Traveling to Portugal soon? This post is full of our favorite things to do in Lisbon. It’s an extraordinary city that is absolutely FULL of the most incredible culture, sights, and food- but where should you start? Here are the highlights of my recent trip to Lisbon that will hopefully give you a framework for your trip.
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Lisbon Sights
Convento Do Carmo
Let’s begin with some of the attractions that we loved the most. At the top of my list is Convento Do Carmo (Carmo Convent)- the famous ruins of a church that was partially destroyed in the earthquake of 1755. The exterior ruins are truly breathtaking, but don’t skip the sacristy that has been turned into a small museum. We ended up spending two hours here because we loved it so much.
Lisbon is famous for its lookout points (miradouros) that provide incredible views of the city. We loved São Pedro de Alcântara Viewpoint and went back twice! Senhora do Monte Viewpoint was also amazing. There are miradouros all over the city, so definitely visit as many as you can.
Edward VII Park
One of my favorite afternoons in Lisbon was spent exploring Parque Eduardo VII. This expansive, centrally-located park included one of my personal highlights of the trip- a botanical garden called Estufa Fria. If you are a gardener or a nature lover, this garden is a must. It’s a quiet, peaceful moment of respite from the busy city. Grab a drink at the kiosk on your way out!
Belem
Belem was amazing. It’s a waterfront area of Lisbon that is jam-packed with museums and historical monuments. We spent an entire day taking in the sights here. Stroll along the water to visit the Monument of Discoveries and the incredible Tower of Belem, then visit the Jerónimos Monastery and the Igreja de Santa Maria de Belém nearby.
Day Trips from Lisbon
Sintra and Caiscais
Everyone insists that you should take a day trip to Sintra and Cascais from Lisbon, and I would agree- however, I do wish we had made Sintra into MORE than a day trip, because I was completely smitten by the town. Two hours wasn’t nearly enough time for me to explore. The Palace of Pena is absolutely worth the trip alone, but the city itself was so charming that I absolutely plan to stay at least one night there when I go back.
Cascais was also lovely, and again I wished that I had more than a few hours to spend there. Don’t miss the rock formation Boca do Inferno- it’s unbelievably cool.
Not-to-be-missed Lisbon Restaurants
I need to preface this by saying that we didn’t have a single mediocre meal in Lisbon. The food everywhere was incredible. And don’t get me started on the cocktails… with that said, we ate at vegan and vegetarian friendly spots and they were plentiful. These were the top three:
Gal: We stopped in for brunch and were blown away by the creative menu and delicious smoothies.
Ogambuzino: Amazing vegan food. We went twice because we loved it so much.
Magnolia: A popular spot for good reason. We had an absolutely gorgeous dinner and some of the best wine we had in Lisbon.
No matter what you decide to put on your itinerary, you are going to have an amazing time in Lisbon. Hopefully this post has provided some inspiration about what you’d like to do first.