Lisbon is one of Europe’s most attractive cities. Lisbon is known for its rich history, beautiful sites, vibrant neighbourhoods, ancient art, and excellent eateries.
This post will guide you through some things to do in Lisbon. We will go through everything, from UNESCO World Heritage sites to Lisbon’s local spectacles!
1. About Lisbon
Lisbon is the hilly coastal capital of Portugal. From Cascais to Estoril, a line of Atlantic beaches may be seen just outside Lisbon. You can also visit the nearby National Azulejo Museum, which has ceramic tiles from the fifteenth century.
“A Cidade das Sete Colinas” is the name by which Lisbon is known as the “city of seven recognized hills.” Due to its resemblance to Rome, which was also built on seven hills, the Romans named Lisbon “Olissipo.”
2. List of Things to Do in Lisbon
Are you excited about visiting Lisbon and ready to visit Lisbon street art galleries, beautiful attractions in Lisbon, and much more? So, let’s begin the journey.
2.1. Lisbon Oceanarium
In Lisbon, Portugal, there is an oceanarium called the Lisbon Oceanarium. The massive Lisbon Oceanarium looms like a monstrous aircraft carrier out of the azure waters of the Tagus Estuary. The structure includes many exhibitions about marine life on the inside, attracting over one million people each year.
You can get up close and personal with colourful puffer fish while keeping an eye on the marauding sharks. You’ll come face to face with fascinating moray eels and lovable penguins.
There are also excellent collections of sea anemones and corals and a front-row artificial boating lagoon where you may rent a pedal if the weather is nice.
2.2. São Jorge Castle
Sao Jorge Castle, in the Freguesia of Santa Maria Maior, is a historical palace in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.
Humans have been in this castle hill since about the 8th century BC, and the earliest defences were built in the 1st century BC.
2.3. George’s Castle
The most conspicuous feature of Lisbon’s historic centre is St George’s Castle. The Romans built the enormous citadel, which stands towering and sturdy just above the streets of the historic Alfama district, over 2,000 years ago.
Pass beneath the enormous gate to see the Portuguese imperial seal, symbolizing the country’s monarchical power.
2.4. Costa da Caparica
Costa da Caparica is a Portuguese civic parish symbolizing part of the district of Setubal in the municipality of Almada. In 2011, 12,211 people were living in a 4.601 km² area.
2.5. Torre de Belém
Among many places in Lisbon, an exceptional one is the Belém Tower, also known as the Tower of Saint Vincent. It is a 16th-century fortress in Lisbon that functioned as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon and a site of departure and deplaning for Portuguese explorers.
2.6. Tróia
To get to the beautiful beaches of the Tróia Peninsula, you’ll have to hop, skip, and jump across the Tagus River Estuary and the Sado River Estuary.
However, the about two-hour journey is well worth it. The location offers some of the best beachfront in the Lower Alentejo, stretching for miles along the Atlantic Coast.
The light makes the dunes gleam a lovely yellow, and the sea is unusually calm for this part of the country. The picturesque Parque Natural da Arrábida may be seen on the adjacent headlands, and regular trips depart from Tróia to observe dolphins.
2.7. Monastery of São Vicente de Fora
São Vicente de Fora is one of the country’s most important monastery and mannerist structures. The monastery also houses the royal pantheon of Portugal’s Braganza monarchs.
The ancient Monastery of So Vicente de Fora was founded for the Augustinian Order in 1147 by the first Portuguese King, Afonso Henriques. It was one of the most prominent monastic establishments in medieval Portugal, built in the Romanesque style outside the city walls.
2.8. Rossio Square
The Rossio is the renowned name for King Pedro IV Square in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. It has been one of Lisbon’s essential squares since the Middle Ages and is situated in the Pombaline district of the city.
When the city’s population moved to the lower section around the Lisbon Castle hill in the 13th and 14th centuries, the Rossio became an excellent spot. Rossio Square consists of a marble pedestal with allegories of fairness, knowledge, strength, and moderation, all of which are attributes given to Dom Pedro IV, whose figure stands on top of the memorial.
2.9. Jerónimos Monastery
The Jerónimos Monastery, also known as the Hieronymites Monastery, is a former Order of Saint Jeromemonastery located near the Tagus River in the parish of Belém, Lisbon Municipality, Portugal.
In Lisbon, the monastery is one of the most visible specimens of the Portorganization Gothic Manueline architectural style. 1983, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the nearby Belém Tower.
2.10. Santuário de Cristo Rei Statue
The Sanctuary of Christ, the King in Portuguese, is called Santuário de Cristo Rei. It is a Catholic structure and shrine in Almada, Portugal, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ and overlooks Lisbon.
On May 17, 1959, the project was officially launched. The massive statue was created to show thanks to the Portuguese being spared the direct devastation of World War II.
2.11. Pena Palace
The Pena Palace is a Sentimentalist castle on the Portuguese Riviera near So Pedro de Penaferrim, in the municipality of Sintra.
The castle is located on top of the hill in the Sintra Mountains, just above the town of Sintra, and can be seen from much of Lisbon and its metropolitan area on a clear day. It is a national monument and one of the world’s most important expressions of 19th-century Romanticism.
The Pena Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Portugal’s Seven Wonders. It is also used by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other public officials for state occasions.
2.12. Lisbon Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Mary Major in Lisbon, Portugal, also known as Lisbon Cathedral or simply the Sé (Sé de Lisboa), is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Lisbon, Portugal. The Se Cathedral, a substantial and imposing structure, is Lisbon’s most prominent and recognizable ecclesiastical.
Se Cathedral has been entangled with Portugal’s early history since the 12th century. It witnesses the baptism, marriage, and passing of Portugal’s aristocracy and elite.
2.13. Moorish Castle
The Moorish Castle is a fortified fortress that dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries and was further enlarged following the Reconquista. Moorish Castle is operated as a watchtower, overseeing the town of Sintra and ensuring the safety of Lisbon and its environs.
2.14. Palace of Ajuda
The Ajuda National Palace is situated on a hilltop in the parish of Ajuda, overlooking Lisbon’s historic centre and the Tagus River. The Ajuda National Palace is a neoclassical monument in Lisbon’s civil parish.
2.15. Baixa- Downtown Lisbon
The Baixa, or downtown Lisbon, is the city’s beating heart. It was reconstructed after the Great Earthquake in 1750, with streets lined by similar neoclassical structures. The city’s primary shopping and banking sector stretches from the waterfront to the main route (Avenida da Liberdade), naming things after the local shopkeepers and artisans.
This was Europe’s first prime example of neoclassical design and urban planning. It is also one of the period’s most outstanding European architectural achievements.
3. Final Note
There are a lot of top attractions in the city that will open your eyes. Lisbon is a place worth visiting and an excellent location for your holiday.
While most people visit Lisbon during the summer vacations, going in June or September is perhaps a better option. That is when the weather is ideal. Additionally, the tourists will have a more enjoyable overall experience.
Last Updated on March 7, 2024 by Parina Parmar
