It's always hard to narrow down what to see in a big city when you only have a day or two. I found so many amazing places to visit during the research phase of planning my trip to Lisbon. How was I going to fit everything in? Well... I wasn't. And my biggest piece of travel advice is to recognize early on that you are going to miss things. Instead, it's better to focus on a handful of sites to visit and then everything else is just gravy.
So what did I focus on for Lisbon?
Expand each section below to learn more!
Lisbon is known for its Miradouros, or viewpoints, located throughout the city. Of course, with so many hills, it's not hard to find incredible vistas of the city and the ocean. What I loved about the miradouros that we visited is that they were each unique. I wanted to visit as many as possible, but as luck would it have it, we really only stopped at two or three. My very favorite was Miradouro de Santa Luzia.
It features an arcade of blue and white tile, with columns covered in bougainvillea. There were some buskers singing and lots of people milling around, relaxing and enjoying the view. While it was crowded, it felt inviting, not busy. Not to mention the view over the red roofs of Alfama and the white dome of the National Pantheon.
A view of Lisbon, Portugal from the Miradouro de Santa Luzia
If you walk just a little further up the street, you'll come to the Miradouro das Portas do Sol. At this miradouro, you not only get the a panoramic view of Lisbon, but the adorable patio of the SOL Restaurante & Jardim just below. We didn't have time, but I would love to settle into one of those adorable, yellow chairs and sip on a drink and just enjoy the sunshine!
Looking over SOL Restaurante & Jardim from the Miradouro das Portas do Sol in Lisbon, Portugal.
As you wander through Lisbon, keep an eye on your map for any nearby miradouros for a quick stop.
Some people may find it strange, but I love visiting cemeteries while I travel. They provide such insight into the culture of the area, and the Alto de São João Cemetery is no exception. This 54-acre cemetery contains many elaborate family vaults that sometimes mimic the architecture of the area. We found tile-roofed villas with front porches and vaults with bells on top like a church or a schoolhouse. But one of the most unique features were glass doors on the front, so you could peek inside and see various stages of deterioration.
An angel with open arms sculpture atop a tomb at the historic cemetery (Cemiterio do Alto de Sao Joao) in Lisbon, Portugal
I could have spent hours wandering through the cemetery. It's so fascinating and parts of it have beautiful views of the water. These types of cemeteries truly are like cities, with their own streets and neighborhoods. We started playing House Hunters Cemetery edition, while looking around - we're searching for a family tomb with outdoor space, etc.
A road lined with decorative burial vaults at the historic cemetery (Cemiterio do Alto de Sao Joao) in Lisbon, Portugal
The Alto de São João Cemetery is a little further from the center of Lisbon. We took two buses to get there, but I always enjoy those jaunts out of the normal area where you also get a feel for people going about their daily business. The cemetery is, however, very close to the next item on my list, The National Tile Museum.
There were two things I knew about Lisbon before I visited. The first was the yellow tram that runs through the historic city, and the second was that it was full of gorgeous tile. Of course, you can see the tile all over the city, but we also wanted to visit The National Tile Museum to see even more of it!
The National Tile Museum is housed in a converted convent with cloisters and chapels. It's just a pleasure to explore. You'll see tile in situ, wrapped along the walls, down the stairs, and even in recessed windows. Then you'll also find examples of tile from various time periods. I loved the Art Deco examples. You'll also see all kinds of various animals depicted in tile.
Columns and decorative tile in an interior courtyard at the National Tile Museum in Lisbon, Portugal.
Tile art through the ages in a hallway at the National Tile Museum in Lisbon, Portugal
The National Tile Museum is definitely worth a visit! Although it's a little out of the way, the bus takes you straight there and drops you right in front. Or Uber rides in Portugal are extremely affordable, so that's another great option. We spent a very pleasant morning visiting the Alto de São João Cemetery and then the National Tile Museum.
Castelo São Jorge wasn't at the top of my list. I wondered if it was just going to be an overcrowded tourist attraction. I think one deterrent was that we didn't want to walk all the way up the hill to get there, but we figured we could take an Uber and check it out. The Uber actually couldn't get us quite to the top because of pedestrian zones and narrow streets. We still had some climbing to do, but that's ok.. there were plenty of adorable shops to stop in along the way.
There was quite a long line to get tickets, but we stood off to the side and purchased tickets online instead. Although there were a lot of people there, it's such a large space that it didn't actually feel overcrowded. And the view! The view alone was worth the price of admission.
View of Lisbon, Portugal from Castelo Sao Jorge
It took a while to pull us away from the views of the city along the castle walls, but there was a lot more of the castle to explore. I loved the courtyards and a walk along the walls. And there were peacocks! It really was just a lovely way to spend an afternoon.
The very first place we visited in Lisbon was the ruins of the Carmo Convent. We had planned to take the Santa Justa Lift that was right by our hotel. But after waiting in a non-moving line for 5-10 minutes, and looking at the map to see just how close it was, we decided to just walk. Honestly, I kind of wish we had waited and taken the lift! The distance was short, but the hills were sooo steep! It was a fitting introduction to the hills of Lisbon. However, it was also worth it!
The spine of arches remain in the Carmo Convent ruins in Lisbon, Portugal.
I'm such a sucker for ruins. I don't know what it is about it exactly. I think just the romance of what used to be and the awe of what still remains. The Carmo Convent is not just the long arched nave, but there's an attached museum as well, with mummies inside! And there's a cat that lives at the ruins, so it's an incredibly fascinating visit.
Sculpture of a knight's final resting spot at Carmo Convent in Lisbon, Portugal.
This is a controversial opinion, but I didn't fall in love with Lisbon on this first visit. I've been thinking a lot about why, and have come to the embarrassing conclusion that it's because of all the hills! They made it less walkable for me, and it felt like everywhere we planned to go seemed like it might be an arduous journey. It was always worth the effort, though! I'd like to spend more time in Lisbon because it does have so much to offer. If I had more time and felt less rushed, I think I wouldn't have minded the hills so much.... because I could take them one day at a time instead of all day long.
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