After living in this city for five months and countless city trips to Portugal’s capital ever since, I had to compile all my favorite hangouts in one handy city guide. So, if you’re wondering how a semi-local twenty-something spends her time in Lisbon, this is it!
At the end of this post you can find a google map with all my tips, neatly organized by category. On that map, you’ll find even more tips that I’ve collected from my most trustworthy sources, and intend to try out myself in the future. Have fun!
Last update: January 2024
where to get some culture
Recommended neighbourhood: Alfama, Belém, Oriente
Open the Google List on your phone
- Centro cultural de Belém for the collection of modern art and the beautiful building. (see blogpost here) praça do império
- Igreja do Carmo for the church’s ruins that leave you speechless. (see blogpost here) largo do carmo
- Cristo Rei for the view you get from underneath this statue of Jesus. (see blogpost here) avenida cristo rei, 2800-058 almada (technically not in Lisbon but only a boat trip away)
- Expo 98 for the well known architecture of Alvaro Siza and Santiago Calatrava. (see blogpost here) parque das nações
- Castelo de Sao Jorge for the view over the city, the peacocks that live here and the musicians playing underneath the treas in these old ruins. (see blogpost here) rua de santa cruz do castelo
- Belém for the torre de Belém, the monastery and the famous pasteis de Belém. (see blogpost here)
- Elevador de santa Justa, although I recommend to just walk on the bridge towards the elevator when you come from Largo do Carmo to enjoy the view and not pay for the ride down. It’s a bit of a tourist trap!
- Eléctrico 28, or a walk around the old part of the city to see the beautiful facades, the colorful tiles and the amazing street art.
- MAAT, for art, architecture and technology. Make sure to explore the building itself and enjoy the reflections of the sounds of the river Tejo, bouncing of of the curved walls, when you do so! (see blogposts here) avenida brasilia
- Palácio da Justiça, for lovers of brutalist architecture. (see blogpost here) rua marquês de fronteira
- Centre for the unknown, for its remarkable architecture. (see blogposts here) avenida brasilia
- Mosteiro dos Jerónimos for its intricately carved architecture, beautiful light and peaceful atmosphere. praça do império
- Complexo das Amoreiras by Tomás Taveira, for lovers of colorful 80s architecture. There’s also a 360 viewpoint at the top. avenida eng. duarte pacheco
where to eat and drink
Recommended neighbourhood: Bairro Alto, Bica, Santa Catarina
Open the Google List on your phone
- Senhor Uva for vegetarian sharing dishes and natural wine. We never skip this one when we’re in town! Rua Santo Amaro 66-A
- Marquise for brunch or coffee in their cosy garden. They have their own sourdough bakery, so you can imagine how good their toasts and pastries are! Rua Nova da Piedade 33
- Boavista Social Club for sharing dishes, natural wines, good music and a lovely interior. Vegetarian options are limited, but they make adjustments if you ask! rua da boavista 16
- Café Janis for all day food and drinks in a fun eclectic interior. rua moeda 1A
- Hello Kristof for a delicious cup of coffee, their excellent magazine selection and a view of my old apartment. rua do poço dos negros 103
- Bom Bom Bom for sharing dishes, natural wines and good music. They regularly have live music and dj’s and sell records too, so you can take those tunes home! Bonus points for the many vegetarian options. rua angelina vidal 5
- Dear breakfast for, you guessed it, breakfast all day everyday and an interior you’ll fall in love with in a heartbeat. They have several locations all over the city, so make sure to find one close to you.(see blogpost here) rua gaivotas 17
- Café da Garagem if you want to enjoy a stunning view over the city from inside while devouring a piece of pie. rua da costa do castelo, 7
- Heim café, for delicious brunch in a botanical setting. rua de santos-o-velho 2 E 4
- LOSTin Lisbon if you want to enjoy a stunning view over the city with a refreshing drink and from a comfy seat. (see blogpost here and here) rua do pedro v 56
- Estrela da bica, for sharing dishes all night long. travessa do cabral 33A
- Foodriders for handmade Mexican food (Las Gringas) and vegan burgers (Ameaça Vegetal). You can eat there or order and have it delivered. 10/10 recommend the burgers! calçada poço dos mouros 28
- Duro de matar for vegan tacos by Foodriders. avenida infante dom henrique 151
- Tomorrow at 9 for brunch and coffee. Bonus points for the big terrace!
rua viriato 9B
- Dahlia for sharing dishes and natural wine. They have vegan options too! travessa do carvalho 13
- The Food Temple for delicious vegan meals that even convince meat lovers and the lovely terrace on the stairs. beco do jasmim 18
- Copenhagen Coffee Lab for the speciality coffee. This one is my favorite for its late afternoon sun, but they have several locations all over the city. campo de santa clara 136
- Sol e Pesca for drinks in an interior that is completely devoted to sardines. rua nova do carvalho 44
- Foxtrot for cocktails in a cosy bar that takes you right back to the twenties and even parks your car for you. Ring the bell to enter! travessa santa teresa 28
where to chill
Open the Google List on your phone
- LX factory for the original shops, the beautiful cafés, the market that take place on sundays and the amazing location on an old industrial site. Oh and keep an eye out on their agenda, the parties there are pretty legendary. (see blogpost here and here) rua rodrigues faria, 103
- Jardim da Estrela for lounging around in the parc. (see blogpost here)
- Estufa Fria for a modern botanical garden. parque eduardo vii
- Tapada das Necessidades for the abandoned greenhouse you find in this parc. (see blogpost here)
- Jardim botânico for some refreshing shade. (see blogpost here) rua da escola politécnica 54
- Fundaçao Calouste Gulbenkian for the beautiful parc, the art library and the museum. avenida de berna 45A (see blogpost here)
- Miradouro da Senhora do Monte for the best view over the city. Come here during sunset and bring a bottle of wine and a picnick!
- Estufa Fria
where to dance
Recommended neigbourhood: Cais do Sodre, Bairro Alto, Bica
Open the Google List on your phone
- Chapito for the live african music on sunday nights, the amazing building that is an old women’s prison and the view over the city. (see blogpost here) costa do castelo 1
- Out Jazz for summer sundays spent picnicking in a lisbon parc accompanied by live jazz music, followed by a dance party with great dj’s.
- Incognito for indie music and gin tonics. rua poiais de são bento 37
- Musicbox for really good music (Gold Panda, Breach, Jazzanova,…) that’s probably a little less famous than what you get at Lux, but also more affordable. Keep an eye on their agenda! rua nova do carvalho 24
- Lounge for upcoming talents and more well known names rua da moeda 1
- Lux for the best dj’s and the most well known dance floor of Portugal. avenida infante dom henrique
- Damas for dancing among locals. rua da voz do operário 60
- Casa independente for the wonderful terrace and the beautiful crowd. largo do intendente 45
where to shop
Recommended neighbourhood: Chiado, Baixa, Bairro Alto
Open the Google List on your phone
- Feira da Ladra for the vintage treasures you can find on this market. (see blogpost here) Campo de Santa Clara
- A vida portuguesa, for authentic portuguese products in a beautiful shop. (see blogpost about their store in Porto here) rua anchieta 11 & largo do intendente pina manique 23
- Under the cover for a selection of magazines that makes my heart beat faster. rua marquês sá da bandeira 88b
- Ler Devagar an amazing book shop slash library slash café. lx factory, rua rodrigues faria 103
- Prado mercearia for artisanal and biological food and drinks, wrapped in the most beautiful packaging. Make sure you try the “Tanzania” milk chocolate made from sheep’s milk by Feitoria do Cacao, it’s fingerlicking good. rua das pedras negras 37
- A loja da cerâmica, for stunning handmade ceramics. rua de são cristóvão 7.
- Møbler, for a stunning selection of vintage furniture, with a focus on mid century and scandinavian design. rua nova da piedade 41
- A Outra Face da Lua for their great selection of vintage (although it’s not exactly cheap) and a cup of coffee or a light meal afterwards. rua da assuncão 22
where to sleep
Open the Google List on your phone
- Casa C’Alma for an guesthouse with a Scandinavian inspired interior that feels like breath of fresh air (see blogpost here) praca das flores 48
- Santa Clara 1728 for a hotel room you’ll never want to leave. (see blogpost here) campo de santa clara 128
- Baixa House for well decorated apartments with breakfast and cleaning service. If you can’t decide between a hotel or a rental apartment… this is for you! Rua dos Fanqueiros 81
You can open this “Google My Map” on your phone, but it doesn’t have all the features it has on desktop. If you want to use my city guide on your phone, you can find a separate Google Places List at the top of each category. Open just one on your phone or all of them, depending on what you want to do during your trip and how you like to travel!
Jaaaaaaaa! Zalig! Deze wordt serieus geconsulteerd, moest ik nog eens naar Lissabon gaan :).
Oh, kei leuk!! Moet ik zeker onthouden als ik eens ga!
Zalig overzicht! Ik ga hopelijk volgende zomer naar Portugal, we hebben alleszins met enkele vriendinnen al gesproken over een roadtrip. Moest het er van komen, dan zal ik dit lijstje zéker nog eens opzoeken!
ik vind dat juist zalig dat dat handgeschreven is
en zo krijg ik echt al goesting om terug op reis te gaan
(of om op erasmus te gaan!)
Wow this is really extensive :O
But def bookmarking this because Lisbon is still on my list
Ah wat een fijne plekjes.
Ik hoop in de lente er naar toe te gaan om van de eerste zonnestralen te genieten omdat de winter hier in Bergen al een maand geleden is begonnen en nog heel erg lang duurt voordat het in Nederland weer warm wordt..
Als ik ga, dan zeker nog even door naar jou tips kijken. Het ziet er fantastisch uit!
Deze ga ik bij mijn favorietjes zetten! Wel ik vind juist dat je wel leuk schrijft met de tablet, inderdaad duizend keer handiger dan old school scannen.. Ik ga mijzelf ook een app zoeken en tabletpen voor ipad aanschaffen, niet dat ik een mooi handschrift heb ;)
Ah suuuuuuuuuuuuupervet dit! Ik heb hier twee hele goede vrienden gemaakt, een stel, ze komen uit Lissabon dus die ga ik vast een keertje bezoek en je guide ZEKER gebruiken :)
Dikke bedankt voor deze fijne oplijsting Hannelore! Ik heb hem opgeslagen voor wanneer ik nog eens naar Lissabon trek, wat met deze tips alleen maar een aantrekkelijker idee wordt :-)
Oeooe, leuke tips! Ik heb al zoveel steden in Europa gezien, maar Lissabon ontbreekt nog steeds. Ik moet echt maar eens een keertje gaan zo te zien:)
Wat een fijne tips! Een reisje naar Lissabon staat nog niet op de agenda maar ik onthoud je post!
Deze ging direct op pinterest! Zo kan ik hem rap terug vinden als ik naar Lissabon ga, moet echt die stad dringend eens bezoeken lijkt mij. En ik vind mijn handschrift nog altijd lelijk op een tablet haha, kan het maar niet wennen :p
You definitely have to add Praia da Ursa! Most beautiful beach in Lx!
Thanks for the tip Tobias, I’ll check it myself next time I’m visiting!
love this! merci!
great guide Hannelore <3
Bookmarked! thanks for sharing
Congrats! Pretty complete
Love 5 – Miradouro de Santa Catarina, also known as Adamastor, for the great atmosphere that is best enjoyed with a *bear* . ??? shouldn’t it be a beer? LOL ;)
No, that’s what I meant! ;)
Haha I’ve changed it, thanks for telling me!
Thank you!!!
Fantastic! Always always welcome! Cheers and be back soon!
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It´s a shame that Mãe d´Água, Jardim das Amoreiras, never figures anywhere as culture or chilling place.
Or is it a blessing?
Nice picks! but it’s missing the HotClub! the oldest jazz club in Europe! It’s located in Praça da Alegria, near the famous Avenida da Liberdade.
You must have been at Oasis Hostel around the same time I was, as I recognize the Aussie playing the guitar and Evan the staff member who went to college in my hometown halfway around the world.
AMAZING list! Lisbon is full of hidden gems which you’ll hardly find if you don’t have local connections. If you’re visiting Lisbon and Portugal, I recommend using services like http://www.WiserGo.com which connects you with Portuguese experts, who can help you decide what do to, book everything and provide customer support while you’re in Portugal. Since they are local agents, they know the ins-and-outs of everything and you get to experience the country as a local! Service is free and the testimonials in their homepage are pretty positive.
Being born and raised in Lisbon I think your choices are amazing!
I would only add Champalimaud foundation near the riverside as a great place to walk, chill, enjoy the view, photograph or simply admire the sunset. It is perfect!
You know the city better than me.. And l live here. I just love your guide!
Reblogged this on Welcome to the dark side of the force and commented:
Boas dicas sobre Lisboa! :)
Congratulations! Your guide is the best to my city I’ve ever seen. You clearly know Lisboa very well, in some cases better than myself, and I live here :-) Thank you for sharing these valuable tips about my beautiful city. I wish you all the best.
Jeases, a LOT of great tips here! Please feel free to post on Lisbonforever as well! We are a start up who offers companies and privat persons to share their Lisbon through us with the World.
Have a great day!
//Lisbonforever
<3 U did an amazing job! Thank you for sharing our city beauty with the world with such effort! ;)
Bravo to this guide! I am Portuguese and honestly couldn’t have done it better ahah. Lisbon is such a cool place, right? x
Oh thanks! I really enjoy hearing that and yes, Lisbon is a-ma-zing!
Lisbon is just amazing
This is a great list, thank you. :)
I took the liberty of putting each place on a foursquare list quoting your blog of course. You can find it here: http://4sq.com/1fBITsV
Thank you so much! I’m sure many people will find it very helpful!
Thanks to both the author of this post and the creator of the Foursquare list!
Ik ga deze gids zo hard benutten voor mijn citytrip eind deze maand, MERCI! :)
Naomi, x
Ah, jaloers! Veel plezier!
Great guide, I’ve spent almost one year and half in Lisbon (Erasmus and than internship and than girlfriend…), and I do agree with all your choices, something is still missing but this means that Lisbon has so many hidden gems to visit… Are you dutch?
Anyway pictures and also the blog lay-out are great… Parabens
Thank you! Of course there are still things missing, Lisbon has so many things to offer and there’s always new places to discover! I’m from Belgium by the way :)
Now you have to meet oporto!!!
Hello, thanks. What is the easiest way to go to the Christo Ray. We are sataying hotel Vila Gale Operaa.
You can take the boat at cais do sodre to the other side of the Tejo, but I’m sure you can ask the staff of your hotel and they’d be happy to show you how to get there!
I’m from Lisbon and I can say this a very very very complete overview of the city, agreed with everything mentioned on this post. You made me miss even more my beautiful Lisbon!
Thank you, that means a lot! I miss it too, can’t wait to go back to revisit all my favorite places and discover new ones :)
awesome! deze ga ik opslaan voor tripje die in het najaar op de planning staat. Awesome
Oh zalig, geniet ervan!
Hi, ik heb jouw blog gevonden via een comment op Chapter Friday, super leuk! Ik ben samen met een vriendin aan het kijken om met oud & nieuw naar Lissabon te gaan. Kun je ons dat aanraden en heb je nog leuke tips? Groetjes Agnes
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