16 Things To Do in Lisbon for €10 or Less

According to the saying, “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer”. And whilst this is true, that doesn’t mean that travel is cheap or that you can afford everything you want to do. But a tight budget shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the places you’ve always dreamed of going. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of things you can do in Lisbon for €10 or less that will ensure your trip to Lisbon is an unforgettable one.

In Downtown Lisbon:

1. Visit, and see the incredible views from, the Castelo de São Jorge. Entrance to the castle overlooking Lisbon ranges from €5 for students to €10 for an adult ticket (€8.50 for over 65s and disabled guests). The Castelo de São Jorge (St. George’s Castle) is one of the most emblematic landmarks of Lisbon, with parts of it dating back to the 11th century, although its origins date back to the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians. For more information on this unmissable landmark, read this post.
2. Hop on an iconic yellow tram. You can ride the famous 28 tram for €3 per ticket, and it will take you around some of Lisbon’s most beautiful streets. For the hill-climbing “elevadores” of Bica, Glória and Lavra that are popular among tourists, you can get 2 rides for €3.80. Not only are they fun experiences, but they will spare your legs from some uphill walks.

3. Enjoy the views from the belvederes. These are free to visit and offer some incredible views of the city of Lisbon. Because the city is built on seven hills, each belvedere offers a unique viewpoint to admire the city from and a stunning backdrop for your vacation photos. There are so many belvederes to choose from, but my personal favorite is São Pedro de Alcântara.
4. Visit Lisbon’s gorgeous museums. There’s a museum in Lisbon for whatever piques your interest. Full price for adults are often €10 or less (with discounts or free entrance for children up to a certain age, or discounts for over 65s). For example, an adult ticket to the gorgeous Tile Museum is €5.00; €6.00 for the Orient Museum and the Ancient Art Museum; €8.00 for the National Coach Museum; €9.00 for the MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology); and €10.00 to the world-famous Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and gardens. There are so many others to choose from – Lisbon’s your museum oyster!

5. Go up the Elevador de Santa Justa. The Santa Justa Lift is another landmark in downtown Lisbon. Built by renowned Portuguese engineer Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard, a student of Gustave Eiffel (of the famed Parisian tower), a return ticket on this elevator will set you back €5.30, but if you’d prefer to not use the elevator, you can still enjoy the viewpoint for €1.50.
6. Listen to Fado in Alfama. Fado music is one of Portugal’s unique genres of music. Within the genre, there are two different types: the fado de Lisboa and the fado de Coimbra. There’s something very special about sitting in a small venue, enjoying food or drinks and listening to fado in Alfama – which happens to be Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood and home of the fado de Lisboa. While the fado show is free in some places (a few will charge an additional fee), you will have to pay for the food and drinks.

7. Drink coffee at one of Lisbon’s iconic cafés. There are cafés at every corner of Portugal’s capital, but the most famous ones are A Brasileira; Martinho da Arcada (the oldest one, dating back to 1782); Confeitaria Nacional; Café Nicola; Pastelaria Versailles (the original on Avenida da República); and Pastelaria Benard. Most of these cafés date back to the 19th or early 20th centuries, and are integral to Lisbon’s landscape, history, and café culture. Have a coffee (or tea, or juice – I won’t judge) and ask what the “especialidade da casa” (house specialty) is. Each café will have its own delicacies.

8. Climb up Lisbon’s most famous arch. The Arco da Rua Augusta is an iconic arch in Lisbon’s impressive Praça do Comércio. Open to the public since 2013, you can go up the arch and enjoy the views over the river and Lisbon’s downtown area.
9. See Lisbon in VR. One of the city’s newest attractions is a virtual reality flying tour of Lisbon. It’s a really fun way to spend 20 minutes and see the city from a bird’s eye view for €10. It is found at Lisboa Story Centre, which also features a museum of Lisbon’s history.
10. Take a stroll down Lisbon’s most expensive shopping street: Avenida da Liberdade. This tree-lined avenue starts the bottom of the Parque Eduardo VII and the statue of the Marquês de Pombal, and goes all the way down to the beautiful Rossio square. Start at the top and walk down towards the river. Personally, I ignore the luxury brands and focus my attention on the stunning architecture of the buildings on that street and the gorgeous calçada sidewalks. You can even stop for refreshments at a kiosk (see #11 below).

11. Eat al fresco at a typical kiosk. Whether you’re simply taking a moment for a quick refreshment or planning to eat a light meal, one way to take in Lisbon’s sights and culture is to eat at a quiosque. I highly recommend going to one of these, even just once, to tick it off your Lisbon list.
12. Ride the cable cars in the Parque das Nações. Parque das Nações is a more modern part of Lisbon without the historic charm, but a fun place to visit nevertheless. You can ride the cable cars for €7 one way, or €9 for a return ticket. You can also get combo tickets to the Oceanarium (but this will cost you more than €10).

In the Belém area:

13. Eat a pastel de Belém at the famous Pastéis de Belém. In fact, you can get an entire box of 6 for €7.20. These typical custard tarts are a quintessential variant of the pastel de nata, which are world renowned for their crunchy shell and sweet, custard center. The Pastéis de Belém store with its azulejo tile interior are is one of Lisbon’s most popular tourist destinations. Top tip: sprinkle the cinnamon and powdered sugar on top of your tart for the ultimate delicious experience.

14. Visit the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. This iconic Manueline monastery dating from the early 16th century is one of Lisbon’s major tourist attractions. It is not only an official National Monument, but a UNESCO World Heritage Site, bringing in well over 1 million visitors each year. Insider tip: Don’t forget to go into the beautiful church attached to it! But plan accordingly, because you can’t visit the church on Sundays until after 14:00 (2 pm) due to Mass on Sunday mornings.
15. Check out the riverfront monuments.The Padrão dos Descobrimentos and the Torre de Belém are the main ones, but pay attention to the Monumento aos Combatentes do Ultramar, honoring the colonial war veterans and the Monumento à Primeira Travessia Aérea do Atlântico Sul, which is a gorgeous statue of the airplane flown by Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral, who were the first people to fly across the South Atlantic, in March 1922. It’s free to walk along the river and admire the monuments, but it’s €3-6 to enter the Padrão dos Descobrimentos and €6 to go inside the Torre de Belém. But you can’t visit Lisbon without visiting Belém.

Elsewhere:

16. Hop on a train to Cascais or Sintra. A one-way ticket to either of those gorgeous destinations will set you back a mere €2.30 and is an excellent day-trip from Lisbon.