A. About Lisbon

 Nickname: The City of Seven Hills

Wonderful viewpoints all over Lisbon, especially from the St. George's Castle and the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, the majestic Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the Torre de Belém, are all part of Lisbon's colorful cityscape.

Furthermore, among the highlights of a trip to Lisbon figures the Oceanário de Lisboa, one of the absolute best aquariums in Europe (and #11 in the world), which was designed by the famous American architect Peter Chermayeff.

Best Things to do in Lisbon

The Good: 

Spread across steep hillsides that overlook the mighty River Tagus, Lisbon enjoys a truly stunning setting.

The Portuguese capital scores very solid throughout all of the other categories as well, while being one of the most affordable of Europe’s capitals.

The Not-So-Good:

While there is unquestionably a lot to see (more than one hundred attractions), no sight really stands out.


B. Best Things to Do in Lisbon in 2023 (Detailed List with Photos and Information)

In total, we count more than 140 sights in Lisbon. The following sights contribute to an excellent score of 7.40/10 in this most important category:

# TORRE DE BELÉM (Belém Tower) 7 3.6 out of 5 stars

Constructed in the sixteenth century to control the entrance to the city from the sea, this famous white limestone tower is the symbol of Lisbon.

Historic Tower World Heritage Site: since 1982 | Total Height: 30 m | Completed: 1519

Things to do in Lisbon | Best Cities | No. 18: Lisbon | TORRE DE BELÉM (tower)

# MOSTEIRO DOS JERONIMOS (Monastery of St Jerome) 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

This 16th-century white limestone church and monastery is the resting place of explorer Vasco da Gama

Architectural highlights include the splendid Gothic- and Renaissance-style double cloister as well as the ornamented South Portal.

Monastery World Heritage Site: since 1982

Best Things to do in Lisbon | Best Cities | Lisbon | MOSTEIRO DOS JERONIMOS

# Oceanário de Lisboa 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Focusing on a gigantic 5-million-liter central tank with not less than 4 large (7 x 7 m) viewing panels, this remarkably presented aquarium houses a large oceanic sunfish and impressive schooling fish. It is considered one of the best aquariums in Europe.

Aquarium Biggest Tank: 5 million liters | Total Water Volume: 7 million liters | Viewing Panel: ca. 7 m wide (4x) / ca. 7 m high (4x) | Tunnel: none | Species: 450 | Established: 1998 | Rank in Our List of The Best Aquariums in The World: 13

# St. George's Castle (Castelo de São Jorge) 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

While we consider this old Moorish castle atop Lisbon's highest hill itself not that extraordinary, it offers incredibly scenic all-around views.

Castle

Best Things to do in Lisbon | Best Cities | No. 18: Lisbon | St. George's Castle (Castelo de Sao Jorge)

# Museu Calouste-Gulbenkian Founder's Collection 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

The remarkable Museu Calouste-Gulbenkian hosts one of the best private collections in the world. It displays works ranging from Antiquity to the early 20th century including tapestry, ceramics, jewelry, glassware, sculpture furniture, and paintings – all under one roof.

Show top 10 artworks (click here)

Art and Archaeological Museum Galleries: 17 | Established: 1969 | Visitors (2014): 377,137

(Click on images to open in lightbox)

# Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira with Garden 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Famous for its exquisite tile panels and gorgeous gardens, this privately owned 17th-century former hunting pavilion can only be visited in guided tours in the morning, but it is possible to enter the gardens.

Historic Building and Garden

Best Things to do in Lisbon | Best Cities in the World | Lisbon | Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira with Garden

# Miradouro da Senhora do Monte 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Perched upon a hillside, Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is the city's highest lookout point and offers the most beautiful panoramic view of Lisbon.

Viewpoint

Best Things to do in Lisbon | Best Cities | No. 18: Lisbon | Miradouro da Senhora do Monte

# Elevador de Santa Justa 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Particularly beautiful when lit up at night, this iconic elevator connects the hilltop neighborhood Bairro Alto with downtown Baixa. Enjoy the wonderful views over the city from the rooftop.

Historic Elevator | Viewpoint with viewing platform

Things to do in Lisbon | Best Cities | No. 18: Lisbon | Elevador de Santa Justa

# Alfama 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Situated between St. George's Castle and the waterfront, Alfama with its steep, narrow, cobblestoned streets is Lisbon’s oldest and most picturesque area.

City District Main Sights: St. George's Castle, Lisbon Cathedral (Sé Cathedral), Igreja de São Miguel, Miradouro da Graça, Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Church of São Vicente of Fora

by Aubry Françon / CC BY-SA 3.0

# Santa Maria church (Se Cathedral) 5.5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Halfway up a long, steep hill heading to the St. George's Castle, this medieval cathedral with its fortress-like façade is the oldest church in the city.

Church

Scoring and Icons Legend (Click here for detailed information)

10 = top-10 sight in the world

9 = world-class  

8 = outstanding

7 = excellent 

6 = impressive

5 = interesting

4 = decent

3 = mediocre

2 = bad

1 = abysmal

= World Heritage Site

= Excursion

C. Other notable sights in Lisbon

    • Estação do Oriente (Calatrava-designed train station) 5.5
    • Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries) 5.5
    • Avenida da Liberdade (street) 5.5
    • Igreja-Museu São Roque (church and museum of São Roque) 5.5

D. Best day trips and excursions from Lisbon

SINTRA 8

Town with Palaces Distance from Lisbon: 32 km | World Heritage Site: since 1995

The highlights of the CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF SINTRA include: 

-PALÁCIO DA PENA (PENA PALACE) 7

-QUINTA DA REGALEIRA 7

-CASTELO DOS MOUROS (Moorish Castle) 6

-PALÁCIO NACIONAL DE SINTRA (National Palace) 6

Palácio de Queluz (Palace of Queluz, in Queluz, 16 km from Lisbon) 7

Cascais (seaside town, 34 km from Lisbon) 6

 

E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in Lisbon (including close-by excursions)

To sum things up, these are the ten best sights we recommend you when visiting Lisbon for at least three entire days:

 SINTRA (town with palaces, 32 km from Lisbon) 8

  TORRE DE BELÉM 7

 Palácio de Queluz (Palace, 16 km from Lisbon) 7

MOSTEIRO DOS JERONIMOS 6

Oceanário de Lisboa 6

St. George's Castle 6

Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira with Garden 6

Museu Calouste-Gulbenkian 6

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte 5.5

Elevador de Santa Justa 5.5