See Lisbon by boat, and get a different angle of the city. The cruises down the River Tejo are the perfect choice to discover Lisbon’s hidden gems in a trip that reveals wonderful views of the old and modern neighbourhoods.
For a day trip to Sintra or Cascais, or longer distance trips to Porto, the Algarve, or the rest of the country, here’s essential information about Lisbon transport hubs.
Connecting Largo do Calhariz and Rua de São Paulo, the nineteenth century funicular, ascends one of Lisbon’s steepest hills, crossing the Bica district and leading up to the Bairro Alto neighbourhood.
With seven hills overlooking the large estuary of the River Tejo, Lisbon is a city that offers great views from miradouros, terraces and monuments, each offering a distinctive perspective of the city.
From Praça dos Restauradores, the funicular climbs up Calçada da Glória towards the Bairro Alto neighbourhood. It’s a fun ride, and in a couple of minutes you’ll be looking at Lisbon’s rooftops from the top of the hill.
Igreja de São Roque has a Renaissance façade that hides a surprising and exuberant interior of gold, marble and azulejos (hand-painted tile panels).
With an outdoor terrace next to A Brasileira, the Patisserie Benard has been selling some of the best cakes and coffee in Lisbon since it opened in 1868.
Chiado is one of the few areas in the city where you can still shop in century-old establishments. A few bookstores and cafés, a flower shop and a jewelry are some of the stores that remain little changed since they were founded.
On a hill opposite the Castelo de São Jorge, this convent-turned-museum houses the splendid Museu Arqueológico do Carmo that shelters an eclectic collection of archeological treasures.
The Museu do Chiado’s permanent collection includes contemporary Portuguese art as well as important sculptures by Rodin, Bourdelle and Joseph Bernard.
Lisbon’s opera house is the only Portuguese theatre especially dedicated to opera and ballet performances. It opened more than two centuries ago. The building is a National Monument.
A Brasileira, Lisbon’s most famous café opened in 1905 selling the “genuine Brazilian coffee”. Seat next to Pessoa statue and order a bica, an espresso that the locals drink all the time.
If you’re visiting Lisbon for the first time, you may feel overwhelmed by the multitude of things to do. So that later you won’t regret having missed something, use this complete checklist of the best things to do in the Portuguese capital.