Museums
€€
Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga
Lisbon
Guides
Guide
Where to Swim Near Lisbon in September: The Best Beaches
The water's still cold in September, but Lisbon's beaches finally empty out and the sun holds through mid-afternoon. From Caparica to Guincho, with a detour to Praia Grande near Sintra, here's where to swim without the crowds, and what to do back in the city on the days the sea doesn't cooperate.
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Lisbon
Guide
Lisbon in September: 3 Days Without August's Heat
In August, Lisbon cooks and the queues wrap around the block. In September, highs drop to a comfortable 26-27°C, locals head back to school and work, and suddenly there is a free table at A Brasileira without the wait. This three-day itinerary shows how to use that window, from the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga to real fado at O Faia.
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Lisbon
Guide
Escaping the Heat: A Shaded Summer in Lisbon
At 38 degrees in the Baixa, Lisboners vanish: they know where the shade, the breeze and the air conditioning are. From the coolest garden in the city to counter-top bifanas, this is how to survive August without melting.
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Lisbon
Guide
Sardines in Lisbon: Where to Eat Them in Season
In March the sardine is thin and not worth what they charge for it. The good ones run from June to September, and the rules are simple: open coals, coarse salt, bread underneath, cold beer alongside. A guide to eating sardines in Lisbon, and why 12 June is the worst night to try.
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Lisbon
Experiences
Experience
From Peak to Pier: The Downhill Cycling Route from Lisbon to Belém
Lisbon
3h
From 45€
Experience
Cycling the Lisbon Waterfront: The Riverside Tour with Bike a Wish
Lisbon
3h
From 35€
Experience
Grilled Sardines Food Tour in Alfama, Lisbon
Lisbon
4h
From 89€
Experience
Traditional Tagus Sunset Boat Tour in Lisbon: What to Expect
Lisbon
2h
From 35€
Lisbon is a city you understand on foot. There are no shortcuts, seven hills, all of them mandatory. The number 28 tram is permanently full, but walking up Calçada do Combro to Bairro Alto rewards you with viewpoints that cost nothing and where the Tagus always looks bigger than you expected.
Where to start
With only two days, stay between Baixa and Alfama. Rua Augusta is unavoidable, but leave it quickly, turn onto Rua dos Fanqueiros and head uphill toward Castelo de São Jorge. On the way, stop at one of the kiosks at Largo da Graça. Coffee is cheap, the view is free, and there's no queue.
For food, skip the laminated-menu tascas near the Sé cathedral. The Cais do Sodré area has changed dramatically in recent years: the Mercado da Ribeira (Time Out Market) is the obvious stop, but Rua das Flores and the alleys around it have restaurants still making bacalhau à Brás with real conviction. In the Mouraria neighbourhood, the range, from traditional tascas to Mozambican cooking, tells the city's actual story better than any museum could.
Fado, and then some
Fado is unavoidable, and houses like O Faia on Rua da Barroca do it with seriousness. But Lisbon after 10pm offers much more: Pensão Amor in Cais do Sodré, the bars along Rua Nova do Carvalho (the famous Pink Street), and in summer the rooftop terraces that open across the city. Lisbon's nightlife starts late and ends later.
When to go and how long to stay
Avoid July and August if you can, temperatures push past 35°C and prices rise accordingly. March through May and September through October are ideal: beautiful light, temperatures between 18 and 25 degrees, and fewer crowds at museums. The Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga in Santos and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation near Parque Eduardo VII each deserve a full morning.
Three days is the minimum to avoid rushing. Four or five let you include Belém properly, the Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery, and yes, the original pastéis de nata at the Fábrica on Rua de Belém. The queue moves fast. It's worth it.