The Proper Traveler

#10 - Pastéis de Belém

Perhaps one of the most iconic Portuguese dishes is pastel de nata. They are little egg custard tarts that are baked to golden brown and sometimes dusted with fine powered sugar. They are enjoyed by locals and tourists alike during any time of the day. If you want to get the history of this fantastic concoction, you can check it out at the Pastel de Belem. It was the original place where the pastel de nata (well, actually the pastel de belem - which de nata was birthed from) was created. The early days of the monks working and living at the nearby monastery perfected this sweet treat over 200 years ago. Even still, the bakers who make the crust don’t know the recipe the bakers for the custard make and vice versa.

Average Cost: FREE to get in

Hours: 0800 - 2300 daily

#9 - Alfama District

Alfama is considered one of the most picturesque neighbourhoods in all of Lisbon. If you hike up the steep climb to the top, you can enjoy and take in the beautiful scenery of Lisbon. There are many cafes, shops, street performances, bars, street art, and even some fun attractions, too. The famous Tram 28 goes along Alfama, so you can be sure to see many people lined up to take photos or hop on the tram for the attraction. Although quieter at night than other neighbourhoods, Alfama is gorgeous when lit up at night. If you’re looking for a quiet romantic spot for a date night, Alfama seems to be the logical choice.

#8 - Timeout Market

Lisbon is one of the holy grails for European culinary cuisine, and one of the best places to try everything in one spot is at the Timeout Market. Timeout Market brings about 100 chefs with quality reputations from around Lisbon to give you some of the best of Portuguese food. It’s also a fantastic choice for those who aren’t that adventurous with food. There is always something for everyone.

Average Cost: Varies

Hours: 1000 - 0000

#7 - Praça do Comércio

Praça do Comércio is the city square within the city of Lisbon. It was originally the site of the Royal Palaces until a horrific earthquake destroyed much of the city in 1755. This square was historically important for maritime and trading, but it is now a tourist hotspot with shopping, street performers, docks, ice cream trucks, and more. It is more or less a good spot to hang out with family and friends while taking in the beauty of the coastal side of the city.

#6 - Jerónimos Monastery

Jerónimos Monastery is a huge monastery in the parish of Belem, just west of central Lisbon. Originally sitting on the plot of an old church, this monastery started construction in 1502 when the king at the time, King Manuel I, arranged for the monastery to be built as a reflection of the successful voyage from Portugal to India by explorer Vasco Da Gama. This is also the monastery where the monks created the famous custard tart.

Average Cost: €12

Hours: 1000 - 1730 (October - April); 1000 - 1830 (May - September)

#5 - Pastel de Nata Cooking Class

If you’ve ever wondered how to make the incredible pastel de nata, you can actually take a class to learn while you’re visiting Lisbon. We chose ours through the Get Your Guide app and chose the Compadre Cooking School. It was a fantastic experience learning the history, the methods, and all the details on learning how to make the perfect pastel de nata. To be honest, these were the BEST ones we tried while on our trip… and we had several dozens while we were here. Not only will you be making that, but the cooking school will usually show you how to make another dish, usually involving bacalhau.

Average Cost: €60

Hours: Varies

#4 - The Tile Museum

As you wander around Lisbon, you’ll notice tile everywhere throughout the city. But this isn’t ordinary tile - this is art. Most of the tile has some form of pattern or scenery displayed on it. To better understand the history and practice of tile making, the Tile Museum is definitely worth a visit. This may not sound super appealing to some people, but it actually is very fascinating and a big part of Portuguese tradition and customs. You’ll easily spend a couple of hours here, as there is so much to see.

Average Cost: €8

Hours: 1000 - 1800 (closed Mondays)

#3 - The Tower of Belem

This fortification was built in the 1500s and served as the main point of embarkment and disembarkment for the long voyages for explorers. If you only learn one thing about Portugal, try and learn about the Portuguese Renaissance period. The Portuguese were known as tough and adventurous explorers. To think that this would have been the last thing they would see as they entered the unknown world; even more, the first thing they would see when coming home after a long voyage! This should give you chills as you walk through the fortress. It’s also a fantastic representation of Manueline style in appearance.

Average Cost: €8.50

Hours: 0930 - 1730 (closed Mondays)

#2 - Castelo de São Jorge

As known as Lisbon Castle or St George’s Castle, this castle sits on a hilltop overlooking the city of Lisbon. Do yourself a favour and do not waste your time by spending money and waiting in line to use the Elevador de Santa Justa. It cannot come close to the incredible views you can get here at the caste. The castle is more than 1,000 years old and is comprised of gardens, castle walls, cannons, sculptures, the archeological museum, and more. Be prepared to hike and for it to take several hours to see everything. The castle is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2002.

Average Cost: €15

Hours: 0900 - 2100 daily

#1 - Fado

When reading and researching Portuguese history and traditions, one of the things we were told by many people was to attend fado. Fado should definitely not be missed while on your trip through Lisbon. Fado is a tradition that goes back to at least the 1800s in Lisbon. It is spontaneous singing and music where one is filled with emotion and passion. It is usually about a long lost love and the heartache associated with it, although there are other fado songs, just depending on what the singer is feeling in the moment. You can book a dinner fado concert where you can partake in traditional Portuguese food and listen to fado music while you’re there (although we were told to not eat or leave during the singing, so keep that in mind). It was a very special moment for us to wind down, enjoy great music, and understand some Portuguese traditions while here. It was definitely the highlight of the trip for us.

Average Cost: €25