No two trips will ever be the same. We all move at different paces, have different interests, and care about different things. But there are some pretty cool “must dos” in Lisbon that I think you should build into your days.
Think of these 6 top experiences in Lisbon as essential building blocks. You don’t have to include all of them, but as someone who has lived in Lisbon since 2018, I can confidently say you should at least consider a few of them.
As a travel writer and Portugal adviser I have the privilege of helping people plan their vacations (via my 1:1 calls) and I’ve noticed these experiences come up again and again (for good reason).
I’ve included a foodie must, creative workshop, history tour, sunset gem, cultural experience and essential day trip. I try to share lesser-known gems and experiences on Olá Daniela too, so I’ll include some off-beat alternatives – especially for any very busy places.
Taste the original Portuguese tart at Pastéis de Belém
If you enjoy a cheeky nata (a Portuguese custard tart), then you must make the pilgrimage to worship the OG at Pastéis de Belém.
This pastelaria has the original recipe (under lock and key) and has been baking the convent sweet since 1837. The tarts here are technically called Pasteís de Belém and this is the only place in the world that can produce tarts by this name. While only half a dozen people know the full recipe, the bakery manages to churn out some 20,000 tarts daily.
You’ll spot the crowd first but I can promise this isn’t a tourist trap. There are three queues out the front – a fast-service takeaway counter (left) just for tarts; a historic takeaway counter (right) where you can get other treats too; and table service (middle). I always go for table service – once you enter, the bakery becomes a rabbit warren of interconnected old buildings hiding some 400+ seats so service moves really fast.
Unless it’s breakfast time, I start my order with an imperial (beer) and empada de pato (duck pie) and finish with a pastel de nata and café (espresso). You can ask for a takeaway box to your chair too, but these tarts don’t travel well.
After, continue your pilgrimage to the altar of the Manueline-style Mosteiro dos Jerónimos next door, where the recipe originally came from.
Read next: Local’s guide to Belém, Lisbon: Best things to do with a half-day or more
Get to know the Lisbon and its history
Whenever I visit a new city, I want to get oriented and understand the history while taking in the sights. This could mean a walking tour (self-guided or not) or something with wheels. If you want to DIY, you can follow the first day of my 48-hour Lisbon guide. I walk you through a great (downhill) route from Miradouro da Graça.
Lisbon is super hilly and quite spread out, so having wheels has its advantages! A really fun way to see the city is with a tuk-tuk tour (but not all are equal). My all-time favourite, go-to guide is João from João’s Journeys. His 3.5-hour “Seven Hills” tour will really show you the best of the whole city but he does shorter 90-minute tours too.
I went out with João again recently when my parents visited and he blew me away with how much knowledge and storytelling he squeezed into our time together ⭐🛺 If a private tuk tuk tour is out of budget, this 3-hour e-bike tour will cover more ground than on foot!
➡️ Book a tuk-tuk with João’s Journeys
Cruise the Tagus River on a sunset boat tour
Lisbon’s Tagus – or Tejo – River is so wide it feels more like a harbour – and in my opinion, it’s the best way to experience the sunset in the Portuguese capital. Picture yourself floating around on a small sailboat or spacious catamaran with a glass of crisp vinho verde in hand watching the city’s most famous landmarks drift by.
If you’re only 1-6 people, I’d book spots on a:
- Small-group sailboat with Enjoy Tagus. They take up to 10 guests – a fun and intimate sailing experience on the river.
- Medium-size catamaran boat tour with Sardinha do Tejo. The boats have lots of space to dance and a bar with a maximum 60 guests (but usually less!).
If you’re 6-10 people, consider going private…
- Book the Enjoy Tagus sailboat private for just your group – it’s usually about €345 for two hours.
Visit the palaces of Sintra – or a less-famous palace
“You MUST go to Sintra!” is what everyone will tell you when visiting Lisbon. And while I agree that the tiny colourful village filled with palaces is worth the easy day trip from Lisbon, I think it’s not for everyone (overtourism alert!) and there are alternative palace options (particularly if you’re short on time).
Why visit Sintra: The lush hills of Sintra were a summer playground for the royals and the rich in the 19th century. The romance of that bygone era still echoes across the village and its mountain park, with half a dozen historic palaces and a 10th-century Moorish castle to explore. If you can, combine your visit with a tour that takes you across Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, through quaint small villages, until you reach the cliffs of the coastline. Bonus points if the tour ends in Cascais, like this shared van tour or off-road Jeep tour.
Why skip Sintra: The village is a tiny place attracting tens of thousands of visitors daily. Due to high demand and limited roads and resources, it can feel overrun. Many people don’t mind crowds, but for others this level of overtourism deeply disturbs their enjoyment.
If you go, book the two most popular palaces ahead of time:
- Pena Palace interior requires timed tickets but the garden pass is not timed and gives you access to the terraces, which is what you want! (the interior is cool but doesn’t really compare to the outside of the red-and-yellow Disney-like palace. It’s by far the most popular place to visit in Sintra.
- Quinta da Regaleira requires timed tickets. This mysterious palace has crazy cool gardens and Gothic and Renaissance architecture with the famous inverted well and tunnels that lead to ponds etc, but it is also crazy popular.
Consider these palaces and sites in Sintra
- Palácio Nacional de Sintra – the oldest palace, located within the village, with its famous chimneys and some of Portugal’s oldest tiles. Very ornate!
- Palácio de Monserrate – a 19th-century villa blending Gothic, Indian and Moorish architectural styles with a lush botanical park.
- Biester Palace – a 19th-century Romantic chalet surrounded by a wooded park. It’s close to the village and usually quiet!
- Castelo dos Mouros – it takes 45 minutes to walk the steep walls of this Moorish Castle, with great views!
- Palácio de Seteais – this neoclassical 18th-century palace is now a luxury hotel.
- Chalet of the Countess of Edla – find this little alpine-style chalet within Pena Gardens.
- Convent of the Capuchos (Convento dos Capuchos) – simple, 16th-century Franciscan cork convent built into natural boulders.
Alternatively, consider these palaces in greater Lisbon
- Palácio Nacional de Queluz – the royal court once occupied this 18th-century Rococo palace. And it’s so quiet! I love to visit the “Portuguese Versailles” (But don’t go in expecting Versailles) especially for the tiles and geometric gardens. It is an easy Uber or taxi ride halfway between the city and Sintra.
- Palácio Nacional da Ajuda – walk through the throne room and apartments of this 19th-century royal palace. The Treasure Museum is on the same site, just uphill from Lisbon’s Belém neighbourhood.
- Palácio Fronteira – this privately owned and occupied house-museum has the most magnificent tiled terrace and gardens in Portugal. You can take a guided tour of the inside to reach said terrace, or wander the gardens freely.
- Palácio Nacional de Mafra – ginormous palace about 40 minutes north of Lisbon with bats in the library.
Feel the soul of Lisbon with an evening of fado music
Fado is a unique style of music from Portugal, sometimes called the Portuguese blues. It cropped up in the 19th century in Lisbon’s poorer neighbourhoods and its storytelling songs touch on themes of melancholy. In 2011, fado received UNESCO recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Fado is (almost) always performed with a singer, Portuguese 12-string guitar and a six-string guitar. There are three main ways to experience it.
- Quick 50-60-minute show for a fado taster – my pick is Casa de Lundum. It’s €19 at 6pm. You get a small glass of port wine and the host is truly so wonderful. I learnt so much!
- Chic dinner at a formal fado restaurant – Mesa de Frades is set in a 17th-century chapel filled with tiles. Higher meal price €60pp+, but known for its top quality music.
- Casual dinner with fado vadio (amateur fado) – A Baiuca is a relaxed à la carte tavern with tiny stools, squeezed in tight. You need to reserve via Facebook message.
Read next…. Full fado guide here
Get creative at a tile-painting workshop
Among Lisbon’s historic neighbourhoods it’s hard to find a street without tiles. Azulejos are part of Portugal’s artistic heritage, each telling a story about a place and time. Whether you have a creative bone or not, I can highly recommend a tile-painting workshop. It’s a hands-on way to learn about tiles and take home a unique souvenir to remember your time.
If you can’t draw, don’t stress – all classes have stencils. You can use charcoal to transfer designs to your tile, plastic stencils to create layered patterns, or go free hand.
⚠️ Note: tile workshops require 48-72 hours to fire the tiles in a kiln ⚠️ If you’re short on time, they can be shipped (at extra cost) to you – or instead do this same-day tile design workshop in Lisbon.
I can personally recommend:
- This super relaxed tile-painting workshop in Chiado
- This two-hour Hispanic Moorish Tile Workshop in Sintra
⚠️ Dont’ buy antique tiles ⚠️If you love seeing them on buildings, don’t fuel the demand for stolen tiles at flea markets. Once removed by thieves the building is vulnerable and rarely replaces the hole.
Check out my other Lisbon guides
- How to spend 48 hours in Lisbon
- Lisbon’s best day trip: Sintra 1 or 2-Day Itinerary
- The best pastel de nata cooking classes in Lisbon
- Best places to eat octopus in Lisbon
- 18 best day trips from Lisbon
- Restaurants open Sunday and Monday in Lisbon
- Local’s guide to the LX Factory, Lisbon’s creative micro neighbourhood
- Where to eat in Belém
- Best Lisbon fado shows (that I’ve seen)
- My perfect day in Setúbal & Arrábida Natural Park
