Visiting Lisbon for the First Time? Here's What to See and Do

Baixa (meaning "lower") is Lisbon's energetic core, the heart of the city, and deeply historic: The neighborhood is known for its 2,000 years of history and Pombaline architecture, which was designed as a way to protect the city after the earthquake of 1755. In Baixa, begin your visit in the middle of Commerce Square (Praça do Comércio), which is bordered by the Tagus River on one side and bright yellow buildings housing a mix of restaurants, government offices, and museums on the other three. While you’re there, be sure to walk through the majestic Rua Augusta Arch and enjoy views of the city from the top of the Elevador Santa Justa, an elevator built into a Gothic tower.

Bordering Baixa, you’ll find the Chiado neighborhood. Here, make a stop at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, then wander the city’s cobbled streets to see the stunning ruins of the Carmo Convent. And farther up the coast, just south of the Xabregas neighborhood, don’t skip the National Azulejo Museum, a hot spot dedicated to perhaps Portugal’s most picture-perfect global export—beautiful, handcrafted ceramic tiles.

Portugal is a food paradise. One great place to start exploring the dining scene is Time Out Market, which has taken over the old Mercado da Ribeira. Here, you can enjoy food from dozens of different stands, all in one location. Pick one spot—like a stall run by chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, whose upscale restaurants have earned Michelin stars—or graze on dishes ranging from salt cod (bacalhau) to croquettes to a popular steak sandwich called prego. The surrounding Cais do Sodré district also is jam-packed with eateries, from tiny taverns to fine dining restaurants. To understand classic Portuguese dishes even further, you can take a cooking class.

Insider tip: For a smaller spot popular with locals, check out the food hall in the Mercado de Campo de Ourique.

Walking through the city’s neighborhoods can offer a variety of lessons in Portuguese history and culture. Lisbon's street art and graffiti depicts everything from historical moments like the Carnation Revolution to creative mosaics referencing fado (a local music style) and portraits of famous figures. If you really want to understand what you’re seeing, take a tour through the neighborhoods of Mouraria, Graça, and São Vicente, where you can see some of the best examples, including carvings by the Portuguese artist Alexandre Manuel Dias Farto, also known as “Vhils.”

Three of Portugal's 17 outstanding UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Lisbon. Two—the Monastery of St. Jerome and Belém Tower, both of which feature the country's elaborate Manueline architecture—are within minutes of each other. These landmarks honor the city’s maritime past, and the monastery is also the final resting place for several historical Portuguese figures, including world explorer Vasco da Gama. The third site is the city’s aforementioned Baixa district.

Lisbon is a city of hills, so it's also a city of viewpoints. These perches, known in Portuguese as miradouros, are located all across the city. One of the most famous is the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, which is located in the lively Bairro Alto district. Free to access, this famous meeting point offers spectacular photo opportunities. Another must-see spot is the Miradouro da Graça, located in front of a café terrace by the Graça Convent. Some walking tours also will take you through Alfama (Lisbon's oldest quarter) to the Portas do Sol viewpoint.

If you want to do more than snap a photo, you also can see city views from one of Lisbon’s many rooftop bars, where you can enjoy a snack, a meal, or a cocktail. Local favorites include Topo, on Martim Moniz Square, and Lost In Restaurante and Bar in the posh Príncipe Real neighborhood.

Small food and drink stalls decorate Lisbon's sidewalks and parks. They offer perfect spots to have a quick coffee, a cocktail, or a bite while watching the world go by. You’ll find these located near famous landmarks such as the Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa) as well as along the riverside, in parks, and along main streets. A few kiosks also decorate the walkway along the fashion-forward Avenida da Liberdade; on some evenings these also offer music and dancing.

Fado is as Portuguese as ginjinha (a cherry liqueur), cork, and canned sardines. This unique musical style is characterized by mournful lyrics and melancholic tone, intimate performances in local bars or cafés, and (typically) women singers accompanied by string instruments. While there are plenty of established shows to choose from in Lisbon, including those held at larger venues in top neighborhoods and smaller, more intimate dinner affairs, you can also stumble across one-off fado performances across the city.

Although you might think of Lisbon as a standard city break destination, it’s also on the Portuguese coast and surrounded by some stellar beaches. If you’re happy to travel some, head south to the Arrábida National Park, where you’ll find some of the most beautiful stretches of sand in the country, including Praia dos Galapinhos. Or, head to nearby Praia de Carcavelos in the Cascais district. It might be popular, but this large beach has plenty of room for everyone—and you can even learn to surf there.

Trams connect numerous city landmarks in Lisbon and are easy to navigate for first timers. Take line 28 to travel between Martim Moniz Square and the Campo de Ourique district, or line 15 to go from Praça da Figueira through the Belém district to the village of Algés, where you can escape the crowds and tuck into food at the local market.

Just remember that while riding Lisbon’s public trams is an enjoyable part of exploring the city, it’s not so fun when everyone else has the same idea. The weekday rush hour ends around 9:00–9:30am, so for an enjoyable trip, be ready to step on board right after the workers begin their day—and before other visitors finish their morning coffee.

Insider tip: You can pay for your trip when boarding, but getting an unlimited Viva Viagem day pass in advance will simplify the experience.