Top Things to See in Lisbon: Video Guide

Lisbon is all hills, heat, and heartbreakingly good views. But it’s also a maze of crumbling sidewalks, impossible staircases, and tourist traps just waiting to waste your time. In this guide, Angel breaks down the top things to see in Lisbon, neighborhood by neighborhood.

What We Cover in This Video

The Historic Core (Alfama + Baixa)
Belém
Bairro Alto & Chiado
Sintra

Resources Mentioned in This Video

Lisbon Tours
Ultimate Lisbon Food & Wine Walking Tour
Top Things to Do in Lisbon
Where to Stay in Lisbon
Sintra Day Trip with Pena Palace

Top Things to See in Lisbon: Video Guide

Segment 1: The Historic Core

This is Lisbon at its oldest and most cinematic. Tiled walls, echoing alleys, medieval churches, and yes, the views you came for.

Sé, Lisbon’s Oldest Cathedral: Romanesque, rough around the edges, and still standing after 900 years. Step inside and feel the weight of Lisbon’s past.
São Jorge Castle: It’s a hike to the top, but the panoramic payoff is worth it. Plus, there’s a chance you’ll meet a peacock or two.
Tuk Tuk through Baixa: Forget cramming into Tram 28. A tuk tuk gives you the same twisty streets with more breeze and flexibility.

Visitor standing by São Jorge Castle — São Jorge Castle

Rua Augusta Arch: Lisbon’s grand entryway.
Praça do Comércio: Wide-open, river-facing, and made for lingering.
Fado House: Wind down your night with live Fado, Portugal’s soulful, saudade-soaked music.
Miradouro das Portas do Sol at Sunset: Grab a drink and claim a bench. When the sun hits those terracotta rooftops, Lisbon feels like a dream you don’t want to wake from.

👉 Join our Lisbon Walking Tour with Belém Tower, Tram and Boat Cruise to experience it all with minimal planning.

Segment 2: Belém

Belém is big, bold, and all about legacy. Monasteries, monuments, and the best pastel de nata you’ll ever eat.

Jerónimos Monastery: A limestone lacework of Gothic beauty. Go early before the tour buses roll in.
Monument to the Discoveries: A sculpted ship paying tribute to the explorers who made Portugal a maritime superpower.
Belém Tower: 16th-century fortress that once guarded the river mouth.

Belém Tower is a top things to do in Lisbon — Belém Tower

Pastéis de Belém Bakery: This is the original, and the only place that matters when it comes to Lisbon’s famous custard tarts. Yes, it’s worth the line.
MAAT Museum: A swooping wave of a building that’s part museum, part hangout spot. Good for art lovers and architecture fans alike.

👉 Want to taste your way through Belém and beyond? Book our Ultimate Lisbon Food & Wine Walking Tour.

Segment 3: Bairro Alto & Chiado

Lisbon’s creative heartbeat. By day, it’s all about elegant cafés and ruined convents; by night, it’s music in the streets and cocktails with a twist.

Santa Justa Lift: Neo-gothic ironwork with a rooftop café.
Carmo Convent: Roofless since the 1755 earthquake, it’s haunting, beautiful, and a reminder that Lisbon always rebuilds.
Café A Brasileira: Sip a short, strong bica beside poet Fernando Pessoa’s bronze statue.

Páteo – Bairro do Avillez: Chef Avillez’s upscale food court.

Toca da Raposa: A hidden cocktail cave using seasonal, local ingredients.
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara: Grab a bottle of wine and join the nightly crowd. The city looks its best from up here, especially after dark.

👉 Check out our Where to Stay in Lisbon guide to make sure you don’t end up sleeping next to a noisy nightclub.

Segment 4: Sintra

Only 45 minutes from Lisbon, Sintra feels like a fantasy land—foggy forests, fairy-tale palaces, and a sense that time’s doing its own thing out here.

Pena Palace: A 19th-century royal escape built by King Ferdinand II, blending Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance styles.
Moorish Castle: Originally built by the Moors in the 8th century, these craggy fortress ruins offer sweeping views and a glimpse into Sintra’s pre-Christian past.
Quinta da Regaleira: A neo-gothic estate packed with secret tunnels, spiraling initiation wells, and symbols tied to alchemy, the Knights Templar, and Freemasonry.

Taking a day trip to Pena Palce in Sintra is a top thing to do in Lisbon — Pena Palace

Sintra Town Center: Hang around for a lazy lunch and to browse quirky craft shops.

👉 Join our small-group Sintra Day Trip with Pena Palace to dodge the uphill slog and ticket queues.

More Inspiration For Your Trip to Lisbon

Lisbon rewards wanderers, but it does pay to have a plan. Dive deeper into our list of Things to Do in Lisbon, find your perfect hotel in Where to Stay in Lisbon, or book a local-led experience from our list of Best Tours to Take in Lisbon.