Ah Lisbon, you are forever one of our favourite cities in Europe! Home to splashes of colour, European charm, vibrant history, excellent cafe culture, top quality food and so much to do! From our initial visit in 2019 to a recent visit in 2024, Lisbon is a city that just keeps on delivering.
This guide canvases the recent trip to Lisbon, where Ky and his friend Tim ventured to the Portuguese capital for a few days to soak up the summer atmosphere. We sampled the cafe’s, took in the views, ate a fair share of pastel de nata, tried the seafood, and got lost in the delightful Alfama. We have detailed a few of the must do things in Lisbon below, along with a few “what has changed” comments between 2019-2024. Additionally, we also list some great restaurants and cafes to check out during your visit.
8 things you must do when you visit Lisbon
Get lost in the Alfama district
Our favourite part of Lisbon is without question the Alfama district. The oldest district of Lisbon is beautiful and has a lot of character. Think narrow winding streets, many great view points of the city, great nightlife vibes, plus some wonderful restaurants. The Alfama is photogenic and has some more ‘culture’ than other parts of the city. While more popular in recent years than when we visited in 2019, it is still a must see part of Lisbon.
Visit the iconic “yellow tram” street in Lisbon
The iconic street in the Barrio Alto district of Lisbon is well known of “that shot” of the famous yellow trams. The street “R. da Bica de Duarte Belo” is home to 2 yellow funiculars (Bica – Lg. Carlhariz). Wander to this street, get your cameras ready, and snap a few shots of the iconic street!
Try the best Pastel de Nata in Lisbon
Trying the famous Portugese tarts.. Pastel De Nata, is a must when visiting Lisbon. Most cafes, restaurants and bakeries will sell these delicious custard egg tarts, however not all of them are made inhouse. For the very best pastel de nata in Lisbon, head to either Manteigaria (in the heart of the city) or Pasteis de Belem (located in Belem).
Enjoy the Lisbon day trips!
Lisbon is an incredible city in it’s own right, however it is also located in close proximity to some excellent day trip options. We have listed some of the top considerations below!
- Belem: Located around 15 minutes west of Lisbon is the seaside town of Belem. Home to the most famous Pastel de Nata bakery (Pasteis de Belem) and the ‘real life sandcastle’ called Torre de Belem, its an easy and popular day trip.
- Sintra: Located a 30 minute drive or a 60 minute train trip out of Lisbon, this is one of the most popular day trips from Portugal’s capitol, and for good reason! Home to Pena Palance, the fairytale like castle you’ve likely seen on your insta feed. There’s also the impressive Quinta de Regaleria, Castle of The Moors, hikes and more! See our Sinta guide here.
- Cascais: This little seaside town is located around 30 minutes from Lisbon via car or train. Home to a charming town, beachy vibe, and great bars/eateries.. its an easy day trip or a great summer stop.
- Beach near Sintra called Praia das Azenhas do Mar: This picturesque little beach down is often paired with a Sintra visit.
- Beach day trips to towns like Setubal: Another vibrant beach town located around 1 hour south of Lisbon, Setubal is one of many great day trip options.
- A visit to Almada (opposite side of Tagus River): Home to a cute town and promenade, plus one of the best restaurants in Lisbon, Ponto Final, this is another excellent day trip to consider.
Sample Lisbon’s excellent cafe scene
Lisbon is now home to one of the better cafe scenes in Europe, with artisinal coffee shops on most corners. While we didn’t get a chance to visit them all, here’s a few top cafe’s to visit in Lisbon.
A few cafe’s to try when in Lisbon for excellent coffee..
- The Coffee
- Put it on Lisbon
- Heim
- Kaya
- Fabrica coffee roasters
- Curva
- Mila
Enjoy incredible Lisbon sunset views
Lisbon is city filled with hills and stairs. This means that your lungs and legs will be on fire, however it also means you can find some special locations to check out the sunset. See some of the phenomenal views below, along with a few recommendations of where to go for the best sunset location in Lisbon. Don’t miss Miradouro da Senhora do Monte! However a putting “miradouro” into Google maps will show up all of the view locations.
Eat, drink & be merry!
Lisbon is well know to have amazing food, and very affordable drinks! The different areas of Lisbon with have varied vibes, but you can always find somewhere to get drinks at good prices, especially in summer. The restaurants in the heart of the city aren’t amazing, but wander 5-10 minutes into the Alfama or the Barrio Alto districts of Lisbon and you will find more authentic and much better food! Enjoy the local cuisine and the nightlife are definitely some of the appeals to visiting Lisbon!
A few restaurants to check out when visiting Lisbon for great food..
- Estrela da Bica – authentic food in Barrio Alto area
- Lisbon Tu e Eu – authentic restaurant in Alfama
- Fares Lisboa – great middle eastern food
- A Taberna Do Mar – a Portuguese Japanese fusion
- Ponto Final – a romantic restaurant on the water – must book
- EMPANAR – tasty empanadas!
- O Velho Urico – a popular local feel restaurant
Visit LxFactory in Lisbon
An old industrial area in Lisbon has been turned into an artsy hub filled with music, food, boutique shops and bars. Catch a short cab ride down and enjoy a ‘modern’ part of Lisbon. A great way to spend the afternoon, especially when the sun is out.
See more amazing things to do in Lisbon with our detailed guide here!
What has changed in Lisbon between 2019-2024:
- Safety: Our visit in 2019 has us claiming Lisbon was very safe and clean. However, according to locals, and our experience in 2024, certain areas are definitely not as safe, and are home to a sad number of homeless and individuals living rough. In particular, the outer fringes of the city, and the Intendente area were a little ‘rougher’. While this shouldn’t stop you from visiting, we did have some edgy experiences in 2024, including walking down a ‘tent city’ street by accident, highlighting not only the safety concerns, but the sad cost of living situation post COVID in Lisbon.
- Coffee culture: Lisbon’s cafe scene has exploded since our last visit. When we landed in 2019, we could find ‘3rd wave’ cafe’s with good coffee, but we had to look for it. When visiting in 2024, they were everywhere! Cafe loves rejoice!
- Crowds & popularity: Since 2019, when Lisbon (and Portugal) were in the midst of a popularity surge, the crowds and tourists to the country have exploded. While this is great for Portugal’s tourist economy, it does mean the city is busier, especially in peak season.
- Cost: Like many cities in Europe, the cost of things in Lisbon has gone up! While it is still one of the more budget friendly cities in Europe, don’t expect the crazy cheap prices of the 2010-2020 period.
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