Tourism in Lisbon is probably the city’s leading industry. Thanks to its beautiful surroundings, historical landmarks and architecture, rich culture, beaches, climate, and affordable cost of living, it is one of Europe’s most attractive holiday destinations.
Of course, there is much on the Lisbon things to do and see list, but if you don’t have a lot of time, you will need to plan your itinerary carefully. One of the first things you will need to understand how much time you need for your visit is a good Lisbon top attractions list.
So if you are wondering how best to plan your Lisbon trip, keep reading, because this article provides a list of places that are a Lisbon must see as well as a guide on how much time you will need to enjoy them.
Planning Lisbon Things to Do and See
There are many reasons why you may be going to visit Lisbon from South Africa. Perhaps you are going to see relatives, take part in a study exchange programme, use your annual leave or go on an extended language immersion trip.
If you are working full time and have a job to return to, you might benefit from the knowledge of a Lisbon tourist guide who could help you to prioritise which Lisbon top attractions are a must.
If you are there for a longer period of time, you will be able to space out the things on a Lisbon things to do and see list, but be careful not to leave everything until the last day of your stay!
Whatever your reasons, there are quite a few tips that you could benefit from before you go.
The first step to planning your Lisbon trip is to ask yourself what kinds of things you want to do while you are there. You could party all night and hit the beaches all day, or you could try and cram in as many of the Lisbon top attractions to suit the whole family as you possibly can. If you’d prefer the beaten track, you could hire a car and take a trip to the Algarve.
Alternatively, you could tackle the historical sites on a Lisbon must see programme.
One thing is for certain though, regardless of the amount of time you have, knowing how to speak Portuguese will ensure that your Lisbon trip is even more rewarding than you could at first imagine.
Why not take Portuguese lessons before you go?
If you only have a short amount of time, it may be wise to make the most of all Lisbon top attractions that are on offer. If your Lisbon trip is a long stay, then you could rent a flat and a car and take your time to see the surrounding areas as well as consult with a Lisbon tourist guide about how to optimise your time in the city.
Either way, take your time to plan your Lisbon trip carefully. Making a list of Lisbon top attractions is probably a great place to start.
It will include old neighbourhoods like the Alfama and the Bairro Alto. Of course, the Castelo São Jorge, the Tower of Belém, and the Jerónimos Monastery are all also a Lisbon must see.
Remember that one of the keys to a good holiday is deciding upfront to be flexible!
Find out more about visiting Lisbon.
Lisbon Must See Sights in a Week
If you only have a week for your Lisbon trip, don’t panic, it is probably enough time to visit all the attractions on a typical Lisbon Things to Do and See list!
One of the best ways to do this is to purchase a Lisboa Card. The pass, which comes in one, two, or three day options will allow you to use public transport and includes access to many Lisbon top attractions.
The price of a Lisboa card is:
- €20 for 24 hours
- €34 for 48 hours
- €42 for 72 hours
Even a short Lisbon trip will provide enough time to see the old neighbourhoods, visit museums, head to the beach, enjoy quaint street culture, famous local pastries (pasteis de nata) and check out the nightlife scene.
To visit outside of the city too, it is recommended that you rent a car and add a few days onto your trip!
While you are planning, be sure to find out all about accommodation in Lisbon too.
What would a Lisbon tourist guide say?
If you are wondering whether a Lisbon tour guide would be beneficial or not, here is the kind of typical advice they would include within their much greater and invaluable offerings:
The Three Day Lisbon Visit
If you are limited to only three days you will need to consider your Lisbon must see list very carefully!
Upon arrival at Lisbon airport, head to the city centre by either bus, taxi, or metro.
From there, take the red line into the city centre which will only take 20 minutes and cost €1.50 (or free with a Lisboa Card which you could get at the airport).
- Day 1: After settling in at your hotel, head off to the Tower of Belém and Padrão dos Descobrimentos. Next, check out the Jerónimos Monastery, as well as the city centre in general. Finish of with São Jorge Castle and Praça do Comércio.
- Day 2: Make sure you have some energy to visit the Moorish architecture of Bairro Alto, Chiado, and Alfama. After that, take the Line 28 tram to see the Lisbon Cathedral, bars in Baixa, the Parque Eduardo VII and the viewpoint.
- Day 3: On your last day, make sure you see the Ocreanário (Europe’s second largest aquarium boasting 8,000 different species and seven million litres of seawater), enjoy local pastries, the Sintra National Palace, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, the National Museum of the Azulejo, the Museum of the Orient and Carmo Convent.
A Week in Lisbon
What can you accomplish in a week?
This would be your opportunity to see even more sites and museums and take a day trip to all the places that you could visit outside of the city.
Consider putting the following on your list:
- The Archeology Museum
- The Gallery of Coaches
- The Roman Theatre.
Don’t forget to relish the Amoreiras 360° Panoramic View which is 174 metres above the river Tage and city.
Consider saving a few days of your visit to rent a car to visit outlying beaches as well as the coast from Sintra to Nazaré, as well as the Parque Natural da Arrábida which is near Setúbal in the south.
Check out a good Lisbon guide to find out more about the city’s nightlife and many festivals between June and September.
Learn Portuguese with a Long Stay in Lisbon
If you want to learn the real intricacies of both the Portuguese language and culture, you’ll need more than just a few days. We’re thinking language immersion, and that takes time.
You could live with a host family to learn more about their culture and everyday life. Doing this would mean giving yourself at least six to 12 months to really experience Portugal and immerse in the language.
Learning Portuguese in a classroom, through language immersion or both should be easier if you have had any exposure to any of the other Romance Languages. Portuguese was derived from Vulgar Latin that was used by the Romans from the Iberian Peninsula, Gaul in France, Dacia in Romania, and of course, Italy.
If you do not stay with a host family and don’t have the budget to live in the centre of Lisbon on your own, consider sharing a flat near Bairro Alto which is especially suited to a younger generation of students.
If language immersion sounds like your cup of tea, check out the organisations that offer language stays in Portugal. During a stay like this you will have the opportunity to only immerse in the language through everyday conversations, but also potentially take grammar, history, and culture lessons too.
During your free time, you will have heaps to do both within and outside of Lisbon. Besides the Algarve which we already mentioned, day and weekend trippers love the coastal town of Cascais and Benagil caves in the south of Portugal too.
If wonderful experiences such as these sound expensive, don’t panic because Portugal is one of the most affordable countries, in terms of the general cost of living, in Europe.
Organisations to look to for support and guidance when it comes to a language immersion or long stay in Portugal include Organic Farms, HelpX, and Work Away.
Before you go, make sure that you at least have the basics of the language to help you get started. Superprof has a range of tutoring options for every budget and level of skill.
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