Here’s our Lisbon Anti-Tourist Guide to make sure you take the best of it while feeling like a local
Lisbon is Portugal’s capital and is smack bang in the middle of the country. One of the many plus points of Lisbon is that it’s located at the mouth of the Tagus river, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a super popular place to visit in the summer, but it’s also great for a short break. It’s a really famous place for holidays, but there are still lots of hidden gems and undiscovered places to explore!
How many days should I save to visit Lisbon?
Lisbon is a pretty big city. As well as being the capital of Portugal, it’s a city with plenty to see and do throughout the year. If you’re mainly interested in the main tourist attractions, we suggest saving around 2-3 days. But if you want to chill, we’d say 5 days is better. During these five days, you’ll have enough time to visit the city and some nearby places and villages, or you’ll be able to chill at the many beaches not far away.
What are the main highlights of Lisbon?
1. Lisbon’s Music Scene
a) Live Music in Lisbon
Hard Rock Café Lisbon
Hard Rock Café is a well-known venue in a lot of big, famous cities all around the world. And of course, Lisbon is no exception. You can enjoy some great food and drinks while listening to live music performances that they occasionally organise. If you’re into rock, soul, funk, disco or rap, you’ll love it!
Távola Jazz Club
The music played in this bar is self-explanatory. It’s one of the best places in Lisbon for jazz musicians to play all night. The interior is charming and cosy, and the snacks and cocktails are great, so you can enjoy the whole night without having to worry about eating and drinking!
Café Alface Hall
This bar started out as a hostel, but it’s now got some great live music nights. Mostly, you’ll be able to enjoy live blues and jazz shows. And if you get peckish, don’t worry, they’ve got some food options too!
b) Clubbing in Lisbon
Lux
If you love going out, Lux is definitely worth a visit! This world-famous club is probably the most famous one in Portugal! It’s a must-visit for both locals and tourists. It’s been around since September 1998 and it’s always been packed, especially during the holidays and weekends. The music they play is electronic.
K Urban Beach Club
This huge club is right on the riverbank! It’s a well-known venue in the city. It puts on all kinds of events and plays all kinds of music. During their events, you’ll hear everything from funk and electronic to pop and reggaeton. One of the best things about this club is its location and terrace. They’ve got a huge terrace with outdoor bars and even a swimming pool during the summer!
2. Where to eat in Lisbon
Casa do Alentejo
This place is a real hidden gem. It’s also a great spot for locals to go for dinner, and it’s the ideal place to try the national dishes of Portugal. It might look like your average building, but it’s actually a former casino that’s been done up to look like a Moroccan riad. The restaurant serves up authentic Alentejo dishes, like grilled pork with clams, perfectly paired with local wine.
O Velho Eurico
When you first go to this restaurant, you’ll probably feel like you’re just hanging out with the locals. And that’s because it’s a proper local joint. But actually, over the last few years, loads of tourists have also been going there, which is really not that surprising. They’re well known for their classic Portuguese dishes with a twist. You can order a whole bunch of different dishes, like bacalhau and polvo!
Ponto Final
The name says it all, really. It’s located at the end of the bridge, on the other side of the river the Tagus. It’s got stunning views of the city. You can enjoy these views while sitting at the riverside and eating some great food. The food they serve at Ponto Final is traditional Portuguese cuisine. To start, you could try the escabeche sardines with Alentejo bread, and then move on to some other fish-based dishes as your main course.
3. What to see in Lisbon
There are loads of tourist attractions all over Lisbon. The main ones that everyone probably goes to are Belém and its tower, the famous Vasco da Gama Bridge and the São Jorge Castle. But there’s so much more to Lisbon than that! One of the best is Parque Eduardo VII. This huge uphill park is at Marquês de Pombal, which has a stunning roundabout and statue at the bottom. The park itself is a great place to chill or check out the botanical garden (Estufa Fria). Another cool place that a lot of tourists don’t visit while in Lisbon is Fronteira Palace. It’s a bit out of the city centre, but if you’re into history and architecture, it’s a must-see. Built in the 17th century, it’s got stunning colours and some awesome fountains. And finally, you can’t miss the Lisbon Earthquake Museum, which tells the story of the devastating 1755 earthquake and tsunami. This recently opened museum tells the story of the 1755 earthquake and tsunami, which was one of the biggest in history! This interactive museum is definitely worth a visit!
4. Alternative places in Lisbon
Miradouros all over the city
As I’m sure you’re aware, Lisbon is located on a hill. This makes it obvious that Lisbon has a lot of beautiful viewpoints all over the city! These viewpoints are called Miradouros. Miradouro de Santa Luzia is one of the more popular ones, thanks to the beautiful garden and wall paintings. Another must-see is Miradouro da Senhore do Monte. This viewpoint gives you the perfect view of all the most important places of the city. You can see the river, the bridge, the old town of Lisbon and the castle from here!
The southern riverbank
You can get to the other side of the river easily by getting the bus or the ferry. You’ll end up in Almada, where you’ll find some really nice restaurants and shops with stunning views of Lisbon when the sun’s going down.
Cable car in Parque das Nações
This area of the city is quite modern, so the vibe is different to the old town. It’s got boulevards and some cool modern architecture. It’s also home to the Oceanarium, which is well worth a visit. And the cable car will take you to another level to see the bridge and the river!
5. Bonus tip:
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