Restaurant with neo-moorish interior, serving food and wine from the Antejo region.
19	Palacio Foz	Palace with sumptuous interiors featuring free musical performances.
20	Ascensor do Lavra	The first funicular in Lisbon. Transports passengers up from Av da Liberdade to Calcada da Lavra, near Jardim do Torel park nearby.
21	Jardim do Torel	Peaceful spot in the middle of the city and atop one of the hills of Lisboa. In August there’s a large pool and sandy area installed called Torel’s beach.
22	Marques de Pombal Statue	Huge statue at the end of the Avenida. The Marquis of Pombal was the Prime Minister when the Great Earthquake of Lisbon struck in 1755, and master-planned the city’s rehabilitation after the extreme devastation.
23	Parque Eduardo VII	Large park north of the Avenida with geometric pattern cut into the hedges.

Baixa

24	Rossio Train Station	Neo-Manueline train station in central Lisbon.
25	Santa Justa Elevator	Elevator with beautiful metalwork that connects Baixa with Carmo square.
26	Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição Velha	One of the oldest churches in the country and unique for having only one nave, only the facade survived the 1755 earthquake. The church was rebuilt using materials from the ruins.
27	Miradouro de Santa Catarina	View of the sunset over the port. Nearby restaurants like Noobai cafe and Pharmacia.
28	Arco Triunfal da Rua Augusta	Gateway to Praça do Comércio, built to commemorate Lisbon’s reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake.
29	Rua Augusta	Main avenue in downtown Lisboa with shops and restaurants
30	Praca do Comercio	Large plaza on the banks of the Tagus River. Center features statue of King José I.
31	Fabrica Lisboa	Bakery with the most delicious croissants.

Barrio Alto

32	Tasca do chico	One of the go-to places for fado if you can’t catch it in the streets of Alfama. This place books up early, and serves drinks and small plates.
33	Park Bar	Rooftop of a car park into a bar with an amazing view. Head to this neighborhood to find the party in the streets.
34	Paletaria	Fresh fruit popsicles.

Belém

35	Pastéis de Belém	This bakery claims to have the original recipe for pastéis de nata. Worth the trip to Belém just for a sleeve of these. Make sure to eat them warm!
36	Jerónimos Monastery	Large Manueline monastery attached to the Church of Santa Maria. Monks in this monastery provided spiritual guidance to navigators and sailors in Portugal’s golden age of discovery.
37	Santa Maria de Belém Church	Church attached to the Jerónimos Monastery. Tombs of explorer Vasco da Gama and poet Luís de Camões.
38	Belém Tower	Built in the early 1500s as part of the defense system on the Tagus river.
39	Belém Palace	Official residence of the Portuguese president.
40	Monument to the Discoveries	This towering monument featuring famous navigators on the banks of the Tagus celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th century. It’s currently undergoing a facelift, so much of it is covered by scaffolding (2016). For a few euros, you can climb to the top to see Belém from above.
41	Museu dos Coches	Housed in the old Horse Riding Arena of the Belém Palace, this museum has one of the best collections of historical coaches in the world.
42	Museu Berardo	At the CCB, this free modern art museum features works by Miro, Warhol, and Picasso.

Cais do Sodré

43	Time Out Market Lisbon	One of the best food halls in Europe, this food hall located in the Mercado da Ribeira hosts outposts from Portugal’s best chefs.
44	Ascensor da Bica	This funicular pops into view as you’re walking along Sao Paulo, with a view straight down to the river.
45	Taberna Ideal	Go here, and you’ll rave about the goat cheese, rosemary and honey crostini.

Campo de Ourique

46	Mercado de Campo de Ourique	Local market with fruit and veg stalls, with restaurants and seating.
47	Largo da Parada	This square is as local as it gets, during the day you’ll find men gathered playing cards and children on the playground. The kiosk here serves up delicious burgers.
48	A Panificação Mecânica	Our local bakery where we tried almost everything in the display case. Love their version of cronuts, Pao de Deus and everything in between.
49	Cemiterio dos Prazeres	Largest cemetery in Lisbon with many large mausoleums.

Chiado

50	Largo do Carmo	Shady square in front of Carmo Convent. Great place to grab brunch or a bica.
51	Carmo Convent	Ruins from the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755. Museum has some interesting pieces as well.
52	Lisbon Street Art Tours	This is one of the best tours I’ve taken in Europe and showcases some of the amazing artists in Lisbon today. After you’re done, hunt around town for more pieces from well-known artists like Vhils.
53	Sculpture of Fernando Pessoa	Right outside Café A Brasileira, this sculpture celebrates one of Portugal’s most famous poets.
54	Livraria Bertrand	World’s Oldest Bookshop in Operation. It’s now operated by a large chain but is still an interesting stop in the heart of Chiado. If you want to read some of Fernando Pessoa’s work, pick up a book here!
55	Igreja de São Domingos	Church built in 1241. Damaged by numerous disasters, including 1531 earthquake, 1755 earthquake, and 1959 fire. Though it’s been restored, signs of fire damage are still prominent.
56	Ascensor da Gloria	Funicular that connects Restauradores Square with the Bairro Alto. Government project with dedicated space to street artists that line the funicular path.
57	Sea Me	Japanese fusion seafood restaurant and market.
58	Taberna da Rua Das Flores	Tiny taberna with a rotating menu of small plates focusing on seafood. Our favorite restaurant in Lisbon.
59	O Trevo	The best bifanas in Lisbon, for € 2.
60	Landeau Chocolate	Famous for chocolate cake, layered with mousse.
61	Manteigaria	My favorite place in downtown Lisbon, and it may be better than Pasteis de Belem. Check out our post here for the best pasteis de nata in Lisbon.
62	Café A Brasileira	Opulent Art Deco cafe opened in 1905. First cafe to sell a “bica”, or a small cup of strong coffee similar to espresso.
63	Artisani	Portuguese ice cream chain.
64	Santini	Portuguese gelato chain with the best fruit sorbets.

Estrela

65	Jardim da Estrela	Large, beautiful gardens across from the Estrela Basilica. Walking paths, a cafe, library, playground, and wrought-iron bandstand from the 1880s.
66	Basilica da Estrela	This funicular pops into view as you’re walking along Sao Paulo, with a view straight down to the river.
67	Mercado da Estrela	Craft fair with locally made goods on the first weekend of every month in Jardim da Estrela.

Graça

68	Feira da Ladra	Vendors show their wares, with everything from antiques to clothes to azulejos. This flea market is open for bargain hunting every Tuesday and Saturday morning.
69	National Pantheon	Originally a church, this landmark took several centuries to complete. Now the National Pantheon, it serves as the resting place of prominent Portuguese figures.
70	Miradouro da Graça and Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte	Miradouro da Graça is a relaxed viewpoint with a church in front and cafe on the square. About a 10-minute walk up the hill is Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte, the highest point in the city and arguably the best miradouro in Lisbon.
71	Monastery of São Vicente de Fora	Monastery for the Augustinian Order. Houses the royal pantheon of the Braganza monarchs of Portugal.

Lapa

72	Tapada das Necessidades	Large gardens with a few empty water fountains and empty glass domed greenhouse that feels a bit forgotten. You’ll usually have this place all to yourself.
73	Palácio de São Bento	Houses the Assembly of the Republic.

Mouraria

74	Parque de Estacionamento do Chão do Loureiro	Before you say I’m crazy to recommend a parking garage, you’ll know why once you step inside. Each level is painted by a street artist, showcasing some of the best talent in Lisbon.
75	Zé da Mouraria	Traditional Portuguese tasca where the menu changes daily (and not written in English). Delicious seafood!

Parque das Nações

76	Vasco da Gama Bridge	The longest bridge in Europe, coming in at 17.185 km long.
77	Parque das Nações	5km along the Tagus featuring modern architecutre, a marina and a world class aquarium
78	Estacao do Oriente	Beautiful modern train station.

Príncipe Real

79	Embaixada	Neo-Moorish palace from the 1800s, on the edge of Jardim do Principe Real. Large concept store with unique Portuguese made goods and a cafe in the atrium.
80	Entre Tanto	Indoor market with concept stores.
81	21 PR Concept Store	Indoor market with concept stores.
82	Frangasqueira Nacional	Delicious peri peri chicken lunch for less than €4.
83	Bettina & Niccolò Corallo Chocolate & Café	Single origin chocolate from a family plantation on the São Tomé and Príncipe islands.
84	Pastelaria São Roque	Bakery with ornate Art Nouveau architecuture and good Pao de Deus.
85	Gelataria Nannarella	Italian gelato shop with very generous portions. Some of the best gelato we’ve had outside of Italy!
86	Refreshment Kiosks	Most of the plazas and squares around Lisbon have food kiosks where you can grab a bica, a bite to eat, and enjoy the atmosphere. Try the one out in Praça Luíz de Camões or Jardim do Principe Real.
87	Churrasqueira da Paz	A no frills, local tasca with amazingly fresh fish.
88	Rua de Sao Bento	Street lined with the best antiques dealers in the city.
89	Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara	Great views of downtown and the Castle across the way.
90	Convento dos Cardaes	Nuns convent with white and blue glazed tiles by Dutch artist Jan van Oort.
91	Convento de São Pedro de Alcântara	Convent and chapel with exquisite tile work. It may look like a bit of a plain Jane from the outside, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
92	O Prego da Peixera	From the same group that created Sea Me, this place has a few delicious twists on the traditional steak sandwich, the prego.
93	Igreja de São Roque	One of the first Jesuit churches, this building survived the 1755 earthquake. The interior is richly decorated, with one of its chapels reported to be one of the most expensive in the world.

Other Neighborhoods

94	Cristo Rei	Christ the King statue inspired by the famous one in Brazil.
95	Palace of Ajuda	Royal residence from the late 1800s featuring neoclassical architecture.
96	Jardim Botanica da Ajuda	Adjoining the royal palace, beautiful gardens with exotic tree species from Portugal’s former colonies.
97	Gulbenkian Museum	Ancient works from Egyptian, Mesopotamian and Persian, as well as European masterpieces from artists like Rubens and Rembrandt, Monet and Manet.
98	Campo Pequeno Bull Ring	Even if you’re opposed to bull fights, this Arab-inspired brick arena also hosts concerts, and has been renovated to feature a museum, shopping center and restaurants.
99	Águas Livres Aqueduct	Historic aquedact and a remarkable example of Portuguese engineering.
100	Cervejaria Ramiro	Simple but amazingly fresh seafood. Get there before 7pm to avoid a long line.
101	Mercearia Criativa Lisboa	Amazing Pao do Lo. They also have a great prego using bolo do caco bread from Madeira.

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Maia

Tuesday 11th of June 2019

Hey! I’m a blogger headed to Portugal and this was the best comprehensive list of things to do I could find! So excited to check everything out! Thank you!

Emily

Monday 20th of May 2019

What an amazing list! I copied so many of your recommendations into my planning document. Thank you for putting this together. I'm curious about the Lisbon street art tour you took -- would you mind sharing who you booked the tour with?

nomanbefore

Hey Emily -- so glad you found it helpful! I booked my tour with Lisbon Street Art Tours. You can check out their website here: http://www.lisbonstreetarttours.com/

Hope you have a great time in Lisbon!

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