Best Things to Do and See in Lisbon: Insider’s Guide

Trusted Travel Expert

Wendy Will Advise You

In some cases, Wendy has several trip-planning specialists she recommends for a destination and would like to connect with you directly to determine who would best meet your needs. This is one of those cases. Please click on the CONTACT button (below) to find out from Wendy which travel expert is best for your specific trip goals and challenges.

Contact Wendy

Read Trip Reviews

HOW WE HELP YOU

• Tell us about the trip you want

  
  

  The more detail, the better we can help you.

  •Do you have an itinerary in mind? Where do you want to go, or are you looking for ideas?
  

  •Who are you traveling with? (If kids, what are their ages?)
  

  •What are your biggest concerns or things you want to avoid?
  

  •What’s your biggest goal for this trip? What would make it most memorable?

• Tell us your trip goals. IMPORTANT: Local inflation has soared in some countries, so check Wendy’s Pricing Tip: On mobile, scroll down to just above the photo. On desktop, look to the right.*

• Getting there and around

  
  

  Where are you flying from? Have you booked your airline travel? If so, tell us the dates and routing. If not, how long a flight are you comfortable with? Once you’re at your destination, how do you envision exploring it—e.g., rental car? public transit? private vehicle with English-speaking driver or guide/expediter with top connections and special access?

• Tell us your flight dates/route and local transportation preferences (if you know these already).*
• 
  

  Staying there

  
  

  Do you have a type of accommodations in mind (e.g., 4-star, 5-star, historic inn, state-of-the-art resort, family villa. private yacht, small expedition ship)? Is there a past hotel experience you’re seeking something similar to? If you have already booked accommodations, let us know.

• Tell us about the places you’ve stayed in that you’ve liked, and what you would like now.*
• Estimated Trip Start Date (Including the Year)*
• Estimated Trip Length (in Days)*
• Total Trip Budget (in U.S. dollars, excluding airfare):*
  
  How much do you want to spend for a WOW-caliber trip (incl. rooms, vehicles, excursions, meals, unique experiences, and the savviest drivers/guides/expediters to spare you headaches and wasted time)? Your answer will dictate the locations, trip dates, and experiences we will suggest.
  Please select (in USD):More than $75K$50K to $75K$35,000 to $50,000$25,000 to $35,000$20,000 to $25,000$15,000 to $20,000$10,000 to $15,000Other (this will open a new box you can write in)
• REMINDER: Local inflation has soared in some countries, so check Wendy’s Pricing Tip above the trip planner's photo.
• Tell us about your travel budget*

• Where should we send your personalized recommendation?

• First Name*
• Last Name*
• If you’d like this trip to count toward a WOW Moment, use the same email address you’ve used to submit trip requests to WendyPerrin.com in the past.*
  Enter Email Confirm Email
  If you’d like this trip to count toward a WOW Moment, use the same email address you’ve used to submit trip requests to WendyPerrin.com in the past.
• Phone
• Have you used a WOW List travel specialist before? If so, who?*
  • Yes
  • No
• Name of travel specialist(s) you've used
• Do you have a WOW Moment certificate you’d like to use? If so, please enter the first four digits of the certificate number. Qualifying rules apply for certificate redemption.
• First 4 digits only
• How did you hear about Wendy?*
  Please selectCondé Nast TravelerTown & CountryThe Wall Street JournalThe New York TimesTripAdvisorFriends or colleaguesA travel professionalGoogle searchSocial mediaI’ve followed Wendy’s advice for years

• If you do not receive an email confirmation of your trip request from info@wendyperrin.com and you have checked your spam folder, let us know: questions@wendyperrin.com.

• Comments
  This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

Things to Do and See in Lisbon

Most underrated place
In the Graça neighborhood, Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte (known locally as Belvedere) is one of the highest points in Lisbon, and it’s not nearly as crowded as other outlooks because tour buses can’t make the trip up the narrow, winding streets (you can hire a tuk-tuk to take you). The views from here are spectacular.

Most overrated place
While Avenida da Liberdade (Lisbon’s main avenue) is great for a stroll, don’t go there for the shopping; it’s filled with the same high-end designer stores that you’ll find in any major city. Instead, head for the boutiques and Portuguese shops in the Bairro Alto neighborhood.

Hidden gem
Lisbon’s best hidden gem isn’t actually in Lisbon: It’s the waterfront in the village of Almada, on the south side of the Tagus River facing the city. Here, the Ginjal Pier offers the best views of the seven-hilled skyline, and also has a delicious and cozy restaurant named Atira-te ao Rio.

Cheap thrill
On a weekend, take a nighttime stroll through the (sometimes rowdy) streets and back alleys of the Bairro Alto neighborhood. Every bar and restaurant overflows into the streets with locals listening to music and enjoying adult beverages. If you feel like skipping wine for one evening, try a top Portuguese beer such as Super Bock or Sagres.

How to spend a lazy Sunday
In the spring, find a nice grassy spot in Monsanto Forest Park, the “Lung of Lisbon.” This is best accompanied by a good book, a cool beverage, and some local treats. Another beautiful—but smaller—park is Jardim da Estrela, which has a picturesque little duck pond. Kids love Lisbon on the weekends because the parks are filled with families and youngsters playing fútbol.

Places to Stay and Eat

Restaurants the locals love
The food all over Lisbon—all of Portugal, really—is out of this world, but Taberna da Rua das Flores has a local feel, where people are laughing and neighbors from down the street give the owner a kiss on the cheek when they arrive. The menu of petiscos, or Portuguese tapas, changes daily (see the chalkboards on the wall), though the star is always the fresh fish from the market.

À Parte is designed like no other restaurant you’ve ever seen. It recreates an apartment, with a bedroom, kitchen, wine cellar, pantry, garden, and more, furnished as if someone lived there, but with dining tables in each space. The food is traditional Portuguese.

Cervejaria Ramiro is a 60-year-old Lisbon institution. They’re famous for their seafood; the highlight is the grilled carabineiro—big, juicy prawns.

Dishes to try
Bacalhau (salted cod) is the most popular dish in this part of the country, and João do Grão is a casual local joint that specializes in it. If you want to truly eat like the Portuguese, try cozido á Portuguesa, a mix of boiled meats, sausages, cabbage, beans, rice, and potatoes. The best place to try it is at Farta Pão, 20 miles outside Lisbon in the beautiful seaside town of Cascais. Afterward, work off the heavy meal with a walk on nearby Guincho Beach. Chocoholics should visit O Melhor Bolo De Chocolate Do Mundo, a bakery whose name literally translates to “The Best Chocolate Cake in the World.” (They do make other pastries, but this gooey, tiramisu-like confection is the one to try.)

Meal worth the splurge
For a splurge in Lisbon, go to Sea Me, which serves a mix of fresh grilled fish and sushi. The catches of the day are displayed in the back of the restaurant; there are a lot of them, including some you’ve probably never tasted! Don’t see something you want on the menu? Tell them exactly how you want your fish prepared and they’ll gladly do it. It’s also a fun scene, with local DJs spinning tracks a few nights a week.

Pasteis de Belem, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: Lisbon Tourism Board

Prime picnic spots
There are so many great spots to sit down in Lisbon with a bottle of wine and some sandwiches. Standouts include: Ermida do Restelo, a hermitage near Jerónimos Monastery, and Parque dos Moínhos de Santana because both are in the Belém neighborhood, which is outside the city center and sees more locals than tourists.

Best-value splurge hotel
The boutique Bairro Alto Hotel occupies an elegant 18th-century building in the very hip and centrally located Bairro Alto district, so it has a more authentic feel than many other hotels. The superior rooms are adequate (the less expensive single and mansard categories are only big enough for one person), but you’ll get more space and the best view from their fourth-floor suite, which overlooks Luís de Camões Square, arguably the epicenter of Lisbon; this high up, there’s very little nighttime noise, and the high ceilings and windows let in lots of light and make the rooms feel even larger. The service here is fantastic, and the hotel is walking distance to all the best shops, restaurants, and nightlife that Lisbon has to offer. It’s also a short stroll downhill to the Tagus waterfront and the Mercado da Ribeira (Lisbon’s main foodie marketplace).

Ask Wendy