This season: twenty things to do in Lisbon

Indulge in the best of Lisbon with 20 great opportunities to explore some of Portugal's most renowned places and discover the city's exciting cultural scene.

1. Sensorial Lisbon: Blindfolded Walks
Imagine what might be like to rediscover blindfolded the borough of Alfama: the narrow streets, the smell of grilled sardines, the sound of a Fado that can be heard from afar and so many others sensorial adventures… Walks on foot in the Alfama Borough in which the participants have their eyes blindfolded and are guided by a blind guide from ACAPO (Association for the Visually Impaired) who shares his sensorial experiences. There are also a Lisbon Walker Guide who sets the historical contextualization of the route and also 4 elements from the APPA - Associação do Património e da População de Alfama (Heritage and People of Alfama), who help the participants. Cabracega has developed this Project with two main goals:
- to provide a sensorial experience which aims to gather new knowledge of the surrounding space through the stimuli of the senses of smell, tact, taste and hearing and absense of vision;
- to bring awareness to the universe of the visually impaired, not as a limitation but instead in a positive and stimulating note in which the blind himself invite us to step into his own world of codes and references.

2. Take a gastronomic tour
Ask our Concierge for the best restaurants in town and have a taste of all the delicious gastronomic surprises of Portugal.

3. Palaces & Gardens of Sintra, Lord Byron’s Glorious Eden
Located just 20 mins from Lisbon, Sintra was once the royal town of Portugal. You can visit many of its beautiful palaces and manor houses and gardens. It was made famous by Lord Byron, who wrote that the town is "perhaps in every respect the most delightful in Europe," and calling it a "glorious Eden" in his epic poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. more »

4. Medieval Market in Óbidos
This year's theme of the famous historical recreations in Óbidos will be Love and War, Light and Darkness. Surrounded by its high town walls, Obidos is the ideal scenario for hundreds of extras and actors, fully dressed in medieval costumes, who animate the town’s streets, as they portray noblemen, beggars, mule-drivers, jugglers, musicians, jesters and dancers.The main site of the entertainment events is located next to the castle, which will be the location of jousting tournaments, on horse and on foot, medieval dinners and the market, where everything is sold from medieval costumes to traditional home-made medical remedies. From July 10-20, every weekend, from 12-24:00 and remaining days from 17:00-24:00. All visitors dressed in Medieval attire can attend the event for free.

5. Shopping in Chiado
Chiado is nowadays a noble shopping area with all sorts of facilities and street entertainment. Here you will find theatres, bookshops, museums, restaurants, famous Portuguese fashion houses and the famous haunt of personalities like Fernando Pessoa and Eça de Queiroz, in a location actually chosen by the city's art students: the café "A Brasileira". more »

6. Cape Roca: where the earth ends and the sea begins
Cape Roca is THE most western point of Europe. To go beyond it, you need a boat!There is a wonderful maritime museum in Belem, just outside of Lisbon. It is the place to go if you would like to learn some of Portugal's rich history and to understand how the nation's navies made it a global colonial power. And to feel that history emotionally and spiritually, the place to go is Cabo da Roca, by car or by helicopter. more »

7. Weddings & Celebrations at Lapa Palace
Celebrate your wedding in style at Lapa Palace in Lisbon. Surrounded by the ones you love most, in a small luxury palace on top of a hill of one of the most romantic cities in Europe, your wedding celebration will linger as a precious and eternal treasure in your memories. more »

8. Fado Tour in Bairro Alto at Night
Start with a sunset sightseeing tour of Lisbon and enjoy a dinner in an authentic Portuguese Fado restaurant. Indulge in Portuguese cuisine whilst listening to the traditional Portuguese Fado. more »

9. The Route of the Discoverers
Belém is closely associated with the Portuguese golden age of discovery. It is located at the mouth of the Tagus River and it was from there that the ships set sail for voyages to the New World. Two of the monuments worth seeing are the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Monastery of St. Jerome) and the Tower of Belém. The monastery is a delightful blend of Gothic, Renaissance and Manueline (named after King Manuel I who started the construction) styles. more »

10. Traditional Afternoon Tea at the Bar Rio Tejo
Lapa Palace has introduced a new afternoon tea service in the Rio Tejo Bar. Enjoy a selection of more than 40 of the finest and rarest tea varieties in the world, complemented by a range of fresh pastries and sandwiches. This English tradition was actually introduced to Europe from China by the Portuguese and Portugal is the only country in Europe to grow and produce loose leaf tea. more »

11. Parque das Nações & the Oceanarium
The 'Park of the Nations' was developed for the last World Exposition of the 20th Century, EXPO'98, and covers 5 km of riverfront on the Tagus River estuary. Designed as a public space, it is a self-contained urban city, with residential quarters, stores, services, urban infrastructure, parking facilities and gardens. The Oceanarium is one of the largest in the world and a reference institution which also contributes actively to increase the sensibility of the youngest populations about environmental protection issues. more »

12. Shopping with History
Visit some of Lisbon's most ancient shops that have survived the centuries as a result of the exquisite quality of their products. Some are over 100 years old and have seen kings come and go, the New State of the Republic and the Portuguese Revolution in 1974. more »

13. São Carlos Opera House
A Grand Opera Theatre situated in a beautifully preserved late 18th Century building inspired by La Scala. Wonderful rococo interior, excellent acoustics and good visibility from any seat. Operatic and concert season starts in December and ends in May. This season you will be able to see Rigoletto, Das Märchen, La clemenza di Tito, Aleko, Francesca da Rimini, Les Contes d'Hoffmann and La Tosca. more »

14. Side-car tour of Lisbon in old-timers
Why not tour Lisbon in sidecars? A classic way to tour the city, stopping whenever you want and appreciating Lisbon’s sun. Contact our Concierge for more details.

15. Nightlife in the city: Kais, Kapital and Alcântara Café 
- Kais Restaurant - is situated in the docks of Lisbon and offers a unique decoration made of brick walls, wooden floors, plants and candles. One of Lisbon's most interesting restaurants. - Kapital - is a nightclub also available for private hire: a typical high-fashion venue with a terrace for the warmer nights of Lisbon. - Alcântara Café Restaurant - is an old warehouse now renovated and one of the city’s hottest nightspots. The Café has gained much respect for its world-class music. Its chic reputation attracts a diverse clientele who come to sample the semi-industrial decor & eclectic menu of Portuguese dishes with international influences.

16. From Lisbon to Oeiras: Sailing in River Tagus
The Atlantic Ocean. The big blue. The wind. And a luxury yacht with interiors designed by Phillippe Starck! On request: champagne, caviar, tropical fruits... more »

16. St George Castle
The Castle can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. Its oldest parts date from the 6th century, when it was fortified by the Romans, Visigoths, and eventually the Moors. It served as a Moorish royal residence until Portugal's first king Afonso Henriques captured it in 1147 with the help of northern European crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. It was then dedicated to St. George, the saint patron of England, commemorating the Anglo-Portuguese pact dating from 1371, and became the royal palace until another one (that was destroyed in the Great Earthquake) was built in today's Comercio Square.

17. Óbidos: a gift for a Queen
This National Monument is surrounded by medieval walls, and, at its summit, looms a 13th-century castle. The site's history as a fortress goes back to Roman times and perhaps even earlier. In 1282 Dona Isabel, Portugal’s beloved sainted queen visited Óbidos and was so captivated by the beauty of this lovely walled village that she likened it to a jewel-studded crown. Her husband Dom Dinis presented the town to her as a wedding gift. This romantic gesture became a royal tradition, with each successive Portuguese ruler giving Óbidos to his queen on the occasion of their nuptials, right into the 19th century. more »

18. Golf à la Carte
Golf is one of the main sporting attractions and the Lisbon/Estoril region has a number of world-class golf courses. Proof of their quality was validated through the classification Established Destination of the Year, a status coveted by golfing destinations throughout the world and which was awarded to the Estoril Coast in 2003 by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO). more »

19. Children’s Activities
Lisbon offers a wealth of exciting experiences for the younger tourists, children and teenagers alike. Imagine sleeping with the sharks in the Oceanarium, visit an organic farm near Lisbon to learn how to grow organic herbs and vegetables to help the environment, learn more about the Templars and their mysteries at the Regaleira estate, be Indiana Jones for one day, have surf, kitesurf or bodyboard lessons in Guincho or visit a falconry school. Contact our Concierge for our VIP’s Kids & Teenagers Programs.

20. Business Tourism
Lisbon is the perfect European city for incentive meetings, combining centuries of cultural heritage with good food, fine wines, world class golf and a climate that combines the warming sunshine of the Iberian peninsula with the cooling influence of the Atlantic. more »