Your Ultimate Lisbon Travel Guide - The Best Things to Do and See in Lisbon, Portugal

MemoirsofaMountainGirl

Apr 17, 2020

5 min read

Updated: Jun 12, 2020

Lisbon, Portugal's Coastal Capital has grown in popularity over the last decade now host to Stag and hen parties and the curious traveler. With a liberal and vibrant night scene, combined with wonderful seafood and the beach in close proximity it isn't difficult to see why Lisbon is the destination of choice for a cheeky little city break or long weekend. I am sharing with you my itinerary from a recent trip and hoping you get some great travel inspo from these.

Stroll around the Market at Feira da Ladra

This is Lisbon's Flea-Market equivalent, held on Saturday's you can spend the morning or afternoon here browsing - expect a little bit of everything from leather goods to Portuguese traditional clothing and hand crafted goods - it is worth even going for a coffee and people watching if you aren't in the market for collectibles.

Sip Piña colada's on Estoril's beautiful Beaches

In the heat of the summer, I couldn't wait to get to the beach and cool off in the Atlantic. (Albeit I didn't realise it would be so cold but it is refreshing!) We opted to head out of town toward Estoril which was just a short uber from the centre (30 minutes or less). From there we plonked ourselves on the Praia do Tamariz which is the central beach of Estoril and is next to the decorative Forte da Cruz. There were plenty of facilities here bars and deckchairs, great for an afternoon or day of relaxing in the sun. It does get a bit chilly and windy closer to the evenings so be mindful of that.

Eat pastéis de nata and sample Lisbon's local delicacies at the Time Out Market, Lisboa

You cannot go to Lisbon without sampling their infamous pastéis de nata (aka Portuguese custard tarts). These little delights originated in Lisbon, and I am not even a big pastry fan myself but they are delicious. The Time Out Market is worth a visit and showcases some of the very best of Portuguese cuisine. You can purchase the tarts from the Manteigaria stall. In fact you could probably spend the best part of an afternoon here (but don't get sucked in for too long) as Lisbon has so much more to offer.

Ride The Birds (Scooters) along the Board Walk to Belém

If you are familiar with the Birds in California, on the Santa Monica Board Walk it is exactly the same concept in Lisbon. Download the app on your phone, find a scooter and off you go. We rode along the Board Walk by the Tagus river up to the Belém District where you can stop and admire the infamous Belém Tower and the neighboring Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument which was built to celebrate and acknowledge Portugal’s Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th Centuries.

Take a Boat Trip and Swim in the Atlantic Ocean at Stunning Cascais

Visiting Cascais was definatley the highlight of my trip to Portugal. We only had a few days in Lisbon and we dedicated one entire day to visiting Cascais. Ideally we would have had a longer trip in general but we packed it all in and the Boat trip to Cascais was an all time high. If you can spare one day out of your itinerary - put this on your bucket list! Cascais is a fishing village just west of Lisbon, 20 minutes in an uber and has a big Marina / Port. We opted to explore Cascais from the ocean as the beaches typically get quite crowded in the summer months. We chartered a Boat between the four of us and it was pretty special. Champagne on tap, tunes on we sailed around the bay, stopping for swim stops, paddle Boarding and snorkeling whenever the notion took us. I would highly recommend Katerina Boat - the guys are local and very knowledgeable of the area and all things considered this was great value. A fraction of the price of chartering a boat on the South of France but with the same outcome. We got to watch the sunset over the beautiful Portuguese Riviera. If you are in town with a handful of friends, or hen, or stag it is worth putting your money together for this experience.

Eat Like a Local

The Lisbon foodie scene really is quite something, a refreshing mix of traditional establishments and quirky, modern Michigan starred restaurants, you can get great food here on any budget. For a detailed list of Lisbon eateries check out my blog post of my top ten favourite restaurants in Lisbon.

Maria Catita Restaurante in Lisbon. Traditional Portuguese Restaurants in Lisbon

Watch the Sunset at one of Lisbon's many hilltop bars

If you just want to sit back with a Sangria and soak it all in, Lisbon has some fabulous bars with a view and unlike some of our Major cities - Paris, London, New York - they aren't even that crowded but still - get there early afternoon to grab your spot for Sundown. I would recommend Park, Noobai or Bar Terraço de Santa Luzia.

Best rooftop bars in Lisbon. Best views for sunsets in Lisbon

Dance in the Streets at Festas de Lisboa

What a treat this is - if you are lucky enough to plan your trip to coincide with Lisbon's annual cultural, musical, Street Festival - Festas de Lisboa (Typically held in the month of June each year) this is a great highlight. The festival takes place the the cities historic districts where all bars and restaurants and homes seem to throw a big street party. We just happened to stumble across all the commotion by pure chance but the night just elevated from there. Further research would suggest this is a religious festival celebrating the religious feast days of Santos Antonio, João and Pedro. More for it!

Visit the cities most iconic viewpoint - Miradouro da Graça

Who doesn't love a good view point - in search of Birdseye views of cities and places the world over is my thing. Miradouro da Graça boasts panoramic views of Lisbon set up on the hill above São Vincente de Fora Monastery you can access by tram or walk if you dare. There is a also a little cafe that opens late on summer months. Just chill, deep breaths and take it all in.

Tour the city by Tram to see iconic landmarks

Getting round the city by a hop on hop off tram is a great way to cover a lot of ground and see the best of what Lisbon has to offer. We tried walking for the most part but with Fitbit on over drive and trebling my daily step count, it was time for a more relaxed approach - we were on holiday after all.