What to See in Lisbon: Our Top 22 Attractions

The Top Lisbon Sights for 3 Days

Lisbon has a truly incredible number of highlights! Most visitors only have a few days to explore the city, though. If that sounds like you, these are the things to see in Lisbon that you can easily cover in a long weekend in Lisbon.

• Ride Tram 28E
• Enjoy the view from a Miradouro
• Praça do Comércio
• Check out the unique elevators – our recommendation: Elevador de Santa Justa
• Stroll through Alfama and take in the view from Castelo de São Jorge
• Eat at Time Out Market at least once
• Half-day trip to Belém

All Lisbon Attractions on One Map

So you can get an instant overview of where our 22 picks are located, we’ve put together a Lisbon sights map for you right here.

Quintessentially Lisbon

First, we’ll show you the most iconic Lisbon attractions that are totally unique to the city.

Tram Line 28E

A ride on the famous Tram 28E is an absolute must for your Lisbon sightseeing itinerary! The yellow cars with their 1940s charm are simply iconic and attract huge crowds of tourists.

The 28E runs from Martim Moniz station in the east to the terminus at Campo Ourique in the west. That’s also where you’ll find the worthwhile Cemitério dos Prazeres, a real off-the-beaten-path gem in Lisbon.

You’ll pass through many of the most popular neighborhoods like Alfama, Bairro Alto, Chiado, and Baixa, and you’ll ride by many Lisbon highlights such as Praça do Comercio (#11) and the Lisbon Cathedral (#13).

The route itself is seriously worth seeing: the tram hauls itself up the steepest hillsides and squeezes through alleys so narrow there’s barely room for a sheet of paper between the tram and the building walls.

Our tip: Board at the Campo Ourique terminus. It’s much less busy there and you’ll usually still find a seat.

Pastéis de Nata

Pastéis de Nata aren’t technically a Lisbon sight. But these little pastries are reason enough on their own to make the trip to Lisbon, and they absolutely belong on this list.

They’re small puff pastry tarts filled with custard. They’re simply incomparably delicious — and fair warning: they’re seriously addictive and dangerously easy to overindulge in! You’ll find them on practically every street corner in Lisbon.

The pastry was invented by the nuns at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. They used large quantities of egg whites to starch their habits, and created a new pastry with the leftover egg yolks — and just like that, Pastéis de Nata were born! They later sold the original recipe to the sugar refinery Fabrica Pastéis de Belém.

The recipe remains a closely guarded secret to this day. Pastéis de Nata are often also called Pastéis de Belém — though strictly speaking, that name only applies to the tarts from the Fabrica Pastéis de Belém, essentially the original among all pastéis.

Many people say those are also the best pastéis in the city. We wouldn’t personally wait in line specifically for them, though, since you can find delicious tarts all over the city — we’d rather try a different spot each day.

The Most Beautiful Viewpoints in Lisbon

If Lisbon has one thing in abundance besides Pastéis de Nata, it’s miradouros. Miradouro is Portuguese for viewpoint, and in a city built on seven hills, you can imagine just how many stunning vantage points there are.

Honestly, we can’t decide which one we love most, so here are our top five miradouros for every occasion:

• Miradouro Portas do Sol – the classic: One of the most beautiful, though also one of the most touristy miradouros. You look out over the rooftops of Alfama. There are food stalls around it, and street musicians set the perfect mood.
• Miradouro Graça – for sunsets: From this miradouro you get a great view of Castelo de São Jorge. It’s also very popular with locals and a wonderful spot to watch the sunset.
• Miradouro Santa Catarina – for young people: In the evenings, this miradouro fills up with young Lisbonites making music, chatting, and enjoying a beer or two. The vibe is super relaxed.
• Miradouro São Pedro de Alcântara – the picturesque one: Alongside the panorama over the Tagus and the Baixa neighborhood, what really impresses here is the ornate garden with fountains, colorful flower beds, and sculptures.
• Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte – the local favorite: A lesser-known miradouro with a view over the Mouraria neighborhood. Few tourists make it up here, and it’s a little more peaceful as a result.

Elevators in Lisbon

The elevators are also a quintessential part of Lisbon — though note that they are all currently closed.

Elevador de Santa Justa

Alongside the miradouros, there are also the Elevadores. These aren’t ordinary elevators like you’d find in an apartment building.

The Elevador de Santa Justa is housed in a wrought-iron tower standing 45 meters tall and looks a bit like the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Two cabins with a capacity of 29 people carry passengers up and down. At the top, a viewing platform awaits you with a fantastic panorama over the rooftops of Lisbon.

The elevator wasn’t originally just a tourist attraction — it’s officially part of the public transit system. The elevator in the Baixa neighborhood is connected to the Chiado district via a bridge. Since Lisbon is built on seven hills, it was meant to spare locals the strenuous climb, especially during the hot summer months.

Our Tips for Visiting the Elevador de Santa Justa

We personally recommend skipping the elevator altogether and simply walking across the bridge from the other side. There’s always a long line in front of the elevator, and the real highlight isn’t the ride anyway — it’s the view at the top.

If you do decide to take the elevator, you can simply use your Navegante Card (formerly: Viva Viagem) or your day pass as your ticket. Thanks to its history, the elevator is part of the regular public transit network. Of course, tickets are also available on-site, but they’re significantly more expensive.

Elevador da Bica

The Elevador da Bica has even less in common with a conventional elevator than the Elevador de Santa Justa. It’s actually one of three funiculars in Lisbon.

On a very steep stretch of just over 250 meters, the funicular climbs 45 meters in elevation and brings you right to the Bairro Alto nightlife district.

The funicular has been running since 1892, and the bright yellow retro cars have an utterly charming character. We also love the narrow side streets where authentic Lisbon life plays out.

A round trip costs €4.30; single rides are not available. Your public transit day pass works here as well.

Elevador da Glória

Right next to the Miradouro São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint (#3) lies one of the steepest streets in Lisbon: the Calçada da Glória.

This is where the second of Lisbon’s three funiculars runs, the Elevador da Glória. Apparently the steep climb was too much for Lisbonites as well.

The funicular connects the famous Praça de los Restauradores at the bottom with the Bairro Alto neighborhood at the upper station.

Here too, a round trip costs €4.30, or you can simply use your public transit day pass.

Hip Lisbon

Lisbon is a seriously cool city — here are the hip spots you really shouldn’t miss.

Time Out Market

Across from Cais do Sodré station stands the historic market hall Mercado da Ribeira. The hall has been fully renovated and now houses a little foodie paradise: the Time Out Market.

More than 30 food stalls offer everything your heart desires: Portuguese cuisine, burgers, sushi, sweets, and much more. If you have a vacation rental with a kitchen, you should also check out the stalls with fresh fish, meat, and vegetables.

Prices range from relatively affordable to quite expensive. In recent years, as the Time Out Market has grown into one of Lisbon’s most popular spots, it’s developed something of a reputation as a tourist trap. We don’t quite see it that way, but it does make sense to browse the different stalls first before deciding what to get.

LX Factory

The LX Factory is a small hipster and artist enclave slightly outside of central Lisbon. The large factory complex in the Alcântara neighborhood produced textiles and yarns starting in 1846, until the winds of industrial change eventually arrived here too.

Today, the former industrial site is home to more than 150 restaurants, design shops, and creative businesses. Strolling around the grounds, you’ll feel a little like you’re in Berlin.

You can grab a great meal, shop for clothes and all kinds of designer goods, or simply take some great photos. The LX Factory is a great spot for photography in Lisbon — there’s no shortage of great subjects here!

It’s worth checking the website, as cool exhibitions and events take place regularly.

The Most Beautiful Neighborhoods in Lisbon

We love wandering through neighborhoods and narrow alleyways. And in Lisbon, that’s simply wonderful.

The Alfama and Castelo Neighborhoods

Alfama and Castelo flow so seamlessly into one another that the two neighborhoods simply go together for us.

While Alfama is now one of the most well-known neighborhoods and is home to some of Lisbon’s top attractions like Castelo São Jorge and the Cathedral, its original character is palpable everywhere — from the old traces of Arab occupation to its history as a neighborhood of poor fishermen.

It’s simply a lot of fun to climb the narrow alleyways and let yourself drift through streets where many local families still live. Charming building facades, the iconic azulejos, cool street art, and laundry lines strung above the alleys — in Alfama you’ll find authentic Lisbon life.

The Bairro Alto Neighborhood

Bairro Alto is Lisbon’s nightlife and going-out neighborhood. You can not only enjoy great food here, but also sip a good cocktail and wind down after a long day.

Bairro Alto is especially interesting for younger visitors, as the nightlife comes alive after 9 PM and the streets buzz with activity.

But it’s also worth walking through the streets of Bairro Alto during the day. Rua do Norte, for example, has some great clothing stores.

Praça do Comércio

Before the earthquake of 1755, the royal riverside palace stood here. Today you’ll find the vast Commerce Square, which was built after the reconstruction to impress arriving kings and presidents.

The square draws a lot of tourists, who come to admire the plaza and the Arco Triunfal to the north, also known as the Arco da Rua Augusta. The triumphal arch, by the way, also has a viewing platform.

You’ll also find several restaurants and cafés there, a welcome center, and an interactive Lisboa Story Centre where a multimedia tour takes you through Lisbon’s history.

Historic Buildings

Lisbon is far from short on beautiful buildings. Here are our picks for historic landmarks.

Castelo São Jorge

High above Alfama sits the fortress of Castelo de São Jorge. With its battlements, flags, and no fewer than eleven towers, it looks like a storybook castle.

Admittedly, the climb up the many steps will leave you a bit breathless. But from the fortification walls you have a fantastic view over the historic center and the Tagus. After all, you’re at one of the highest points in Lisbon.

There’s always a very long line at the ticket booth. We therefore recommend buying a ticket online in advance. If you’d like to learn more about the castle, you can also book a visit with a tour guide.

Ticket: Castelo de São Jorge with Tour Guide

Lisbon Cathedral

The Catedral Sé Patriarcal is the oldest and most significant church in Lisbon. The fact that it’s still standing is something of a miracle — it has survived two earthquakes and a dictatorship.

From the outside, the church looks more like a fortress with its two flanking towers. That’s actually fitting, since it was built on the remains of a mosque as a symbol of victory over the Moorish occupiers.

We don’t go inside every church, but since this is one of Lisbon’s top points of interest, we took a look — and the vast nave is absolutely worth a visit!

If you just want to peek inside, it’s free. To see the treasury and the chancel as well, you’ll need a ticket.

Panteão Nacional - Igreja Santa Engrácia

The Pantheon is one of the most beautiful churches in Lisbon and reminds us a little of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It’s built entirely from white marble and positively glows in the sun.

In addition to the dome, there’s a large viewing platform at 40 meters in height, from which you have a great vista over Alfama. If your feet are tired, you can take the elevator up.

Incidentally, Portuguese has an expression for describing something that never gets finished: like the construction of Santa Engrácia. The building took 350 years to complete — which makes even the construction timeline of Berlin’s airport look speedy by comparison!

Ticket for the Pantheon with Fast-Track Entry

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos monastery is one of the most important things to see in Lisbon and is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The building looks simply massive, and the nearly 300-meter-long park in front of it only adds to that impression. Inside, you’ll see elegant ornamentation and delicate spires everywhere — absolutely stunning!

The monastery is always busy. If you want to avoid long lines, you should definitely buy your ticket online in advance.

Get Your Ticket for the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
Our tip: The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is located very close to the Torre de Belém (#16) and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument (#17). These three Lisbon attractions are easy to combine into one outing.

Torre de Belém

The Torre de Belém is one of the standout must-sees in Lisbon. The tower stands right at the harbor entrance and was designed as a watchtower against intruders.

But it’s not simply a tower — it’s more like a small fortress. It consists of four floors housing, among other things, a bulwark, a royal hall, a governor’s chamber, and a chapel.

At the very top, at 35 meters, there is a viewing platform offering a beautiful view of Lisbon, the ocean, and the Tagus.

For the Torre de Belém, you need a fixed time slot. You can either get one when booking your ticket or book a free time slot if you have the Lisboa Card.

Get Your Ticket for the Torre de Belém

Padrão dos Descobrimentos

If you walk along the waterfront promenade from the Torre de Belém, you’ll reach the Padrão dos Descobrimentos. Translated, this means the Monument to the Discoveries.

It was built in 1960 to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator, and is meant to commemorate the Age of Discovery.

On the monument you can make out 33 important figures from that era. Even if we honestly didn’t recognize anyone, it’s a pleasant sight to take in.

Modern Architecture in Lisbon

Lisbon has a modern side too. Here’s which contemporary sights in Lisbon are really worth your time.

Ponte 25 de Abril

Did we suddenly land in San Francisco? Not quite, but the large red suspension bridge Ponte 25 de Abril does bear a striking resemblance to the Golden Gate Bridge. Not surprisingly, it was built by the same construction company.

The bridge connects the Alcântara and Almada neighborhoods and, at just over three kilometers, is the third-longest suspension bridge in the world. Cars travel on the upper level, while trains run below. Unfortunately the bridge is not accessible to pedestrians. You can, however, ride bus line 753 across and enjoy the view over the Tagus.

One of Lisbon’s newer attractions, the Pilar 7 Experience, explores the history of the bridge through a multimedia exhibition. The highlight of the Experience is a glass viewing platform where you’re essentially standing right beside the bridge.

Get Your Ticket for the Pilar 7 Experience

Cristo Rei Statue

At the southern end of the Ponte 25 de Abril stands our next top Lisbon highlight: the famous Cristo Rei statue.

It sits atop a 75-meter-tall pedestal. The statue itself is 28 meters tall, making it one of the tallest structures in Portugal.

An elevator takes you up to the viewing platform at the base of the statue: the panorama over the Tagus and the city is simply breathtaking, and for us it ranks among the most beautiful viewpoints in Lisbon.

Our tip: We recommend combining a visit to the Cristo Rei statue with a ferry ride across the Tagus. It’s absolutely gorgeous! Alternatively, you can join a guided tour departing from the old quarter and let someone else handle the logistics.

Tour to the Cristo Rei Statue with a Boat Ride on the Tagus

Parque das Nações

The Parque das Nações isn’t a park in the way you might first imagine. It’s one of Lisbon’s most modern districts and its business center. The many glass facades and futuristic architecture have a real big-city feel. But why should that interest tourists?

Simple: the Parque das Nações was created for the Expo 98 World’s Fair, and today you’ll still find many great things to do in Lisbon here.

• Oceanário de Lisboa: One of the largest aquariums in Europe, home to around 8,000 marine creatures including sharks and rays (get tickets)
• Lisbon Cable Car: Ride a gondola 30 meters above the Expo grounds and enjoy the view over the Tagus (get tickets)
• Pavilhão do Conhecimento: A truly fascinating museum packed with hands-on science experiences for children of all ages (get tickets)

Most of the attractions are great for families with children. If you’re looking for more tips for Lisbon with kids, check out this article.

Day Trips from Lisbon

There are also great sights around Lisbon. These are excursions you absolutely shouldn’t miss!

Beaches near Lisbon

When you need a break from sightseeing in Lisbon, you can quickly fit in a beach day. City trip and beach vacation all in one — it doesn’t get much better than that!

Many beaches around Lisbon are reachable by public transit in about 40 minutes. Admittedly, the Atlantic water is fairly cold. But during the hot summer months from July through September, that’s actually a welcome relief.

The closest beach, for example, is Praia de Carcavelos. Expect 1.5 kilometers of soft sand and great surf waves.

A little farther out, about 45 minutes by car from Lisbon, Praia do Guincho is our top pick for hot summer days. A beautiful natural beach and plenty of peace and quiet await you here. The wind tends to blow quite strongly, which makes it a favorite spot for surfers and kiteboarders.

If you’re looking for more advice on great beaches near Lisbon, check out the linked article.

Day Trip to Sintra

About 40 minutes by train from Lisbon lies the picturesque town of Sintra. The standout attraction in Sintra is the Palácio Nacional da Pena, a fairytale palace from the Romantic era. And “fairytale” really is the right word: the colorful domes and spires rising above Sintra’s forests are simply gorgeous! The palace is among the most lavish in the entire world.

Beyond the Palácio da Pena, there’s still plenty more to see, including the Castelo dos Mouros fortress, the old town, and the Palácio Nacional de Sintra.

Our tip: Sintra is very hilly and if you really want to see the town, you’ll need to rely on public transit. We highly recommend a guided tour from Lisbon. That way you won’t have to wait around for buses on-site and you’ll also have a transfer from Lisbon included.

From Lisbon: Day Trip to Sintra

General Tips: The Best Way to Explore Lisbon’s Sights

To wrap things up, we’d like to share a few general travel tips for Lisbon to make planning your trip a little easier.

#1 Book a Centrally Located Hotel

To see as much of Lisbon as possible, it makes sense to stay as close to the center as you can. Here are a few pointers for centrally located hotels in Lisbon.

Still haven’t found the right place to stay in Lisbon? Then check out these three articles.

#2 Getting Around Lisbon

You can easily reach most of what to see in Lisbon on foot. But when you do need public transit, we recommend the Navegante Card.

The Navegante Card is a rechargeable transit pass for Lisbon’s public transportation, including the metro, buses, and trams. Even the elevadores and funiculars are included.

You buy the card conveniently at the ticket machine at any metro station for €0.50. You can then load it with a single ride (€1.90), a day pass (from €7.25), or a credit balance. With the latter option, you pay per trip until the balance runs out. Most rides cost €1.72 this way.

Simply tap the card on the validator at the start of each trip (and again when exiting at metro stations).

Note: Any unused balance on your Navegante Card will not be refunded.
All our tips on public transit in Lisbon

Alternatively, you can also explore Lisbon by hop-on/hop-off bus. Find all our tips on sightseeing buses in this article:

Our best tips for hop-on/hop-off in Lisbon

#3 Book a Guided Tour

We’re big fans of city tours, since your guide will know the coolest spots and insider tips for Lisbon. Here are some tours we can genuinely recommend.

The Budget Option: Group Tour of Lisbon – perfect for a first visit, covering all the Lisbon highlights

The Private Option: Private Walking Tour of Lisbon – especially great for families and groups, with your guide all to yourself

By Bike: Bike Tour from the Old Town to Belém – discover even more of the city by bike

Want even more recommendations for guided tours in Lisbon? You’ll find them in this article.