Lisbon Bucket List | 26 Great things to do in Lisbon in 2024

We’ve spent our 3rd anniversary in Lisbon and that’s why this city is really special for us. After strolling around and spending three days in Lisbon, we decided to put together a list of experiences to add to your Lisbon bucket list.

Below, you will find a handy itinerary that will help you organise your next trip to Lisbon.

Have you ever had the feeling of being somewhere and missing something important? Let’s be honest, it can happen to everyone but with our ultimate bucket list Lisbon guide, you won’t miss the most important experiences to do. Come with us and let’s experience Lisbon!

A complete guide to some of the most interesting places to visit in Lisbon, a walk-through itinerary to the Chiado District, Alfama, Bairro Alto and many others. You will have full information to access the Dos Geronimo Monastery, the Discovery Monument and the Belem Tower. A bucket list of experiences to do in Lisbon for everyone.

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Are you ready to be amazed by the incredible things to do in Lisbon? You won’t get bored as there is always something to do in this big capital. It doesn’t matter if you are alone, with your friends or with your partner, Lisbon’s life is something that you have to experience. 

Start with a free walking tour

Let’s start by getting to know the city better. We always love to book a free walking tour and familiarize ourselves with the surroundings. The city of Lisbon is big and there are so many things to do and see. Imagine yourself walking around the beautiful narrow streets of Lisbon and enjoying the surrounding architecture without even knowing what it is. This is one of the main reasons why we suggest you book a free walking tour. I mean it’s for free and at least you get to know the city.

Get to know the neighbourhood and book a free walking tour of Alfama where you will get to know more about the history of the Portuguese capital.

Enjoy the view from São Jorge Castle

Considered one of the most famous landmarks in Portugal, the view from São Jorge castle is breathless and suggestive. Definitely, this photo spot of Lisbon is one of the most beautiful in the Capital. 

Located on the summit of São Jorge hill, the castle is one of these experiences you need to do in Lisbon and that’s why we added it to our Lisbon bucket list. We loved this view so much. Make sure you plan this experience around the sunset to get the best out of this. Our moment was lovely and magical, quite unexpected. Visiting São Jorge Castle you will learn a bit more about this fortress and Portugal history. Built on the highest hill of Lisbon, it was once under Moorish control before the Christian Reconquista during the second Crusade. The castle was home to the Portuguese Royals, today you can visit it every day and enjoy the interns and the beautiful view.

Climb up the Dome of the Panteão National

Situated in one of the most popular areas in Lisbon, the Alfama, this stunning church acts as the National Pantheon of Portugal. The building itself is a stunning place and an architectural attraction. The winning point of the structure is the Dome. 

With its wide terrace, it provides a unique and scenic view over the remarkable Alfama district. For sure, climbing up the dome is one of these experiences that you need to add to your Lisbon bucket list as the view from the top is one of the best ones. The Panteão National is often out of the Tourists map and is considered an off the beaten path attraction in Lisbon.

LOCATION | National Pantheon

See Lisbon from the top | Lisbon Miradouros

If wasn’t enough the suggestion about the best viewpoints of Lisbon, here we go with other good advice. We love photography and are always looking for the most panoramic places in a city. Now is time to talk about the Elevador de Santa Justa, one of the most romantic locations in Lisbon.  We suggest you visit the Santa Justa lift at night to fully enjoy the experience.

This is fairly cheap, and you will not believe that it just costs €1.50 to get up. However, the attraction is one of the most popular in Lisbon and often busy. Plan your magical night out in Lisbon with your half and enjoy the stunning view from the top.

LOCATION | Elevador de Santa Justa

Watch a Fado Performance in Lisbon

We think you were not expecting this. Let’s start from the beginning. What is Fado?

This is a music genre very popular in Lisbon, however, the very birthplace of this unique style is the neighbourhood of Mouraria, considered the hippy district of Lisbon. Go for a free Fado walking tour in Lisbon to enjoy this local experience.

Many restaurants offer a fado performance and it’s not hard to find those. Look for the advertising outside the local restaurants to find the plan for the night and book a table. Those performances can be found all over Lisbon, not only in Mouraria but also around Alfama and Bairro Alto.

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Admire the architecture of St. Jeronimos Monastery

The architecture of this place is still in our memories. The St. Jeronimos Monastery has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Located in the fabulous district of Belem, surrounded by other incredible attractions is worth visiting.  Thanks to its prominent example of the Portuguese Late Gothic Manueline architecture Style, you should consider adding a visit to the St. Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon bucket list.

We completely fell in love from the first moment we stepped into the Monastery. The entire surroundings and the architecture will take you back to the old time when Portugal was on top of the discoveries and commerce worldwide. The details are unique and you will get lost staring at them while visiting the decorated cloister arcades. As it’s a popular place, you need to book the tickets in advance or be there very early in the morning to avoid long queues. Plan a whole half-day to this monument.

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Walk along the promenade and reach Belem Tower

There is nothing better than walking along the Lisbon promenade, admiring the beautiful view of the Belem Tower while eating a local Pasteis de Nata. Every time we go somewhere, we’re trying to enjoy every moment and make the most of our trip. Grab a delicious Pasteis de Nata from the famous bakery Pastéis de Belém and walk from the Monument of the Discoveries towards Belem Tower. This fortified tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and needs to be on your Lisbon bucket list. The outside is stunning but waits to step in and visit the inside and you will remain speechless. Make sure to book the tickets in advance if you wish to visit the tower.

LOCATION | Belem Tower

Visit the Aquarium in Lisbon

If our Lisbon Bucket List wasn’t already filled with enough incredible activities, here we go with the next one. Place it also in the list of things to do in Lisbon with Kids, and have fun watching the beautiful sealife.

The aquarium is one of the most recent attractions of Lisbon, added while rebranding the Parque das Nações neighbourhood. Not many know that this is the largest aquarium in Europe and also hosts a centre for scientific discovery. 

The aquarium is one of the more recent additions to the attractions of Lisbon; it is also the best spot to take children to the city.

Admire the Wind Rose from the Discoveries Monument

The Discoveries Monument is one of the most known attractions of Lisbon, located on the greatest promenade that leads to the Belem Tower, is in a significant location. During the golden age of  Exploration, in the 15th and 16th centuries, countless ships sailed from this side of Lisbon to unknown routes, making trades and discovering new lands.

The monument is a tribute to the greatest Navigator, who made great Portugal with many discoveries. The monument is 52 meters high and has the shape of the bow of a ship. On the side, you can recognize familiar faces of great explorers, scientists, artists, missionaries and cartographers. Among the many, you can recognize Vasco da Gama, Magellan, Pedro Escobar and many others. From the top of the Discoveries Monument, you can see the wind rose at the centre of the square. This stunning mosaic is the pavement you have walked on while reaching the entrance of the monument. Within the wind rose there is a world map with some of the famous routes of Portuguese explorers. This was a great gift from South Africa, given in 1960.

Shop at LXFactory & Ler Devagar Bookstore

This is part of modern Lisbon, a beautiful hub for artists, new generation companies and a fully creative and cultural area. It’s not a secret anymore that the LX Factory is today one of the best places in Lisbon to hang out. The reason why this spot should be in your Lisbon Bucket List is that it’s unique and completely different from the rest of the city, however fully incorporated and harmonical with the surrounding. Visiting Lisbon on a Sunday you can’t miss the local flea market, passing by the food stalls and shopping at the creative independent boutiques.

One of the best spots to don’t miss at the LX Factory is the Livraria Ler Devagar. This vibrant bookstore is today one of the most instagrammable places in Lisbon. It is worth the trip for this alone. They have a nice area to have a drink too! Great selection of Portuguese and international writers.

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Take a tour onboard Tram 28

You can’t leave Lisbon without riding the famous Tram 28 at least once. The Tram 28 itinerary is one of the best ways to explore the city of Lisbon together with its historic heritage and typical neighbourhoods. 

It’s a popular way to explore Lisbon in fact, along your journey you will find many locals using the tram to move around the city. Don’t miss this opportunity and enjoy a ride onboard the famous Tram 28.

Take Elevador da Glória do Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara

Lisbon is famous for the landscape view from the Miradouros, gorgeous Terrazas facing some of the most beautiful parts of the city. The Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara is one of the most iconic, not only, but also one of the largest in the city. Located in the Bairro Alto, is not that far from Rossio Square and the Church of Sao Roque.  The beautiful Terrazza has the perfect clear view over St. Jorge Castle, Avenida da Liberdade and the Baixa.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy this place in the afternoon, at sunset you will have the perfect photo spot of Lisbon. Unfortunately, this miradouro is also one of the most popular, so expect many tourists around.

LOCATION | Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara

Explore Igreja de São Domingos

Staying in the Baixa district, the Church of St. Dominic is one of the most beautiful and historical. To be honest, visiting this spot felt a bit uncomfortable, because the church has got a strange atmosphere. However, in some ways this was interesting. The whole complex was damaged by an earthquake in 1531. The restoration took over 50 years to rebuild it again, starting from what remained, only the altar and the sacristy.

Visiting the Baixa district you should place the Igreja de São Domingos in your bucket list of Lisbon

Taste Lisbon’s famous “Pasteis de Nata”

We are starting to go further in our comfort zone, throughout the best dishes in Lisbon to try. We are food addicts, so let’s talk now about one of the most famous products in Lisbon, the Pastel de Nata. Often also known as Pastel de Belém or Pastries of Bethlehem. 

The delicious creamy custard sweet, made with cinnamon, egg and flour, is the best way to go to “heaven and come back”. This was our favourite breakfast, dessert food, after Tiramisu of course. The Pastel de Nata is a tart that you need to try while in Lisbon.  Created by Catholic monks at the Jerónimos Monastery, this tart is a small treat that everyone should taste today. You can eat Pasteis de Nata (even in London), however, while exploring Lisbon you should go to the original bakery in the Belem district, a few metres away from the Jeronimos Monastery.

The best market in Lisbon: Fiera da Ladra

Another great passion for us, while exploring new places, is to go to the local markets. The Fiera da Ladra is the local flea market, running every week for hundreds of years. This is one of the oldest markets in town and we loved the vibes.

If you are vintage items hunting, or just curious, this is the right place for you. With a wide selection of antiques, furniture, books, old cameras, vinyl and clothes have something for everyone.

If you add this spot to your Lisbon bucket list, make sure to carry some cash with you because many stalls don’t take cards.

Enrol in a Tile Making Experience in Lisbon

While talking about the architecture of Lisbon, we have already mentioned how this is influenced by its past, and the tiles on the facades of the buildings are a big mark.

One of the best experiences that should be on your Lisbon bucket list, is the tile making class. Yes, you can follow an artist through his journey to turn a piece of raw material into a beautiful and unique tile.

Not only practice, but you will also learn more about the history behind the azulejos and their significance in Portuguese culture. At the end of the tile making class, you can take it at home and it should be the best souvenir from Lisbon.

BEST TILE MAKING CLASSES IN LISBON

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Take a snap in Pink Street

The famous Pink Street Lisbon is known for being one of the most instagrammable spots in Lisbon.  If you love this spot, wait to see it at night, this becomes unique and so lively. However not many knew that this was the infamous district of Lisbon. Because it is near the city harbour, it was mostly sailors or bad people, and once was the red light district of Lisbon. However, nowadays this has been completely renewed and left the past behind, making it one of the coolest districts in Lisbon. Stroll around the picturesque pink street, to enjoy the local life, stop for a drink or two and feel the vibes. You will find all the shops and bars open till late, which are perfect for a nice night out. 

The Pink Street is usually overrated but at the same time, it’s unique and picturesque so it will be worth adding to your Lisbon bucket list. 

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Have a night out at Bairro Alto

Talking about nightlife in Lisbon, we couldn’t miss mentioning Bairro Alto. After Pink Street, Barrio Alto is one of the best places for a night out. 

It is well known as one of the most touristic areas of Lisbon, with so many miradouro to enjoy the landscape of the city. However, the Bairro Alto is also where you can feel the vibes of the real Portuguese nightlife. This is one of the coolest neighbourhoods of Lisbon at night. Prepare yourself, dress up, grab your jacket and have a nice night out in the Barrio Alto. Enjoy a free tour of Bairro Alto, just booking it in advance.

FREE WALKING TOUR of Alfama Neighborhood

Speaking of cool neighbourhoods, let’s talk about the Alfama, the oldest one in Lisbon. This is the area that contains a vast amount of local life and architectural significance of the whole capital.

One can either join a free guided walking tour through the Alfama or walk the entirety of it by self-guiding. But if it is free it is good, so check out the free walking tour.

You will get lost easily through the narrow streets of Alfama, wandering about the beautiful spots from one attraction to another, reaching the best viewpoints of Lisbon.

The Alfama neighbourhood should be in every traveller guidebook about Lisbon. Don’t miss the opportunity to have a tour of Alfama completely free. If visiting Lisbon in summer, carry water with you, it will be extremely hot and hard otherwise.

Enjoy the incredible Street Art in Lisbon in Mouraria

Not often mentioned in the Lisbon Guides, Mouraria is one of the best districts for street art in Lisbon. This makes our Lisbon bucket list so special. Mouraria is an old Moorish quarter, with many reminiscences to the old time. It is not taken care of like other tourist places, leaving Mouraria a bit more real than the Alfama and Bairro Alto.

The young generation of locals is here today, becoming the hub of art, culture and differences. Take a FREE Street Art tour in Mouraria and enjoy the vibes.

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Cross 25 Abril Bridge

Did you know that the 25th April bridge is the longest suspension bridge in Europe? 

This bridge connects the city of Lisbon to the municipality of Almada on the south bank of the Tagus river. Similar to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the 25 de Abril Bridge is worth adding to your bucket list Lisbon experiences to do.

We drove this bridge up and down to reach the Cristo Rei, and it was amazing. However, by car, you have to pay a toll while passing back, (you pay just going back to the northbound, 1.85 €). Alternatively, you can hop on the local buses to reach Almada. The 25th Abril bridge was once called Salazar Bridge and was renamed after the dictatorship was overthrown by the Revolution of the 25th of April.

See Lisbon from the Cristo Rei

Passing over the 25 Abril Bridge, you will reach Almada, a quiet district in southern Lisbon. The city, divided in two by the Tagus River, has got a more lively and touristic side, to more quiet and less known places. However, Almada is well known for the presence of the Sanctuary of Cristo Rei. The beautiful statue of Jesus projected towards the city of Lisbon, is today one of the symbols of the capital.

Inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue of Rio de Janeiro, it’s worth a visit and goes right into the best things to do in Lisbon. It’s free to visit the sanctuary and the surrounding gardens. From the furthest side, you have the perfect view over the centre of Lisbon and can take the best pictures of the 25th Abril Bridge.

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Take the Lisbon Cable Car

Not many know that Lisbon has got a suggestive Cable Car. Exciting!

Like London Cable Car, also Lisbon has got its piece of paradise and sky trail through the clouds. The Cable car in Lisbon is the perfect occasion to snap a few photos of the Capital from a different perspective. The cheap ticket makes it worth a shot (Just 4 euro for a ride, which is a bargain). We can assure you that the view from the cabins it’s insane. Place the Lisbon Cable Car on your Lisbon bucket list and enjoy the ride.

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Take a day trip to Sintra

If we’re talking about Lisbon we can’t avoid thinking about Sintra. You can easily reach Sintra from Lisbon by train or by car. We highly recommend taking the direct train to Sintra and avoid using the car as it might be difficult to find a parking spot. Enjoy your day in Sintra and wander around the beautiful Pena Palace. You can book your tickets here and avoid the long queue.

To reach the countryside town of Sintra will take about an hour. This fairytale village features a mountainous landscape, and from the hilltop, you can reach the seaside with an ocean view.

The whole complex of Pena National Palace is extraordinarily beautiful, featuring a park with fountains, ponds and hidden paths toward the colourful Royal Palace and the gorgeous Quinta da Regaleira. If you want the perfect day trip from Lisbon, include in your road map the nearby Sintra-Cascais Natural Park and enjoy the beautiful district.

For more info about a Day trip to Sintra for Lisbon, check our guide.

Explore the best beaches of Lisbon

This Lisbon Bucket List is filled with some of the best attractions to visit in the city, but what about fun, beaches and cocktails on the hand with sea breeze and Oceanview?

Ok let’s be clear, summer in Lisbon is awesome. The temperatures are incredible and despite what you think, Lisbon beaches are amazing.

Spending time on the beach should be your main point in organizing the holidays in Lisbon. Most of it could be achieved with short trips from the Capital to more coastal destinations like Cascais or Praia Fonte da Telha. We will suggest you check out Cascais at the most, for the beautiful promenade, sandy beaches and beautiful picturesque village.

If you wish to reach the seaside you can take a train from Cais do Sodre Rail Station, right in the centre of Lisbon. The train ride lasts about 40 minutes and costs about €5

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Watch the sunset from Cabo da Roca

If you don’t have enough locations in your Lisbon bucket list, and still want to fill your thirst for discoveries, check out Cabo da Roca. This is so far our best sunset spot in the whole world.

Before that, we had never seen the infinite Ocean so close. We arrived at Cabo da Roca at the perfect time and you can see the magic moment from our photos.

This is the farthest west point of Europe, and there is also a little house where to get your stamp of the visit.

The lighthouse at the edge is just like the cherry on a cake, magical, unique and infinite. Cabo da Roca is not far from Lisbon, just 45 minutes by car, you can also plan a beach day with the perfect ending. Check out some hidden coves around the area, like Praia do Louriçal and Praia de Assentiz.

How to visit Lisbon | Transport Guide to Lisbon

Lisbon surprised us a lot regarding the transports. The city is very organized and thanks to the trendy trams running through the streets of the city centre you can reach A to B in a very short time. The add on of the trams is that they run on their way, which is not always the same as other vehicles, so speedup while on the side there are traffic jams. While it is a city uphill, the funicular and the lifts saved our lives. This is important especially in summer when the temperatures are so high that it is more difficult to walk uphill.

For peace of mind, we always suggest taking in advance a Lisbon Card, to speed up your onboarding and avoid taking a ticket at the local machines. Also to avoid showing off money at the bus and tram stops, pickpockets are always behind the corner.

Best time to visit Lisbon

Avoid summer if you are the kind of traveller that wants the attraction all for you. Lisbon is a very attractive city and tourists head here mainly from June to August. The best time to visit Lisbon is from March to May, with temperatures about 20/25 degrees or September to October. After those dates, the rains will come.

Also visiting during those two periods you will benefit from cheap rates for accommodation and less crowded queue for the attractions.