As I mentioned in my Lisbon Food Tour, my first time in Portugal was quite a few years ago during my studies, when I came to participate in an archaeological excavation site in the north of the country, in Vila Nova de Foz Côa, in the Douro Valley, a beautiful region in the north of the country.
I have fond memories of sun, vineyards, yellow earth, small villages holding celebrations for the Virgin in August, and naps after lunch because we were so crushed by the heat—in short, I’ve been dying to come back for a long time! And finally, more than 10 years later, I returned to this beautiful country to discover the capital, Lisbon (or Lisboa in Portuguese).
To start, here is a small selection of visits, unusual spots, and things to do in the city center of Lisbon. I will then write a short article on the Belém district, which is worth a post all on its own, followed by a guide to trendy Lisbon with a selection of great addresses for going out and doing some shopping. These Portuguese articles will conclude with a little trip to the coast, to Cascais.
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Table of Contents
Discover Lisbon differently with a Civitatis Free Tour
To explore the Portuguese capital without breaking the bank, my top tip is to join a “Free Tour” with Civitatis. The concept of this famous excursion site is incredibly effective: the walk requires no upfront payment; it’s up to you to reward the guide at the very end with whatever amount you feel is fair, depending on the quality of the time spent! Guided by a French-speaking expert for a little over 2.5 hours, you will wander through the cobblestone alleys to discover the soul of Lisbon.
Free tour in Lisbon by Civitatis
Duration: 2h30-3h
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The Castelo De Sao Jorge
This National Monument, located in the part of the city’s ancient medieval citadel (alcáçova), includes a Moorish fortress (built by the Muslims around the middle of the 11th century), the remains of the old royal palace, and part of the dwellings reserved for the elites.
The site’s garden is also a very pleasant place for a short stroll at the end of the day when the heat is a bit less crushing, and it overlooks a magnificent viewpoint where you will have a breathtaking view of Lisbon and the Tagus River. Also worth seeing on-site is a building housing a small museum with a permanent exhibition featuring archaeological remains found during the site’s excavations.
Castelo De Sao Jorge
Rua de Sta Cruz 1100-129 Lisboa
Access by tram 12 or 28Open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (March to October)
and from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (November to February)
Full price €8.50 / reduced €5 / free for children under 10 and Lisbon residents
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Stroll through the old Alfama district
As you head back down from the castle, I recommend wandering through the small alleys of the old Alfama district, a popular area that is also the cradle of traditional Portuguese music, Fado. As you finish your descent, don’t hesitate to take a look at the Santa Maria Maior Cathedral of Lisbon.
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Take the Tram in Lisbon
The Lisbon tram network has existed since the 19th century and has become one of the city’s emblems and a tourist attraction at the same time. There are currently 5 lines, but for a more picturesque experience, I recommend taking line 28 and/or line 12.
The hub of the network is located at the Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio), where most of the lines converge. Be careful, however, of pickpockets who frequently operate on these tourist-crowded lines.
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The Lisboa Story Centre, interactive visit of the city
An ideal place if you don’t know the city of Lisbon at all and want to get a general overview before you start exploring. The approach is quite fun, with a tour through screens and an audio guide, not to mention that the commentary is not lacking in humor.
This was the slightly embarrassing moment where, despite my Art History studies, I discovered that I had never retained (I can’t imagine anyone never told me!) that the city of Lisbon suffered a terrible earthquake in 1755… Once that moment of shame passed, I left feeling educated and intrigued.
Lisboa Story Centre
Terreiro do Paço 78/81 1100-148 Lisboa
Open every day from 10 AM to 8 PMPrice: €8
Duration: about 1 hour
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The sexiest toilets in the world by Renova
Right next to the Lisboa Story Centre, you can take refuge (in case of a pressing need) in the sexiest toilets in the world, a beautiful promotional campaign set up by the brand Renova. The place is really worth a look for its wall of multicolored toilet paper and for its more than suggestive photos…
Renova Toilets
Under the arcades of the Commerce Square
Open every day
Price: €1
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The Rua Augusta Arch
This arch was rehabilitated and reopened in 2013. I highly encourage you to go to the very top of this viewpoint which offers a magnificent panoramic view of the city and the Commerce Square. I also recommend following this visit with the Lisboa Story Center, which I mentioned just above, as the two locations are very close to each other.
Rua Augusta Arch
Rua Augusta, n°4 1100-053 Lisboa
Price: €2.50
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MUDE, the Lisbon Design and Fashion Museum
This museum, open since May 2009, houses a collection of design objects from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day, as well as a collection of haute couture. And since it’s free, there’s no reason not to enjoy it…
MUDE, the Design and Fashion Museum
Rua Augusta nº24 – 1100-053 Lisboa
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM
Free admission
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The LX Factory
Born in 2008 from the MainSide project, LX Factory is a multifaceted place nestled in an industrial area that promotes creativity and entrepreneurship. This cultural district located in former printing factories in Lisbon is a kind of small village within the city. It hosts a melting pot of cultural activities mixing fashion, art, and gastronomy.
You can do all sorts of things in this magical and underground spot with its industrial and trendy atmosphere, where it’s nice to stroll for at least half a day. Shops, restaurants, bars, street art, a tea room, an incredible bookstore (a must-see!), this place is packed with great addresses, and you can even take cooking classes to learn how to make some Portuguese specialties at the Kiss the Cook workshop, for example. This former 25,000 m2 industrial zone is now a factory of ideas, experiences, and interventions that hosts about 200 projects, and I can only encourage you to go check it out during your stay in the city; you won’t be disappointed!
LX Factory
R. Rodrigues Faria, 103 / 1300-501 Lisboa
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A Street Art walk in Lisbon
I’m a big fan of street art in Paris (you might remember my visit to the Tour 13) and so I was delighted to discover the one in Lisbon via a Street Art walk organized by the GAU collective (Galeria de Arte Urbana).
I even found an artist there whom I had discovered during the Nuit Blanche 2014 and who is apparently one of the most well-known street artists in Lisbon: Vhils. I already loved what he did in Paris last October, but here, I must admit I really became a fan of his “Scratching the Surface” work, which is just wonderful. There is even a half-day Street Art walking tour, with different viewpoints, organized by the agency Estrela d’Alva Tours.
Estrela d’Alva Tours
R. Gil Eanes, nº 26-1º Esq.
2675-361 Odivelas
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A short tour of Lisbon’s Nations Park
This trendy and modern Lisbon neighborhood is a place to know for cultural outings, to do sports, shop, or just to admire its superb contemporary architecture. I also suggest going there to take the cable car; it’s really nice. However, if you are afraid of heights, you might want to refrain…
Telecabine Lisboa
Avenida Marech. Gomes Da Costa Nr. 37, Lisboa, 1800
Prices: adult €3.95 one-way or €5.90 round-trip / over 65 and children 7 to 12 years old €2 and €3.35 / free for under 7 years old
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Practical information and top tips in Lisbon
- Attention, there is a 1-hour time difference compared to France in Portugal.
- The telephone area code for calling Portugal from France is +351.
- Regarding transport, the plane remains the simplest way to get to Lisbon.
Companies with direct flights from Paris: TAP Air Portugal (Orly), EasyJet (Paris CDG), Air France (Paris CDG), Aigle Azur (Orly), Ryanair (departing from Beauvais, however), Transavia (Orly), Vueling (Orly).
- The Lisboa Card allows you to combine free travel on the city’s public transport with free entry to 26 museums and monuments. A good idea if you plan to travel around a lot and visit the city intensely.
- Otherwise, you can also just buy a Viva Viagem card to use the urban transport of the city.
- Check out the website of the Lisbon Tourist Office, Visit Lisboa, to prepare for your stay in advance or even to get by once you’re there…
I hope that with all this I have made you want to discover Lisbon, and if you also have your own good addresses and tips to enjoy the Portuguese capital, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!
Find all my articles about my trip to Lisbon, Portugal in 2015 below:
⇒ All my articles on Lisbon
MY ARTICLES ON LISBON
⇒ My top tips for discovering Lisbon
⇒ My guide to trendy Lisbon
⇒ My Food Tour in Lisbon and discovery of Portuguese gastronomy
⇒ My getaway to Cascais, a seaside resort near Lisbon
⇒ The Belém district in Lisbon
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free, photographer authorization mandatory before any use
