Lisbon Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Lisbon tours, tuk-tuk rides through Alfama and Belém, food and wine tastings, Tagus sunset cruises and day trips to Sintra and the Pena Palace. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Lisbon itinerary.
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Explore Lisbon by interest
Whatever brings you to Lisbon — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Tuk-tuk tours
Glide through the Alfama and out to Belém with a local guide.
ExploreSintra & palaces
The Pena Palace, Regaleira and Moorish Castle on a day trip.
ExploreFood & wine
Pastéis de nata, bacalhau and Portuguese wine tastings.
ExploreBelém monuments
The Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery and custard tarts.
ExploreTagus cruises
Sunset sailing and catamaran trips on the river.
ExploreFado & Alfama
Live Fado nights in the candlelit old-town taverns.
ExploreDay trips
Cascais, Cabo da Roca, Óbidos, Nazaré and Fátima.
ExploreCoast & Algarve
Atlantic beaches and the Benagil sea cave to the south.
ExploreTop attractions in Lisbon
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Alfama
The oldest quarter of tiled lanes, viewpoints and Fado taverns.
Belém Tower
The Manueline riverside tower of the Age of Discovery.
Pena Palace
The colourful hilltop palace crowning the hills of Sintra.
Time Out Market
A food hall of Lisbon’s best chefs and traditional flavours.
Tagus River
The river of sunset cruises past the bridge and Belém.
Cabo da Roca
The cliff that marks the westernmost point of mainland Europe.
Óbidos
A walled medieval village of white lanes and ginja liqueur.
Benagil Cave
The Algarve’s iconic domed sea cave and hidden beach.
Lisbon in 1 day
- 1Alfama tuk-tuk tour
- 2Belém Tower & Jerónimos
- 3Pastéis de Belém
- 4Tagus sunset cruise
Lisbon in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Alfama, Belém & food
- 2Fado night
- 3Day 2: Sintra & Pena Palace
- 4Cabo da Roca & Cascais
Lisbon in 3 days
- 1Day 1: city & Belém
- 2Day 2: Sintra & coast
- 3Day 3: Óbidos, Nazaré & Fátima
- 4Farewell Fado night
Lisbon with kids
- 1Tuk-tuk ride through Alfama
- 2Tram 28 & São Jorge Castle
- 3Oceanário aquarium
- 4Pena Palace in Sintra
A day in Sintra
- 1Pena Palace at opening
- 2Quinta da Regaleira & the well
- 3Lunch & travesseiros in the old town
- 4Cabo da Roca & Cascais
Food & Fado day
- 1Pastéis de nata & bica tasting
- 2Time Out Market & Alfama food walk
- 3Portuguese cooking class
- 4Fado night with dinner in Alfama
40 min awaySintra
The fairy-tale Pena Palace, Regaleira and Moorish Castle.
40 min awayCascais & Cabo da Roca
Europe’s westernmost cliff and a chic seaside resort.
1 hr awayÓbidos & Nazaré
A walled medieval village and the giant-wave surf town.
1.5 hrs awayFátima
One of the world’s great Catholic pilgrimage shrines.
2.5 hrs awayAlgarve & Benagil
Golden cliffs, beaches and the famous Benagil sea cave.
2.5 hrs awayPorto
Port-wine cellars and the Ribeira riverfront on the Douro.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Lisbon visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Spring (March–May) and early autumn (September–October) bring warm, sunny days and thinner crowds — the best time to visit.
Spring (Mar–May)
Pleasant temperatures and blossom, ideal for walking the hills and day trips to Sintra.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Hot, sunny and lively, with festivals like Santo António in June — but the busiest and priciest months, so book ahead.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Warm sea, golden light and fewer crowds make early autumn a local favourite.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Mild and quiet with the lowest prices; some rain, but plenty of sunny days for sightseeing.
Festa de Santo António
Lisbon’s biggest party fills the Alfama with sardines and music around 12–13 June — fun but very busy.
One day
Enough for the Alfama by tuk-tuk, Belém and a Tagus sunset cruise.
Two days
Add a Sintra day trip with Cabo da Roca and Cascais.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, Sintra and the medieval north of Óbidos, Nazaré and Fátima.
Four to five days
Add the Algarve coast or a trip to Évora and the wine country.
A week or more
Combine Lisbon with Sintra, the Algarve and Porto for a fuller Portugal tour.
Travelling with kids
Keep a gentle pace with tuk-tuks, trams, the aquarium and the Pena Palace.
Metro & trains
The metro is fast and cheap, and suburban trains run to Sintra, Cascais and Belém; a rechargeable Viva Viagem card covers them all.
Trams
The vintage Tram 28 is a sightseeing ride in itself through the Alfama; modern trams and funiculars climb the steep streets.
On foot (and lifts)
The centre is walkable but hilly; the Santa Justa Lift and funiculars save your legs on the steepest climbs.
Tuk-tuks
Tuk-tuks are a fun way to tackle the Alfama’s narrow, steep lanes that buses and cars can’t easily reach.
Taxis & apps
Taxis and ride apps like Bolt and Uber are widely available and reasonably priced.
From the airport
The airport is close to the centre, linked by metro (red line), the Aerobus or a short taxi ride.
Lisboa Card
The Lisboa Card includes public transport and entry to many sights (including Belém’s monuments) and can save money if you’re busy.
Book Sintra ahead
The Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira use timed tickets that sell out — book ahead or take a tour with tickets.
Wear good shoes
Lisbon’s calçada (mosaic pavement) is beautiful but slippery and steep — comfortable, grippy shoes are a must.
Currency
Portugal uses the euro; cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for small taverns and markets.
Watch for pickpockets
Take care on busy Tram 28 and in tourist crowds, keeping bags zipped and valuables secure.
Eat local
Seek out traditional tascas for great-value Portuguese food away from the main tourist drags.
Sintra & Pena Palace
Timed Pena Palace tickets and popular Sintra tours sell out, especially in summer — book ahead.
Jerónimos Monastery
Skip-the-line tickets save long queues at this very busy Belém monument.
Food & wine tours
Small-group food walks have limited places and book out in peak season.
Fado nights
The best Alfama Fado houses are small and fill up — reserve a dinner-and-show ahead.
Sunset cruises
Sunset sailing and catamaran trips are popular on summer evenings, so book early.
Day trips
Sintra, Óbidos–Nazaré–Fátima and Algarve tours fill up in high season.
Tuk-tuk tours
Around €20–60 per person depending on length, covering the Alfama and often Belém.
Sintra day trips
Roughly €35–75 for a group Sintra tour; private tours and added tickets cost more.
Food & wine tours
About €45–90 for a guided food and wine walk with multiple tastings.
Tagus cruises
Around €25–50 for a sunset sailing or catamaran cruise with a drink.
Fado nights
Roughly €40–80 for a Fado show, more with dinner included.
How to save
Use a Lisboa Card, join group tours and enjoy the free viewpoints and free-cancellation walking tours.
Lisbon through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Warm, sunny days and blossom — ideal for the hills and Sintra.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A top time to visit with thinner crowds than summer.
- Best for
- Hot, lively days, beaches and June’s Santo António festival — the busiest season.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book Sintra and tours well ahead.
- Best for
- Warm sea and golden light with fewer crowds — a local favourite.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great value as summer crowds fade.
- Best for
- Mild and quiet with the lowest prices and many sunny days.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Pack a light rain layer for occasional showers.