Things to do in Lisbon at a glance
Lisbon is built on hills above the Tagus, so the best things to do mix big monuments with slow walks and viewpoints. The list below is ordered by area: Belém first, then the old town, then the sights further out. Each entry has the price for adults in 2026 where we could check it.
Three practical points shape the day. The Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower are closed on Mondays. The historic funiculars and the Santa Justa lift are closed, so plan on walking uphill or taking a tram. And if you want to see several paid sights in one day, compare the total with the Lisboa Card.
Belém: experiences 1 to 4
The riverside district west of the center holds the monuments of the Age of Discovery. Reach it by tram 15E or by train from Cais do Sodré.
1. Belém Tower
The small fortress on the Tagus has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Tickets cost €15 (2026) and are sold for time slots. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 to 17:30, and closed on Mondays, 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 13 June and 25 December.
Belém Tower guide →2. Jerónimos Monastery
The cloister is the main reason to go. Adults pay €18 (2026), with 50 percent off for visitors aged 65 and over and 13 to 24. The cloister is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 to 17:30, and the ticket office closes at 16:30. Closed on Mondays.
Jerónimos guide →3. Padrão dos Descobrimentos
The monument on the riverbank has a viewing platform, an exhibition and a film. The full ticket costs €10 (2026), the exhibition alone €5, and children under 12 enter free. From October to February it is open 10:00 to 18:00, from March to September until 19:00.
4. MAAT
The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology sits by the river. Visitors from abroad pay €16 (2026). The museum lists Wednesday to Monday, 10:00 to 19:00, with Tuesday closed. Check the days and the current exhibition before you go.
Belém has a lot of ground to cover. Plan half a day, start with the monastery before the queues build, and note that the Lisboa Card needs a pre-booked time slot for the monastery and the tower.
Our picks: things to do
Food, a walking tour and ten minutes over the city by helicopter.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
10-minute helicopter flight over the city and coast
A shared flight with up to three passengers and no landing. Transfers and tips are not included; over 110 kg you pay for two seats.
Check availability →
Food and wine walking tour in a small group
Food tastings, snacks, wine and a ginjinha on a three-hour walk from Rossio. Tips and hotel pick-up are not included.
Check availability →
Best of Lisbon walking tour: Rossio, Chiado and Alfama
Three hours with a local guide, a pastel de nata, a snack and a wine tasting. Entry to sights is not included.
Check availability →Lisbon tours and experiences
Walking and tuk-tuk tours, river cruises, fado evenings and day trips to Sintra, with live prices and availability.
The old town: experiences 5 to 10
Castle, viewpoints, tram and the grid of the lower town. Wear sturdy shoes, as the streets are steep and cobbled.
5. Castelo de São Jorge
The castle walls look over the roofs and the river. Adults pay €17 (2026), young people from 13 to 25 pay €8.50, and children up to 12 enter free. Until 31 October it is open daily 9:00 to 21:00, from 1 November 9:00 to 18:00. The ticket includes a guided tour.
6. Alfama and the Miradouro de Santa Luzia
Alfama is the old quarter below the castle, a maze of stairs and alleys. The Miradouro de Santa Luzia has tile panels, a garden and a view over the domes and the Tagus. It is a public square and free to visit.
Alfama guide →7. Museu do Fado
The fado museum in Alfama costs €5 for adults (2026), €2.50 for ages 13 to 25. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, last entry 17:30. A good daytime introduction before an evening of live fado.
8. Tram 28
The yellow tram runs between Martim Moniz and Campo de Ourique and has run its full route again since 11 May 2026. A ticket bought on board costs €3.30, a ride paid with Navegante credit €1.72. Ride early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Tram 28 guide →9. Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
A quieter viewpoint than the better-known ones, and freely accessible. It makes a good last stop of the day after Alfama.
10. A walk through the Baixa
The lower town is a grid of straight streets between Rossio and the Praça do Comércio, where the arch opens onto the river. It is flat, free and the easiest way to link the hills. The Santa Justa lift here is closed, so use the streets and stairs.
Why the funiculars matter for your plan
After the accident on the Glória funicular on 3 September 2025, the Glória, Bica and Lavra funiculars and the Santa Justa lift closed. As of October 2026 only the Graça funicular runs. That changes how you plan a day: the climbs from the Baixa to the Bairro Alto and Alfama are on foot, by tram or by bus.
Leave the steepest streets for the downhill direction and start high, for example at the castle, then walk down into Alfama and the Baixa.
Food, art and the coast: experiences 11 to 15
Things to do away from the historic center, from the aquarium to the cape at the edge of Europe.
11. Oceanário de Lisboa
The aquarium in the Parque das Nações costs €25.50 to €29.90 for adults (2026), depending on the visit time. The cheapest tickets are for 16:00 to 18:30. It is open daily 10:00 to 20:00, and a visit takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Take the red metro line to Oriente.
12. Time Out Market
The food hall in the Mercado da Ribeira at Cais do Sodré is open Sunday to Wednesday 10:00 to 24:00 and Thursday to Saturday 10:00 to 02:00. There are no reservations and the tables are shared.
13. LX Factory
A former industrial complex in Alcântara with more than 50 shops, restaurants, cafés and bars. Entry is free and opening hours differ from venue to venue.
14. Sintra
The palaces and gardens are a day trip, about 40 minutes by train from Rossio. Pena Palace (Essential ticket €20 with a fixed palace time slot), the Moorish Castle (€12) and Quinta da Regaleira (€20) are the main sights.
Sintra day trip →15. Cascais and Cabo da Roca
The Cascais line runs from Cais do Sodré and takes about 40 minutes. At Cabo da Roca the lighthouse visit costs €5 (Essential) or €10 (Panorama). Buses 1253 from Sintra station and 1624 from Cascais serve the cape.
Cascais guide →Plan the rest of your trip
Turn the list into days.
Things to do in Lisbon: frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Lisbon for a first visit?
Belém (the tower and the Jerónimos Monastery), the castle and Alfama, a ride on tram 28 and a day trip to Sintra cover the classics. All four are in the list above.
How many days do you need in Lisbon?
Three days cover the main sights at a relaxed pace: one for the old town, one for Belém and one for Sintra. See the 3-day itinerary.
Which sights are free?
Viewpoints such as the Miradouro de Santa Luzia and the Senhora do Monte are free, as is a walk through the Baixa and Alfama. LX Factory is free to enter. Young children enter the castle and the Padrão free.
Which sights are closed on Mondays?
The Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower. MAAT lists Tuesday as its closed day. Check the days before you fix your itinerary.
Is the Santa Justa lift open?
No. As of October 2026 the Santa Justa lift and the Glória, Bica and Lavra funiculars are closed. Only the Graça funicular runs.