Things to Do in Lisbon
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Lisbon, Portugal, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Lisbon. Hills again, bring better shoes this time, a genuinely beautiful, steeply built city that rewards the climb, a working port that helped launch the Age of Discoveries and never quite lost its maritime character since. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Lisbon: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the tram ride. Five main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Tram 28
Lisbon's iconic yellow tram line, Tram 28, winds through the city's steep, narrow streets and is a tourist favourite, a genuinely charming, if crowded, way to see several of Lisbon's steepest, most historic neighbourhoods without the climb yourself.
It gets genuinely busy, particularly midday, worth riding early morning for a calmer experience, or simply treating the crowding as part of the authentic local commuter experience it also serves.
Best time Early morning for fewer crowds
Alfama District
Lisbon's oldest district, Alfama, survived the devastating 1755 earthquake and is known for fado music and narrow alleys, a genuinely atmospheric maze of streets that predates much of the rest of the city given it survived the earthquake that flattened so much else.
Fado, Portugal's melancholic traditional music genre, is genuinely worth experiencing in Alfama specifically, several small, intimate venues offer live performances in the evening, a proper local institution worth the modest cover charge.
Best time Evening for fado; any time for wandering
Address Alfama, Lisbon
Belem's Monuments
A waterfront monument, shaped like a ship's prow, honours Portugal's Age of Discoveries explorers, the Monument to the Discoveries, and Belem Tower is the other famous one nearby, don't get them confused, the locals notice, both genuinely significant, striking monuments in the Belem district, celebrating Portugal's era of maritime exploration and the wealth it brought to Lisbon.
Pasteis de Belem, the original custard tart bakery, sits right in this district too, worth combining a monument visit with the genuine, original version of Portugal's most famous pastry, a proper local institution since 1837.
Hours Both monuments daily, roughly 10am–6pm
Address Belem, Lisbon
Sao Jorge Castle
A hilltop castle overlooking the city, genuinely one of the best viewpoints in Lisbon, sweeping views over Alfama's red rooftops and the Tagus river below, the castle itself has Moorish origins predating the earthquake and much of the rest of the city's more recent history.
It's a proper climb to reach, worth the effort, or a tram/funicular combination if you'd rather skip some of the elevation gain, the view from the top is genuinely worth it regardless of how you get there.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am–9pm, shorter in winter
Best time Late afternoon into sunset
Port Wine Tasting
Portugal's famous fortified wine, port, is closely tied to nearby Porto, but Lisbon offers genuinely excellent tasting options too, several wine bars and cellars across the city specialise in it, worth a proper tasting session if you want to understand the different styles (tawny, ruby, vintage) before or instead of visiting Porto itself.
It's a good, relaxed evening activity, worth pairing with local cheeses or a proper Portuguese meal for the fullest experience.
Best time Evening
Best time to visit Lisbon
March through May and September through October give the most comfortable weather for the amount of hill-climbing this list involves, mild without summer's peak heat and crowds. For the full seasonal breakdown, see our Best Time to Visit Lisbon guide.
Summer remains popular given Lisbon's genuinely pleasant coastal climate, worth targeting the shoulder seasons specifically if you'd rather avoid both the heat and the biggest crowds at Belem and Alfama.
Getting around Lisbon
Lisbon's trams, including the famous 28, and its funiculars are genuinely useful given the hilly terrain, a Viva Viagem card covers trams, metro, and buses conveniently. Central areas remain walkable, but proper comfortable shoes are essential given the hills and cobblestones. If you're mapping out exactly how to spend your time, our 24 Hours in Lisbon and 2 Day Lisbon Itinerary guides lay out an hour-by-hour and day-by-day plan.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Lisbon worth visiting?
- Yes, easily, Alfama's atmospheric streets, the Belem monuments, and the genuinely charming Tram 28 all make it one of the most rewarding capital cities in Europe.
- How many days do you need in Lisbon?
- Four days covers Alfama, Belem, Sao Jorge Castle, and a proper fado evening comfortably.
- Is Lisbon expensive?
- No, genuinely affordable, generally cheaper than most other major Western European capitals for food, drinks, and accommodation.
- What is Lisbon famous for?
- Tram 28 winding through its steep historic streets, the Alfama district's fado music tradition, and the Belem monuments celebrating Portugal's Age of Discoveries.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
