Tiles, Trams and Custard in Lisbon

Lisbon's oldest neighborhood — the one part of the city that survived the 1755 earthquake, so it kept its tangled Moorish street plan and 17th-century sailors' houses. Narrow cobbled alleys, fado drifting out of tiny bars, and viewpoints (miradouros) over the Tagus River. Genuinely magical if you get lost early morning before tour groups and cruise crowds hit; can feel touristy and pickpocket-prone at peak hours. Wear real shoes — the hills and stairs are relentless.

A vintage 1930s wooden tram winding through Alfama, Baixa, and Graça, hitting tight turns and steep hills modern trams can't handle. Genuinely charming and photogenic, but queues can hit 1-2 hours in peak season at the Martim Moniz terminus. Board early morning or at the quieter Prazeres/Campo de Ourique end for a real shot at a seat. Watch belongings closely — it's a known pickpocket hotspot.

I wouldn’t say this is a must do in Lisbon but if you are shrewd you can work it into your planned itinerary in relatively painless fashion without having to join ridiculous queues anyway. We planned a day exploring the Bairro Alto, finishing at the Basilica Estrella & then we decided to walk the extra half mile to the Campo Ourique stop at the western end of the Tram 28 route. It paid off because we got a seat no problem at around 5pm on a June weekend. Our accommodation was two stops from the eastern end of the route at Martim Moniz, so we got a nice 40 minute tram ride back through the city to our accommodation at the end of a hard day walking around Lisbon.

Great experience, but the waiting lines are huge! I really loved the ride on Tram 28! It’s a classic, beautiful experience and a great way to see the historic streets of Lisbon. However, the downside is the extremely long waiting time to get on. The queues at the main stops are massive. It is definitely worth doing, but make sure to go early in the morning to avoid the crowds!

We had to wait over an hour for Tram 28 because of a public transport strike. Although the delay was frustrating, it turned out to be worth it. The strike affected tram services, making the wait much longer than usual, but once aboard, we understood why Tram 28 is so famous. As one of Lisbon's historic tram routes, operating since 1914, it offers a unique journey through the city's oldest neighborhoods in charming vintage trams dating from the 1930s. The ride took us through narrow streets and past beautiful landmarks that cannot easily be seen any other way. We also enjoyed the lively street entertainment and, most of all, the warmth and kindness of the local people. Despite the long wait caused by the strike, the experience became one of the highlights of our visit.

The yellow trams of Lisbon are dated back to 1936 and are adding to the traditional vibes of the city. We a group of 4 friends took a round ride on the famous Tram 28 and passed through the narrow street of Alfama - enjoyed very bit of the ride. Luckily our apartment was located enroute and we enjoyed watching the historic trams every moment.

They looked amazing and definitely worth the experience but for the queues! It's a shame but we gave up in the end after purchasing all day tickets from the metro and due to our limited time in Lisbon opted for a tuktuk tour. The driver who took us followed the tram 28 route, but also took us to sights we wouldn't have seen otherwise. Juan the driver gave us the best experience on our visit, and we are very grateful for his honesty and wonderful knowledge of Lisbon. The journey was priced at €70 for two of us for one hour, but he gave us 90mins for the same price. So if you have time on your side bus 28 is a cheap option, otherwise do a deal with one of the many tuktuk driver's, you will definitely see more.

A curated food hall inside the historic 19th-century Mercado da Ribeira in Cais do Sodré, bringing together some of Lisbon's best restaurants and chefs under one roof — from traditional Portuguese seafood to burgers, sushi, and pastel de nata. Genuinely great variety and a fun communal-table vibe, though it's touristy and gets loud and packed at peak hours. Arrive right at 10am opening or after the dinner rush to beat crowds and long stall queues.

So many options, we tried dishes from 5 different spots, all delicious. Desserts and savory meals available. We were able to try some dishes from restaurants we were unable to get reservations at on previous days which was a plus. Had to walk around a few times to acquire a spot that could seat 4 people but wasn’t as difficult to do as most people aren’t sitting for very long. They had staff making rounds clearing plates off tables which was efficient and helpful. After placing food orders, we only waited up to 20mins at most for our buzzer to signal we could pick up our dishes. There were accesible and clean bathrooms on either end as well. Definitely a must try if you want a quick variety!

A really great place! What a fabulous selection of really good food! Prices are very reasonable and the quality is very good! All locally owned. It is mostly self service in the main hall however behind each row of restaurants is a quieter hallway where there are counters that you can sit at for each individual restaurant if you want an individual experience with a particular restaurant. I highly recommend you pay a visit here.

Nice here, loud, mainly voices, part of the vibe. Finding a seat can take a while, yep it’s that popular yet seams to cope. I’ve been twice this week, so you know it’s good. Good choice, process okay. Beer limited, but lots of the same. Other drinks in abundance. Food tasty. Cakes tasty. Tables cleaned efficiently, although your ment to take your finished tray to a trolley point. Toilets adequate, could be better but maybe it’s the turnaround of people that go through them that’s the problem.

This food market is busy not enough seating for how many people come here. The prices for the food portions is what I have an issue with. It’s small portion sizes for big amounts of $$$$. However the atmosphere is a great vibe for young kids to young couples. I think the whole building was placed well for a great hangout. The restaurants have great plates presented just need to drop down the prices a bit. Many food choices but the desserts are absolutely scrumptious! I highly recommend a bite!

Time Out Market is a fantastic place to experience the diversity and energy of Lisbon’s food culture all in one space. The concept works brilliantly, a wide selection of high-quality food stalls, from traditional Portuguese dishes to modern interpretations and international flavours. The atmosphere is lively and buzzing, yet well organised considering how popular it is. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re after seafood, petiscos, desserts, or just a good glass of wine. Quality across the vendors is consistently high, and it’s a great way to sample multiple dishes in one visit. It can get busy, especially at peak times, but that’s part of the charm. A must-visit spot for food lovers and a great introduction to Lisbon’s culinary scene.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Belém, built starting 1501 to commemorate Vasco da Gama's voyage to India, and now home to his tomb along with poet Luís de Camões and King Manuel I. The two-story cloister is the true highlight — one of the most exquisite examples of Manueline architecture in Portugal, rivaling even Lisbon Cathedral's cloister in scale and detail. Church entry is free, but the cloisters (the part worth paying for) cost around €10-18. Lines get brutal by mid-morning, especially wi

A must-visit landmark in Lisbon! • The Architecture: It is absolutely stunning, and every corner of the cloisters makes for a great photo. The details in the stone carvings are beautiful. • Size: While it was incredibly gorgeous, the overall size of the main cloister area was a bit smaller than I had expected. • Tip: It’s highly recommended to buy tickets in advance and visit early to beat the crowds. It lives up to its reputation and is definitely worth seeing!

It is such a beautiful monastery and I highly recommend everyone to see it if you are in Lisbon. We went on the first week of July so it is expected to be with a lot more other tourists. Although we already booked our time/tickets online we still had to wait for our turn as they control the number of crowds. We bought a “Lisbon City Pass” so I don’t really know how much the ticket cost since it is included as “free”. Other than walking around and admiring the architecture there is nothing much to see inside. No museum or anything but I think it was still worth visiting.

A beautiful monastery and definitely worth visiting. I highly recommend reserving your tickets in advance, as entry is based on time slots. We had tickets for 3:30 PM, but since we arrived almost an hour early and were at the front of the queue, we were allowed to enter at 3:00 PM. At the moment, part of the exterior is fenced off due to restoration work, so you can't fully appreciate the building from the outside. Even so, it's still very impressive, and I'm sure it will be even more beautiful once the restoration is finished☺️

The Jerónimos Monastery was a really great experience. It is absolutely beautiful and truly unforgettable. However, if you want to buy tickets online, it is better to do it well in advance because the available time slots are limited. Also, even if you choose the website in English, parts of the booking process still appear in Portuguese, and the website sometimes lags. Despite that, the visit itself is definitely worth it.

Wonderful monastery that beautifully created in gothic style with very intricate design. When you walk into the monastery, you will be awed by the beauty. The inside seems to be well maintain and is very peaceful. Unfortunately the structure was under restoration on the outside so I couldn’t see it. They should have partially displayed one half at a time, which was disappointing. For that I need to take off a star. I spoke a local too and they shared the same views. Regardless, I would highly recommend visiting this place. Tip: Get the tickets online which allows you to enter in 1 hour increment. Go 15 mins after your allotted slot time. You will skip the line. Make sure to enter the your allotted time lane not the next one.

The original home of the pastel de nata, baking since 1837 from a secret recipe once held by monks at the neighboring Jerónimos Monastery, now known only to a handful of master bakers sworn to confidentiality. Crispy, flaky pastry with a warm, caramelized custard center — the bakery bakes around 20,000-50,000 tarts a day, and they're always served fresh and warm. The queue outside looks intimidating but moves fast, and there's plenty of seating inside for dine-in service if you skip the takeaway

An absolute masterpiece of a place. The moment you step inside, it feels like walking into a museum or a piece of art, everything is so beautifully organized, clean, and full of history. The service was top-notch and super classy. Our waiter was an older gentleman who clearly had years of experience under his belt, which added a really nice, warm touch to the whole experience. I ordered four Pasteis de Belem, a Cafe Duplo, and a Chocolate Casa. The signature tarts came out warm straight from the oven, dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar, with that ridiculously crisp, flaky shell and smooth custard cream. Paired with the hot drinks, it was incredible. The only downside, and really the only issue with the visit, was the lack of menu availability. Almost most of the menu wasn't available, and they only had one or two items ready to order. That said, the space itself is massive with plenty of seating halls inside, so don't let the long takeaway queue outside scare you off. It's a gorgeous place with fantastic service, and even with the limited menu options that day, sitting down here for a quick bite is well worth it.

A must-visit in Belem, Lisbon! The Pasteis de Nata were absolutely delicious — warm, creamy inside, and perfectly crispy and flaky on the outside. Definitely one of the highlights of our visit to Lisbon and something you have to try. There’s also a great selection of other pastries, sandwiches, toasts, and drinks. The place itself is beautiful, and seeing the pastry-making area adds to the experience. Highly recommended! You can also dine-in and enjoy the experience right there.

‼️If you have spent even five minutes researching what to eat in Lisbon on TikTok, Instagram, or through AI travel planners, Pastéis de Belém is undoubtedly the first place that popped up. It is treated like a holy pilgrimage for foodies. Having finally visited, I can say the experience is a textbook definition of modern social media hype. Don't get me wrong—the pastries are good. The custard is warm, creamy, and the puff pastry has that distinct, loud crunch that sounds amazing in an Instagram Reel. But let’s be completely honest: this place is no longer for the locals. It is a factory-scale tourist hub entirely fueled by algorithms, travel bloggers, and AI-generated itineraries. The queues outside are monumental. You will find yourself surrounded almost exclusively by tourists holding up their phones, trying to capture the "perfect shot." While the history of the bakery is undeniable, the atmosphere feels less like a cozy, authentic Portuguese pastelaria and more like a well-oiled theme park ride. The Reality Check: The taste is genuinely good, but is it uniquely mind-blowing? Not really. Lisbon has a booming bakery scene, and you can find Pastéis de Nata across the city (like at Manteigaria or Castro) that are just as delicious, served warm, and come without the hour-long wait or the aggressive tourist crow

Delicious egg tarts with a uniquely crispy texture! • The Tarts: Compared to other places, the crust here is noticeably crispier and firmer, which I really enjoyed. At the end of the day, a nata is a nata—but if you don't come with over-the-top expectations, you will thoroughly enjoy it. • The Experience: I visited when there was no queue, so I managed to get a table right away and enjoy them comfortably. It was also fascinating to watch them being made! • Service: The only downside was that waiting for the bill took quite a long time. Overall, it’s a wonderful experience if you time it right to avoid the crowds.

The portguese egg tart was excellent and deserved more the a 5 rating👍. The crust was crispy and egg tart was very fresh! The best I’ve had in Lisbon. The issue I have is the other items I ordered was well below standard. Mango milkshake at poorly done and I’ve had way better quality. All my friends shared the other desserts and said they were average at best. If you are to put items on a menu they should be tasteful too. Not just expanding the menu for cash grab. It’s too bad as the tarts was fabulous and that’s it! My recommendation is to JUST order the Tarts!!! You won’t be disappointed

Sitting at the highest point of the Graça neighborhood, this is widely considered the best viewpoint in Lisbon, with a sweeping 210-degree view stretching from São Jorge Castle to the Tagus Estuary. A small baroque chapel from 1796 sits on-site, on ground that's held a hermitage since 1147. No cafés here — just occasional pop-up drink stalls, benches, and shaded seating, making it far calmer than the busier Portas do Sol or Santa Luzia miradouros. Sunset is the best time to visit, especially in

the highest lookout point in Lisbon, situated in the historic Graca neighborhood. Located in front of a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Mount, it offers one of the most breathtaking panoramic vistas across the entire capital. From this elevated vantage point, you can enjoy unobstructed views of Sao Jorge Castle, the red rooftops of the city, the Tagus River, and the 25 de Abril Bridge. It is a fantastic place for taking photos, particularly during sunset when the light warms the city buildings below. While the climb up can be steep, the peaceful atmosphere and sweeping vistas make it completely worth the effort.

This is hands down the best viewpoint in all of Lisbon. Because it is the highest point in the city, the panoramic views of the castle, the river, and the colorful rooftops are completely unobstructed. We went just before sunset, and the atmosphere was magical with live acoustic music playing. It does get quite crowded, and the walk up the hill is a serious workout, but the reward at the top is 100% worth it.

Miradouro da Senhora do Monte offers one of the most impressive views in Lisbon and is definitely a must-visit spot for anyone exploring the city. From here, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Lisbon’s historic character, with its red-tiled rooftops, charming neighborhoods, and the Tagus River stretching out in the distance. Especially at sunset, the atmosphere becomes truly magical, as the light falling over the city creates postcard-worthy scenery. The area is quite მშვიდ and peaceful. Compared to other tourist spots, it is less crowded, making it much more enjoyable to spend time here. There are benches where you can sit and take in the view, and the surroundings are well-maintained and clean. It’s also a great place for photography, offering stunning angles of the city. Although الوصول requires walking uphill, once you arrive, it is absolutely worth the effort. Whether you’re looking for a romantic moment or simply want to admire Lisbon from above, this viewpoint is an ideal stop. It was one of the most memorable places I visited in Lisbon, and I would highly recommend it.

The walk to the destination can really be a good workout. But the reward at the end may satisfy you. Pick a nice spot at the top of the hill and snap away once the sun sets. This is 1 of the more scenic views in Lisbon, so take your time to soak it in.

The view is beautiful. From this hilltop viewpoint you get a wide panoramic view over Lisbon’s rooftops, São Jorge Castle, and the Tagus River, making it one of the best viewpoints in the city. Compared to some of the more famous miradouros, it also feels relatively calm and less crowded, which makes the experience even more enjoyable. A great spot to relax, take photos, and admire Lisbon from above.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site of forested hills dense with palaces, castles, and gardens, about 40 minutes by train from Lisbon's Rossio station. The highlight is almost always Pena Palace — a vivid, colorful Romanticist palace built in the 1840s by King Ferdinand II from the ruins of a hilltop monastery, blending Gothic, Moorish, and Manueline styles. Quinta da Regaleira's mystical initiation wells and the Moorish Castle ruins round out the essentials. Timed entry tickets for Pena Palace sell ou

A UNESCO World Heritage Site of forested hills dense with palaces, castles, and gardens, about 40 minutes by train from Lisbon's Rossio station. The highlight is almost always Pena Palace — a vivid, colorful Romanticist palace built in the 1840s by King Ferdinand II from the ruins of a hilltop monastery, blending Gothic, Moorish, and Manueline styles. Quinta da Regaleira's mystical initiation wells and the Moorish Castle ruins round out the essentials. Timed entry tickets for Pena Palace sell ou

Every evening, top singers and new-generation fadistas perform live in a historic space that whispers with royal history — dine on traditional Portuguese cuisine amid 18th-century tile panels while the music unfolds around you. The atmosphere feels more like a private gathering than a tourist trap — dim lighting, candles on every table, and singers close enough that you can see the emotion on their faces. Reviewers repeatedly call it one of their favorite Lisbon activities, praising both the aut

A great experience. You'll be at a sort of big private house hosted by André, with a cozy perfect decoration. It's very intimate and promotes random talking between guests. There are about 20 people from everywhere. You can feel everything has been perfected over time, it's really a very nice place to spend a unique night like this. I only have been for Fado nights with the amazing António and great invited guitarists, over the years. Food is good and with several options. The price is great if you consider you have a private concert and entrees, dinner and drinks. Most of all, these guys are wonderful and very welcoming. You wont regret. I went there again yesterday and consider going back very soon. Obrigado André e António, bestial como sempre.

A beautiful home in Chiado, delicious food with decent wines, and a cosmopolitan group of people (with a few even willing to get to know others). - And then, truly excellent fado! I love each and every part of this - but not so much their combination. To me, placing fado in such a ritzy setting smacks a bit of "let them eat cake".