20 Bucket List Experiences in Lisbon

20 Bucket List Experiences in Lisbon

The ultimate bucket list of Lisbon; where, oh where, to start?

Just getting to Lisbon is a bucket list tick for most people who have pondered Portugal as a potential travel destination for quite some time. Once they arrive in the capital, its a kingdom of pleasures and bucket list worthy experiences.

by Suad Kamardeen – Unsplash

These are 20 things I consider to be the ultimate Lisbon experiences; the beauty of them being that one can accomplish them all in under a week, that’s how small and easily accessible this city is. Ready?

1. Ride the Tram in Lisbon

The iconic Lisbon tram; visible in all major marketing photography that lures people to this travel destination.

Lisbon offers multiple means of transport for travelers to get around. The tram is undoubtably the slowest, but it’s an old school feature on the city streets and a really fun ride, especially through the center.

Tram rides cost €3 and can be purchased directly from the driver as you climb on board. Alternatively, 24 hour rider cards can be purchased for €6 at any metro station.

by Vita Marija Murenaite – Unsplash

2. Take a Tourist Photograph Atop a Miradouro in Lisbon

A miradouro is another word for a Lisbon viewpoint. Being a city that is built upon multiple  hillsides, there are many hilltop vantage points from which to view the city below.

A group or solo photo from the top of a miradouro is one of the ultimate souvenirs from a trip to Lisbon. Some of the viewpoints even have shaded areas and cafes on them where you can sit back for a cold drink and snack.

by John Sting – Unsplash

3. See the Tower of Belem in Lisbon

The tower of Belem is one of the most important buildings in Lisbon. It was constructed in 1514 and posed as a ceremonial gateway into Lisbon, white also serving its purpose as a fortress.

The tower attracts thousands of visitors each day and can be viewed at length from the outside. It will either be surrounded by land or by water, deepening on what the tides of the Tagus are doing when you visit.

by Alex Paganelli – Unsplash

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Daily

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

Train STATION: Belem

4. Explore the Lx Factory in Lisbon

Lisbon’s Lx Factory is fast becoming one of the most unmissable attractions in Lisbon. This was an old, abandoned factory lot that was recently transformed by developers into a complex of restaurants, bars, galleries and concept shops.

You can eat cuisines from all over the world at Lx Factory and follow you dinner by a rooftop drink that overlooks the city and river.

The grounds are covered in art installations and panel pieces made by local artists. Worth walking through even if you can’t stick around to eat.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Daily

ADDRESS: R. Rodrigues de Faria 103, 1300-501 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Alcantara-Mar

5. Eat & Drink in Bairro Alto in Lisbon

Bairro Alto is a cluster of old alleyways and cobblestone streets right in the city center of Lisbon . The streets are lined by restaurants, bars and fado performance venues & there is no such thing as a quiet night here.

This is where you should eat an authentic Portuguese meal as soon as you arrive in Lisbon. The colorful streets and vibrant atmosphere give a wonderful first impression of the city.

by Julian Dik – Unsplash

6. Watch a Fado Performance in Lisbon

Lisbon, and the town of Mouraria in particular, is the birthplace of the fado music genre. It’s a unique style of music and one must engage with it at least once while in Lisbon.

All over the city you’ll see signs advertising free fado inside of restaurants and bars. Fado may have originated up in Mouraria, but the Alfama and Bairro Alto hold the most performance venues at this time.

by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen – Unsplash

7. Find Incredible Street Art in Lisbon

Speaking of Mouraria, street art fans will love walking through this old Moorish quarter. One can also find a lot of street art along the edge of the coast where the train tracks run.

Street art is a big part of Lisbon youth culture, wall panels in the city center are occasionally even commissioned y the city. You’ll spot these easily as you make your way through the different neighborhoods.

by Fabien Rousselot – Unsplash

DESIGN YOUR PRIVATE LISBON TOUR NOW   »

8. Head to the Beach near Lisbon

This was the top of my personal Lisbon bucket list. Taking a day trip out to Cascais on the west coast of Lisbon is one of the most enjoyable experiences one can have in the summer. The beaches and village are fantastic for a day pf tanning, swimming and eating any cuisine imaginable (especially fresh seafood).

The trains to Cascais run from Cais do Sodre railway station in the south of the city center. A return trip costs just €5 and the ride is 40 minutes one way.

by Etienne Girardet – Unsplash

9. Treasure Hunt at the Fiera da Ladra in Lisbon

The Fiera da Ladra was my second bucket list item when I first arrived in Lisbon. I’d been told about this historic market by many a person; about how it’s been running every week without fail for hundreds of years.

It’s a treasure trove of clothing, vinyls, books, perfumes, jewelry, antiques, furniture, toys, art and more.

Wear a hat and comfortable walking shoes, it’s an expansive market and almost all of it is under the baking sun. You’ll also need to take cash with you and a reusable carrier bag for all the goodies you pick up along the way.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Tuesday & Saturday – 9am to 6pm

ADDRESS: Campo de Santa Clara, 1100-472 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Lisboa Santa Apolónia

10. Visit the Aquarium in Lisbon

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

It was added during the restoration of the Parque das Nações neighborhood in Lisbon north. It’s a truly impressive piece of construction, boasting the largest aquarium facility in all of Europe.

The Parque das Nações also has a center for scientific discovery which is equally as great for kids. I would definitely recommend making this area of Lisbon a full day trip.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday – 10am to 6pm

ADDRESS: Esplanada Dom Carlos I s/nº, 1990-005 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Cabo Ruivo

11. Take a Day Trip to Sintra near Lisbon

About an hour outside of Lisbon is the fairytale village known as Sintra. Picture vast mountainous landscape where forests meet the ocean in a lush showcase of Portuguese nature.

Sintra is home to the dreamy Pena National Palace as well as the Quinta da Regaleira. If you have time to go a bit deeper into the district you can visit the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park as well.

Sintra is accessible via train from the city center, however if there are three or more of you making the journey it actually becomes cheaper to split a taxi or Uber for the journey.

by Svetlana Gumerova – Unsplash

12. Watch the Sunset Over the Tagus in Lisbon

An easy one to tick off from almost anywhere in the city center. Venture down to the water’s edge of the Tagus and adopt a spot to watch the sun go down. Lisbon summers are known for mind blowing sunsets.

by Sérgio Rola – Unsplash

13. Enroll in a Tile Making Experience in Lisbon

This is a bucket list experience that a lot of people don’t even know they have access to. As you make your way through Lisbon you’ll probably enjoy marveling at all of the tiles that make up the center’s architecture.

Tile making experiences allow travelers the opportunity of learning more about the history and significance of Portuguese tiles, as well as chance to create a tile or two of their own to take home. Click here for more information on these events.

by Thomas Peham – Unsplash

14. Taste Port Wine in Lisbon

You can’t come to Lisbon and not taste Port wine. It’s not for everyone, admittedly it’s far too sweet for me, but it’s a big part of hospitality culture in Portugal and worth a try.

There are wine tasting experiences available throughout the city center. There are also wine farms about an hour outside of Lisbon that one can visit for a day trip excursion.

15. Go to Carmo Convent in Lisbon

There are a lot of buildings and neighborhoods in Lisbon that hold tangible destruction dating back to the great earthquake in 1755.

Most of the building were rebuilt over time, but Carmo Convent in the heart of the city was left as is. This is the famous church building that exists today without a roof. It’s a reminder of the powerful force that is mother nature and is quite astounding to see in person.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Daily

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

Metro STATION: Rossio-Lisboa

16. Eat a Pastel de Nata in Lisbon

Coming to Lisbon and not trying a traditional pastel de nata is almost blasphemous.

These Portuguese treats are also known as custard cakes or Portuguese egg tarts. You’ll see hundreds of them in the bakery windows as you venture around the city; and everyone in Lisbon has their own stern opinion on where to find the best one.

by Alice Butenko – Unsplash

17. Walk the Entire Alfama in Lisbon

The Alfama is the oldest neighborhood in Lisbon and contains a vast amount of local life and architectural significance.

One can either join a free guided walking tour through the Alfama or walk the entirety of it by self-guiding. It’s the kind of neighborhood where getting lost works in your favor, and all streets eventually lead to the main landmarks or miradouros.

For energy conservation reasons it’s definitely better to start at the north most point of the Alfama and work your way down. The inclining hills of this part of Lisbon are brutal in the summer heat.

by Filip Mishevski – Unsplash

18. Shop ’til you Drop in Chiado in Lisbon

Just across from Bairro Alto is Lisbon’s other main central district. Chiado is the neighborhood that never sleeps; from morning until night these streets are packed with foot traffic and people wanting their part in the heart of Lisbon.

Chiado is known for its abundant shopping options, with an emphasis on international clothing as well as local fashion. Between their shopping sprees, everyone settles in at one of the hundreds of Chiado restaurants hailing cuisines from around the world.

This is very much a touristic overload of an area. It is unlikely to encounter any kind of authentic local life aside from a few Lisbon natives who come to work in the city center.

by Luca Dugaro – Unsplash

19. Picnic in a Park in Lisbon

It’s not always obvious from the vantage point of a city, but Portugal is a land of lush nature from inland through to the coasts. The parks of Lisbon give us glimpses of this; they are botanical wonders offering extensive plant life year round.

Picnicking in the park is oh so European. The Jardim da Estrela is my favorite Lisbon picnic park due to its waterfall and children’s play area. The Park of Necessidades near the Tagus is a great picnic spot too.

All of Lisbon’s parks are free and open to the public.

20. Marvel at the Architecture at the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon

Lisbon has many ancient churches within her streets, and all of them could quality as a bucket list experience in their own way.

In Belem, the Jerónimos Monastery will leave you speechless. This former monastery was constructed back in 1501 and is a grand display of exquisite architectural symmetry and design, both outside and inside.

The structure is opposite the Tower of Belem, so you can tick these bucket list items off on the same day.

by Amanda Yeung – Unsplash

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Opening Hours: Daily

ADDRESS: Praça do Império 1400-206 Lisboa, Portugal

Train STATION: Belem