Lisbon has been my home for a year now and I’m not exaggerating when I say there’s so much to do! I quickly went through the typical activities that I had to find some unique things to do in Lisbon. Below are some to keep on your radar for your future trip!
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Lisbon Unique Activities
Sunset boat tour
If you’ll be in Lisbon during the warm months then I highly recommend a sunset boat tour! It usually lasts about 2 hours and has music. There are tour options that include champagne!
Take in the city views while riding on the Tagus River. Some highlights you’ll see are the 25th of April bridge, Christ the King, the Alfama neighborhood, Belem Tower, and others. I promise you won’t want to miss this one!
Pastel de Nata Class
Portugal is home to pastel de natas, so why not learn how to make them?! After you’ve eaten more of these than you can handle, you should learn how to make the delicious custard treats.
The class takes a couple of hours and you’ll get to try your own creation at the end!
Christ the King
Lisbon has its very own Christ that was inaugurated in May 17, 1959. You can either walk around the lower level or climb to the top. Both look out points are amazing! Spend as much time as you want taking in the view.
Helicopter Ride
What’s a better way of getting to see a city than seeing it from above? A helicopter ride is the best way to do just that! For 10 minutes you’ll fly above one of the prettiest cities and experience a unique view. Book your spot here.
Pavilhao Chines
A grocery store turned speakeasy? Count me in! This one located close to the Principe Real Park is perfect for a date night or friends night out. Just look for the red door and if it’s closed then right the doorbell on the right!
Here you can have drinks and some lite bites. The decor is great and really feels like every inch of wall space has something.
Livraria Bertrand
Are you a lover of books? Then you’ll want to head to the Livraria Bertrand as it’s considered the world’s oldest bookstore. It may not look like it as I’m sure it’s gotten some remodeling done over the years, but definitely nice to be able to walk in a piece of living history. In the back you’ll find a little cafe to grab some coffee or pastry between browsing the book sections.
Santa Justa Lift
The Santa Justa elevator connects the Rossio neighborhood with Barrio Alto. This way you can avoid walking up or down a whole bunch of stairs and instead just take the lift. There is a fee which is 3 euros one way or 5 euros round trip. Depending on the time of day that you go there may be a queue as it’s a popular tourist destination.
Estufa Fria
Lisbon actually has multiple botanical gardens, but one in particular is perfect for rainy days. That is the Estufa Fria located at the top left of the Parque Eduardo VII. It’s more of a greenhouse so many of the plants are located inside.
There is a fee to enter with varying prices for adults, students, seniors, and groups. It’s free every Sunday before 12pm.
Jeronimos Monastery
This one is a crowd favorite! And that is exactly why it is very packed. So this one may not be too off the beaten path, but it’s considered to be a very beautiful monastery and most people say it is worth the wait. I’ll leave that part up to you!
I highly recommend getting tickets as even with tickets you’ll still be waiting but less than if you didn’t have them. I’ve heard from a few people that it’s better to go later in the day instead of earlier as people start to leave for the day. Haven’t gotten a chance to go myself yet, but I plan to do this!
Museu do Fado
Fado is a must see when in Portugal. There’s places you can go to in Lisbon but also in other cities around the country. I’d also recommend going to the Fado Museum in Alfama, Lisbon so you can learn even more about the genre and how it came to be.
Museu da Marioneta
I don’t know too much about puppets nor would I have expected there to be one in Lisbon. The only other museum I’ve seen like this was in Uzbekistan, another place that I didn’t expect to see one.
Pilar 7 Bridge Experience
Lisbon has a red bridge just like San Francisco which is called the 25th of April. It connects Lisbon and Almada with a highway. To get a good view of the bridge without being on it, you need to have the Pilar 7 Bridge Experience. There’s a 3 euro fee to go on the elevator to the top.
Lisbon’s Street Art (Alfama)
Walking around Alfama you’ll come across a lot of street art. The best way to learn about it is through a walking tour! They’ll take you the best art around the neighborhood and give you an explanation of its meaning if it has any.
Lisbon Earthquake Museum
In 1755, Lisbon had a major earthquake that changed the landscape of the city forever. You can learn about this one and other ones the city has faced at the Lisbon Earthquake Museum!
Cable Car at Parque das Nacoes
Not too far from the Oriente Bus and Train Station is Parque das Nacoes. The park has a cable car that goes from one side of the park to the other. You can ride it one way or round trip to get a view of the Tagus river and the Vasco da Gama Bridge.
Campo do Ourique Market
This market used to be a typical one and there is one side that still sells fish. Most of the market has been converted into little shops and restaurants. There’s tvs where people come to watch futbol games and have a beer.
Aqueduct das Aguas Livres
It took me a while before I knew that Lisbon even had an Aqueduct, especially one so big! A major highway passes through it but it’s not on the touristy side of town so unless you go that way, you might miss it.
The best part is you can actually walk on it! It’s open to the public for a fee, about 5 euros but varies by tier (student, retired, etc), but is free the first Sunday of the month!
Since it’s not in a touristy spot you won’t come across too many people. I only saw another couple when I visited.
LX Factory
Located on the edge of Lisbon and Alcantara is the LX Factory and a must visit! It’s a well known spot, but worth the hype. There’s restaurants, bakeries, bars, a hotel, a bookstore, and more. It’s an artsy spot with lots of street art.
Lisbon Viewpoints
Seeing as Lisbon is the city of 7 hills, there are lots of viewpoints that give you a unique perspective of the city. Lots of the look out point spots are free, but some are on top of buildings that you need to pay for. I’ve compiled a whole list of ones you need to check out!
Related Lisbon Posts
- Getting from the Lisbon Airport to City Center
- Lisbon Viewpoints You Must See
- Laptop Friendly Cafes to Work in Lisbon
- Lisbon Day Trips
- Beautiful Cities in Portugal
- Christmas in Lisbon
- How to Apply for the Portugal D7 Visa
- Getting a Portugal NIF Number for Free
- International Zip Line from Spain into Portugal
I hope you’ve found this list useful to help plan your upcoming trip to Lisbon! Let me know which of these you end up visiting or plan to. I’ll be adding more to this list soon so make sure to bookmark it for later.
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Viaja more y live más,
