What to see in Lisbon? Capital of Portugal and largest city in the country, travel companions today we welcome you to Lisbon!!
Located at the mouth of the Tagus River, Lisbon welcomes us for a 4-day stay in the city.
Indice:
Day 1.What to see in Lisbon
Commerce Square and Rua Augusta
We will start this day in the Baixa and head to the icon of Lisbon, its Commerce Square and there the Arch of Rua Augusta, the statue of José I and the Quay of the Columns. Without a doubt, a must-see in Lisbon.
We access it through the Rua Augusta Arch, and besides marvelling at it, we tell you that you can climb it.
Here we start using the Lisboa Card, the ticket price is 3.50 euros and is included in the Lisboa Card
The climb to the arch is worth it, the views from it are very beautiful and for that first contact with the city it is magnificent to be able to see it from the height.
You can take a free tour from here, we have done it and it was very worthwhile.
Passing through the arch we will continue along Rua Augusta, we see lively movement in these streets, the apartments in Lisbon are a work of art.
Santa Justa Elevator
We will pass by the Santa Justa Elevator, but we will not stop there yet. The queue is impressive to go up there, the price is 5.30 euros round trip and it is included if you have the Lisboa Card. But we will not choose to go up there so as not to waste time now.
Rossio Square
Rossio Square, in this square took place in ancient times trials, shows, festivals and military parades. Nowadays it is a very lively square, with bars and shops. We see here the Doña María II National Theater
And a few steps away we will visit a very particular church, the Church of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo Church
This church, built in 1241, has been destroyed many times throughout its history. It was destroyed by earthquakes, tsunamis in 1531 and 1755, and finally by a fire in 1959. Although it reopened in 1994, although rebuilt inside, traces of the fire still remain. And this is what makes it different and gives it a special touch. We really enjoyed seeing it. It is something I recommend you see in Lisbon. Admission is free.
Rossio Station
And from here we will head towards Rossio station, and then start climbing.
This station with this beautiful façade was inaugurated in 1891, and we will enter it and then begin to climb towards one of the essential places to visit in Lisbon, the Convento do Carmo.
Trains to Sintra depart from this station.
Will you also visit Porto? Here is the post with all the information for your visit to Porto
As I said, we will cross inside the station, we will go up, we will stop before continuing to enjoy these views and start climbing the Calcada do Carmo, a fairly easy hill to climb, the same as I told you in Porto, manage energy because many of the climbs will take your breath away
If you have taken out the Lisboa Card you will have transport included during the days you have the pass so do not hesitate to take trams or buses for the tours if you are tired.
Carmo Convent
At the end of the climb we will come to a pretty little square, Largo do Carmo, and opposite the old Carmo convent, now the Carmo Archaeological Museum. We are now in Chiado.
The Church of Carmen was built in 1389, but in 1755 the earthquake mentioned above caused a lot of damage to this church as well. The following year its reconstruction began in neo-Gothic style, but was finally interrupted in 1834 due to the extinction of the Religious Orders in Portugal. In the mid-19th century, with a romantic taste for ruins and ancient medieval monuments prevailing, it was decided not to continue rebuilding the building, leaving the nave of the church open to the sky.
The entrance fee is 7 euros and has a discount with the Lisboa Card and is also a visit to do and see in Lisbon.
At the exit from here we will go to the Santa Justa viewpoint that is almost next door, remember the elevator that we did not go up through the big queue? Well, here it ends and there are beautiful views of the city.
To go down the Santa Justa Elevator there is no queue and it is included with the Lisboa Card.
But we’ll continue by tram until
Luis de Camoes Square
We are already in the Barrio Alto we will make a stop at the San Roque Church and then go to the Pedro de Alcántara viewpoint, which if the day is clear promises beautiful views of Alfama and the Castle.
Elevador Da Gloria
And from here, it’s a short walk to the Elevador Da Gloria. These types of elevators can be found throughout the city to avoid some of the slopes.
The Elevador Da Gloria connects the upper district with the Restauradores Square and was opened in 1885. The logical thing would have been to take the opposite route, but in this case we will use it to go down. The ticket costs 3.80 euros for a round trip and is included with the Lisboa Card.
Plaza de los Restauradores
Once in the Plaza de los Restauradores we will see the Avenida Da Liberdade
We didn’t do it due to lack of time but we could go from here to Parque Eduardo VII and get a nice panoramic view of Lisbon.
Day 2. What to see in Lisbon
Figueira Square
Today we go to the Castillo San Jorge and the Alfama neighborhood.
To go up to the Castle we will do it on bus 737 that will leave us right at the door without any tiredness, we will take it at Plaza Da Figueira.
St. George Castle
The visit to the castle costs 15 euros and this entry is not included in the Lisboa Card. Opening hours are from 9 am to 5.30 pm or 6 pm depending on the season.
The views from here are complete and very good. Allow plenty of time because the castle is large and you will want to explore it calmly, so don’t rush.
Alfama
After finishing this visit we will start to get lost in the streets of Alfama. Now we can walk, we are thinking about going up by bus and going down on foot. The descent is beautiful, do it calmly, the streets and viewpoints that we will find on this descent are among the most beautiful in Lisbon. Without a doubt Alfama is the number one must-see in Lisbon.
Alfama is known for being the birthplace of traditional Portuguese music known as Fado, a popular genre of melancholic melodies.
I am leaving you places for the tour but you can also take a free tour of Alfama and not worry.
As you will remember we got up and went immediately to the castle, so as not to find many people, so as we have not had breakfast it was ideal to do it in
Portas do Sol Viewpoint
From here we will have privileged views of the eastern part of the Alfama neighborhood
The panoramic view from here is beautiful, added to having a delicious Portuguese coffee, for me that was paradise!
As always said, don’t run, don’t take a photo at the viewpoint and run to the next point, take time, enjoy, these are the magical moments of a trip.
Santa Lucía Viewpoint
Although personally the previous viewpoint was my favorite, this is the most sought after viewpoint by tourists, and they will notice it as soon as they arrive.
It is true that the charm of the environment is sublime.
We go down slowly, between houses and corners, going down is not tiring, and the enjoyment is magnificent.
Lisbon Cathedral
Slowly, seeing the passage of the trams that is so photogenic, we arrive at the cathedral of Lisbon.
Its construction began in 1148. It is considered to be the oldest church in Lisbon and has been classified as a National Monument since 1910.
The ticket price is 5 euros, and it has a discount with the Lisboa Card
Casa dos bicos
The Casa dos Bicos was built in 1523, and its name comes from its characteristic façade made of stones carved in the shape of diamonds or peaks. Today it is the headquarters of the José Saramago Foundation.
Blue Rua
A few steps away, Rua dos Bacaloheiros, has become Rua Azul.
Here there are many places to eat and have a drink, a place we returned to at night, but then we left it at the end of the video.
Pink Street
We go towards Pink Street, we pass first through the town square
And we arrive at this pink, very Instagrammable street.
To end the day in a market.
Mercado da Ribeira, Time Out Market
Entering the Mercado da Ribeira is a feast for the senses. It’s arriving and wow!
Lots of places to eat, food of all kinds, you can start touring and see what to choose both in food and drinks and get ready to sit at these long tables.
We take the opportunity to ask for the francesinha, advice, if you are two people ask for one to share between the two of you and then come because the truth is that it is succulent.
Tram 28
A tour on tram 28 is something that all tourists do, but…. Precisely that, everyone does it so it becomes a long queue and wastes time to enjoy. If you want to do so, take it early in the morning
Day 3. What to see in Lisbon
Today we will go to Belém and discover this part of the city but before that we will have breakfast in a very special café
Coffee to Brasileira
As we have done in other cities such as Budapest, Vienna or Porto, we are going to see these cafés that have remained over the years, memories of other times of gatherings of writers and artists, including Fernando Pessoa, the renowned Portuguese poet.
Passing through its doors will transport you back in time, it was inaugurated in 1905
Classified as a building of public interest since 1997, A Brasileira is currently one of the oldest and one of only three cafés in Lisbon that have survived the entire 20th century and remain open.
We ordered breakfast and I must say that of all the old cafes we have visited it has been the most complete.
And now, we will take the tram to Belem, we will visit the first of all the Monastery of two Jerónimos.
They have more tram or bus options, we take the 15E that already leaves you in front of you.
Jerónimos Monastery
When you arrive you will see two very long queues to enter the cloister, one for the ticket office and another to enter if you already have the ticket. Always ask because this can change, but if you have the Lisbon card you only have to wait for the entrance. You will also see a third one, this one is for the entrance to the church.
Try to get there early to find a little less crowd.
The Jerónimos Monastery was built in the year 1501.This monastery, like our next visits the nearby tower of Belém and the monument to the Discoveries symbolizes the era of Portuguese explorations and is among the main tourist attractions of Lisbon. Together with the Belém Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery was declared Heritage of Humanity by Unesco in 1983.
They have two things to visit inside: the cloister and the church. The church is free to enter while the cloister has a cost of 10 euros, it is included in the Lisboa Card.
We will visit the cloister first, and then visit the church you will have to leave and queue again to enter.
It is a must-see in Lisbon, despite the crowds and how unorganized the entrance can be.
It is a beauty, the cloister leaves you amazed and the entrance to the church is also worth it.
Calculate to allocate from two or three hours for this visit because it is a must to see in Lisbon.
After finishing we will go to the
The Monument to the Discoveries
The monument of the Discoveries was built in 1960, as we see we are on the banks of the< Tajo River, and was to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Enrique the Navigator.
You can get on it, the entrance fee is 10 euros and 8.30 if you have the Lisbon Card. We didn’t think it was a must, but it has nice views.
From here we will also go to the Belem Tower a few steps away.
Belém Tower
The tower is an ancient military construction, was of great importance in the Age of Discoveries in Europe, as it served as a fortress and as a port from which Portuguese explorers departed. When it ceased to serve as a defense against invaders in the estuary of the river Tajo it was used as a prison, as a lighthouse and also as a tax collection center to enter the city.
The ticket price is 6 euros and is included with the Lisboa Card.
From all this area we will see the 25 de Abril Bridge and the Cristo Rey
A beautiful area, there are more activities to do, we had booked a sunset sailing trip but unfortunately it was cancelled due to the weather. I think it would have been beautiful, but it will be for another time.
And we are going to end the day at a place that I loved, LX factory, but not before stopping by the Belém pastry factory, located very close to the Jerónimos Monastery.
LX Factory
It is not that far away but it is about 4 kilometers, so the same tram that we took to get here can serve us, the E15.
Located in an old factory, we find a space for gastronomy, literature and design that is well worth a visit. I recommend adding this place to see in Lisbon.
We took the opportunity to eat some hamburgers here and enjoy the atmosphere, which we really loved. Recommended if you like this type of place where creation and design take over the place.
Day 4 in Lisbon
For the fourth day we will go to Sintra and Cascais for the day. While they are a bit far from the city, they are places to add on this tour of what to see in Lisbon.
In our case on our own, but you can also go on an excursion to Sintra and Cascais with a Spanish guide.
New post!! How to organize your visit to Sintra and Cascais
Accommodation, dinners and other information
Before moving on to the hotel and restaurant, we leave you with the discounts for both Holafly’s unlimited internet esim , and for Iati travel insurance.
Hotel
This time we did not choose a conventional hotel either, but an apartment. Páteo Saudade Loft, very close to the Plaza del Comercio.
We loved it and it was very spacious. Although there were two of us, this one was obviously for four people since it had a master bedroom and two single beds in the living room.
Ideal location for walking around much of what there is to see, as we said, very close to the Plaza del Comercio. Although there is a reception during more limited hours. Although there are a few flights of stairs, there is an elevator.
Car park
If you arrive by car to the city, parking in this area is very expensive, costing up to 50 euros per night. However, if you leave your car at the cruise terminal, the Telpark Terminal de Cruzeiros car park is also underground and the cost per day was 12 euros. As you can see, it is worth going to leave your luggage and then leave your car, walking from there to the commercial square is approximately one kilometre.
Have you already rented the car for the tour of Portugal?
Dinner
We found a place that we loved and it is María Catita, located on Rua de los Bacalhoeiros.
The food is very good, the attention too, as we said in the Porto video the Portuguese cuisine is exquisite so look for good places to eat.
Attractions and transport
For the attractions we found the Lisboa Card super useful, you have free access to almost everything visited apart from transport. So a recommendation to use it.
As I told you, with the Lisboa Card in transport is included in addition to the attractions, but if you only want a discount on transport you have the Viva Viajem which is a pre-paid card for public transport.
Lisbon map and video
NOTE: The information in this article is based on our own experience, being totally objective. This article contains affiliate links
