Things to do in Lisbon based on your interests

Whether you love nature, history, adventure, art, or food, Lisbon has something for everyone.

Lisbon is an amazing city to explore, offering a huge variety of activities. With so many options available, I've organised them by interest to help you decide how to make the most of your visit.

Nature

Costa da Caparica

Across the river from Lisbon is Costa da Caparica, a series of beaches great to spend a hot day at, as well as take beginner surf lessons.

Setubal

If you continue south from Costa da Caparica you’ll find Setubal which has some stunning, wave-free beaches.

Sunset boat tour

Take a sunset boat tour along Lisbon’s Tagus River. You’ll see amazing views of Lisbon and the famous 25 April bridge.

Cabo da Roca

Head to the westernmost point of Europe for incredible views and some great hikes.

Carcavelos

If you're looking for a great beach that's just a quick 30-minute train ride from the city, Carcevelos is the perfect place.

Monsanto Park

This is a massive park in Lisbon great for hiking, picnics, mountain bike riding, and views of Lisbon city.

Cascais

Cascais is a quaint little town 40 minutes from Lisbon that is great to explore. It has awesome swimming spots, cute shops, and an excellent selection of restaurants. Be warned that it is quite a touristy place and can get very busy!

Adventure

Kayaking

Setubal and Cascais are both great places to go for a scenic kayak.

Mountain biking in Monsanto Park

This massive park has heaps of mountain biking paths from beginner to advanced. There are lots of guided mountain biking tours here if you’re interested.

Go see a football game

There’s no denying that Portugal LOVES its football. If you’re visiting Lisbon during the football season make sure you head along to a game, the vibes of the crowd are unmatched.

Dolphin watching

Lisbon is the only capital city in Europe where you can see dolphins in their natural habitat, in the Tagus River. They can be seen from the start of spring to the end of summer so if you’re visiting Lisbon around then, book a dolphin watching tour.

History and Art

Sintra

Sintra is the most popular day trip for tourists to do from Libson, and for good reason. Explore some incredible old castles and palaces, as well as soak up the stunning views.

Tuk Tuk tour

Lisbon is famous for its fleet of Tuk Tuk’s scooting around the city. A Tuk Tuk tour is a great way to see lots of the city, especially if you want to avoid having to walk up a lot of hills on a hot day.

National Tile Museum

Walking through the streets of Lisbon, you are guaranteed to see many houses covered in beautiful tiles. Head along to the National Tile Museum to see a wide variety of the famous Portuguese tiles, as well as this incredible church that is inside the musuem (see image below).

Explore historical war ships and the Barracuda submarine

Catch a ferry over to Cacilhas on the other side of the river to visit the D. Fernando II e Glória Museum Centre, where you can explore one of the oldest ships in the world and see the inside of a submarine that was only retired in 2010.

Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology

This musuem is known for its contemporary art creation and is the perfect way for an art lover to spend a few hours. It has wonderful views of the Tagus River and 25 April bridge, and is a very popular sunset spot. Entry to the musuem is also free on the first Sunday of every month.

Alfama free walking tour

Alfama is the oldest neighbourhood in Lisbon. Do a free walking tour around Alfama to learn all about Lisbon’s history, try some Portuguese delicacies, and see some gorgeous views of Lisbon.

Fado show

Fado is a type of Portuguese singing, performed in cafes and pubs. It is normally a very sad, but beautiful, form of music where the performers sing about the harsh realities of life. If you walk around Alfama in the evening you’ll easily find somewhere to see a Fado show.

Belem

Belem is another tourist hotspot for those interested in history. The top places to visit here are the Belem Tower, the Discoveries Monument and Jerónimos Monastery. If you go on the third Sunday of the month you’ll also be able to see a military parade take place in the street at 11am outside the Belem National Palace. Don’t forget to try the famous Pastel de Nata from Pasteis de Belém while there.

Food

Seafood

Portugal serves up some delicious seafood, so make sure to try some while visiting Lisbon. Sardines are probably the most popular Portuguese seafood, and the fresh grilled ones are must try if you’re a seafood fan.

Pastel de Nata

Portugal’s most famous dessert has to be the Pastel de Nata, a delicious egg custard pastry, and you can’t leave Lisbon without trying one. My favourite one has to be from Manteigaria, which has multiple shop fronts in Lisbon.

Cooking class

If you’re a fan of Portuguese food, why not do a cooking class while in Lisbon and learn how to make some of their most well-known dishes for yourself.

Timeout Market

While this market is most definitely a tourist trap, it’s still worth visiting. There’s lots of tasty food to try, or even just grab a drink and soak up the atmosphere. There’s also a more traditional local market selling produce in the other half of the building, which you can go check out.

Bonjardim

If you’re wanting to have some peri peri chicken while in Lisbon, Bonjardim is a fantastic restaurant for this. The food is delicious and the waiters are real characters. Make sure to get there before 7.30pm though if you don’t want to stand in line for too long.

Port tasting

I would say port is the most well known Portuguese drink. It is a fortified wine produced in the Douro Valley, which is in the north of Portugal not far from Porto. If you’re not making a trip up to Porto, make sure to try some in Lisbon. There are a few tasting rooms you can go sample port at (Taylor’s Port or Portologia Lisboa), or just get a glass at a local bar or restaurant.

Shopping

Flea market

If you’re in Lisbon on a Tuesday or Saturday make sure you head along to the famous Feira da Ladre flea market in Alfama, for vintage clothes, trinkets, and local made goods.

Avenida da Liberdade

Avenida da Liberdade is the place to go for some high end shopping. It is considered one of the most expensive streets in Europe and is fun to just walk along even if you don’t want to shop.

Livaria Bertrand

Livaria Bertrand is the oldest bookstore in the world, so if you’re a bookworm this is definitely worth checking out. While the interior is nothing special, there’s still a great selection of English books. And the best thing is that if you do buy a book you can get a stamp inside it stating it was bought from the oldest bookstore in the world.

Humana Vintage

Humana is a retail chain that sells second hand and vintage clothes. They often have sales on so check online before heading along to one of their many locations in Lisbon.

LX Factory

The LX Factory is a refurbished industrial area that is now a creative hub full of artsy shops and plenty of restaurants. They also have a market there every Sunday. It is located under the 25 April bridge and is a must visit in Lisbon.

Family fun

Aquarium

Oceanário de Lisboa is one of the largest aquariums in Europe with over 15,000 marine animals, and has been voted as the best aquarium in the world multiple times.

Tram 28

The yellow tram is an icon of Lisbon and is a fun way to see the city. It can get super busy during the high season so be prepared to line up for a while if you really want to go on it.

Pavilhao do Conhecimento

An interactive science musuem with workshops, experiments and kids’ play areas.

Meeting new people

Pub crawl

Lisbon is famous for it’s night life so head along to a pub crawl for a fun night out and to meet some fellow travelers.

Meetup

Meetup.com is a great place to find events happening in the city where you can meet other people.

Pink Street

This iconic Lisbon street is guaranteed to be a fun night out. Full of pumping music, fantastic bars and incredible street performers, Pink Street is a must visit.

Miradouro do Monte Agudo

While there are many stunning lookouts in Lisbon, Miradouro do Monte Agudo is more local and less crowded. Head along at sunset and grab a drink from the kiosk while soaking in the music from one of the DJs or musicians often playing up there.

Conclusion

Lisbon truly offers something for everyone. While you might not be able to fit everything into your visit, hopefully you can prioritise the activities that excite you the most. Regardless of your choices, Lisbon is a thriving city that guarantees an incredible time.