Lisbon: The Ultimate Weekend Guide

If you’re looking for picturesque views, tiled walls and those iconic trams, Lisbon is the place for you! There is so much to do in the Portuguese capital and it has day trips to satisfy every need. Here’s everything you need to see and do in Lisbon, Portugal.

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What to Do in Lisbon

Explore the Alfama District

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One of the oldest and most sought after districts in Lisbon, Alfama is the ultimate place to see the quintessential cobbled streets and colourful, tiled buildings. The narrow streets are the perfect place to get lost, and if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the iconic yellow tram trundling through the streets.

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Arco da Rua Augusta

Rua Augusta is a busy pedestrianised street in the heart of Lisbon, lined with restaurants, cafés and shops. At the end you’ll find the Arco da Rua Augusta, the city’s stunning triumphal arch.

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Surrounded by the spacious Praça do Comércio, with bright yellow buildings on either side, and looking out to the water, this arch is one of the most unique I’ve seen and it’s also one of my favourites.

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You can climb the arch for €3 but bear in mind that Lisbon is home to countless public viewpoints that you can access for free, with equally stunning views.

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Find a Miradouro (Viewpoint)

Lisbon is known for being the city built on seven hills. Although this means that walking around can be a pain, you can see some gorgeous views over the city from many different viewpoints.

Some of the best miradouros are:

• Portas do Sol (Alfama)
• Santa Luzia (Alfama)
• Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen (Alfama)
• Santa Catarina (Bairro Alto)

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Carmo Convent

The Carmo Convent is an archaeological museum housed in the ruins of a former Catholic convent. The convent was destroyed in an earthquake in the 1700s and now only the arches and outer walls remain.

The museum itself is small but interesting. Although now only remains, the design of the convent is stunning and is a great piece of preserved history in the city.

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Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-7pm (June-Sep), 10am-6pm (Oct-May)

Address: Largo do Carmo, 1200-092 Lisboa, Portugal

Price: €4 (discounts available for students)

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Discover the top attractions and tours in Lisbon

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Pink Street

In the district of Chiado you’ll find one of Lisbon’s most popular Instagram spots.

Pink Street is exactly what it says on the tin. You’ll have to take it with a pinch of salt though – this place is nowhere near as glamorous as it looks on social media. The pink floor only makes up a short section of the street, and it’s usually quite dirty. However, it’s still a novelty, and quite unique, so it’s worth seeing if you’re nearby!

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Lifts, Funiculars, and Trams

Lisbon’s public transport system provides many routes for residents and tourists to navigate the hills with a bit more ease. Many of them are unique and picturesque, and have become tourist attractions in themselves. They can get busy, but this is something you have to do in Lisbon!

Tram 28

This is the classic tourist tram that runs through many popular districts in Lisbon. It provides the perfect tour of the city, and the traditional wooden cars add to the charm.

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Top Tips

• Make sure you get on the tram at Martim Moniz, the start point of the route. You’ll be much more likely to get a seat and you can see everything the route has to offer.
• The tram is very popular and queues are long. The best time to ride the tram is in the late afternoon/evening.
• A single journey costs around €3 on board. For a much cheaper option you can purchase a vivaviagem card or a 24-hour unlimited transport card.
• Trams leave approximately every 15 minutes and run from around 6am-11p

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Elevador de Santa Justa

Another iconic transport system in Lisbon, this lift is made of intricate iron detail and stands tall amongst the surrounding buildings. The viewpoint at the top has a great view over the Baixa district.

• The Elevador de Santa Justa is open daily from 7am-10:45pm (May-October) and 7am-9pm (November-April).
• The viewpoint opens at 9am daily and can be accessed until closing time.
• It’s located on R. do Ouro, 1150-060 Lisboa, Portugal.
• A return ticket costs €5,15 and includes the entrance fee to the viewpoint.
• The 24-hour transport ticket includes access to the elevator but NOT the viewpoint and you will have to pay the €1,50 fee.

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Elevador da Bica

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Elevador da Bica is one of three funicular railways that run throughout the city. If you want to ride the funicular in peace, look for Glória or Lavra, but the Bica funicular cars are so picturesque and traditional that they are worth a visit.

The best way to enjoy this funicular is off-board. Head to Calçada da Bica Grande. This is the end point of the funicular line and you can walk down the street alongside the tracks. The funicular stays at the top for around 15 minutes before descending so you have a chance to see the carriages up close.

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My favourite way to see the funicular trundle past is by going to one of the side streets along this road. You can see the carriages going horizontally up the hill and get a really cool shot!

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Top Tips

• The funiculars run from 7am (9am on Sundays and public holidays) to 9pm. They leave approximately every 15 minutes.
• A return ticket purchased on board will cost around €3 but you can use the 24-hour unlimited transport card
• The entrance to the funicular is located at Rua de S. Paulo 234, 1200-109 Lisboa, Portugal

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Day Trips From Lisbon

Belém

Belem lies just outside Lisbon, and is easily accessible by tram or train. Half a day is the perfect amount of time to explore Belém.

• Tram 15 runs from the centre of Lisbon to Belém. A single ticket on-board costs €3, or you can use the 24-hour unlimited transport card.
• Take the urban train from Cais do Sodre station out to Belém. A single costs less than €2, but you cannot use the unlimited transport card on urban trains

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Padrão dos Descobrimentos

Padrão dos Descobrimentos is a unique and impressive statue that celebrates the Age of Discoveries in Portugal. Each of the figures on the statue represent an important figure in this age. Inside there is a small museum about Portuguese history

Opening Hours March-Sep: Daily 10am-7pm (last admission 6:30pm)

Opening Hours Oct-Feb: Tues-Sun 10am-6pm (last admission 5:30pm)

Address: Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal

Ticket Price: €6 (reductions for concessions; free for residents)

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Belém Tower

Belém Tower is also linked to the Age of Discoveries, acting as fortress. You can go inside to explore the tower and the viewing platform at the top. Belém Tower is a very popular spot to watch the sunset over Lisbon.

Opening Hours May-Sept: Tues-Sun 10am-6:30pm (last admission 5pm)

Opening Hours Oct-April: Tuesday-Sun 10am-5:30pm (last admission 5pm)

Address: Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal

Ticket Price: €6 (discounts for concessions)

Jerónimos Monastery

Jerónimos Monastery is a former monastery and popular tourist spot. It’s a great place to see Portuguese late-Gothic architecture and it’s very picturesque. The gardens beside the Monastery are gorgeous and a great place to relax.

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Opening Hours: Same as Belém Tower 

Address: Praça do Império 1400-206 Lisboa, Portugal

Ticket Price: €10 (discounts for concessions) 

Top Tip: You can combine your ticket with the Belém Tower for a reduced rate – a great idea if you’re planning to do both!

Of course, a trip to Belém isn’t complete without some Pastéis de Nata from Pastéis de Belém. You can read more about them in the What to Eat in Lisbon section of this blog post.

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Cascais

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Cascais is a gorgeous little beach town that fills with locals and tourists as soon as the sun comes out. It takes about half an hour on the train from Cais do Sodré station.

There are plenty of restaurants and bars down the main street to grab something to eat.

The main beach is Praia da Conceição but there are 4 to choose from, so you’ll definitely find a peaceful spot to relax.

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There is not a huge amount to do in Cascais so if you’re looking for a relaxing beach day in the sun, this is the place for you.

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Sintra

If you have the time to explore Sintra properly then this is the best day trip to take from Lisbon. I didn’t have enough time and I didn’t want to rush or miss anything. I’ll definitely be heading back to Lisbon so that I can explore Sintra.

There are many guides to Sintra on the internet. This one from Christine at LiveLoveRunTravel goes into great detail about what to do in one day.

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What to Eat in Lisbon

Lisbon, and Portugal in general, is a fish lovers dream. So many of their traditional dishes are centred around seafood, particularly codfish and sardines. You’ll find loads of sardine shops around the city where you can buy a tin to take home.

Unfortunately, I’m not a seafood eater so I wasn’t able to indulge in any of these delicacies. Instead I set out to try some other Portuguese specialities that don’t come from the sea.

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Time Out Market

The Time Out Market is such a unique space. Filled with some of the greatest food vendors around the city, it provides you with a chance to sample them all under one roof. Some of the most popular stalls include:

• Henrique Sá Pessoa – Dishes from a Michelen star chef
• Marisqueira Azul – The best seafood
• O Prego Da Peixaria – Dedicated to Prego, the national meat sandwich
• Croqueteria – Get the goats cheese and caramelised onion!
• Santini – Leave room for the best ice cream in Lisbon

There’s also a more traditional market space, boasting some of the best and oldest vendors of fresh produce in the city.

Opening Hours: Sun-Wed 10am-12am, Thurs-Sat 10am-2am

Address: Av. 24 de Julho 49, 1200-479 Lisboa, Portugal

Website: Time Out Market Lisbon

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Pastéis de Belém

These beautiful custard tarts are worth venturing outside of the city for. Pastéis de Nata are Portugal’s most iconic dessert. The little bites are often topped with cinnamon and are a gooey, creamy delight.

I’d heard that the best in the city were from Pastéis de Belém, so I decided I had to try them. I’m usually quite sceptical about popular places as they are often over hyped, but these went over and above my expectations. You won’t find a better Pastéis de Nata than here.

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Don’t be put off by the line, it moves very quickly. The shop was queued out the door when I arrived, but I only waited a few minutes in total.

Opening Hours: Daily 8am-11pm 

Address: R. de Belém 84-92, 1300-085 Lisboa, Portugal

Website: Pastéis de Belém

Price: Just over €1 per pastry 

Top Tip: If you don’t fancy heading quite so far out for some Pastéis de Nata, Manteigara makes pastries that could almost rival those in Belém. You’ll find their main shop on Rua do Loreto, or if you want to skip the queues, they have a stall at the Time Out Market.

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Frango Assado

Not a place but a dish, frango assado is Portugal’s answer to roast chicken. It’s a fairly simple dish but is a staple of Portuguese cuisine and you’ll find it in countless restaurants and takeaways around the city.

For a cheap option, try picking up some frango assado from a deli in a supermarket. The portions are huge, enough for two people, and cost just a few euros.

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I got some from a supermarket next to Cais do Sodré train station, and was able to eat my chicken out by the water. It was the perfect no-fuss, cheap meal.

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