24 Best Things to Do in Lisbon (+ What's Closed in 2026)

Short on Time? Don't Miss These

• Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, with a timed ticket booked in advance.
• Alfama before 9 a.m., ending at the Santa Luzia viewpoint.
• Castelo de São Jorge in the late afternoon.
• A fado night in Alfama or Chiado.
• A day trip to Sintra, by train or on a tour.

What's Changed in Lisbon for 2026

Read this before you plan a single day. Older lists (and plenty of new ones) haven't caught up.

• The Santa Justa lift is closed. It shut in September 2025, along with the Glória, Bica and Lavra funiculars, after the fatal Glória accident. None has a reopening date. The Graça funicular is the exception: it reopened on 30 April 2026.
• Belém Tower is open again. It reopened on 27 May 2026 after restoration, with a cap of 900 visitors a day (60 entries every half hour). Book a slot.
• The Gulbenkian Museum reopened on 18 July 2026 after about 18 months of renovation.
• Two big museums are still closed. The National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo) has been shut for works since November 2025 with no reopening date, and the National Museum of Ancient Art (MNAA) since September 2025, with reopening expected in late 2026.
• There are no free Sundays for visitors. Free entry to national monuments on Sundays ended in August 2024. The replacement free days are for residents of Portugal only.
• Tuk-tuks are banned from 337 streets in seven parishes, including most of Alfama, the Castelo area, Mouraria and Graça, since 1 April 2025.
• Street drinking has a curfew. Since early 2026, shops and bars can't sell alcohol to take away after 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, or after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. That includes Pink Street.

Things to Do in Belém

Belém sits on the river west of the center, reached by tram 15E or the Cascais-line train from Cais do Sodré. Its two headline sights close on Mondays, so do Belém Tuesday to Sunday, and start early.

1. Tour the Jerónimos Monastery

Lisbon's single most impressive building, and the reason to set an alarm.

The Jerónimos Monastery is a riot of carved stone: ropes, sea creatures, armillary spheres, all of it paid for by the spice trade. The two-level cloister is the part to see. Vasco da Gama's tomb is in the church.

Here's the thing most visitors miss. The church is free. The cloister is the ticketed part, at €18 for adults (half price for ages 13–24 and over-65s, free under 12).

Go at opening, 9:30 a.m.

By late morning in summer, the queue along the façade can be longer than your patience. Tickets sell out, so book a timed slot online rather than queuing at the ticket office. Allow about 90 minutes.

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (last entry 5 p.m.). Closed Mondays, plus 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 13 June and 25 December.

Book the Jerónimos Monastery entrance ticket ahead, or take the small-group Belém walking tour that includes monastery tickets if you'd like the stories behind the stone. Our full Jerónimos Monastery guide covers the cloister route and the best photo spots.

2. Climb Belém Tower (Now It's Open Again)

Belém Tower spent a year under restoration and reopened on 27 May 2026. The good news is that it looks better than it has in years. The catch is the new cap: 900 visitors a day, released in slots of 60 every half hour.

So don't turn up and hope. Book the Belém Tower entry ticket online (€15), or buy a slot at the Jerónimos ticket office first thing.

Is it worth going inside?

Honestly, the outside is the better half. The interior is small, the spiral staircase is one-way traffic, and the views from the top terrace are pleasant rather than spectacular.

If you're short on time or budget, photograph it from the riverside lawn and spend the €15 elsewhere. A combined ticket with Jerónimos costs €33. More in our Belém Tower guide.

3. Eat a Custard Tart at Pastéis de Belém

Everyone does it. It's still worth it.

Pastéis de Belém has been baking its pastel de nata to the same recipe since 1837. A tart costs €1.60 (a box of six is €9.60).

The takeaway line on the street looks terrifying. Walk past it. The table-service rooms inside are huge, the line for them moves faster, and you get your tarts warm, with cinnamon and powdered sugar on the table.

Tip: it opens at 8 a.m., so you can have breakfast here and still be first in line at Jerónimos.

4. Go Up the Padrão dos Descobrimentos

The Monument to the Discoveries is a 1960s concrete ship's prow lined with explorers. Most people just photograph it.

For €10 you can take the lift to the top for the best view of Belém: the monastery behind you, the tower to the west and the 25 de Abril bridge to the east. Look down, too, at the giant compass-rose world map set into the pavement.

Hours: daily, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. October to February, to 7 p.m. March to September.

5. Walk Over the Roof of MAAT

MAAT (the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) is the wave-shaped building on the river between Belém and the center. Its exhibitions are hit and miss, at €16 for visitors. The roof is the reason to come: you can walk up and over it for a free riverside view.

Closed: Tuesdays.

6. Browse LX Factory and the Ler Devagar Bookshop

LX Factory is a 19th-century industrial complex under the 25 de Abril bridge, now packed with shops, cafés, street art and restaurants. Entry is free. The star is Ler Devagar, a bookshop built into an old printing hall, with a bicycle flying overhead.

It works best on the way back from Belém, in the late afternoon. Many shops close on Sundays, so avoid it then if you're coming to browse. See our LX Factory guide for what's inside.

Where to eat nearby: Belém's restaurants around Rua Vieira Portuense are busy and touristy. LX Factory's cafés are the better bet for lunch.

Things to Do in Alfama, the Castle and Graça

This is old Lisbon: the oldest neighborhood, the castle, the best viewpoints and Tram 28. It's also the steepest part of Lisbon. Plan to walk it from the top down.

7. Get Lost in Alfama Before 9 a.m.

The one thing to do in Lisbon if you only do one.

7:30 a.m. in Alfama. Laundry above the lanes, a café opening its shutters, no tour groups. By 11 the same alleys are a slow-moving queue.

This is Lisbon at its best.

Alfama survived the 1755 earthquake better than the rest of Lisbon, so it kept its medieval tangle of stairs, alleys and tiny squares. You don't need a route. Start near the cathedral, the Sé, and climb toward the castle, then drift downhill toward the river. Getting lost is the point, and you'll never be more than ten minutes from somewhere you recognize.

Two things. Wear shoes with grip, because the polished stone paving is slippery even when it's dry. And skip the tuk-tuk: they're banned from most of Alfama's lanes anyway.

If you'd like the history (the Moorish walls, the fado, the earthquake stories), the Alfama walking tour is a good first-morning investment. Or join the History, Stories and Lifestyle walking tour, which covers Baixa, Chiado and Alfama in one go.

8. See the City From Castelo de São Jorge

Castelo de São Jorge sits on Lisbon's highest hill.

What's left is mostly ramparts and towers, much of it reconstructed in the 20th century, and its on-site museum is temporarily closed. So why pay €17? For the walls. You can walk the battlements with the whole city at your feet, and the views from the terrace by the entrance are the best in Lisbon.

When to go: late afternoon, when the light turns gold and the morning coach groups have gone. In summer (March to October) it's open until 9 p.m.; November to February it closes at 6 p.m.

Getting there: walk up through Alfama, or take Tram 28 or the 737 bus. Buy tickets on the castle's official website to skip the ticket-office queue.

9. Watch the Light Change From the Miradouros

Lisbon's miradouros (viewpoints) are free, open around the clock and the best value in the city. Pick by time of day:

• Miradouro de Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol: azulejo-tiled terraces over Alfama's rooftops and the river. Go early, before the crowds.
• Miradouro da Graça (officially Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen): a kiosk café under pine trees, facing the castle. Ideal at sunset.
• Miradouro da Senhora do Monte: the highest of the three and the widest panorama, castle included.

Tip: the reopened Graça funicular saves you the steepest part of the climb from Mouraria.

10. Ride Tram 28, the Smart Way

Yes, it's a cliché. But the clanking yellow tram up and down Lisbon's hills is still a thrill, and Tram 28 passes through Graça, Alfama, Baixa, Chiado and Estrela on its way from Martim Moniz to Campo de Ourique (Prazeres).

The mistake is queuing at Martim Moniz at midday, which can cost you an hour. Instead:

• board before 9 a.m., or in the evening;
• or start from the Campo de Ourique end, where the queue is shorter;
• or ride just one stretch, uphill, as transport.

On board it's €3.30. With a Navegante card loaded with Zapping credit, it's €1.90, and a 24-hour Carris/Metro pass (€7.25) covers it. Keep your bag in front of you: pickpockets work the crowded trams, especially as the doors open.

11. Spend an Evening Listening to Fado

Fado is Lisbon's music: one voice, a Portuguese guitar and a lot of longing. It was born in neighborhoods like Alfama and Mouraria, and an evening in a small fado house is one of the most Lisbon things you can do.

The music is the point, not the meal.

The honest warning: many Alfama "fado restaurants" charge for mediocre food so you can hear the music. Either eat elsewhere and come for a late set, or book an evening where the music is the point.

Two good options: the Alfama tour with live fado and a traditional dinner, which handles the booking for you, or the shorter Fado in Chiado live show, a seated performance in a small theater. For background first, the Museu do Fado in Alfama costs €5 (closed Mondays).

12. Browse Feira da Ladra, Then the Pantheon

On Tuesdays and Saturdays (9 a.m.–6 p.m.), the Feira da Ladra flea market fills Campo de Santa Clara: old tiles, vinyl, junk and the occasional treasure. Watch your pockets.

Right behind it, the white dome of the National Pantheon (€10, closed Mondays) has a roof terrace with one of Alfama's least-crowded views. It's a ten-minute visit you'll remember.

Tip: Is the Lisboa Card Worth It?

Only on busy sightseeing days.

The Lisboa Card costs €31 for 24 hours, €51 for 48 hours or €62 for 72 hours (the official shop sells it about 5% cheaper online). It includes unlimited metro, bus and tram travel, the trains to Sintra and Cascais, and free entry to Jerónimos, Belém Tower and around 50 other sights.

Do the maths before you buy.

Jerónimos (€18) plus Belém Tower (€15) already comes to €33, so a Belém day plus transport pays for the 24-hour card. A slow day of wandering and viewpoints doesn't. You can buy the Lisboa Card online in advance.

Things to Do in Baixa, Chiado and Cais do Sodré

Lisbon's flat, grand downtown was rebuilt after 1755. Above it sits elegant Chiado, and below it the riverside nightlife of Cais do Sodré. You'll pass through here every day of your Lisbon trip.

13. Walk From Rossio to Praça do Comércio

Lisbon's grand finale is free.

Start at Rossio square, with its wavy black-and-white paving, walk the length of pedestrian Rua Augusta, pass under the triumphal arch, and step out onto Praça do Comércio, a vast yellow square open to the river.

It's the best introduction to how the city was rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, in a neat grid. Rua Augusta itself is a strip of chain shops and pushy restaurant touts. Don't eat there. Do watch out for men offering "hashish" in Baixa: it's usually bay leaves, and a firm "não, obrigado" works.

14. Down a Ginjinha in Largo de São Domingos

Ginjinha is a sweet sour-cherry liqueur, served in a tiny cup, ideally with a cherry in it. The classic spot is the hole-in-the-wall A Ginjinha bar just off Rossio, where you drink standing in the square. It takes two minutes.

One is enough.

15. Visit the Roofless Carmo Convent

The Santa Justa lift used to deliver you to Chiado's Largo do Carmo. With the lift closed, walk up instead (a short, steep climb of stairs from Baixa) and spend the time you saved at the place it was taking you to.

The Carmo Convent lost its roof in the 1755 earthquake and was never rebuilt. Today the Gothic arches frame open sky, with a small archaeology museum in the old apse. It's one of the most striking places in Lisbon, and far fewer people go in than walk past.

Cost: around €7. Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. May to October, to 6 p.m. November to April. Closed: Sundays.

16. Graze Your Way Through Time Out Market

Time Out Market, in the old Mercado da Ribeira at Cais do Sodré, puts dozens of well-known Lisbon kitchens under one roof, around long shared tables. It's touristy and loud.

It's also a very good first-night dinner when you're tired and want to try everything.

Hours: Sunday to Wednesday, 10 a.m.–midnight; Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m.–2 a.m. Go before 7:30 p.m. to get a seat.

17. Party on Pink Street, Under New Rules

Lisbon's party street, Rua Nova do Carvalho, painted pink and strung with umbrellas, is lined with bars that were once sailors' haunts. It's best after 11 p.m. and mostly harmless fun.

Know the 2026 rule, though: Lisbon now bans alcohol sales for street drinking after 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Your drink stays inside the bar.

18. Cross the River for the Skyline

The best view of Lisbon is from the other side of the Tagus.

There are two ways to get it.

The cheap way: tap your card at Cais do Sodré for the commuter ferry to Cacilhas (€2.00 single, under 10 minutes), and stand at the back rail as the whole skyline and the 25 de Abril bridge slide past. Have lunch in Cacilhas, then ride back.

The relaxed way: a daytime or sunset boat cruise with history and wine, which sails past Belém and under the bridge.

Things to Do in Bairro Alto, Príncipe Real and Beyond

19. Catch Sunset at São Pedro de Alcântara

Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara is a two-level garden terrace looking across to the castle and Alfama. The Glória funicular that used to carry people up here is closed, so walk up Calçada da Glória from Restauradores (steep, but short).

Stay for sunset.

Then wander down into Bairro Alto, where the narrow streets fill with bar-hoppers after 10 p.m., or north into Príncipe Real for its concept stores, garden and quieter bars.

20. Spend a Morning at the Gulbenkian

Lisbon's Calouste Gulbenkian Museum reopened in July 2026, and it's the best art museum in Lisbon: Egyptian and Islamic art, Lalique jewelry, Rembrandt and Rubens, all in an oil magnate's private collection. The modern-art CAM next door and the garden between them make a full, calm half-day.

Cost: €16 for the museum, €18 for both. Free: Sundays from 2 p.m. Closed: Tuesdays.

It's also the best answer to what to do in Lisbon when it rains, along with the Oceanário and Quake, the interactive earthquake museum in Belém (from €23.50, timed sessions).

21. Take a Lisbon Food Tour

Lisbon's food is simple and cheap if you eat where locals do: a bifana (garlicky pork sandwich), grilled sardines in summer, clams in garlic and coriander, a prato do dia (dish of the day) at lunch for about €8–10. The problem for first-timers is finding those places among the tourist traps.

A food tour fixes that in one afternoon. Lisbon Through the Eyes of a Local, a food and walking tour, covers the classics. For more ideas, see our guide to the best restaurants in Lisbon.

Things to Do in Parque das Nações

22. See the Oceanário, Then Ride the Cable Car

Lisbon's Oceanário de Lisboa is one of Europe's largest aquariums, built for Expo '98. The huge central tank, with sharks, rays and a sunfish, is visible from all sides. It's a hit with kids and on rainy days.

Adult tickets start at €25.50, with pricing by time slot (book online for 5% off). It's open daily, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Afterwards, ride the Telecabine Lisboa along the riverfront (€7.50 one way, €9.50 return; open 11 a.m.–6 p.m. from 24 October). The district is modern and sterile next to the old city, so it's a half-day, not a full one.

Getting there: Red Line metro to Oriente.

Book the Oceanário entrance ticket in advance to choose your slot.

What to Skip in Lisbon in 2026

• The Santa Justa lift: closed. Walk up the stairs to Carmo instead (item 15).
• The Glória, Bica and Lavra funiculars: closed. Glória isn't expected back before 2029.
• The National Tile Museum and MNAA: closed for works. The Gulbenkian is the art fix.
• Tram 28 at midday from Martim Moniz: ride early, late, or from the other end.
• A tuk-tuk tour of Alfama: most of Alfama is now off-limits to them. Walk.
• Belém on a Monday: Jerónimos and Belém Tower are both closed.

Day Trips From Lisbon

23. Take a Day Trip to Sintra

The best day trip from Lisbon, by a distance.

Sintra is a forested hill town of palaces about 40 minutes by train from Lisbon's Rossio station, and every first-timer should give it a full day. The big three are the candy-colored Pena Palace, the mystical gardens and initiation well of Quinta da Regaleira, and the Moorish Castle. Book timed tickets for Pena and Regaleira in advance, start early, and don't try to do all three plus Cabo da Roca by public transport in one rushed day.

Our Sintra day trip guide has the full plan, and the Sintra travel guide has everything else.

If you'd rather not juggle trains, buses and timed slots, the full-day tour of Sintra, Pena, Regaleira, Cabo da Roca and Cascais is the popular option. Compare more in our Sintra tours guide.

24. Swap the City for the Beach in Cascais

Cascais is a seaside town at the end of the coastal train line from Lisbon's Cais do Sodré station, about 40 minutes away. It's an easy half day: sandy town beaches, a pretty old center and the Boca do Inferno cliffs a short walk west.

One heads-up for 2026: works on the Cascais line mean replacement buses between Caxias and Cascais on weekday evenings from 9:50 p.m. and on parts of weekends, so go back early or check the timetable. See our Cascais travel guide and our list of things to do in Cascais.

More time? Évora and Fátima also work as day trips with a tour.

How Many Days Do You Need in Lisbon?

Three full days in Lisbon.

That covers Belém, Alfama and the castle, Baixa and Chiado, and a fado night without rushing the hills. Add a fourth day for Sintra. With two days you'll have to choose between Belém and Alfama. With five, add Cascais and the Gulbenkian.

A simple plan:

• Day 1: Alfama early, the castle, viewpoints at sunset, fado.
• Day 2: Belém (Jerónimos at 9:30, the tower, tarts), then LX Factory.
• Day 3: Baixa, Carmo, Chiado, Time Out Market, and the Cacilhas ferry.
• Day 4: Sintra.

Our Lisbon itinerary has the day-by-day version.

Getting Around Lisbon

Walk, mostly. Use Lisbon's public transport for the climbs and the long hops.

• Metro: €1.90 single, or €1.72 per trip with Zapping credit on a reusable Navegante card (€0.50). You can also tap a contactless bank card.
• 24-hour Carris/Metro pass: €7.25, covering metro, buses and trams.
• Tram 28: €3.30 if you pay on board.
• From the airport: the Red Line metro reaches the center in about 20 minutes. There's no Aerobus anymore. A taxi is roughly €10–20. With luggage or kids, book a private transfer with Welcome Pickups.
• Car: not needed in Lisbon. Rent one only for the Alentejo or the Algarve afterwards.

Lisbon's tourist tax is €4 per person per night (up to 7 nights, under-13s free), paid at your hotel. More on the city in our Lisbon travel guide.

Best Time to Visit Lisbon

May, June and September.

Average highs are about 23°C (73°F) in May, 26°C (79°F) in June and 27°C (80°F) in September: warm enough for the river, cool enough for the hills. July and August are the hottest (around 28–29°C, 82–84°F) and the busiest. November to January is the wettest and quietest stretch, with highs of 14–18°C (57–64°F). See our guide to the best time to visit Portugal for the rest of the country.

Where to Stay in Lisbon

Stay low and central in Lisbon, near a metro stop. The hills make a "ten-minute walk" on the map much longer in real life.

• Baixa and Rossio (best for a first visit): flat, central, next to the metro and the Sintra trains. Lisbon Destination Hostel, inside Rossio station, is the budget pick.
• Avenida da Liberdade (quieter, mid-range): the Hotel Britania Art Deco is a small art deco hotel just off the avenue.
• Alfama (atmosphere, steep): Memmo Alfama, a design hotel with a terrace over the rooftops, is the splurge.

Compare more in our guides to where to stay in Lisbon and the best hotels in Lisbon.

Plan Your Lisbon Trip

1. Book your hotel in Baixa, Chiado or Avenida da Liberdade.
2. Book timed tickets for Jerónimos and Belém Tower, plus Pena and Regaleira for Sintra. Browse more in our Lisbon tours guide.
3. Book a fado evening for your last night.
4. Arrange an airport transfer with Welcome Pickups if you land late.
5. Rent a car through DiscoverCars only if you're heading on to the Alentejo or the Algarve.
6. Get an eSIM from Yesim before you fly.
7. Get travel insurance: EKTA is one option. See our Portugal travel insurance guide.

Still deciding between cities? We compared them in Lisbon vs Porto.