UltimateCity Guide Lisbon
Our favourites
Lisbon’s red roofs falling to the Tagus, with the dome of the National Pantheon and the church of São Vicente de Fora under a clear blue sky Lisbon’s red roofs falling to the Tagus, with the dome of the National Pantheon and the church of São Vicente de Fora under a clear blue sky The Tower of Belém on the Tagus under a blue sky with white clouds The Rua Augusta Arch and the yellow arcades of the Praça do Comércio under a blue sky The two-storey Manueline cloister of the Jerónimos Monastery around its lawn and fountain The walls of the Castelo de São Jorge and its pines above the rooftops of the old city

The city guide to Lisbon, Portugal

Best of Lisbon

Seven hills above the Tagus: the Manueline cloister at Belém, the castle over Alfama, palace hotels, Belcanto’s two stars and a warm pastel de nata. Lisbon, checked place by place.

Launch edition · Autumn 2026

Where to eatWhat to see
The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakSister guideULTIMATE Rail JourneysThe story of the train, the great journeys and where to book themA cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resort
The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratSister guideULTIMATE PropertyLapa’s palaces, the Avenida, the riverside and how the deed works

Lisbon, from the river up

Lisbon climbs from the Tagus over its hills: the Baixa and Chiado, Alfama under the castle, Príncipe Real, the Avenida da Liberdade, and Belém out along the river. Here are its palace hotels and the 2026 MICHELIN stars, the pastelarias and seafood halls, the monasteries, museums and miradouros, and day trips to Sintra, Cascais, Comporta, Évora and Óbidos. Every listing is checked against the venue’s own website or an official source, and anything we can’t confirm is left out.

The city on seven hills: Lisbon’s great sights

In depth

The city on seven hills

Lisbon·In depth

Belém’s monastery and tower, the castle above Alfama and the Baixa rebuilt after 1755: how to read Lisbon in three walks.

Read the story

Arts + Culture

Calouste Gulbenkian’s collection, the tiles of the Madre de Deus, opera at São Carlos and fado in Alfama.

The royal box and gilded tiers of the Teatro Nacional de São CarlosArts + CultureArts & Culture in LisbonMuseums, tiles, opera and fado

Lisbon, hill by hill

Seven quarters, each with its own guide: the grid of the Baixa and the cafés of Chiado, Alfama’s stairways under the castle, Príncipe Real’s palaces, the Avenida, Belém on the river, the embassy streets of Lapa and the Expo city of the Parque das Nações.

The Rua Augusta Arch and the yellow arcades of the Praça do Comércio under a blue skyNeighbourhood guideChiado & the BaixaCafés, theatres and the river squareThe walls of the Castelo de São Jorge and its pines above the rooftops of the old cityNeighbourhood guideAlfama & the CastleStairways, fado and viewpointsThe Castelo de São Jorge on its hill above the rooftops of the BaixaNeighbourhood guidePríncipe Real & the Bairro AltoPalaces, gardens and late barsThe tree-lined promenade and water channel of the Avenida da Liberdade, with patterned pavingNeighbourhood guideThe Avenida da LiberdadeThe grand boulevardThe Tower of Belém on the Tagus under a blue sky with white cloudsNeighbourhood guideBelémThe monastery and the towerLooking up into the dome and marble vaults of the Basílica da EstrelaNeighbourhood guideLapa, Estrela & SantosPalaces and old masters

On foot

Lisbon is a city of hills: walk downhill whenever you can, and let Tram 28 or the Metro carry you back up.

The tree-like steel canopy over the platforms of the Gare do OrienteNeighbourhood guideThe Parque das NaçõesThe river city of Expo 98

Before you go

Arrival by Metro from the airport, the lifts that are closed this year, booking Belém, and three days that work for a first visit.

The Rua Augusta Arch and the yellow arcades of the Praça do Comércio under a blue skyBefore you goLisbon essentialsEntry, the tourist tax, the lifts and 112The tree-like steel canopy over the platforms of the Gare do OrienteGetting aroundGetting aroundThe airport, the Metro, trams and trainsLisbon’s red roofs falling to the Tagus, with the dome of the National Pantheon and the church of São Vicente de Fora under a clear blue skyItineraryLisbon in three daysBelém, Alfama, Chiado and the GulbenkianThe tree-lined promenade and water channel of the Avenida da Liberdade, with patterned pavingLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addressesThe tree-lined promenade and water channel of the Avenida da Liberdade, with patterned pavingItineraryThe Gold weekendThe Ritz, CURA and BelcantoThe Tower of Belém on the Tagus under a blue sky with white cloudsItineraryThe Platinum weekendVerride, Belém and Fifty Seconds

Our advice

Check the lifts before you climb

Carris lists the Glória, Bica, Lavra and Santa Justa lifts as closed in 2026, with replacement buses. Check carris.pt on the day, and wear flat shoes with grip for the polished pavements. Lisbon essentials

Beyond Lisbon

Sintra’s palaces and the coast at Cascais are a train ride away; Comporta and the Alentejo lie south and east across the Tagus, and Óbidos to the north.

The red and yellow Pena Palace on its wooded peak above SintraBeyond LisbonSintraPalaces in the forestThe Santa Marta lighthouse and a seaside villa in Cascais at duskBeyond LisbonCascais & EstorilThe coast by trainHolm oaks, vineyards and golden fields of the Alentejo plainBeyond LisbonComportaRice fields and dunesThe Corinthian columns of the Roman temple in Évora under a blue skyBeyond LisbonÉvora & the AlentejoA Roman temple and the wine plainA cobbled lane of whitewashed houses with bougainvillea inside the walls of ÓbidosBeyond LisbonÓbidosA walled town

Our advice

Start Sintra early

Take an early train from the Rossio, book a timed slot for Pena on parquesdesintra.pt, and choose two palaces rather than four. Sintra

Lisbon in depth

The great sights, the table, the arts and fado, the hotels, the railways and where to buy: the stories behind Lisbon.

The two-storey Manueline cloister of the Jerónimos Monastery around its lawn and fountainThe back storyThe city on seven hillsBelém, Alfama and the BaixaSardines grilling over charcoalThe back storyLisbon at the tableBelcanto, Bibs and the cervejariasThe gilded church of the Madre de Deus at the Museu Nacional do Azulejo, with blue-and-white tile panelsThe back storyTiles, fado and the GulbenkianLisbon’s artsThe tree-lined promenade and water channel of the Avenida da Liberdade, with patterned pavingThe back storyWhere Lisbon sleepsPalaces, the Avenida and the riverA Tagus ferry, with Lisbon across the water under a blue skyThe back storyLisbon by rail and riverTrains to Sintra and Cascais, ferries acrossA stepped street under trees between yellow tiled housesThe back storyBuying in LisbonNeighbourhoods and the deed

At the counter

Eat the pastel de nata warm, with a dusting of cinnamon, standing at the counter with a bica.

The Padrão dos Descobrimentos and its carved figures against a deep blue skyFun factsLisbon fun factsThings you might not know

Iberia and beyond with the ULTIMATE guides

Lisbon is the western end of Iberia: east to Madrid and Andalusia, out to sea from its cruise terminal, and the great train journeys beyond.

The tree-like steel canopy over the platforms of the Gare do OrienteULTIMATE MadridMadridSpain’s capitalHolm oaks, vineyards and golden fields of the Alentejo plainULTIMATE AndalusiaAndalusiaSeville, Granada and the southA Tagus ferry, with Lisbon across the water under a blue skyULTIMATE CruisesCruisesFrom Lisbon’s cruise terminalA yellow Tram 28 bound for Prazeres on a narrow street, with the river at the end of the viewULTIMATE Rail JourneysRail JourneysThe great train journeys

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

Europe

See all Europe
Canal houses and bridges in Amsterdamthe NetherlandsULTIMATE AmsterdamThe canal ring, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, canal-house hotels, twenty MICHELIN-starred tables, brown cafés, and day trips to Haarlem and Keukenhof.Visit the guide The Alhambra in Granada in the evening lightSpainULTIMATE AndalusiaSeville, Granada and the Alhambra, Córdoba, Málaga, Cádiz and Jerez, Ronda and the white villages, Doñana and Cabo de Gata.Visit the guide The floodlit Acropolis and Parthenon at dusk, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open seaSpainULTIMATE Balearic IslandsMallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera side by side, and how to hop between them by ferry.Visit the guide The Sagrada Família lit up at nightSpainULTIMATE BarcelonaGaudí and the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, four Three-Star MICHELIN kitchens, the beaches and day trips to Montserrat and Girona.Visit the guide Belgrade's old town and the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael above the Sava at sunsetSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin against a blue skyGermanyULTIMATE BerlinThe Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island, the Philharmonie and three opera houses, the story of the Wall, and day trips to Potsdam and Dresden.Visit the guide The Royal Pavilion in Brighton under a blue skyEnglandULTIMATE BrightonThe Royal Pavilion and the piers, the Lanes and the North Laine, Kemptown and Pride, and the South Downs on the doorstep.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide Nyhavn, CopenhagenDenmarkULTIMATE CopenhagenNyhavn and Tivoli, Rosenborg and Amalienborg, smørrebrød at lunch, Geranium and Kadeau’s three stars, Danish design and the harbour baths.Visit the guide A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegroships & regions)ULTIMATE Cruises (linesThe world’s cruise lines for every budget, from family resort ships to yachts, expedition ships and river boats, with the cruising regions port by port.Visit the guide The Ha’penny Bridge on the Liffey, DublinIrelandULTIMATE DublinTrinity and the Book of Kells, the Georgian squares, The Shelbourne, the pubs and their music, and the coast from Howth to Dalkey.Visit the guide Edinburgh Castle on its rock above the trees of West Princes Street GardensScotlandULTIMATE EdinburghThe castle and the Royal Mile, the Georgian New Town, seven MICHELIN stars from Leith to Stockbridge and the August festivals.Visit the guide Aerial view of the white sand spit of Ses Illetes and Llevant, the salt pans and, across the strait, Ibiza and Es VedràSpainULTIMATE FormenteraThe white sands of Ses Illetes, the lighthouses of La Mola and Barbaria, the craft markets and an island made for bikes.Visit the guide The Baie des Anges, NiceFranceULTIMATE French RivieraNice, Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Menton, Saint-Tropez and Cassis: palace hotels, three-star tables, beach clubs, the Festival de Cannes and the painters’ coast.Visit the guide Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide Helsinki Cathedral above the South HarbourFinlandULTIMATE HelsinkiSuomenlinna and the South Harbour, saunas by the sea, Aalto and the Design District, two-starred Palace and day trips to Porvoo and Tallinn.Visit the guide The walls of Dalt Vila and the cathedral above the harbour of Ibiza Town, in late sunSpainULTIMATE IbizaDalt Vila’s UNESCO walls, Es Vedrà, three MICHELIN-starred kitchens, the beach clubs and the quiet north, 30 minutes from Formentera.Visit the guide Hagia Sophia and its minarets in golden evening lightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide Varenna on Lake ComoItalyULTIMATE Lake ComoVilla d’Este and the Villa del Balbianello, Bellagio and Varenna, the gardens of the villas, Riva boats and the four MICHELIN stars of the lake.Visit the guide Congress Square, Ljubljana, with the castle on its hill behindSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower lit at dusk across the ThamesUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, great museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide The Metrópolis building at the start of the Gran VíaSpainULTIMATE MadridThe Prado and El Retiro, the Royal Palace, DiverXO’s three stars and cocido since 1870, with day trips to Toledo and Segovia.Visit the guide La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la MarSpainULTIMATE MallorcaPalma’s cathedral and palace hotels, the UNESCO Tramuntana, Deià and Sóller, nine MICHELIN-starred kitchens, and Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.Visit the guide Valletta’s honey-coloured skyline, with the dome of the Carmelite church and the spire of St Paul’s, above the harbour at sunsetGozo & CominoULTIMATE MaltaValletta’s knights’ city, temples older than the pyramids, Caravaggio, seven MICHELIN-starred kitchens and the Blue Lagoon.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, MenorcaSpainULTIMATE MenorcaA UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: the coves of Macarella and Turqueta, World Heritage Talayotic sites, Ciutadella and Maó’s great harbour.Visit the guide The Duomo di Milano and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on the Piazza del DuomoItalyULTIMATE MilanThe Duomo and the Last Supper, La Scala and Brera, the Quadrilatero della Moda, Bartolini’s three stars, and day trips to Lake Como.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Oslo Opera HouseNorwayULTIMATE OsloThe Opera House you can walk on, MUNCH and Vigeland, the polar ships of Bygdøy, Holmenkollen and Maaemo’s three MICHELIN stars.Visit the guide The Eiffel Tower seen from the Trocadéro in ParisFranceULTIMATE ParisThe Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, Notre-Dame reopened, the palace hotels, nine three-star tables, the bouillons, and day trips to Versailles and Giverny.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide Prague Castle and Charles BridgeCzechiaULTIMATE PraguePrague Castle and Charles Bridge, the Old Town and Malá Strana, Mozart, Dvořák and the opera, the Christmas markets and the five MICHELIN stars of 2026.Visit the guide The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratOur sister guideULTIMATE Property (prime markets worldwide)Prime neighbourhoods, estate agents, new developments and how buying works, market by market across the ULTIMATE network.Visit the guide The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakOur sister guideULTIMATE Rail Journeys (great train journeys worldwide)The story of the train, the great rail journeys of the world and where to book them, from the Orient Express to the Glacier Express.Visit the guide The Church of St John at Kaneo above Lake Ohrid, North MacedoniaOur sister guideULTIMATE Regions (editor’s letters & regional guides)Editor’s letters and the food, markets, nature and seasons each region shares, starting with the Balkans.Visit the guide Reykjavík and Mount Esja from HallgrímskirkjaIcelandULTIMATE ReykjavíkHallgrímskirkja and Harpa, the geothermal pools and Sky Lagoon, whales and the northern lights, and the Golden Circle a morning away.Visit the guide St Peter’s Basilica in Rome under a clear blue skyItalyULTIMATE RomeThe Colosseum and the Vatican, the grand hotels above the Spanish Steps, La Pergola’s three stars, the trattorias, and day trips to Tivoli and Pompeii.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Matterhorn in winter above ZermattOur sister guideULTIMATE Ski Resorts (Europe & North America)Ski resorts in Europe and North America, country by country, for every budget: season dates, hotels, mountain restaurants, après, ski schools and getting there.Visit the guide The Warrior on a Horse fountain in Macedonia Square, Skopje, lit at nightNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, under a pink evening skyBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Gamla Stan, StockholmSwedenULTIMATE StockholmGamla Stan and the Royal Palace, the Vasa and Skansen, Frantzén’s three stars, fika and the archipelago of 30,000 islands.Visit the guide The restored Pyramid of Tirana under a blue skyAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide Rolling green hills and a farmhouse near Pienza in the Val d’OrciaItalyULTIMATE TuscanyFlorence, Chianti, Siena, the Val d’Orcia, Pisa and Lucca, Versilia, Bolgheri, the Maremma, Arezzo and Elba.Visit the guide Calatrava’s Hemisfèric lit at twilight, reflected in its poolSpainULTIMATE ValenciaCalatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences, the Gothic Lonja, paella by the sea, Las Fallas and the nine-kilometre Turia Garden.Visit the guide The Grand Canal and Santa Maria della Salute, VeniceItalyULTIMATE VeniceThe Grand Canal and St Mark’s, palace hotels, Two MICHELIN Stars at Glam, the bacari, the Biennale, and Murano, Burano and Torcello.Visit the guide The tiled roof of St Stephen’s Cathedral and the rooftops of central ViennaAustriaULTIMATE ViennaThe State Opera and the Musikverein, Schönbrunn and Klimt, the coffee houses and Heurigen, and Railjets to Budapest every hour.Visit the guide St Mark's Church and its tiled roof on St Mark's Square, Zagreb's Upper TownCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Zurich and the LimmatSwitzerlandULTIMATE ZurichThe Limmat and its two minsters, Chagall’s windows, the Bahnhofstrasse and Sprüngli, the lake, Baur au Lac and The Dolder Grand, and the city’s MICHELIN stars.Visit the guide

North America

See all North America
Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.Visit the guide A schooner silhouetted against the sunset off Key WestUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Downtown Los Angeles at sunset beneath the snow-capped San Gabriel MountainsCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The New York City skyline from Top of the RockNew YorkULTIMATE New YorkManhattan’s grand hotels and MICHELIN dining, Broadway and the Met, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.Visit the guide The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery SpencerCaliforniaULTIMATE San FranciscoCable cars over Nob Hill, North Beach cafés, the murals of the Mission, three-star tables and the Golden Gate Bridge.Visit the guide

Caribbean

See all Caribbean
The pink sand beach of Harbour Island, the BahamasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide

Asia & Indian Ocean

See all Asia & Indian Ocean
The Grand Palace reflected at dawnThailandULTIMATE BangkokThe Grand Palace and Wat Arun on the river, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, MICHELIN stars from street food to tasting menus, rooftop bars and the Thai islands.Visit the guide Hong Kong Island and the harbour at night from Victoria PeakOur sister guideULTIMATE Hong KongThe harbour from the Peak, the Star Ferry, Cantonese dining rooms with MICHELIN stars, dim sum in the lanes of Central and the museums of West Kowloon.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbourIndiaULTIMATE MumbaiThe Taj and the Gateway of India, Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace, three UNESCO sites, modern Indian restaurants and day trips to Elephanta and the Ghats.Visit the guide The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu RiverChinaULTIMATE ShanghaiThe grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, every MICHELIN star, Yu Garden, the two Shanghai Museums and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.Visit the guide The towers of the Central Business District lit up at night, reflected in Marina BayOur sister guideULTIMATE SingaporeMarina Bay and Raffles, three restaurants with three MICHELIN Stars, the hawker centres, and the Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Visit the guide A caparisoned elephant in the Esala Perahera procession, KandyOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide Longtail boats on West Railay beach beneath the limestone cliffsOur sister guideULTIMATE Thai IslandsWinter sun on two seas: Phuket, Krabi and Railay, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta on the Andaman, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in the Gulf.Visit the guide

Middle East & North Africa

See all Middle East & North Africa
The pyramids of Giza across the desertEgyptULTIMATE CairoThe Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, the minarets of Islamic Cairo, feluccas on the Nile and journeys to Luxor and Aswan.Visit the guide Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hourUnited Arab EmiratesULTIMATE DubaiBurj Khalifa and the Fountain, abras on the Creek, resorts on the Palm, every MICHELIN star of 2026 and day trips to Abu Dhabi and Hatta.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

From our readers: Lisbon’s visitors and locals on its tascas and starred tables, fado houses, trams, hills and day trips.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Óbidos Vila Natal

    This week's pick

    Óbidos Vila Natal

    Óbidos·Christmas village

    Óbidos turns its walled streets into a Christmas village from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027: book on obidosvilanatal.pt and go on a weekday.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    Lisbon’s red roofs falling to the Tagus, with the dome of the National Pantheon and the church of São Vicente de Fora under a clear blue skyItineraryLisbon in three daysThree daysThe gilded church of the Madre de Deus at the Museu Nacional do Azulejo, with blue-and-white tile panelsItineraryTiles, old masters and fado in a dayOne dayThe red and yellow Pena Palace on its wooded peak above SintraItineraryBy train to SintraOne day, by trainA stepped street under trees between yellow tiled housesItineraryA property viewing day: Lapa, Príncipe Real and the AvenidaOne dayThe Santa Marta lighthouse and a seaside villa in Cascais at duskItineraryA day trip: Cascais and GuinchoOne dayThe tree-lined promenade and water channel of the Avenida da Liberdade, with patterned pavingItineraryThe Gold weekend: a luxury weekend in LisbonTwo daysThe Tower of Belém on the Tagus under a blue sky with white cloudsItineraryThe Platinum weekend: Lisbon at its most exclusiveTwo days

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Lisbon at the table: the stars, the tascas and the seaLisbon · In depth
    2. 2BelcantoChiado · Fine dining
    3. 3Henrique Sá PessoaCampo de Ourique · Fine dining
    See all 34

    Cafés

    1. 1Pastéis de BelémBelém · Pastry shop
    2. 2ManteigariaChiado · Pastry shop
    3. 3Confeitaria NacionalPraça da Figueira · Pastry shop
    See all 7

    Bars

    1. 1Red FrogAvenida da Liberdade · Cocktail bar
    2. 2CINCO LoungePríncipe Real · Cocktail bar
    3. 3Monkey MashPríncipe Real · Cocktail bar
    See all 6

    Hotels

    1. 1Where Lisbon sleeps: palaces, the Avenida and the riverAvenida da Liberdade · In depth
    2. 2Four Seasons Hotel Ritz LisbonMarquês de Pombal · Grand hotel
    3. 3Tivoli Avenida Liberdade LisboaAvenida da Liberdade · Grand hotel
    See all 25

    Sights

    1. 1The city on seven hills: Lisbon’s great sightsLisbon · In depth
    2. 2The Jerónimos MonasteryBelém · Monastery
    3. 3The Tower of BelémBelém · Fortress
    See all 11

    Arts & Culture

    1. 1Tiles, fado and the Gulbenkian: Lisbon’s artsLisbon · In depth
    2. 2Calouste Gulbenkian MuseumAvenidas Novas · Museum
    3. 3CAM – Centro de Arte Moderna GulbenkianAvenidas Novas · Museum
    See all 25

    Parks

    1. 1The Gulbenkian GardenAvenidas Novas · Garden
    2. 2Jardim Botânico de LisboaPríncipe Real · Botanic garden
    3. 3Jardim da EstrelaEstrela · Garden
    See all 6

    Walks

    1. 1Alfama and the miradourosAlfama · Walk
    2. 2The Baixa to ChiadoBaixa · Walk
    3. 3Príncipe Real and São Pedro de AlcântaraPríncipe Real · Walk
    See all 5

    Shopping

    1. 1The Avenida da LiberdadeAvenida da Liberdade · Shopping street
    2. 2JNcQUOI AvenidaAvenida da Liberdade · Fashion, deli and restaurant
    3. 3El Corte Inglés LisboaSão Sebastião · Department store
    See all 8

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: call 112Lisbon · Emergency number
    2. 2Hospital de Santa MariaCidade Universitária · Public university hospital
    3. 3Hospital da Luz LisboaCarnide · Private hospital
    See all 8

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Lisbon: hills, palaces and the deedLisbon · In depth
    2. 2Your NIF: the Portuguese tax numberPortugal · Official step
    3. 3Casa ProntaPortugal · Official step
    See all 7

    Developments

    1. 1The Metro’s Linha CircularEstrela · Transport
    2. 2The new Glória liftRestauradores · Transport
    3. 3CAM: the Gulbenkian’s new garden frontAvenidas Novas · Culture
    See all 5

    Motoring

    1. 1Rádio Táxis de Lisboa (Retális)Lisbon · Taxi
    2. 2AutocoopeLisbon · Taxi
    3. 3CooptáxisLisbon · Taxi
    See all 6

    Getting Around

    1. 1Lisbon by rail and riverRossio · In depth
    2. 2Lisbon Airport (Humberto Delgado)Lisbon · Airport
    3. 3CP – Comboios de PortugalLisbon · Railway
    See all 8

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