Lisbon

Best things to do in Lisbon

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   1. Sintra: Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira

   • A full day
   • Check entry rules before you go
   • Couples
   • Families
   • Active

   A hill town in the Greater Lisbon region whose palaces, castles and gardens form the Cultural Landscape of Sintra, listed by UNESCO in 1995. Pena Palace is a Romanticist palace on a hilltop, and Quinta da Regaleira is a Neo-Manueline estate built from 1904 to 1910. Commuter trains from Lisbon take roughly 35 to 45 minutes.

   Tickets for the monuments run by Parques de Sintra are sold through its site; the source does not say whether advance booking is needed, so check before you go. Quinta da Regaleira is not part of that group.

   30,305 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Sintra
   • Wikipedia, Pena Palace
   • Wikipedia, Quinta da Regaleira
   • Parques de Sintra, home page

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   2. Belém: the Tower, Jerónimos Monastery and Monument of the Discoveries

   • Half a day
   • Check entry rules before you go
   • Couples
   • Families
   • Rainy day

   A riverside district of Lisbon. Belém Tower is a 16th-century Manueline fortification, a ceremonial gateway to the city. Jerónimos Monastery, begun in 1501, is the burial place of Vasco da Gama; UNESCO lists it with the tower (1983). The Monument of the Discoveries celebrates the Age of Discovery.

   The sources do not say whether tickets must be booked ahead for the tower or the monastery; check the official sites before you go.

   27,220 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Belém Tower
   • Wikipedia, Jerónimos Monastery
   • Wikipedia, Monument of the Discoveries

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   3. Cascais

   • Half a day to a full day
   • No booking needed
   • Couples
   • Families
   • No car needed

   A town and municipality in the Lisbon District, on the Estoril Coast. It has a marina that has hosted events such as the America's Cup, and the town of Estoril is part of the same municipality.

   9,431 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Cascais

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   4. Christ the King sanctuary, Almada

   • 1 to 2 hours
   • Check entry rules before you go
   • Couples
   • No car needed

   A Catholic monument and shrine to the Sacred Heart overlooking Lisbon from Almada, inaugurated on 17 May 1959 and inspired by Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer. An observation deck at the base of the statue, at 82 m, has views of Lisbon and the Tagus; lifts inside two of the pillars reach it. You can get there by Cacilheiro ferry to Cacilhas or by train to Pragal.

   The source mentions the lifts and the deck but not tickets or opening hours; check locally.

   5,610 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Christ the King (Almada)

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   5. São Jorge Castle

   • 1 to 2 hours
   • Check entry rules before you go
   • Couples
   • Families
   • Rainy day

   A castle on the hill above Lisbon's old town. Fortifications on the hill go back to the 2nd century BC, and it has been a royal palace and a barracks. Today it is a national monument and museum.

   The source does not cover tickets or hours; check the official site before you go.

   5,504 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, São Jorge Castle

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   6. Cabo da Roca

   • About an hour
   • No booking needed
   • Couples
   • Active

   The westernmost point of mainland Portugal and of continental Europe, in the municipality of Sintra about 42 km west of Lisbon. The cliffs around it are more than 100 m high, and its lighthouse has operated since 1772.

   4,807 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Cabo da Roca
   • Parques de Sintra, home page (lists the Cabo da Roca lighthouse)
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   7. Praça do Comércio

   • About an hour
   • No booking needed
   • Couples
   • No car needed

   A large harbour-facing plaza in central Lisbon, measuring 175 m by 175 m. Also known in Portuguese as Terreiro do Paço, it is one of the largest squares in Portugal.

   3,577 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Praça do Comércio

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   8. Santa Justa Lift

   • 30 minutes to an hour
   • Check entry rules before you go
   • Couples
   • No car needed

   An elevator in the historic centre of Lisbon that links the lower streets of the Baixa with Largo do Carmo above.

   The source does not cover tickets, queues or opening hours; check locally.

   3,384 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Santa Justa Lift

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   9. Lisbon Cathedral (Sé)

   • About an hour
   • Check entry rules before you go
   • Couples
   • Rainy day
   • No car needed

   The oldest church in the city, built in 1147 and classified as a National Monument since 1910. It has survived several earthquakes and been restored many times, so it mixes architectural styles.

   The source does not cover entry or hours; check locally. It is a working church.

   3,305 readers a month

   Sources

   • Wikipedia, Lisbon Cathedral

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    10. Alfama

    • 2 to 3 hours
    • No booking needed
    • Couples
    • No car needed
    • Active

    The oldest neighbourhood of Lisbon, on the slope between São Jorge Castle and the Tagus. It has many historic sights and an abundance of fado bars and restaurants.

    3,168 readers a month

    Sources

    • Wikipedia, Alfama

Just missed the list: Tram 28 and Lisbon's trams (11th by readers; the city tram network, in operation since 1873); Carmo Convent (12th by readers)