Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, provides many free activities that are worth exploring. Despite Portugal's increasing popularity among tourists, it is still possible to discover affordable and less touristy places in the country. In reality, some of the top things to do in Lisbon and Portugal come at no cost. Don't waste money on expensive tours and pre-packaged deals if you're traveling to Lisbon. Rather, plan your own itinerary and save your money for your next travel destination since you'll undoubtedly want to return.
Lisbon is therefore a great city to visit if you're on a budget and is full of cheap things to do. We've gone a step further and are checking out some of the best free activities to do in Lisbon. Check out these 4 free things to do in Lisbon and explore the city from top to bottom.
Miradouro Panorâmico de Monsanto
Our first free activity in Lisbon takes us to a place with some of the best views in the city. With a panoramic view over the city of Lisbon and a breathtaking height (for many), the Miradouro de Monsanto (Monsanto Viewpoint) has been around for almost half a century but has taken on many different forms. The building was previously a restaurant, disco, bingo, office building and even a warehouse.
Home to the best view over the city in Alto da Serafina, the building has been abandoned since 2001. Entrance to the viewpoint is free and you can come across several examples of urban art that now decorate the building, trying to bring back a little of the life and colour it has lost over the years. While in the area, take the opportunity to explore Mata do Monsanto, where there are several parks where you can enjoy a picnic under the shade of the trees.
Feira da Ladra
Feira da Ladra is one of the oldest street markets in Portugal and one of the best known in Lisbon. It starts very early with the rising of the sun and lasts until the end of the afternoon, which gives you plenty of time to browse calmly through the hundreds of stalls.
You can find (almost) everything you can imagine: antiques, clothes, books, furniture, decorative objects and all sorts of vintage treasures. There are hundreds of sellers and buyers and a couple of opportunities at a good price.
To discover the Feira da Ladra flea market you will have to go to Campo de Santa Clara, in São Vicente on a Tuesday or Saturday between 9am and 6pm, and take advantage of one of the most unique and fun things to do in Lisbon.
Jardim da Estrela
What could be a better plan than relaxing a picturesque park in Lisbon? Romantic-inspired and built in the style of English gardens, the Jardim da Estrela is one of Lisbon's classic gardens. Located in the parish of Estrela, with one of its entrances facing the Estrela Basilica, it has 4.6 hectares open to the public daily between 7am and midnight.
Take advantage of Lisbon's pleasant climate to enjoy long walk, a picnic and take pictures, an excellent plan to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. In the summer there are several musical shows at the emblematic Coreto, but throughout the year you can come across various artistic displays such as dance mornings on Sundays, all for free.
Take a tour and discover Portugal's "azulejos"
Lisbon is the city of tiles, known in Portuguese as "azulejos", and no, they are not only found in museums. Throughout the city on building facades, shops, fountains, statues and much more you can come across different tile panels with different styles and colours.
You can make the most of your itinerary and take note of these places to discover the most beautiful tiles in Lisbon for free:
- Rectory of the University of Lisbon: The facade of the building of the Rectory of the University of Lisbon has one of the most beautiful geometric panels in the city. The triangular shapes and different shades of blue are by Fred Kradofler, a pioneer of graphic design in Portugal.
- Avenida D. João II, Parque das Nações: A work signed by the Icelandic artist Erró, you will find a colourful and lively tile panel portraying several comic book heroes and science fiction heroes. If you are a fan of superheroes from Superman to Spiderman this mural is for you.
- "Casa dos Parafusos", Cais do Sodré: This tiled façade goes back to the 1920's and is home to a small shop. The name of the shop is made up of screws, an original idea, to say the least, to make this small local business stand out.
- Botto Machado Garden Mural, Campo de Santa Clara: This is one of the most recent tile murals in Lisbon. Inaugurated in 2016, this 170-metre panel has over 50,000 tiles and was created by André Saraia. A mural full of colour, reminiscent of a fantastic universe is easily found on the garden wall near the Feira da Ladra flea market.
But this is certainly not all. Today, tiles can be seen throughout Lisbon, from the historic Alfama neighborhood to the modern Parque das Nações, and even on many other buildings throughout the city. Other notable examples include the São Bento train station, which features over 20,000 tiles depicting scenes from Portuguese history, and the Jerónimos Monastery, which has intricate tile patterns in its cloisters.
Overall, tiles have become a symbol of Lisbon's rich history and culture, and they continue to be an important part of the city's identity. And the best way to discover them is simply by taking a stroll around the city, or by taking a free Lisbon walking tour.