Your time in Lisbon draws near! Here’s a helping hand so you might plan your escapades wisely, never get caught in a crosswind and make the most of any downtime you manage to get. Let’s go!
The city of the seven hills is delightful but it comes with its set of challenges. Here are a few things to expect (and not) for your stay. All of these points will be less frustrating if you bring with you the right expectations:
Lisbon is slow. Traffic is heavy. Service can be incredibly frustrating. Schedule accordingly by adding a padding of 30% to 50% the amount of time you’d expect most things to take. Don’t trust ride app time estimates. Be ready for delays in general and you’ll have a much better time. Take a deep breath and enjoy the sights. Welcome to “Portuguese Time” - it is a thing.
Good news - Sun’s out and the Light here is to die for. Golden hour lasts for ages and sun-kissed tiles will sparkle in your pictures, but the temperature can swing quite a bit within the same day. The wind is relentless. Pack layers to protect yourself from it and as night approaches the temperature can drop considerably.
As cool as it sounds, placing your capital within and atop seven hills and keeping it there for one thousand years comes at a price. Bring comfortable walking shoes and be ready to climb ramps and steps. Public transport works for longer distances but the mesh is not at all fine. The place is jam-packed with people. Book your restaurants, rides and experiences in advance. Expect coordination failures to spring up from where you least expect. The streets were made for donkeys and not BMWs. Stiletto heels are a horrible idea.
Your favorite toiletries, foods and other commercial products and or brands that are common in other western countries might not be available here or be extremely hard to find. It’s not the end of the world but we thought it might be a good idea to give you a heads up. There is a utility section to this guide to help you navigate.
So you like plants and food and sustainability and community cuteness. ‘Course you do. Come here and get cozy while supporting local producers.
Everyday: 10h-00h
Abandoned building gets taken over by street artists and turns into a legal-ish museum of the style. Features permanent works of artists like Vhils, AKACorleone, Add Fuel, Wasted Rita and more. The park around is dope too.
Lotsa big plants. All around, with paths and stuff. Go reflect on your life choices or hug a palm tree. It’s actually pretty soothing.
Mon. to Sat.: 09h00 - 17h00
Lisbon has Catacombs! Also part of the Water Museum and the Aqueduct of Lisbon, the reservoir of the Patriarcal starts in the Príncipe Real park. Take a guided tour from its underground paths and come out to the park of Praça da Alegria.
Sat. + Sun.: 10h00 - 17h30
Yes, you can actually get on top of that. Yes, just go, book, get on top. Be a conqueror (or conquerette). Adult ticket — 6€
Tired of being stuck in conferences? Well, get stuck in a room instead. Fun for the puzzle prone, the house features two games with mystic and poetic vibes. Take your friends there without explaining what's about to happen and rejoice.
Sun. to Thu.: 10h00 - 20h00 Friday & Saturday: 10h00 - 21h30
Old chapel turned into a Fado open stage. Get wasted on jugs of wine and listen to the ancient wailing sing-song that is specific to Portuguese culture. Might cure or cause broken hearts. Ticket price: ~60€
Mon. to Sat.: 20h30 - 02h00, closes Sundays
Famous tram that crosses several entertaining and historical neighborhoods. It is actually quite fun to ride these wonders of 19th-century technology. The imaginative amongst us will be transported both in space and time. 1,50€ — 3,80€
Mon. to Sun.: 6h00 - 23h30
Take the lift and get on top to go full tourist or just march an army through it if that’s your kind of thing. Arch — 3€ Arch + Story— 8€
Mon. to Sun.: 10h00 - 19h00
Second Hand, Vintage and Handcrafts occupy a full square of stands and hustle and bustle. A 700-year-old flea market that doesn’t disappoint.
Tuesdays and Saturdays: 9h00 - 18h00
Go inside one of the Pillars that hold the bridge upright and get a fright by standing on a full glass platform while the wind rages around you. Afraid of heights? Maybe skip this one. Mon. to Sun.: 10h-18h Last entry: 17h Adult ticket — 5€
Go there and just lecture everybody about your work and how we all are writing the next section and they should get on it already and give us all a show.
Portugal and the East share a past of commercial, cultural, technological and scientific exchanges. And quite a heavy bit of colonization. Did you know “Arigato” in Japanese comes from Obrigado? No. Well don’t google it, just go to the museum.
Works from ancient egypt, greco-roman period, paintings of artists such as Rubens, Rembrandt and Turner, sensory sculptures from the middle ages up until the XIX century and an impressive archive of René Lalique. And if it all gets too much, take a moment to reflect all its beauty in the surrounding garden.
Azulejo means “Tile”. So that's what it is - A museum about painted ceramic squares that surround all Lisboete life experiences. Go learn how mud can be fired into culture!
This museum is located at the ruins of a Church. Art and Artifacts from pre to contemporary history, it actually is sure to amuse.
Has modernity failed you? Here truth is only hearsay, they put the cool in "anti-cooltural" and author in "anti-authoritarian". A space where you can be involved or just hangout for art, music and film while challenging racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism or any vertical animal nonsense that gets in the way.
Call them seven arts, here you will find them all. Dedicated to preserve culture and expand its community, it welcomes resident artists and newcomers alike. Find space in your suitcase and bring your portfolio.
For many, it's still one of the best night clubs in Lisbon. No commercial music is allowed in this space! Also, mind the always invisible steps and the cars passing by.
Women-run inclusive spot. Human interactions take central stage - eat, talk, listen and love. They are still recovering from the pandemic and could use your support.
One of the coolest and low key elegant spaces in Lisbon, host of some of the best dj sets nationwide. Bonus point? All the wine, none of the hangover. Spend all your money here, because The DAOist is a partner of the Bar.
Catch up with your electronica Gods or the nostalgic sound of vinyl in this repurposed Chapel. Small and funky, it's still a place of worship well known among the local's nights.
True to its name, if your music tends to electronic and indie, the Lounge awaits to rest you. The bar stretches alongside the wall, so there will always be a place to lean and catch your balance. Hailed by many as “The Good Bar in Lisbon”.
Seduce and be seduced. Vintage Lingerie, Kimonos, Dresses - (don’t worry, lingerie is not second hand). Don’t forget to explore the Downstairs tattoo studio, where the resident artist works from many different selected partner artists - all cool.
Everyone tells me that the club is meh - but also everyone goes there after hours. Mild satisfaction is amazing when there’s nothing else. See you (way) later at Nada Temple.
Birthplace of emerging musical artists and DJ’s. Ultra dingy dive bar with a pumping dancefloor. Absolutely no thrills. Just ring the doorbell to the side of the metal gate full of graffiti (at the number 7) and wait to be let in. One time fee of 3 euro + cover charge for the artists of each night.
Large world class Venue for music with both live stage and club area. On the Fancy side and a fantastic balcony. Check the schedule - from Concerts to Raves.
Crypto aware community project, collaborating with Near - also venue for The DAOist after party and other events during the week. They are a little piece of Artsy Anarchy: Open air cinema, DJ sets, concerts, bar, pizza - just rock up, join the association for 3 euros and enjoy.
Old munitions factory became a cultural hub with a multi varied schedule from dance parties to storytelling and music. While hunting for cultural opportunities, stop by their restaurant for a respectable grub.
Part of the Hub Criativo do Beato until the end of October, you will find everything, except the Captain... Grab a beer and sit back for every day concerts, markets or exhibitions.
The normie corporate-governmental collaboration hub place thing. It’s huge, many things happen and more to come. Leads the initiative of revitalizing the industrial area of Beato and surrounding areas.
Underdogs is a cultural platform with a gallery, a public art programme and shop of artists editions. Fostering the development of close relationships between creators, the public, and the city - so support the locals and go decorate your place!
Historic creative hub of Lisbon is living its last days - go check the place where the counterculture intelligentsia of Lisbon formed and hear the whispers of what comes next. Are you an investor with underground proclivities? Give the owner a tap.
MUSA is Portuguese craft beer inspired by Rock n’ Roll. Although they have many venues we recommend the visit to the factory in Marvila and taste all the taps to congratulate them for the great naming!
How do you reinvigorate a red light district while bringing it back out of the red? Well - here they paint the street pink (literally), fill it with bars and restaurants and let the tourists go crazy. Sometimes it's great to have no class. Let go...
Go be a hipster, it's fine. Many venues and shops in this “young entrepreneur’s compound”. We recommend Borogodó for good service and good quality + Brazilian vibes.
Hit up OKAH, a rooftop bar and restaurant with cultural and musical events and a 360º view. Focused on urban identity, creativity and innovation, you may also grab a workshop alongside your beer.
After an explosive boom of illegal (and very good) Chinese restaurants in the vicinity of Martin Moniz square, someone had the brilliant idea of organizing them in a food court that has gone full Asian range. No booking? No problem. Many options!
Stop pretending you don’t want Sushi. Here you can sit on the floor and do all the traditional stuff. As usual, book in advance to have fun in Portugal.
Michelin recommended, reasonable pricing + amazing food and wine = you should book in advance = you should really go.
Misty Mountain Town. Beautiful. Pack for the Cold. Highlights: National Palace of Sintra, Quinta da Regaleira and Palácio da Pena. If you stay for the sunset try Guincho’s beach or Cabo da Roca, the most western point of Europe.
Waterfront boardwalk, Marechal Carmona park and the Conde Castro Guimarães Museum touching the ocean. Take a stroll to Boca do Inferno (Hell’s Mouth) if you dare. If you speak German you might feel at home here. Bonus: James Bond Casino in Estoril.
Privileged waterfront view, mediocre casino, great boardwalk. Keywords: Portugal’s Pavilion, Lisbon’s Oceanarium, Knowledge Pavilion — Ciência Viva and take a ride on the cable car. Garcia de Horta gardens and Tejo Park.
If “Bobo” means something positive to you, this is your area. It was once the whole city of Lisbon, and it remained the heart of it. Castle, Cathedral, all the Fado, all the bohemian stuff shoved into tiny winding streets. Go Exploring. Felipe from The DAOist lives here. So predictable. Gosh.
Chiado is a life meeting point before a night out in Bairro Alto. Brand Stores and shopping. Bertrand bookstore. If timed correctly, you may even enjoy a view of the sunset over Tejo at miradouro de Santa Catarina before your first drink at one of the many bars in Bairro Alto.
The hardest decision will be where to stop to eat, shop and pause. Travessa bookstore, Embaixada, Lisbon Gallery (by experimental design) or Art Room Gallery, to name a few. If you want to grab something to eat, try Miss Jappa, Coyo Taco, Faz Frio, Sumaya, Clube Lisboeta or Crispy Mafya or one of the adjacent doors. Museum of Natural History, the Botanical Garden, the square park and it’s quiosk, Ascensor da Glória and the sunset at miradouro S. Pedro de Alcântara.
Best known for its nightlife. Typical neighborhood. Keywords: Wozen Gallery and Jardim da Estrela. Green Street, Mercearia Biológica, bar Alfaiataria and Bar Le Chat. Pro-tip: take a small trip to the waterfront.
Pretend you want culture, tradition and architecture (Torre de Belém, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Belém Cultural Center (CCB), Museum Berardo or MAAT) but then admit you just came for the Pastéis de Nata at "Pastéis de Belém”.
These 3 work in the city - all moderately cheap. Just never trust estimated times, order ahead and be ready to sometimes get your ride dropped - 1, 2, 3 times in a roll. Peak hours are rough in Lisbon.
Here is where you can find luxury goods, a diverse supermarket and all other things you might need - From furniture to decoration, stationary, a motorcycle or weightlifting equipment. Wild.
All your needs for quick(ish) home deliveries, from food to drugstore goods - you can find in Glovo. But you might require some help from a translator, because the app is in Portuguese. Worth the hustle. Glovo is your quickfix for everything.
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