Things to Do in Lisbon Portugal: A Local’s Bucket List for 2026

TLDR: A 3-day visit to Lisbon should cover ten amazing things: Castelo de São Jorge, Sé Cathedral, the Miradouro de Santa Luzia viewpoint, a ride on Tram 28, the Time Out Market at Cais do Sodré, the Belém monuments and original pastéis, a Fado evening in Alfama, the Calouste Gulbenkian museum, the LX Factory creative quarter, and a riverside walk along the Tagus from Praça do Comércio. From Casa Almada in the Old Town, eight of these are within a 20 minute walk.

Lisbon is small enough to walk, big enough to keep you busy for a long week, and old enough to surprise you on every corner. The locals call it the city of seven hills — really there are eight or nine, all leading to a different miradouro with a different view of the painted houses and the Tagus river. The trick to a good first visit is sequencing, not stamina.

Casa Almada sits right in the heart of the Old Town, on Rua do Almada near the Sé Cathedral, which means most of these ten things are on our doorstep. This is the practical local list with what to see, where to walk, what to eat, and how long each stop actually takes.

Top of the hill, top of the list — the castle and the cathedral

Start with the Castelo de São Jorge. Built by the Moors in the 11th century, captured by Afonso I in 1147, restored in the 1940s. €15 entry, open 9am to 9pm in summer (until 6pm in winter). Allow 90 minutes for the battlements, the small archaeological museum and the peacocks in the grounds. The 360-degree view from the ramparts is the best in Lisbon.

Walk down to the Sé Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa). Founded 1147, the city’s oldest building still in use. Free entry to the main church, €5 for the cloisters and the Roman archaeological site beneath. Open 10am to 6pm. From Casa Almada it is literally around the corner — 90 seconds on foot.

Continue along the cathedral wall to the Miradouro de Santa Luzia (4 minutes from the cathedral). The painted azulejo terrace overlooks the Alfama rooftops and the Tagus river. Free, always open, and at its most amazing at golden hour. Larger viewpoint Largo das Portas do Sol sits 100 metres further on with a small kiosk café.

Tram 28, Praça do Comércio and a riverside walk

Tram 28 is the yellow heritage tram that climbs through Alfama, Baixa, Chiado and Estrela. The full route takes around 45 minutes end to end. Boarding at the Sé stop avoids the Martim Moniz queue and you go through the most scenic section first. Single fare €3 from the driver, €1.80 with an Andante card.

Get off at Praça do Comércio, the grand riverside square rebuilt by Marquis of Pombal himself after the 1755 earthquake. The triumphal arch on Rua Augusta is free to climb during opening hours (€4) and gives an amazing aerial view of the city grid.

Walk along the river toward Cais do Sodré (15 minutes). The pavement is wide, the pavement light is amazing in the late afternoon, and the open-air cafés on the way are the local Sunday-afternoon move.

Belém, pastéis and the monuments

Belém is 6 km west of the centre. From Casa Almada, take Tram 15 from Praça do Comércio (25 minutes) or a Bolt (15 minutes, around €8). This is where the great age-of-discovery monuments sit.

The headline stop is the Jerónimos Monastery, built 1501 by King Manuel I, UNESCO listed since 1983. €18 entry, open 9.30am to 6pm, closed Mondays. Allow 90 minutes for the church, the cloisters and the small attached archaeological museum.

Five minutes’ walk away sit the Belém Tower (1519, also UNESCO listed, €15) and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (1960 monument, €10). For lunch, the original Pastéis de Belém at Rua de Belém 84-92 has been making the famous custard tart since 1837. €1.40 each, expect a 20-minute queue, the take-away counter on the right is faster than the dining room queue on the left.

Time Out Market, Fado and a museum afternoon

The Time Out Market at Cais do Sodré (Avenida 24 de Julho 49, in the old Mercado da Ribeira building) is the central food hall — 26 stalls picked by the Time Out Lisboa critics, plus eight full restaurants. Open 10am to midnight, Friday and Saturday until 1am. From Casa Almada it is 18 minutes on foot or 6 minutes by Bolt.

For an evening, book a Fado show in Alfama. Clube de Fado on Rua de São João da Praça runs nightly performances from 8.30pm with dinner (€60-€80 per head) or just the show (€20). A Baiuca on Rua de São Miguel does the more raw, amateur Fado. Both are 5-7 minutes from Casa Almada.

For a quieter afternoon away from the Old Town, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum on Avenida de Berna is an underrated gem (€10, open 10am-6pm, closed Tuesdays). Founder’s collection runs from Ancient Egypt through Lalique glass to French Impressionists. Allow 2-3 hours. Or head to LX Factory in Alcântara — old textile factory turned creative quarter with bookshops, design studios and street art (free, always open).

• Castelo de São Jorge: €15, 9am-9pm (summer). 10 min walk from Casa Almada.
• Sé Cathedral: Free entry, €5 cloisters. 90 sec from Casa Almada.
• Miradouro de Santa Luzia / Portas do Sol: Free, always open. 4-5 min walk.
• Tram 28: €3 single, €1.80 with Andante. Board at Sé stop to skip Martim Moniz queue.
• Praça do Comércio: Free, always open. 12 min downhill from Casa Almada.
• Time Out Market: Open 10am-midnight (1am Fri/Sat). 18 min walk.
• Belém monuments: 25 min Tram 15 or 15 min Bolt. Jerónimos €18, Belém Tower €15.
• Fado show: Clube de Fado €20-€80, A Baiuca €25-€40. Book 1-2 days ahead.
• LX Factory: Free, always open. 15 min Bolt from Casa Almada.

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If you are planning your stay around this, take a look at the rest of our Lisbon travel blog for itineraries, restaurants and seasonal tips.