Vibrant Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and has a lot to offer for a city trip or in combination with a road trip through Portugal. The nice thing about this city is the very relaxed atmosphere, many sights in and around and you can eat very well (vegan) at the nicest and tastiest hotspots. Curious about the highlights, hotspots and where is the best place to stay in Lisbon? Read my tips about Lisbon in this blog.
You don't have to get bored in Lisbon, because this vibrant city has a lot to offer at any time of the day. What you can see and do in Lisbon I share with you here, so that you can go to Lisbon prepared.
Castelo de São Jorge is located on a hill 110 meters high in the Alfama district. This is the most famous castle in Lisbon and it is also one of the oldest buildings. From the Castelo de São Jorge castle you have a view over almost all of Lisbon and the Tagus River. To get there you need a ticket (€5 to 25 and €10 for 26+). You can buy them via the website or at the entrance.
You can see the famous yellow tram driving around all over Lisbon. Lisbon is known for this yellow train. The most popular is tram 28 and if you get on here, you will pass the Alfama, Baixa and Chiado districts. This yellow tram 28 is generally the least crowded in the morning and will only cost you 3 euros for the whole ride if you stay seated.
Are you looking for an Instagram-worthy photo location with such a typical yellow tram? Then you have to go to the steep street "Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo". A tram rides up and down here and you can take the best Instagram photos with a tram. Go down a side street and wait for the tram to come by.
There are also other trams that give you the same feeling and are just as fun to ride. These are not always yellow, but they are just as useful for going through the city.
On the edge of the center you will find the hip and creative LX Factory in an old industrial area. There are many creative entrepreneurs here, which can be seen with many pop-up stores, hip restaurants, creative design shops, (roof) terraces and you see a lot of cool street art within LX Factory.
If you're in Lisbon for longer or you want to see more of the area outside of Lisbon, there are also very good day trips from the city. These are the 2 best day trips from Lisbon.
If you want to see more of the Lisbon area, a day trip to Sintra is recommended. This place has a magical feel with castles, palaces and mansions. And the many large and beautiful botanical gardens. You can get there in 40 minutes by train. Day trips are also offered from hostels and the city to get to this magical place in Portugal.
If it's a nice summer day and you want to cool off or escape the city, you can take the train from Lisbon (Cais do Sodre) to Cascais in 40 minutes. Cascais is a nice and cozy coastal town with beautiful beaches. Here you can enjoy the beautiful weather at the beach for a whole day. And keep in mind that it can get crowded here on hot days, because everyone wants to cool down.
At the end of the afternoon in Jardim do Alto de Santa Catarina it gets pleasantly busy with many locals and other backpackers. If you're lucky, there's a busker for an extra relaxed atmosphere to watch the sunset. Tip: bring your own drinks.
Another viewpoint is at the Castelo de São Jorge. At this castle you can reach a height of 110 meters and from the towers you look out over the whole city of Lisbon and the Tagus River.
In Lisbon there are many restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Are you going for Italian food at ZeroZero or Mediterranean at Tantura or Farés? I have already listed the best food hotspots for you.
In addition, you can find cocktail bars all over Lisbon. You will find most cocktail bars in and around Pinkstreet, but also near Boa Bao/Nood.
With Casa do Jasmim Boutique Guesthouse you have a wonderful place to stay in the popular Bairro Alto district.
Another good guesthouse I can recommend is Casa do Patio.
If you are going to do Lisbon on a budget, Lisbon Destination Hostel is perfect for overnight. This hostel is located in the train station (you don't notice that at all at night). With that you can take easily the train for a day trip to Sintra.