Welcome to “Focus on the Journey”, where we hope to inspire you to get out there and explore and experience the world and have some fun while creating your own lasting memories. We want to help make things easier for you by sharing our well-planned, detailed, and researched itineraries, recommendations, and top experiences. Travelling to me is more than just a vacation; it’s the chance for an adventure, filled with new experiences!
While we’re traveling, we try to get the most out of every day, whether it’s a food tour, site tour, cooking class, wine experience, hike, museum visit, taking a boat excursion, walking tour, exploring the back streets, or simply soaking in the history and scenery all around us! If this interests you, then this post, “Top 10 Experiences in Lisbon, Portugal”, will be worth the read! Then, check out our “How to Get the Most Out of Your Two-day visit to Lisbon, Portugal ” post for the perfect Itinerary and “Tips and Recommendations: Helping You Create Your Perfect Journey to Lisbon, Portugal ”. We also love trying new food. You can check out our recipe for traditional Portuguese Fish Stew here: “How to Make Caldeirada de Peixe (Portuguese Fish Stew)”.
In our posts, we’ll be introducing top experiences, creating perfect Itineraries, discussing a brief history of the cities, talking local foods (including recipes), and lastly discussing the how, when, and why of one of the photos we took while exploring!
**Please note, due to the tragic accident involving the Elevador da Gloria, all of the CARRIS lifts & elevators are temporarily closed until further notice. Our hearts go out to everyone involved. **
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that we would get a small commission if you decided to make a purchase through one of them, at no extra cost to you and you would be supporting our small Canadian business. This would allow us to continue creating informative travel content. All the businesses we are recommending are ones we use in our travels and feel comfortable doing so!
Table of Contents:
- Introduction to the City
- Lisbon’s Historical Rundown
- Top Ten Experiences
- References
- The Wrap-Up
1. Introducing Lisbon, Portugal
Miradouro de Santa Luzia
Exploring Alfama
Miradouro de Santa Luzia
Lisbon, Portugal is a beautiful, historic and exciting city with stunning architecture and delicious food. It’s also the largest city in Portugal with over 3 million people in its metropolitan area. There is plenty to see and do here, from walking tours and visiting historical sites and museums to exploring their maze-like streets by foot or tram, taking a ferry across the Tejo River at sunset, or trying the delicious Pasteles de Belem fresh out of the oven at the Pasteis de Belem bakery, where these tarts are originally from!
Lisbon has a great transit system, making it easy to get around quickly or avoid some of the city’s hills. If you follow our “Top Ten Experiences in Lisbon, Portugal”, our “How to Get the Most Out of Your Two-Day Visit to Lisbon, Portugal, IncludingItinerary ” post and our “Tips and Recommendations: Helping You Create Your Perfect Journey to Lisbon, Portugal ” post, you’ll be able to get the most out of your visit to Portugal’s capital city of Lisbon! This city is perfect for the foodie (with vegan options), the history buff, the outdoor enthusiast, the photographer, or someone just looking for an adventure. Lisbon has a lot to offer!
2. Lisbon’s Historical Rundown
- Lisbon is Europe’s second oldest capital city (after Athens) and one of the oldest cities in the world. Its first settlement dates back to 1200 BCE and has been conquered many times by different rulers, including the Celtics, Phoenicians, Moors and Romans, to name a few.
- In 1147, Alfonso Henriques conquered the city and became the first King of Portugal. In 1255, Lisbon became Portugal’s capital. In 1385, King John I defeated the Spanish in the battle of Batalha. There is a statue of him in the Praca da Figueira.
- The 1400s brought about a lot of sea exploration and became known as the Age of Discovery with famous explorers like Vasco da Gama, who sailed to India and started the spice trade, which increased the country’s wealth, as well as Prince Henry the Navigator, who started the overseas expansion for Portugal. You can see the impressive “Monument to the Discoveries” in the seaside district of Belem, which celebrates these and many more explorers from the Age of Discovery.
- At approximately 9:40am on November 1, 1755, an earthquake of a 7.7 magnitude hit Lisbon, followed by a tsunami and fires. The estimated death toll was 12,000 people, which made it one of the biggest in history. The worst-hit area of Lisbon was the Biaxa area, the heart of the city, as it’s like a valley between Alfama, the hilly district to the east, and Bairro Alto-Chiado to the west. King Joseph I (Jose I) and the Marquis of Pombal set out to rebuild the city, which they did using a grid pattern, one of the firsts of its kind, and they also used the Pombaline design, which had seismically protected construction, which was also among the earliest in Europe. As you explore the city, you will notice the differences in design and layout between the districts.
- In 1910, King Carlos and his heir were assassinated by the republic. His surviving son became King Manuel ll, but abdicated shortly after for fear of a revolution. That same year, a Republic was formed.
- In 1933, Antonio de Oliveira Salazar, the finance minister, became the dictator of Portugal.
- On April 25, 1974 (hence the name of the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge) was the Carnation Revolution. Marcelo Caetano and his government were overthrown, ending the reign of fear and dictatorship.
- In 1986, Portugal joined the European Union.
- In 2007, the treaty of Lisbon was signed, which was a Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
3. Top 10 Lisbon Experiences
1. Castelo de Sao Jorge (St. George’s Castle)
The Castelo de Sao Jorge is regarded as Lisbon’s first settlement. The oldest fortification on this hill dates to the 2nd century B.C., but human occupation dates back to the 8th century B.C. In 1147, Alfonso Henriques captured Lisbon from the Moors and became the first King of Portugal. It’s called St. George’s Castle and is dedicated to St. George, the patron Saint of England, because Alfonso presented it to his English wife as a wedding gift. The castle became the royal residence and stayed so until 1511.
The little neighbourhood of Santa Cruz do Castelo situated within the Castle walls was once home to the Moorish elite and then Portuguese nobles; it’s now one of the most picturesque parts of Alfama. Today it’s filled with cafes, shops and guesthouses. If time permits, walk around the little streets before or after your visit to the castle; it’s quite charming and well worth it. The castle is one of Lisbon’s main attractions, so I suggest getting there by about 8:45am. It opens at 9:00am, and there can be a bit of a line up just before opening, but doesn’t get too busy until after 10:00am, so it’s worth it.
Take advantage of this time. Walk through the castle ruins, take in the views, enjoy the amazing finds in the castle museum, take a guided tour of the archeological site, which is still being worked on (book your tour when you get your tickets if you’d like to see this. It’s included with your ticket, but should be booked), and marvel at the beauty of the peacocks wandering around the grounds. Tickets are 15 euros each for adults, 12.50 euros for seniors (over 65), 7.50 euros for youth (13-25) and free for kids 12 and under. It’s open from 9:00am to 9:00pm during the summer and 10:00am to 6:00pm during the winter.
2. Se de Lisboa (Lisbon Cathedral)
The Se de Lisboa was built shortly after Afonso Henriques retook Lisbon in 1147. It was built on top of a Muslim Mosque and a Visigothic Christian Temple. It has been renovated and restored many times, so it is now a mix of architectural styles: Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque.
Although damaged, it has survived multiple earthquakes, like the one in 1755, when the taller third tower collapsed. It has a beautiful rose window on the front façade that depicts Jesus surrounded by the 12 apostles. In 1195, Fernando Martins Bulhoes, later known as St. Anthony, was baptized here. It also holds the relics of St. Vincent, the patron saint of Lisbon. King Afonso ordered the relics of St. Vincent to be brought from the Algarve to the Cathedral in Lisbon. As legend has it, his remains were brought back on a ship guarded by two sacred black ravens, which is now the symbol of the city. It is also an active archaeological site, with ongoing findings.
It’s open 10:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday, and 10:00am to 1:00pm on Saturdays, but closed on Sundays. It costs 5 euros for adults, 4 euros with the Lisboa card, 3 euros for children 7-12, and free for those under 7. To enter the cathedral is free. The cost is to enter the cloister and treasury, which houses a museum of religious art and an archeological site.
3. Exploring Alfama
The medieval neighbourhood of Alfama is perfect for exploring. It’s filled with little cobbled streets running in all different directions (unlike the Baixa that was redesigned in a grid pattern after the 1755 earthquake). Alfama didn’t suffer much damage from the earthquake, so it has retained its unique layout.
The Alfama neighbourhood was built in the 8th century during the Muslim conquest of Portugal. This area used to be the sailor’s quarter, then home to the fishermen and was considered a less-desirable area for some time. Since then, the area has been cleaned up and is home to many boutique hotels, little cafés, fado houses, museums, and picturesque squares. A photographer’s dream!
Wandering around this area of Lisbon was definitely a highlight for me. The terracotta roofs, the cobbled streets and alleyways, and the tiles or graffiti on the walls are all very picturesque. Half of this top ten list is in or involves Alfama, so it’s a great place to stay, and if you have extra time, a great place to simply wander. There are several miradouros (viewpoints), as this area is built on a hill rising from the river up towards the castle. In our two-day itinerary, we start at the top and work our way downhill, passing many of the beautiful viewpoints. That being said, comfortable footwear is a must.
Tiled building in Alfama
The Elevador de Santa Justa is a Portuguese National Monument. It opened in 1899 and was designed by Raul Mesnier de Pongard, a student of Gustave Eiffel, the designer of the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
The elevator is 148ft tall, made of iron, and designed in the Neo-gothic style. It connects the Baixa district and the upper Largo do Carmo in the Chiado district. It’s open from 7:00am to 11:00pm in the summer and 7:30am to 8:30pm in the winter. It costs 5.30 euros for a return trip or free with the Lisboa card or the transit card. There is also an observation deck on top of the elevator, which costs 1.50 euros or free with the Lisboa card. The observation deck has great views of the Baixa, St. George’s Castle, the Tejo River and the beautiful terracotta tiled roofs. Line-ups can get long, especially mid-day, so if you need to purchase tickets at the lift, go early in the morning or in the evening to avoid long lines. Purchasing the Lisboa card is recommended (more about that below).
5. Rua Augusta Arch and the Baixa
The Baixa is the heart of Lisbon and contains Praca do Comercio, the main square, Elevador de Santa Justa, and Rua Augusta Arch. It is a very interesting and historical part of the city. It has the longest pedestrian street (Rua Augusta), it’s relatively flat (just a gentle hill moving upward from the water to Rossio Square), and has lots of shops and cafés that are great for a quick snack, coffee, and some people watching.
The pedestrian street of Rua Augusta has beautiful mosaic sidewalks called Calcada, a uniquely Portuguese art form, which were built between 1755 and 1873, after Lisbon’s big earthquake. Speaking of Lisbon’s big earthquake, it was the Baixa that took the brunt of the devastation, likely because it’s a valley between the hilly Alfama to the east the hilly Bairro Alto-Chiado to the west. The Marquis of Pombal (Chief Minister of Lisbon) was tasked with the huge job to rebuild the city, so he and his military engineers decided to use a grid pattern for the streets. The simplicity of this design allowed them to rebuild the city faster and cheaper. They also used what they called Pombaline architecture, which consisted of symmetrical buildings that were the same height with rounded arches and rectangular windows with ironwork balconies, as well as anti-seismic features to help protect them in the future.
Lisbon was one of the first cities in the world to use this grid pattern and the anti-seismic architecture. The Augusta Arch is to the north of Praca do Comerio and acted as an entrance into the new city. The Arch was built in 1873 to commemorate the city’s recovery from the earthquake and stands 100ft tall. You can take the lift to the top and enjoy the amazing 360-degree views of Lisbon, from the terracotta tiled roofs to the beautiful waters of the Tejo River (open 10:00 to 7:00 every day, 3.50 euros each or free with the Lisboa Card).
6. Pastel de Nata in Belem
Pasteis de Belem! This bakery is where this delicious custard tart called Pastel de Nata originated, but here they are called Pastel de Belem. The bakery has been making these delicious tarts since 1837 from a secret recipe passed down to them by the monks from the monastery. It is said that only 3 people know the actual recipe. The tarts are so popular, they make over 20,000 of them per day!
This bakery is open from 8:00am to 9:00pm daily. There are two lines. One is for takeaway (to the left), and one is for dine in. If the takeaway line is long, try the dine-in option. It usually moves faster, as the dining room area is deceivingly large. Having these sweet treats hot out of the oven is a highlight of Belem! I highly recommend this experience!
7. Riding the Iconic Trams #12 or #28
These 1930s iconic trams are definitely a must when you visit Lisbon. The tram 28 is the most popular tram route, making it the busiest, so it’s best to ride it early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
This route passes through the Alfama, Baixa and Chiado districts and many of the city’s historic sites. The Tram 12 is a one directional, 20-minute loop of the Baixa, Mouraria and Alfama districts. It passes a lot of the same historical sites in Alfama as the Tram 28, so is a good alternative if the #28 is full.
The trams are 3.00 euros per ride or free with your Lisboa card or the transit card. There are two types of trams. The vintage ones, which are the #12E (E is for electric), #24E and #28E, cover a lot of the historic, touristy areas, shaking and squealing through narrow streets and around sharp corners. The other is the more modern, air-conditioned version like the #15E, which is much larger and takes you to and from Belem.
8. Miradouro de Santa Luzia (Viewpoint)
This viewpoint is so pretty. Not only can you look out over the old town of Alfama and its terracotta tiled roofs and the Tejo River, but the little square itself is also one of the city’s most romantic spots. It’s filled with Bougainvillea, a pergola with climbing grapevine, fountains, and a reflecting pool. There is also the beautiful Church of Santa Luzia, which has stunning tile work and a bust of Lisbon Historian Julio de Castilho, in the garden area.
There are also little cafés and the other viewpoint of Largo Portas do Sol nearby. Santa Luzia is on both the Tram 28 and Tram 12 route or is about a 5-minute uphill walk from the Cathedral.
9. Belem Waterfront and Attractions
The beautiful neighbourhood of Belem is approximately 6kms west of Lisbon. There is a pathway along the waterfront, so if you wanted to take the time, it would be a pretty and relatively flat walk. The waterfront in Belem is quite pretty, with cafés and kiosks selling snacks and drinks. Belem is also home to the Pasteis de Belem bakery, mentioned in #6. Additionally, Belem has several historical sites to visit:
The Monument to the discoveries. This monument stands 172ft tall and has Prince Henry the Navigator at the front, with 32 leading figures from the Age of Discovery (16 on each side). They include monarchs, explorers, (Vasco da Gama), cartographers, artists, scientists and missionaries. It was built between 1958 and 1960 to commemorate 500 years since the death of Prince Henry the Navigator. The South African Government gifted the square in front of the monument, including a 160ft diameter rose compass. If you’re interested, you can climb to the top of the monument for amazing views of the river, bridge and Belem. Tickets cost 10.00 euros for adults or 8.30 euros with the Lisboa card. It’s open from 10:00am to 7:00pm daily, during the summer.
The Torre de Belem was built between 1514 and 1519 in the Manueline style and is 100ft tall. It was the last thing the explorers saw as they sailed out to sea and the first thing they saw on their return. The views from the tower terrace are beautiful! The cost to enter the tower is 8 euros for adults or free with the Lisboa card or 19 euros as a combination ticket with the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos if you don’t have the Lisboa card. The tower’s summer hours are 10:00am to 6:30pm, closed on Mondays.
Mosteiro dos Jeronimos. This amazing and beautiful building was built between 1501 and 1601. It is 300 yards long and built in the Gothic Manueline style, one of the best examples around. King Manuel had this built as a tribute to the explorers from the Age of Discoveries. The King put a 5% tax on spice that was brought back from India and used that money to build the monastery. The summer hours are 10:00am to 6:00pm, with the last entry being at 5:30pm. It’s best to get here after 4:00pm (which should work out well with our two-day itinerary) as there will be less crowds. It is also closed on Mondays, so make sure you plan accordingly for your time in Belem.
The monastery costs 10 euros for adults, 19 euros if combined with the Torre de Belem, or 12 euros if combined with the Archaeology Museum, which is inside the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos. If you buy your tickets at the museum, the lines are usually shorter, and when you’re ready to go into the monastery, you can line up in the line for ticket holders, which moves quicker. Both the monastery and the museum are free with the Lisboa card. Alternatively, if you don’t have the time or the lines are too long, you can just go into the church free of charge, and the lines are generally shorter. Here you can get a feel for the grandeur and style of the building.
10. Fado Music with Traditional Portuguese Food
Fado music can be traced back to 1820s Lisbon but may have earlier origins. Fado is characterized by mournful, melancholy tunes and lyrics, usually about the sea or the poor. As of Nov. 2011, Fado was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. You can learn more about Fado at the Fado Museum in the Alfama District, which is included on the Day 2 itinerary of our post “How to Get the Most Out of Your Two-Day Visit to Lisbon, Portugal”.
One of the top things to do in Lisbon is to have a traditional Portuguese meal while listening to Fado music. There are a number of great places to enjoy this experience. Please see our post, “Tips and Recommendations: Helping You Create Your Perfect Journey to Lisbon, Portugal” for our list of recommended places.
**All pricing, opening/closing hours and days listed here are as of May 2024 and are subject to change, so be sure to check before you go. I like these websites for all your current information:
4. References
All of this information, research, and suggestions came from my own experiences I had while exploring this beautiful city. I also spent countless hours reading travel books, like DK Eyewitness Portugal, DK Eyewitness Top 10 Lisbon, Rick Steves Portugal, and Lonely Planet Pocketbook Lisbon. I also read multiple travel blogs and Portugal/Lisbon tourism websites like LisbonLisboaPortugal.com and VisitPortugal.com.
5. The Wrap-Up:
After reading this, I hope you feel inspired to visit the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon. It is truly a beautiful and interesting city, with incredible history and lots to experience. For a perfect two-day Itinerary, please read our post “How to Get the Most Out of Your Two-Day Visit to Lisbon, Portugal ” and our “Tips and Recommendations: Helping You Create Your Perfect Journey to Lisbon, Portugal ”.
At Focus on the Journey, we love everything travel: planning, research, maps, books, itineraries, tours, trying local food, meeting new people, hiking, cooking, relaxing, and of course, creating memories and artwork through our photos! We enjoy talking travel, too, whether it’s sharing our experiences or hearing about yours. So, comment, ask questions, give advice, join our mailing list, like, follow, pin, share with friends… anything goes! Let’s talk travel!
Thank you,
From Focus on the Journey,
with Wild Meadow Studio
A Travel and Photography Blog
View from our hotel, Memmo Alfama