Portugal is a unique destination for food, culture, and sights.
what to do in Lisbon, portugal:
Portugal is such an amazing country with countless unique things to do. Here are all of my top suggestions of what to do when visiting Portugal, specifically the city of Lisbon!
bELEM
Belem is a 15-minute drive from the center of Lisbon and is most definitely a place you need to check out during your trip to Portugal.
Here are some fun things to do in Belem:
1) Sit in front of the Belem Tower and people watch (there might also be some live music as well!)
2) See the Monument of Discovers
3) Visit Jeronimos Monastery
4) Try the traditional and famous custard tart at Pasteis de Belem (warning- there may be a line but it is so worth it!)
5) Relax by the water and go to a seafood restaurant (there are so many and they all have equally good views!)
I hope that I have convinced you to visit Belem! Even if you don’t rent a car, it is a very short Uber ride from the city, and I found Uber’s to be extremely affordable in Portugal.
SINTRA
Sintra is a MUST for a day trip or half-day trip from Lisbon. It seemed far away from the city and I didn’t have a car, however, the uber was less than $30 one way which was crazy to me! If you are in a group, it becomes so cheap when you split that too. Long story short, pay the money to get to this area.
Here’s a little bit more information about Sintra:
In Sintra, there are a variety of things to do and see, but the main thing that I visited was the Park and National Palace of Pena. This palace was the most beautiful palace I have ever seen, with incredible architecture, stunning views all the way to the sea, and such colorful buildings.
The National Palace of Pena stands on top of a hill, and literally looks like a castle in the clouds. You have a 360-degree view of all of the surrounding forest around it, in addition to other towns around it.
While you’re in Sintra, you can also visit the Quinta da Regaleira, which features a palace, gardens, lakes, and a chapel.
fOOD
The food in Lisbon was the most diverse set of options I have ever seen, from amazing Chinese food to seafood to Thai food. In every corner of the city, there were so many dining options that gave the city an even more international appeal to travelers. If you’re a foodie, you will love Lisbon and all of the culinary influences it has!
BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT:
March to May are the best months to visit Portugal because the temperatures are warmer but the hotels and accommodations are priced well during these months.
I personally visited at the end of February and the weather was actually very good! It wasn’t very cold and I found the city to also not be too overcrowded as well. I’m sure in the height of the summer months (June to August) it can become very hot in the city and overcrowded, so plan accordingly!
TIPS + TRICKS:
1) Layer your clothes! It can get pretty sunny and warm during the days, but much cooler at night so plan accordingly.
2) If you don’t eat seafood and you will be traveling with people who do eat it, be prepared and bring protein bars/snack options. I personally don’t and a lot of the famous restaurants have an all-seafood menu, especially in the Belem area.
3) You must try a custard egg tart! No exceptions as this is what Portugal is known for!
4) Be open to trying a lot of different cuisines in Lisbon, as there are so many great international influences on the food served here
5) Give yourself ample time to discover and visit Lisbon as it is a very large city with so much to do