In a nutshell
- Looking for special activities in Lisbon beyond the usual sightseeing? You’re in the right place!
- We’ve rounded up 10 of the best Lisbon experiences that will make your Lisbon trip truly unforgettable.
- From sporty adventures to rainy-day ideas to unmissable tours — there’s something here for every kind of traveler.
- Our personal top picks: a boat trip on the Tagus, browsing the markets, and riding the historic tram.
Ride the Streetcar
Lisbon’s old streetcars are simply iconic. They not only look fantastic, but also run along some truly beautiful routes.
That’s why it’s worth not just photographing the cars from the outside, but actually hopping on. It’s also a great experience if you’re in Lisbon with kids.
The most famous line is 28E. It runs from Martim Moniz through the historic center, passing many of Lisbon’s most important highlights.
Important note: Tram 28E is currently only running from Martim Moniz to Praça Luís de Camões due to construction work, expected to last until December 2024.
Since the 28E tends to get seriously crowded, you can also opt for lines 18E, 24E, and 25E, or the hop-on/hop-off trams in Lisbon. Those routes use the same historic streetcars.
Read our tips for Tram 28E
Take a Street Art Tour
Lisbon is a city of artists, and cool street art hides around every corner — some of the work is absolutely stunning!
Since you’d probably miss a lot of these pieces on your own, we really recommend booking a street art tour.
These tours are led by guides who genuinely know their stuff and can fill you in on the stories behind the artworks.
Book the street art tour in Lisbon
Watch the Sunset from a Boat
A boat tour is one of the best Lisbon activities, since the city sits right on the Tagus River.
From the water, you see the city from a completely different angle and cruise past many of Lisbon’s famous landmarks: the Ponte 25 de Abril, the Christ statue, and so much more.
An evening boat ride is especially magical — because Lisbon is a city of sunsets. As the sun goes down, it bathes everything in warm reddish hues that make the whole scene twice as beautiful.
Book the sunset boat tour in Lisbon
Visit Lisbon's Cool Markets
Flea markets, food markets — we love them all! And Lisbon has some really great ones. Here are our 3 favorites:
- Time Out Market
- Feira da Ladra
- Flea market at LX Factory
The Time Out Market is a food hall with loads of food stalls at Cais do Sodré. You grab something from a vendor and settle in at one of the communal tables in the center — great concept, and the food is delicious!
The Feira da Ladra is a huge flea market that runs every Tuesday and Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM behind the Igreja de Santa Engrácia. You can pick up all kinds of eclectic finds here.
Another fantastic flea market takes place every Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM at LX Factory. It’s worth a visit not just for the shopping, but because the venue itself is super cool.
LX Factory is an old industrial site that’s been transformed into a hip creative district.
Explore Lisbon by Bike
Lisbon, the city of seven hills, and cycling? It might not sound like an obvious match — but it really works. The promenade along the Tagus is absolutely perfect for a ride.
The route from Cais do Sodré to Belém is stunning. You roll past the Ponte 25 de Abril and can reward yourself in Belém with some delicious Pastéis de Nata.
You can also do this as a guided tour — that way you don’t have to worry about renting a bike and you’ll have a knowledgeable guide along for the ride.
Book the bike tour from Lisbon to Belém
And if you want to tackle Lisbon’s hills by bike, go for an e-bike. With one, you can do a seriously fun city tour of Lisbon without breaking a sweat.
Book the e-bike tour through Lisbon
Food Tour Through Lisbon
Lisbon’s food scene has so much to offer. Make sure you work your way through the city’s traditional cuisine: seafood, Bifana, Pastéis de Nata — all absolutely delicious!
Don’t skip the drinks either — try typical local options like wine and the sour cherry liqueur Ginjinha.
One of the best Lisbon experiences for food lovers is a guided food tour. You’ll have an expert by your side who can tell you all about the city’s food culture and point you to the best spots.
Bonus: a culinary tour like this is also a great option on a rainy day.
Book the food tour through Lisbon
Learn to Surf
Surfing is a super popular activity in Lisbon, especially among younger travelers. The city is just a stone’s throw from the ocean.
Around Lisbon, there are tons of surf beaches catering to both pros and beginners.
If you want to learn to surf, we’d point you straight to Praia de Carcavelos. It’s not only one of the most beautiful beaches near Lisbon, but also a fantastic spot for beginners.
By train, it’s only 30 minutes from Cais do Sodré to Carcavelos.
Book a surf lesson at Praia de Carcavelos
Watch a Soccer Game
Attention soccer fans! Lisbon is home to not one but two of Portugal’s top clubs: Benfica and Sporting.
That means you have a chance almost every weekend to catch one of them play live in the stadium.
Benfica is the more famous and more successful of the two, but Sporting also plays in the top division — and both stadiums regularly fill up.
You can get tickets on the Benfica website and on the Sporting website.
If there’s no match scheduled during your visit, you can still do a stadium tour.
Book the guided tour of Benfica’s Luz Stadium
Take a Day Trip to Sintra
Sintra is one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon, famous for its fairytale palaces. The standout is the Palácio Nacional da Pena — absolutely not to be missed.
Get tickets for the Palácio Nacional da Pena
But there are even more must-sees in Sintra, like the Quinta da Regaleira and the Castelo dos Mouros. Sintra’s old quarter is also totally worth your time.
All in all, a day trip to Sintra is one of the best Lisbon activities if you want to explore beyond the city.
Book the guided day trip to Sintra
Read our tips on Sintra
Experience a Fado Evening
Fado is a traditional musical genre born in Lisbon. The music is melancholy, romantic, and deeply emotional — unlike anything else you’ll hear.
The vocals take center stage and are traditionally accompanied by a Portuguese guitar, a classical guitar, and a bass guitar.
In Lisbon — and especially in the old-town neighborhood of Alfama — there are many fado bars. In the evenings, live performances fill these intimate venues where you can enjoy the music alongside wine and food.
Important: Reserve a table at the fado bars in advance. We recommend Bar A Baiuca.
