So are you in Lisbon city, wondering where to go next? Or you’re planning to take a solo trip there and explore what options you have?
In this guide, you’ll discover 15 things to do in Lisbon. In the end, I’ll share a downloadable list you can keep on your phone while exploring this city.
Here we go!
1. Calm your mind at Parque Eduardo VII
This is a favorite spot for many tourists in the city, even before Miradouro das Portas do Sol. If you visit on the right day, you can see the world’s most enormous Portuguese flag hoisted at the park’s top end.
This monument is located at the park’s northern end and overlooks Avenida Libertad from the Rio Tejo. The monument has a history of many past incidents, along with the 1974 Carnation Revolution.
The park has a bright green mirage and a very steep uphill walk. But when you reach the top and look back over Lisbon, you’ll see why this climb is worth every effort!
2. Visit the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica stadium
When do you think of Portugal, who’s the first person that comes to your mind?
Cristiano Ronaldo, right?
He’s not just an ambassador of football, but also of his country. And to see where Ronaldo and the National Portuguese football team play, you must visit the famous Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica stadium.
Along with the Portuguese national team, this stadium is also the home ground of the football club Benfica. So you’ll also find the Benfica museum showing its rich history!
Every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., you’re allowed to tour the entire stadium. Maybe, you also watch the famous European competitions here live.
3. Walk on the street of Bairro Alto
Swing your mood with Lisbon’s party district, Bairro Alto. When the weekend approaches, the bustling Lisbon crowds completely take over the neighborhood.
Most bars are small and exciting, so people wander from bar to bar with glasses in their hands. After sunset, a diverse crowd fills the street with quirky bars, and you will be introduced to the evocative sound of Fado music from traditional restaurants.
Many of the centuries-old houses in the neighborhood are decorated with graffiti. You can also visit the lavish São Roque Church and take in the views from Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara.
4. Capture the beautiful landscape of Chiado
Chiado offers plenty of cafes, restaurants, and bars where you can stop for a break after exploring the streets of Lisbon.
It’s also home to the famous Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa statue. You can also enjoy spectacular views of Lisbon from the Elevador de Santa Justa or the Carmo Convent. It’s a commercial neighborhood at its core, especially for its Garret and Carmo streets.
5. Enhance your artistic knowledge at the Museu Coleção Berardo art museum
Visit the famous Museu Coleção Berardo, the most visited modern and contemporary art museum in Lisbon. It has 6 significant exhibitions on view, located in Belém, open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the general public.
It is one of the must-see places in Lisbon where famous artists like Picasso, Duchamp, Andy Warhol, Lucio Fontana, Yves Klein, Pistoletto, Bill Viola, and many others’ drawings are kept.
The popular collection of famous artworks like Cubism, Dadaism, Constructivism, British Pop Art, Abstract Expressionism, etc., flourishes its beauty.
6. Taste the famous Portuguese wines
In Lisbon, you should taste the famous Portuguese wines like Port, Vinho Verde, Madeira, and Verdelho.
Wine producers of Portuguese wines use 250 grape varieties, concrete eggs, and amphora to make it tastier for people.
7. Visit the largest indoor aquarium in Europe
The country of Portugal has a beautiful coastline. So you’ll often find different marine species nearby.
And when you visit Oceanário de Lisboa, it’ll make you far more aware of the marine life found in the oceans. It’s the largest indoor aquarium in Europe.
There are many impressive exhibits you’ll find here.
8. Enjoy the beaches of Lisbon
An impressive coastline also means many beaches where you can chill out and enjoy. A famous beach you can check out is Costa de Caparica.
It has a lot of surf shops and restaurants there. The sunset will make your day lovelier. And book an Uber to reach here. It’s cheaper than local taxis.
9. Hop on a trolley ride and explore the city
The trolley ride is for those who love to explore the city slowly while soaking in the local vibe.
It has become the mode of travel for thousands of visitors daily for its vintage wooden carriages and winding routes through the city’s most historic areas. Its squeaks and rattles alert the presence of Lisbon’s traditional famous yellow trams.
The ride covers almost all important tourist destinations.
10. Eat lunch at a family-owned Cantinho
What do the locals in Lisbon eat? What’s their staple diet? What does it taste like?
To understand this, you must have a meal at a Cantinho. A Cantinho is a family-owned restaurant mainstay in Lisbon that usually only has a few tables. These are simple tables meant for treats where you can enjoy a delicious, inexpensive home-cooked meal.
In Cantinho, you will get breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything with additional care as you get in your home. One of the famous ones to visit is the Esplanada do Cantinho in Alfama.
11. Enjoy the sunset of Lisbon at Arco da Rua Augusta
Want to enjoy the sunset in Lisbon? Want to click some awesome photos and flaunt them on your socials?
Then you should enjoy the sunset at the Arco da Rua Augusta. The view of the city from the top is breathtaking.
After reaching the top of the arch, you will see the iconic Comercio Square on one side and the busy shopping street Rua Augusta on the other.
You’ll find many traditional artists, street stalls, coffee shops, and restaurants. There’s also a shopping area, and on a further walk, you’ll enjoy the beautiful views of the Tagus River.
12. Take a Belem tour
Go for a tour at Belém, the capital of the Portuguese discoveries, where you can spend an entire day exploring the monuments and museums that will make your visit worthwhile.
At Belém, you can calm your senses at the famous Santa Maria de Belem church. This place is easily accessible from Lisbon’s historical center, and also it offers a variety of restaurants and cafes, namely the famous and delicious – “Pastéis de Belém”.
13. Go for a bike ride at 25 de Abril Bridge
You must have heard of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Franciso. Guess, what, there’s something similar you’ll find in Portugal – 25 de Abril Bridge.
It has the longest central span in Europe at 1.5 miles, connecting Lisbon with its southern suburb of Almada.
Take a ride down this bridge while enjoying the beauty of the Tagus River below you.
14. Visit the Lisbon flea market
The Lisbon flea market is full of exciting vendors, creative entrepreneurs, and shoppers looking for cool things at affordable prices. It’s a huge market with more than 100 stalls. So you have a lot of gift options to choose from.
The sellers sell household items, fruits, vegetables, runner shoes, clothes, handbags, etc. There are also many food stalls here. You can spend an entire afternoon (around 2-3 hours in a day) to explore this place.
15. Enjoy the Casino Lisboa and the Parque das Nações, Expo Par
You would miss a lot if you don’t attend a casino party during your solo tour. It would be best if you enjoyed the environment of Casino Lisboa, which was built at the end of the 1990s primarily because of the Expo ’98.
The Expo’s attractive pavilions, structures, and exhibition spaces are still culturally and artistically significant. From the center of the city, you can easily access Parque das Nações by metro, bus, or taxi, which is the must-see place for anyone who will spend more than 3 days in the Portuguese capital.
At Parque das Nações, you will find conference and concert pavilions, a shopping center, trendy restaurants, and an enjoyable cable car ride that you cannot miss.
On top of that, the fantastic Lisbon Oceanarium (one of the most spectacular things you’ll see in the city) will take your breath away: its respect and desire to preserve natural wildlife are extraordinary.
Conclusion
Lisbon has a lot to offer for a solo traveler. And hopefully, this guide has given you plenty of things to check out.
As promised, here’s a downloadable list you can keep on your phone while exploring the city alone.
Happy exploring!
