Table of Contents
A. About Lisbon
Nickname: The City of Seven HillsWonderful 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.
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
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
# MOSTEIRO DOS JERONIMOS (Monastery of St Jerome) 6
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
# Oceanário de Lisboa 6
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
# Museu Calouste-Gulbenkian Founder's Collection 6
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.
This is our selection of the ten highlights of the Museu Calouste-Gulbenkian Founder's Collection:
1) Madame Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1872)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
2) Pallas Athena, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1655)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
3) Dragonfly lady broach, René Lalique (1562)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
4) Boy with Cherries, Édouard Manet (ca 1858)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
5) Ancient Egyptian funerary mask (380 BCE)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
6) Portrait of a Young Woman, Domenico Ghirlandaio (ca. 1490)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
7) The Reading, Henri Fantin-Latour (1870)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
8) Statue of Bacchus, Michael Rysbrack (1694–1770)
by Shadowgate from Novara / CC BY-SA 2.0
9) Lady and Child Asleep […], John Singer Sargent (1887)
by Wikimedia / Public Domain
10) The Mirror of Venus, Sir Edward Burne-Jones (1877)
by Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 4.0
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
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.
# Elevador de Santa Justa 5.5
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
# Alfama 5.5
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
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