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Things to do (for free!) in Lisbon
Lisbon is a city rich in attractions, restaurants, beautiful views all around and bustling streets.
As the capital city of Portugal, it has so many things to discover, from small alleys, hidden neighborhoods, art galleries and more.
In this post I decided to gather a lot of sights and attractions that can be done at no cost in Lisbon (and also some very cheap variations).
The purpose of this post is, among other things, to allow people to discover parts of the city that can be visited and enjoyed even if traveling on a low budget.
Most of the recommendations in this post are from my experiences in the city which I am very happy to share.
In the summer of 2023 I lived around Lisbon for a month and a half and during that time I tried to collect as much information as possible about the city.
I hope this post will enrich your variety of options for a trip to the city of Lisbon :)
Are you ready to find out about all the free things to do in Lisbon?
Lisbon Pass Card
So, first of all, an option you should get to know before you start looking through all the hundreds of words of this post, is the city's Lisbon Pass card, which allows you to get a lot of benefits, discounts, free entry to places that I will detail soon, and more.
Thanks to this card you can easily do a lot of things in Lisbon for free (or at a discount...!)
What does the use of the card provide?
Using the card gives you free entry to about 38 attractions throughout the city (those of which I will mention in this post I will write a note that they are included in the card).
In addition, you can travel by public transport for free , whether it is buses, metro, light trains, elevators and funiculars.
You are planning a visit to Sintra or Kaskaish (recommended by the way!), CP trains are included in the ticket price.
In addition, you will receive discounts at certain restaurants, tours, shops and more.
What is the cost of purchasing the ticket?
The cost of purchasing the ticket depends on the number of days you choose. (All prices are relevant for summer 2023).
A ticket valid for 24 hours will cost you about 22 euros.
for 48 hours will cost you about 37 euros.
and ticket for 72 hours will cost you about 46 euros.
(Children under 16 receive a significant discount).
Note - the ticket is valid for one year, so even if your trip is postponed and you have already booked it, you have a whole year to use it.
Pastel de nata to get you in the mood :)
Visiting historical buildings in Lisbon
Lisbon is a city with a lot of history, and the buildings in it tell part of the interesting story of Lisbon in particular and Portugal in general.
Many historical buildings can be entered for free in Lisbon, and this is only a partial list:
Arco da Rua Augusta
In downtown Lisbon, right on the coastline, you can find Praça do Comércio (Terreiro do Paço), where you can watch the city's famous arch Arco da Rua Augusta.
You can climb to a cute 360-degree observation point of the city at a cost of about 3.5 euros (as of summer 2023).
Free entry for Lisbon Card holders.
To order a ticket to an observation point, click here >>
Lisbon Cathedral
Another interesting building worth visiting for history buffs is the Lisbon Cathedral.
Only an 8-minute walk from the central plaza of the lower city, hides one of the oldest cathedrals in Lisbon.
You can view the cathedral from the outside, and you can also enter it for a nominal cost of about 5 euros.
Lisbon Card gives a 20% discount on the entrance to the cathedral.
Igreja de São Roque
A beautiful, famous and ancient church in the city of Lisbon.
From the outside it doesn't look very impressive, but as they say - you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. That's how it is in this case as well.
Entrance to the church is free.
Jerónimos Monastery
A monastery from the 16th century and previously considered part of UNESCO's national heritage sites.
Recommended by many visitors, so you should arrive early to avoid long queues.
The entrance fee is about 10 euros, but it is free for Lisbon Card holders.
Torre de Belém (Belém Tower)
Located on the coastline of Belem neighborhood is one of the most prominent symbols of the area.
You can also view the historic tower from a boat and get a special view of the place.
The entrance to the tower costs about 6 euros, but for holders of the Lisbon Card, the entrance is free.
Arco da Rua Augusta in Lisbon
Museums and art galleries in the city of Lisbon
If you love museums and art, Lisbon has a lot to offer you!
Apart from the works of art worth discovering just around the city, you can also drop by to visit the more formal galleries and museums.
Money Museum (Money Museum)
The Museum of Money and the History of Money. Located right in the heart of Lisbon and recommended by many travelers.
Entrance to it is free and can also be suitable for older children.
Fado Museum
If you are a fan of the Fado music genre that originated in the city of Lisbon - this is the museum for you.
The entrance fee is about 5 euros, but if you are under 25 you will pay half the price.
If you are with children under 12 they can enter for free.
20% discount for Lisbon Card holders.
National Museum of Science & Natural History
The science and history museum is a place where you can spend hours. It can also be suitable for children.
Entrance to the museum costs about 5 euros, but there are discounts for families with children.
Children up to the age of 10 enter for free.
You can also purchase a combined ticket for the museum and the botanical garden for 8 euros.
Their website is a bit difficult when it comes to reservations, but still from what it seems you should book tickets in advance.
10% discount for Lisbon Card holders.
For more details and to order tickets, click here >>
National Tile Museum
The Tile Museum that tells and shows the history of the famous tiles seen around Lisbon.
Can suit those who are really into tiles.
Entrance to the museum is about 5 euros. But for Lisbon Card holders the entrance is free.
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
An art gallery that is highly recommended by travelers.
The museum displays many pieces of art and there is also a beautiful garden you can sit.
The cost to the museum is about 10 euros and it includes all the exhibitions.
If you are under the age of 30, you will also receive a 50% discount on the entrance..!
And if you arrive on a Sunday after 14:00 in the afternoon, you can even enter for free.
Admittedly, the price is a little more expensive than the rest of the museums and art galleries in Lisbon, but you holders of the Lisbon Card will receive a 20% discount.
For more information and to order tickets to the museum, click here >>
You should also pay attention to street art.
Guided tours in Lisbon
So of course Lisbon provides many hours of wandering among the small alleys and bustling streets, and various viewpoints that are worth a stop.
Whether you decide to wander the city on your own or take guided tours, diverse options await you.
Lisbon offers lots of free guided tours around the city.
Guided tours in English through - Guru Walk
If you are interested in guided tours in English, you can find on the following website options for tours in various neighborhoods throughout Lisbon, including tours that are also suitable for children.
You can learn a lot about Lisbon on guided tours
Traveling Portugal soon? Don't forget to get travel insurance
Independent wanderings in the city
If you love wandering like me, you are going to appreciate Lisbon very much.
There are many places where you can wander independently and at no cost at all.
The pink street Rua Nova do Carvalho
One of the places worth a stroll is the Pink Street.
Located in the city center, on the pink street (beside the pink floor) you can find restaurants, bars, live performances, and various events that fill the street with a pleasant atmosphere in the evening.
Very photogenic for Instagram fans.
Praça do Rossio
One of the most recognized and popular areas in the city, your gateway to one of the most touristic neighborhoods in Lisbon.
In this area you will find countless restaurants and shops, street performances and musicians and bakeries full of Pastel de nata..!
Parque Eduardo VII
If you feel like sitting and resting in the park, having a picnic or just pampering yourself in the sun - this is the place for you.
The park has many paths to wander, a nice cafe and a playground for children.
Sometimes there is also a market (not sure when exactly), and at Christmas the place is decorated for the holiday and the annual Christmas market is held there.
Praça Dom Pedro IV - a nice place to wander
Viewpoints in the city of Lisbon
As part of the things you can do in Lisbon for free, you can find quite a few beautiful viewpoints of the city.
Santa Justa Lift
The famous elevator that brings you to a beautiful observation point of the city, is right in the center of the city.
If you go up in the elevator you will probably have to wait in line and pay about 5 euros.
You can also get to the observation via the other side of the street, go up the stairs and get the exact same observation, only for free.
Entry is also free via the elevator for Lisbon Card holders.
Miradouro de Santa Luzia
Another vantage point that I really liked, overlooking the city towards the sea.
There is a large square there and also stands around where you can buy something to drink or ice cream to devour.
The area itself is very cute regardless and worth a visit.
Miradouro da Graça
Another observation point that is a little above the previous one and allows you to watch the beautiful city below.
You can also visit the viewpoint close to it called Miradouro da Senhora do Monte which is considered one of the most highly recommended in the city.
View of the city of Lisbon
Flea markets in Lisbon
If you are a lover of markets like me, you can find some really cute markets in Lisbon and stock up on everything you can think of and at really cheap prices..!
Feira do Relógio
A cute flea market open on Sundays from morning to late afternoon.
You can find anything you can think of, from sunglasses to fruits and vegetables.
Feira da Ladra
A flea market that I really liked, open on Saturdays and Tuesdays until the evening hours.
You can find antiques, clothes and second hand products and also many stands with new and special accessories.
I bought a really nice necklace there :)
In general, the area itself is really cute, there are several restaurants in the area that you can visit and in general the atmosphere there is really pleasant.
Lx Market
The market is open on Sundays and offers a large variety of clothes and vintage products for those who love it.
You can also find stalls of handicrafts and different foods there.
The area itself has restaurants and bars, and it's definitely a nice place to spend a few hours on a sunny Sunday.
Flea market - Feira da Ladra in Lisbon
The oldest bookstore in the world - Livraria Bertrand
At least that's what they claim.
By chance in our random wandering in the city we came across a cute book fair that is open every Saturday.
We decided to go into the store next to it and try to find a book there that Malcolm wanted to read.
The bookstore is called Livraria Bertrand and it was opened in 1732.
There is a nice selection of books in English for those who are interested, and I even found some of the books I most wanted to read there.
The prices there are not that cheap, but the special thing about this store is that it is actually the longest running bookstore in the world..!
There is a Guinness World Records sign at the entrance to the store that verifies the fact, and if you buy a book, the sellers will be happy to sign it for you with a special stamp declaring that this is the oldest bookstore in the world.
The old bookstore of Lisbon
Last Words
There are many more interesting things in the city of Lisbon at affordable prices and also for free.
Of course I couldn't review everything, but I tried to give information about some of the best places.
If you come across other interesting attractions in Lisbon that I haven't mentioned, feel free to write to me in the comments and I'll be happy to add to the list :)
If you want to travel outside of Lisbon and discover a very special place, you are welcome to read the post about Berlanga Island.
If my content helps you during your travels, I would love for you to help me continue to grow and create more content. The most wonderful way, apart from continuing to visit my blog and use my links, is to follow me on Instagram..!
You can find a link to my Instagram page here >>
Thank you very much for the support and I wish you an amazing trip in Portugal :)
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All photos were taken by me, and may not be used without permission.
I have a confession..
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you book something through them, the prices are the same, AND you are getting me closer towards my first million ;)
My dream is to make a living from this blog, and I hope that while I help you fulfill your travel dreams, you can also help me get closer to my dream.
So if you appreciate the content you read and you trust the value of my recommendations, I would love for you to book your travel reservations through those links.
Enjoy your trip :)
