People say Lisbon is a box of surprises: you open one and want to see the other 49. Same happened to me. I arrived craving pastéis and left with steel legs from all those hills—and that addictive feeling you can’t quite name. If you walk it slowly (and hungry), the city adopts you. I’ll tell you, like to a friend, the 50 best things and how to fit them in without paying the “hill tax”.
Start here: how to get around without paying the “hill tax”
- Tram 28
Classic yellow, wooden interior; crosses Alfama and Chiado. In summer it’s packed like sardines. Tip: ride very early or in the less popular direction to get a seat. - Bica Funicular
Climbs one of the most photogenic slopes to Bairro Alto. I take it when energy dips and there’s still lots of city ahead. - Glória Funicular
Links Restauradores with São Pedro de Alcântara. Perfect to chain viewpoints without breaking a sweat. - Santa Justa Lift
Postcard views from its platform. Trick: enter via the Carmo Convent and exit onto the lift to cut the wait. - Ferry to Cacilhas
My favorite sunset plan: cheap cross-river ride and watch Lisbon light up from the opposite bank. - Tram 15E to Belém
Fast lane to the Age-of-Discoveries monuments. If there’s a line, take the bus alternative.
Baixa and Chiado: classic postcards that really are worth it
- Praça do Comércio
Monumental riverfront square. Sit a while and you’ll catch the city’s rhythm. - Arco da Rua Augusta
Go up for a head-on view of Baixa. Best with soft afternoon light. - Rua Augusta
Pedestrian artery for window-shopping and quick bites. I stop for bacalhau or a fast coffee. - Rossio (Praça Dom Pedro IV)
Wavy pavement, elegant facades, trams in the distance. Lisbon in one scene. - Santa Justa Lift (seen from above)
Even if you rode it, the view of it is the point: steampunk dropped in the historic core. - Carmo Convent
Gothic ruins that recall the big earthquake. Silence, stone and sky. - A Brasileira Café, Chiado
Coffee with Pessoa at the door. Obligatory photo and unhurried chat.
Alfama and Mouraria: where fado finds you on a corner
- Lisbon Cathedral (Sé)
The “grandma” of Lisbon churches. I step in, breathe, and keep climbing. - Castelo de São Jorge
Fortress and wide views. Go slow: the reward is seeing the city unfiltered. - Miradouro Portas do Sol
The postcard: trams, rooftops, the Tagus. Come early for quiet. - Miradouro de Santa Luzia
Azulejos, bougainvillea, buskers. For me, Lisbon on a terrace. - Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
The king of sunsets. The one I never skip. - Fado in tiny tasquinhas in Alfama
Pick small places with Portuguese guitars, avoid over-scripted “show menus”. - Mouraria and its street art
Soulful district, cradle of fado. Less touristy, more authentic.
Viewpoints that steal a “wow” without asking permission
- São Pedro de Alcântara
City balcony with a tile panel to match what you see. - Jardim do Torel
Small, quiet, ideal for resting between hills. - Santa Catarina Viewpoint
Young vibe, live music, bridge views. Easy sunset plan. - Miradouro Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen (Graça)
Locals, a café and a straight look at the castle. I stay for the coffee and calm. - Panorâmico de Monsanto
Circular abandoned restaurant turned 360° lookout. Non-typical photos. - Miradouro da Penha de França
Little known and wide open. If you like feeling local, come here.
Belém without queues: big history and even bigger pastries
- Jerónimos Monastery
Jaw-dropping Manueline. If you morn up, you walk right in. - Belém Tower
Guardian of the Tagus. Walking around it is almost as good as going in. - Padrão dos Descobrimentos
Homage to navigators; go up for river and city vistas. - Rosa dos Ventos
Giant compass-map at your feet. Easy photo, history in stone. - Pastéis de Belém
Hot, with cinnamon and powdered sugar. I “lose” a couple on the way back, always. - MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology)
Wave-shaped building: walk up, stroll, and watch the Tagus.
Where to Eat in Lisbon: My Favorite Stop
Save this mini list and you’ll have breakfast, dinner with fado, and a great sunset plan all sorted without wasting time searching around.
Art and creativity by the river
- LX Factory
Former industrial zone turned creative hub. Murals, shops and many photos. - Ler Devagar
Bookstore with soul inside LX Factory. I climb the mezzanine and browse slowly. - Bordalo II
Giant animals made from recycled trash: art that makes you stop. - Village Underground
Containers and buses turned into cafés and studios under the bridge.
Lisbon flavors that make friends
- Bifana
Classic marinated pork sandwich. With a cold Super Bock = happiness. - Bacalhau à Brás
Shredded cod, shoestring potatoes and egg. Perfect after a long walk. - Sardinhas assadas
In summer, the city smells like grills. Order with potatoes and salad. - Arroz de marisco
To share, abundant and tasty. Best at a long table. - Mundo Fantástico da Sardinha
Themed shop: tins by year, lights and laughs. Curious and photogenic.
The modern Lisbon that also hooks you
- Parque das Nações
Long riverfront walk, contemporary architecture and sea vibe. - Oceanário de Lisboa
One of the best aquariums I’ve visited. The central tank hypnotizes you. - Cable car at the Expo area
Short ride with new angles of the Tagus and modern skyline.
Bridges, sailboats and a fairytale-like escape
- 25 de Abril Bridge
Golden Gate’s “cousin”. The scale impresses from the bank. - Cristo Rei
Cross the river and go up the viewpoint. Lisbon turns into a model below. - Sunset sail on the Tagus
Romantic or with friends; the city glows gold and time stops. - Cacilhas and Ponto Final
Dinner facing Lisbon. Pataniscas and orange sky: I always repeat. - Sintra by train
Easy from Rossio. Forests, palaces, fog and magic. - Quinta da Regaleira
Initiation well and dreamy gardens. Mystical or just for the photo—worth the trip.
Itineraries to fit the 50 without losing your breath
— Lisbon in 1 day
Morning: Baixa and Chiado (7–13) with a coffee break at A Brasileira.
Afternoon: Alfama and viewpoints (14–19, 21).
Sunset: ferry to Cacilhas (5) or Senhora do Monte (18).
Night: authentic fado in a small tasquinha (19).
— Lisbon in 2 days
Day 1 as above.
Day 2: Belém (27–32) via tram 15E (6). Return via LX Factory (33–36) for a late snack and wandering.
— Lisbon in 3 days
Add Parque das Nações (42–44) in the morning and a sunset sail (47) later. Save the Sintra escape (49–50) if castles and gardens call your name.
Little tricks that work for me
Arrive early to Belém and the popular viewpoints. Mix funiculars with short walks so you don’t “pay” every hill. Save one sunset for Cacilhas and another for Senhora do Monte. And please, pastéis hot whenever you can.
One last postcard before you go
I once thought “50 things” was too much—until Lisbon taught me every hill brings a reward: a square that hugs you, a guitar that tugs at you, or a pastry that slows you down. If you let it, the city tells its story softly, between creaking trams and shining tiles. When you cross back over the river and look at Lisbon from Cacilhas, you’ll get that secret sauce. And, with a bit of luck, you’ll come back wanting to open 50 more surprises.
