Things to do

If this is your first time to Portugal, we recommend extending your stay to explore all that Lisbon and the surrounding areas have to offer.

Restaurants:

• LX Factory. A converted factory compound, now home to restaurants, bars, and an incredible bookshop. The view at Rio Maravilha is amazing—you’ll think you’re in San Francisco.

• Time Out Market. A famous food hall (the Smorgasburg of Lisbon)—amazing vendors all in one place. A mix of sit-down bar seats and cafeteria-style seating. Go hungry!

• Taberna da Rua das Flores. Tiny, no-reservations traditional Portuguese seafood. Go early (5pm at the latest) to put your name down for dinner. Or, try to snag a lunch spot.

• Prado. Hip modern restaurant near the Cathedral and a nice walk to Alfama

• Jose Avillez is Lisbon’s celebrity chef—he has multiple restaurants around the city. We've liked Cantinho do Avillez and Bairro do Avillez. 

• If you’re feeling fancy, Belcanto and Alma are two of the country’s Michelin-starred restaurants. 

• Attla. Great modern restaurant we ate at on our last trip.

• Café de São Bento. Allegedly Portugal’s best steakhouse.

• Copenhagen Coffee Lab. Great spot to get breakfast or stop for a coffee. Multiple locations around the city. Or, check out this list

• Other recommendations: CN Traveler, Eater

Explore:

• If you're in the mood to enjoy Lisbon nightlife, this is the neighborhood you want to be in. Whether you want dinner and a cocktail or to party at the Discotheque until 7AM, Bairro Alto has it all. PLUS, take the historic Lisbon trams.

• Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea - Museu do Chiado $4 for a world-class museum...you can't beat it!

• Avenida da Liberdade. The main shopping streets/district in Lisbon.

• A UNESCO World Heritage Site (Belém Tower) - come learn about the significant role the tower played in the Portuguese maritime discoveries and take in the beautiful views of the Tagus River.

• Sr. Fado. When in Lisbon, you MUST listen to Fado music in the Alfama district. If you can't get into Sr. Fado, there are dozens of Fado restaurants scattered throughout the neighborhood.

• Walk the cobblestone streets of Alfama, the oldest neighborhood in Lisbon. Take in the sights and history and be sure to keep an ear out for the achingly beautiful folk music known as Fado that fill the streets at night.

• Praça do Comércio. Where downtown Lisbon meets the ocean - take a walk down the waterfront, have a 1 Euro beer and feel the ocean breeze. Then walk through the Rua Augusta Arch where you will find streets lined with stores and restaurants to enjoy.

It’s hard not to fall head-over-heels in love with Sintra. Perched within the Sintra Mountains, this region has some of the prettiest castles in all of Europe. Around 30 minutes from the center of Lisbon, it’s pretty easy to visit for a day trip (or two). Make sure to visit: Pena Palace, Monserrate Palace, Castle of the Moors and the Palace of Sintra. These UNESCO World Heritage Sites are just too beautiful to miss. Bonus: this is where our venue is located!

Cascais is a historic fishing town just down the coast from the city of Lisbon and is the perfect place to chill out. Guincho is close to Cascais and is another location with beautiful beaches. Explore the quaint old town and the dramatic Atlantic coast.

Porto is about a 3 hour train ride from Lisbon - perfect for a day trip. You can tour one of the port wineries (it is recommended you make reservations prior to going), visit the Livraria Lello, the famous library in Porto that is rumored to have inspired J.K. Rowling’s depictions of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts, and grab a francesinha, the famous Portuguese sandwich which originated in Porto.