10 Amazing Cheap Things to Do in Lisbon, Portugal

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When I think of Lisbon I think of the colour yellow. Lisbon is known as the sunshine capital of Europe with more sunny days than anywhere else. Then there’s the golden custard tarts, or pastel de nata, and the bright yellow trams that rattle up and down its seven hills. (Yes seven hills! Bring your walking shoes because Lisbon is not for the faint-hearted.)

These are my favourite things to do in Portugal’s fair capital. Whenever I look back on a trip I usually find that my favourite moments and experiences didn’t cost a thing. So here are my favourite 10 incredible cheap things to do in Lisbon.

Read my full 3 day itinerary here.

1. Eat Pastel de Nata

Yes right at the top of the list comes the custard tarts. As soon as you mention Lisbon these are the first things you hear about. I developed a serious addiction over my three days in Lisbon. They are just SO GOOD!

Eat them everywhere, all day long.

But first try the ones at Pasteis de Belem where they were first made. That first bite is magic.

Manteigaria near Praca Luis de Camoes comes in at a close second.

But honestly eat them everywhere in Lisbon, I went to the shop next to my hostel and had some delicious ones. Make a plan to sample as many as you can. Lisbon’s a hilly city you can walk them off!

2. Tram Spot

I’m a simple girl, I’m easily pleased. Wandering the streets of Lisbon and taking cute photos of trams? That will do nicely.

It might sound silly but the colourful trams are the iconic symbol of Lisbon. They’re unique and fun. I don’t know what it is that makes them so appealing they just are! It could be the juxtaposition of the old-fashioned rattling trams with the cool, modern city life. Or they could just be cute! My favourite places to tram spot are:

• Elevador Da Bica

A stunt hill with two trams that go up and down and conveniently stand still at the top of the street for ages! You get a peak of the river Tagus in the background as well. This is also a fun place to hang on a Saturday evening when the relaxed drinking culture means chilling by the tram tracks cup in hand.

• Elevador da Gloria

This street is home to some incredible street art that’s worth your attention even more than the trams!

• Praca do Comercio

Feel all wrapped up in sunshine with ochre trams and grand buildings to match.

• Alfama

Wander up and around the narrow streets of this quaint district and try to capture Tram 28 as it trundles past.

Top Tip

Don’t pay to ride the trams. Save money and admire them from the street. This also helps save the trams for the locals to use without queues of tourists!

3. Soak up the Atmosphere at Praca do Comercio

Not just a good place for tram spotting, this square is my favourite place in Lisbon!

Not only does it feature the beautifully ornate Rua Augusta Arch it’s also by the River Tagus so you can go and take a gulp of salty air and listen to the seagulls cry. Go first thing in the morning and enjoy the beautiful square in peace and then head back on a Saturday afternoon to watch lively street performers drumming, dancing and enjoy the atmosphere.

Even at busier times because the square opens out onto the river it never feels too crowded or overwhelming.

4. Explore Historic Belem

The Belem District of Lisbon is home to stunning monuments and the infamous pastel de nata of Pasteis de Belem!

Wander the shaded cloisters of the Jeronimos Monastery and walk along the riverfront to take in the striking Monument to the Discoveries (Padrao dos Descobrimentos) the Torre de Belem.

You could go in both but most of the splendour is on the outside.

Top Tip

To enjoy a cheap day in Belem don’t pay to go in the Torre de Belem or Monument to the Discoveries because they’re easily enjoyed from the outside. (You will also avoid long queues particularly for the tower). The Mosteiro dos Jeronimos is worth paying to go in because you can’t see it from the outside and it is gorgeous. If you can do some research or listen out for tips from locals! I was told at the information desk at the airport that museums would be free the next day so I saved €10,00 and saw the monastery for free!

5. Miradouro Hunt

Are you a sucker for a pretty view? I hope so because Lisbon is full of them. Miradouro means viewpoint so if you see a sign for one follow that sign! The only thing better than seeking out beautiful views is coming across them unexpectedly! And in Lisbon you will no doubt do both. My favourites were:

• Miradouro das Portas do Sol

I got up really early on my third day in Lisbon to Miradouro hunt at sunrise and I realised that you cannot rely on google maps in Alfama! But it was worth getting lost in the end for these views!

• Miradouro de Santa Estevao

Unexpected, quiet and charming. Yes I got lost again in Alfama but I found this gem as a result!

• Miradouro da Graca

Also known as Miradouro Sophia de Mello Breyer Andresen. I had this viewpoint on my list I had no idea I was anywhere near it when I found it! I decided to sit by the church for a moment then wandered across like oh! Wow! You can’t beat a wow moment.

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is worth a mention because it’s the highest viewpoint and offers spectacular views. But it was crowded when I got there so I didn’t get to enjoy the views to their full extent. Also bear in mind that it’s a long hike up to it!

I had planned to go to Miradouro de Santa Catarina for sunset but it was (in April 2019) under construction and closed! But it’s hailed as a great spot so worth trying when it does re-open!

Top Tip

Get up early and enjoy the views in peace and quiet. No matter how beautiful they are experience makes all the difference!

6. Relax in Praca Luis de Camoes

This square is the spot where three of Lisbon’s neighbourhoods converge (Bairro Alto, Baixa and Chiado) so it’s the perfect place to feel at the centre of city life. Grab a Pastel de Nata and park yourself by the monument to people watch and soak up the sunshine. Rest your tired legs and watch the world go by.

7. Take a Day Trip to Sintra

This is what makes it an (almost) all cheap things to do list! It’s worth splashing out though because Sintra is a magical hilltop world full of fairytale palaces, rugged castle ruins and whimsical gardens.

Don’t miss: Pena Palace with its crazy colours, Castelo dos Mouros for rugged nature and views and Quinta da Regaleira for the mysterious caves, wells and waterfalls of the gardens.

Top Tip

Save money and don’t pay to go inside Pena Palace. The colourful outer walls can be viewed with the ticket for the terraces and gardens and the queues to go inside can be crazy anyway!

8. Get Lost in Alfama

Wander the cute narrow streets and see what you find! I wished that I spent more time there!

9. Bar Hop down the ‘Pink Street’

A girlie girl’s dream: a street with a river of pink running down it. A vibrant and youthful area, it comes alive at night and is one of the nightlife hotspots of Lisbon.

If you’re a solo traveller you might prefer to explore it during the day. But it’s worth taking a look in the evening and visiting the bar that’s also a library! This is the kind of place that I cannot resist on my travels!

10. Parque Eduardo VII

Im going to be honest I didn’t have time to visit this park. However, it looks stunning, you are treated to incredible views over Lisbon and it’s a dose of nature for my fellow countryside lovers! Oh and it’s free! The one thing I didn’t love about Lisbon was the lack of green spaces. It does makes sense though, being that it’s such a compact city. So Parque Eduardo would be the perfect cure!

The sights I was going to recommend here originally were the Carmo Convent and Castelo de Sao Jorge. Both are popular attractions. However for the purposes of this list I didn’t feel that they hit the mark.

Carmo Convent is a special place (worth it if you want that stunning architecture photo op!) but it’s pricey and there’s not much to see once you’ve seen the main area.

Likewise Castelo de Sao Jorge has some beautiful views, but you pay €10,00 for them. (The castle itself isn’t that exciting.)

Both are worthy attractions, they just miss out on being budget friendly and great value for money!

Read my full 3 day Lisbon itinerary here.

Where to Stay in Lisbon on a Budget

If you’re looking for a budget deal the Lisbon RiverView Hostel is fantastic! It’s in a great location, not far from the Rua Augusta Arch. It makes the perfect central base to explore from, being particularly handy for Praca do Comercio and trams to Belem! It’s also in the valley between the hills so there’s no long struggle uphill after a long days sightseeing!

My room was lovely and bright with a huge window and great city views. The only downside to that is to get the views you have to climb a lot of stairs!

Disclaimers: It’s not the easiest place to find because the sign is tiny! (I got lost a few times trying to find it again) And I also had trouble locking/un-locking the old doors but the hostess reassured me no-one else has ever had that problem so you should be fine! (Just me!)

Search for more hotels on Booking.com.

What are your favourite cheap things to do in Lisbon? Share your experiences in the comments below!

More on Lisbon and Portugal…

How to Spend Three Days in Lisbon – A Full Itinerary

A Guide to Sintra, Portugal – A Magical Day Trip from Lisbon