23+ Unique Things to Do In Lisbon

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Visiting the city of Seven Hills sometime soon? Here are 23+ unique things to do in Lisbon, that you cannot do anywhere else.

Lisbon, Portugal has been on my bucket list ever since I can remember.

This is why I was thrilled to finally make it happen and spend 3 days in Lisbon, exploring its colorful neighborhoods, eating all the delicious treats—you know which ones I’m talking about—and stumbling into unique shops and bars as we slow-traveled Portugal’s picturesque capital.

To help you better plan your trip to this beautiful and rugged city, here are some unique things to do in Lisbon, that you cannot do anywhere else.

From some of the classics, with a twist, to unique shopping finds, to the tastiest gelato, a tucked away wine bar to mingle with the locals, and much much more.

Colorful buildings in Alfama neighborhood in Lisbon

23+ Unique Things to Do In Lisbon

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1) Admire Lisbon’s unique tiles

Starting with the classics, one of the things that is most unique to Lisbon, is to stop and admire the tiles that the city is known for. These boldly colored and patterned tiles give the city its iconic aesthetic that you won’t find anywhere else.

I would love to recommend you my favorite areas for tiled buildings, but honestly, they are sprinkled all around the city, so make sure to keep your eyes open.

2) Go pasteis-de-nata-tasting

One of the best things to do in Lisbon is to go pasteis-de-nata-tasting.

Beyond trying Pasteis de Belem—which you should anyway, since they are the OGs—you should give others a try to not just follow the crowd and declare this as your favorite, but to actually find YOUR favorite.

I tried the top 3 contenders, Pasteis de Belem, the popular second and decent choice, Manteigaria, and the newest addition to the city, Castro. And in the end, the newbie Castro won me over.

3) Breakfast with a view of the Santa Justa Lift

Visit the Santa Justa Lift, an unmissable popular attraction that is truly unique to hilly Lisbon!

Besides being a very interesting structure to look at, the urban lift is also functional, helping to connect different street levels—that’s how crazy the hills are here!—but it has also become an attraction with tourists riding it up to get to a viewpoint.

Lines can get long, so instead, kill two birds with one stone and visit Castro’s bakery location across from it, where you can have breakfast with a view of this unique elevator.

4) Visit Livraria Bertrand: The Oldest still-operating bookshop

Visit the Guinness record-holding bookshop Livraria Bertrand, the oldest still-operating bookshop in the world—as a book lover I fangirled a little bit.

Wander its different rooms, the first one as you enter is my favorite one with its dark wood walls and bookcases.

PS: If you buy a book you can ask to get a bookshop stamp on the first page, which is one of my favorite travel souvenirs to get.

5) Shop at A Vida Portuguesa: A curated all-Portuguese shop

One unique thing to do in Lisbon that I will recommend to anyone who will listen is to stop by A Vida Portuguesa, a gorgeously curated shop with all Portuguese brands.

From beautiful rugs, colorful ceramics, the perfect cotton beach blankets, and local delicacies, there are so many amazing options here to choose from and find your perfect souvenir or gift.

I wanted to buy half the store, but I was good and only walked away with a beautiful beach blanket, perfect for the second leg of the trip down in Lagos.

6) Go ceramic shopping at Ceramicas na Linha

If you are ceramic-crazy like I am, do yourself a favor and stop by Ceramicas na Linha, a beautiful shop barely a few steps away from A Vida Portuguesa.

Here you will find anything your heart desires, adorable mugs, colorful bowls, uniquely Lisboan fish-themed wall decor, and of course boldy-patterned tiles.

If your luggage is feeling a bit tight for space, they can also ship your purchases home to you… just saying.

7) Look down to admire the uniquely Lisbon patterned pavement

Look up when walking to admire the tiles, and look down to admire the patterned pavement with designs created by meticulously arranged black and white stones.

This might be such a simple thing, but it is a feature very unique to Lisbon, and something that took me by surprise and sparked joy every time I noticed a new pattern.

8) Savor the local flavors at Tu & Eu

The best way to get to know a new culture is through its cuisine, and Portuguese food is known for its delicious seafood.

So, for a unique Lisbon experience make sure to try some of the local dishes, such as tasty sardines and potatoes, and mouth-watering garlic-fried shrimp at the grungy and beloved Tu & Eu restaurant.

9) Try the best gelato in town at Santini

If you are visiting Lisbon during the summer months and need a break from the heat—and the neverending hills—you have to visit Gelateria Santini.

This newly revamped iconic gelateria serves one of the best lemon gelatos I have ever tried—and I have tried plenty!

10) Ride the iconic tram

A unique thing to do in Lisbon, that you can’t do anywhere else, is to ride on one of the iconic yellow trams.

The most popular one is the Tram 28, as it covers the city’s main sites and neighborhoods to explore. However, because of this the line to ride it can get very long.

So, if you want to ride it, a local friend recommended taking it from the source, by going west to Cafe Tram 28 and taking it there where the tram would be at its emptiest. We didn’t try it, but let me know if you do!

11) Visit Embaxaida: A boutique shopping center

Wander the boutique shops inside Embaxaida, a 19th-century palace that was converted into a shopping mall promoting all Portuguese designers and brands.

12) Get a local feel at Principe Real Garden

Experience a more local side of Lisbon by taking a stroll through the lush Principe Real Garden, away from the touristy and crowded areas of Central Lisbon.

Find a bench under a tree, and absorb life around you, with locals going by or having a beer with a friend at the park’s kiosk.

13) Shop natural local skincare at Benamor 1925

A unique thing to do in Lisbon is to stop by Benamor 1925, a beloved local skincare brand, known for its famous “nata” line that smells just like the native pasteis de nata, as well as for its aesthetically pleasing shops.

14) Mingle with the locals at Jobim wine bar

Jobim is a charming neighborhood wine bar in the Principe Real area that we stumbled upon and that became one of my favorite finds during our trip to Lisbon.

Slow down at Jobim at the end of the day with a nice glass of Vino Verde, a local wine, ando de queijo, these ridiculously delicious cheesy dough balls.

15) Try the local cherry-based liquor at Ginjihna Sem Rival

A very uniquely Lisbon thing to do is to try ginjinha, a Portuguese sour-cherry-based liquor usually sipped before or after dinner.

Lisbon has a few specialized bars dedicated to solely serving this cherry liquor. We visited Ginjihna Sem Rival as is the one that stays open the latest.

16) Dinner with a show at a Casa de Fado

A uniquely Lisbon experience is to enjoy an evening of delicious local cuisine while being serenaded by Fado performers at one of the many casas de Fado in the city.

Alfama is particularly known for being the birthplace of this genre, therefore having a concentration of Fado venues, but you can find also some around the city like the one we stumbled upon in Bairro Alto.

Sadly I won’t recommend the one we went to, as I didn’t love the food, but other places that look promising are Parreirinha de Alfama and Sr. Fado de Alfama.

17) Stroll along Avenida da Liberdade

Leisurely walk along the lush Avenida da Liberdade, an elegant long avenue lined with high-end shops.

Even if you are not necessarily in a splurgy mood, this avenue is still worth visiting to walk along its beautiful pedestrian path lined with massive trees and admire the pavement’s intricate stonework.

18) Stop for a coffee break at Fabrica Coffee Roasters

One of my favorite things to do in any city I visit is coffee shop hopping, and one of my favorite coffee shops I discovered in Lisbon is Fabrica Coffee Roasters.

Fabrica Coffee Roasters in Rua de Flores is the perfect place to take a break from all those hills as there is plenty of seating space to give your legs a break, AC to cool down, and tasty coffee to refuel.

19) Shop hand-painted tiles at Sant’Anna Ceramics

If like me, you are also obsessed with Lisbon’s iconic tilework, then you will love Sant’Anna ceramic shop.

Founded in 1741, this cute ceramic shop offers a variety of ceramic pieces, my favorite ones being their hand-painted ceramic tiles. Does it get more uniquely Lisbon than this?

20) Buy local prints at SOMA Ideas

Postcards are one of the easiest souvenirs to collect; they are affordable, small to pack, and unique to a place, especially when they are made by a local designer like the ones in SOMA Ideas.

So pick up a few, or some of their other souvenir ideas with their local designs, such as tote bags, magnets, mugs, etc. Here I got a cute little magnet for my mom.

21) Try Portugal’s famous tinned fish at Conserveira de Lisboa

A must thing to do in Lisbon is to visit one of the popular conserveiras, stores dedicated to selling canned fish, and pick up a few cans, either for souvenirs or for lunch.

We visited the beloved Conserveira de Lisboa and took a few cans, and we were blown away upon trying them. The fish tastes incredibly fresh and flavorful, it is immediately obvious that this is not your average grocery store can of tuna.

22) Have a uniquely Lisbon picnic with an ocean view

For the perfect Lisbon picnic, get some canned fish at a conserveira, get some crostini at the grocery store, and head to Mirador Santa Lucia.

This improvised lunch idea became one of my favorite moments of the trip and one of the best things to do in Lisbon that I would recommend to anyone.

To picnic, is better to stay on the first level of the mirador as is less crowded.

23) Shop classic Portuguese linen shirts at ISTO

Stop by the minimalist and chic ISTO, a Portuguese shop selling what they call “everyday luxury”, with a permanent collection of beautiful linen shirts, cotton t-shirts, and more.

Their made-in-Portugal linen shirts are definitely a favorite. Even though they currently only have a men’s line, they still work great as oversized women’s shirts.

My boyfriend got one that I absolutely intend on stealing… shh!

24) Sip a drink with a view of Alfama at Quiosque das Portas da Sol

Exploring the hilly and picturesque streets of the iconic Alfama neighborhood is a must when visiting Lisbon.

An extra way to enjoy the views of this colorful area, and reward yourself for all that uphill walk, is to slow down with a drink at Quiosque das Portas da Sol overlooking the rooftops and the Tagus River.

25) Shop made-in-Portugal cotton blankets at Stro

Shop the perfect practical souvenir at Stro, a sustainable Portuguese textile brand, offering clothing items as well as home accessories all made from natural materials such as cotton, wool, and linen.

From the coziest throws and scarves to the softest pillow covers, all in beautiful and timeless patterns.

26) Wander the eclectic LX Factory

If you want to experience a different side of Lisbon beyond the iconic tile-covered facades and the traditional Fado, you must visit LX Factory.

LX Factory is a historical industrial complex turned eclectic and creative shopping area, with a variety of arty shops and a handful of bars and restaurants.

I hope you found this list of unique things to do in Lisbon useful and that it helps you fill in the gaps in your Lisbon itinerary!

Which one of these unique things to do in Lisbon are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments.

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