25 ultimate things to do in Lisbon right now

💎 Verdict: The one thing you can’t miss

What is it? The best pastel de nata shop in Lisbon.

Why go? Lisbon has no shortage of custard tarts – some great, some average, and sadly, some disappointing. Rather than wasting your calories on a gamble, head straight to the right address: No. 2 Rua do Loreto. Manteigaria is set in a beautiful building from 1900, with an Art Nouveau façade that’s been carefully preserved.

Don’t miss: When the bell rings, you know a fresh batch has just come out of the oven. These iconic tarts are delicious at any time, but they’re at their best when warm. You’ll also find Manteigaria locations in other parts of the city – including the Time Out Market, Baixa, Campo de Ourique, Belém, Parque das Nações and Alvalade. 

Address: Rua do Loreto 2, 1200-241

Price: Tarts are around €1.30–€1.50 each

💎 Verdict: The best free thing to do in Lisbon

What is it? This might be a cliché for those who live here and a calling card for tourists, but on one thing we all agree: Lisbon’s hills offer beautiful views. On one of them sits the Miradouro das Portas do Sol, overlooking the Tagus and the monuments of the Alfama neighbourhood.

Why go? Because whether it’s saved to your phone’s memory or your own, the view is worth it.

Don’t miss: Sink into the beanbags and unwind. The bar at this viewpoint is housed in a building by the award-winning architect duo Aires Mateus, and at weekends it comes alive with a DJ who gets everyone dancing around the statue of São Vicente de Fora, Lisbon’s patron saint.

Address: Largo Portas do Sol, 1100-411

💎 Verdict: The best foodie experience in the city

What is it? A massive food hall with every all-star cuisine you can imagine, curated by us.

Why go? A 19th-century market that originally went by the name Mercado da Ribeira Nova. Locals, amazed to see a dome atop a produce market, jokingly nicknamed it the ‘Turnip Mosque’. The fresh produce stalls are still there in one wing, but since 2014 it’s become the physical embodiment of Time Out Lisboa magazine. It was the very first Time Out Market in the world (there are now 13).

Don’t miss: Everything, really. If it’s good, it goes in the magazine. If it’s excellent, it makes it to the market. But if we had to point you in one direction, start with Manteigaria Silva – a Lisbon institution for over a hundred years, where you’ll find vintage black pork ham cured for 60 months.

Address: Mercado da Ribeira, Av. 24 de Julho 49, 1200-479

💎 Verdict: Lisbon’s best outdoor activity

What is it? A large cemetery in the western part of Lisbon. It is the final stop for tram 28, and the resting place of the city's aristocrats and artists.

Why go? Composed almost entirely of private mausoleums, it was built during the Romantic period, in 1833, during the cholera epidemic. In the Chapel of Prazeres, you will find the old autopsy room and, since 2001, the museum centre. It houses monuments and creations by anonymous figures as well as avant-garde 19th-century architects.

Don’t miss: The guided tour of the final resting places of several notable personalities.

Address: Praça São João Bosco, 1350-297

Price: Free to visit

💎 Verdict: The best local experience in Lisbon

What is it? Mesa de Frades, the azulejo-lined former chapel of the Quinta da Dona Rosa, (a palace built by Dom João V for one of his lovers), is a fados house owned by musician Pedro de Castro.

Why go? Fado was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2011, and ever since, the genre has echoed even more widely through the streets of Lisbon. But as with most things in life, not all fado is created equal – so it’s worth knowing where to go. At Mesa de Frades, you’re in safe hands. There’s live music from Monday to Saturday, and dinner is €65 per person (including drinks and the show). But you can also just pop in later (from 11.45pm) for a drink. 

Don’t miss: Booking is a must for dinner. If you drop in later (and can squeeze in), there’s no minimum spend.

➡️ Discover more of the best places to listen to Fado in Lisbon

Address: R. dos Remédios 139, 1100-453

Price: €65 for a set dinner

💎 Verdict: Best for history buffs

What is it? Bertrand Chiado is known as the oldest bookshop chain in Portugal – and the oldest bookshop in the world. 

Why go? Sure, you’ll find Bertrand shops in shopping centres around the country, but nothing beats visiting the original in Chiado. Recognised by the Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest bookshop, it’s been open since 1732 – which is reason enough to step inside. Alongside Portuguese titles, there’s a decent selection of English-language novels, as well as travel guides and international magazines you’d struggle to find elsewhere.

Don’t miss: A few years ago, the bookshop added a cosy café room where you can sample small dishes inspired by the authors on the shelves – plus a nice selection of Portuguese wines. We also like the café. 

Address: R. Garrett 73-75, 1200-203

💎 Verdict: Lisbon’s best art gallery

What is it? A museum in Belém formed from the merger of three institutions, offering a journey through the major artistic movements of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Why go? Remember those history lessons featuring Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp, Piet Mondrian, Francis Bacon or Andy Warhol? You’ll find all of them here – and more – in a collection of around a thousand works by over 500 artists.

Don’t miss: Place of Being: The Burle Marx Legacy will run until April 5, 2026

Address: Rua Serpa Pinto 4, 1200-444

Price: Typically €8-€10, free for kids

💎 Verdict: The best museum in Lisbon

What is it? The Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (MNAA) holds Portugal’s most important public collection of ancient art and the largest number of works officially classified by the state as national treasures.

Why go? Home to more than 40,000 objects, its holdings span painting, sculpture and goldsmithing, alongside European decorative arts and pieces from Africa and Asia. 

Don’t miss: Among the museum’s standout works are The Temptations of St. Anthony by Hieronymus Bosch and the celebrated Panels of St. Vincent, attributed to Nuno Gonçalves, court painter to King Afonso V of Portugal.

➡️ Discover more of the best museums to visit in Lisbon

Address: Rua das Janelas Verdes 1249-017

Price: Around €8-€10

💎 Verdict: The city’s best market 

What is it? The Lisbon equivalent of London's Portobello Market or Madrid's El Rastro.

Why go? Feira da Ladra began in the 13th century (yes, really) and moved around the city until settling in Campo de Santa Clara in 1882. Here, you can find everything from antiques and second-hand items to vintage clothing and crafts. But Feira da Ladra isn’t just about shopping: you can also take in murals by prominent artists and the stunning views of the Tagus and the National Pantheon.

Don’t miss: To snag the best treasures – and to help you beat the heat in the summer months – set your alarm early on Tuesdays or Saturdays and head to Campo de Santa Clara prepared to haggle. 

Address: Campo de Santa Clara, 1100-472

What is it? A traditional Portuguese tavern tucked away on a dead-end street, run by a chef who left the world of fine dining to embrace classic home-style cooking.

Why go? Because proper tascas (Portuguese diners) are becoming rare – and it’s always worth supporting chefs who are passionate about keeping old culinary traditions alive.

Don’t miss: Our food and drink critic José Margarido (who gave this spot a whopping five stars) shouted out the ‘gorgeous’ bitoque, ‘spot-on’ alheira with greens, ‘tasty’ salt cod fritters and ‘even better’ croquettes, and the fabulous ‘flame-grilled chouriço and wine by the jug.’ Is that enough to get going with?

Lisbon has risen in popularity in recent years, and it's not surprising really.

Lisbon has a truly incredible food scene. 

There’s no shortage of places to take in the amazing views in Lisbon. 

Lisbon has become something of a tourist hotspot in recent years and with this comes the rise of big hotel chains.

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