Things to Do in Lisboa

A triumphal arch linking Praça do Comércio to Rua Augusta. You can climb the 96 steps to a small viewing platform above the arch.

🕐 Always open (arch itself free from ground level; stair access via the museum shop, 10:00–19:00)

💡 The climb is free if you’re quick, but the official access fee is €3. Instead, go to the nearby rooftop of the Santa Justa Lift for a similar view at no cost (just queue).

A sunny terrace overlooking the city and the Tagus River. Benches, shade and a small kiosk bar. Quieter than the more famous viewpoints.

🕐 Always open

💡 Go at sunset on a weekday to avoid crowds. Bring a bottle of wine from the nearby mini-mercado.

A renovated traditional market with fresh produce stalls, pastelarias, and small food counters. Less touristy than Time Out Market; locals do their shopping here.

🕐 Monday to Saturday, 08:00–20:00. Some stalls close by 18:00.

💡 Best for a cheap lunch: pick up a pastel de nata (€1.30) and a coffee from the corner bakery. Avoid the seafood counters if you’re on a tight budget.

A calm, slightly neglected 19th-century botanical garden with towering palm trees, tropical plants and a ruined greenhouse. Steep paths and benches for reading.

🕐 Monday to Saturday, 09:00–18:00 (winter), until 20:00 (summer). Closed Sundays.

💡 Entry is €2. Go on a dry weekday morning when it’s nearly empty. Watch for fallen fruit on the paths.

Houses an extraordinary collection of Portuguese tiles from the 15th century to modern day, including a 36-metre-long panel of Lisbon before the 1755 earthquake.

🕐 Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00–18:00. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

💡 Free entry on Sundays until 2pm, and for all under-12s. The cloister café is lovely but pricey; bring a snack.