Lisbon Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Lisbon, Portugal)

The Mediterranean-style city of Lisbon contains many quality sights and tourist attractions, both traditionally Portuguese in character and more modern. For tourists with children, a trip to see the underwater creatures and attractions at the Lisbon Aquarium (Aquário Vasco da Gama) is always a safe bet and many hands-on exhibits make your visit all the more enjoyable.

A range of similar attractions and fun activities are available at the Lisbon Oceanarium (Oceanário de Lisboa), including a rather unusual opportunity to sleep at the Oceanarium and observe how the rays and sharks behave at night.

Many tourists visiting this part of Portugal during the summer choose to make the very most of the recreational activities available, and either chill out and take a cruise along the River Tagus (Rio Tejo), or enjoy sailing or windsurfing around the adjacent Atlantic coastline, along the Costa do Estoril.

Elevador da Bica

Address: Rua de Sao Paulo 234, Lisbon, Portugal, PT
The iconic street cars of Lisbon have been in use since the early 1890s and are known locally in Portuguese as the Elevador da Bica, transporting passengers up and down steep hills. Originally powered using hydraulics, these electric cars of today provide an extremely cheap way to sightsee and often run close to the Tagus River.
Open hours: daily - 07:00 to 23:00
Admission: charge

Aquário Vasco da Gama (Lisbon Aquarium)

Address: Rua Direita, Lisbon, PT-1495-718, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 021 419 6337
Also known as the Museu Oceanográfico, the Lisbon Aquarium is a rather historic attraction, established as long ago as the late 1890s. Look out for the many favourites, such as coral reefs, seahorses and red-bellied piranhas. The aquarium is divided into a series of themed zones, which even include sea birds and a well-preserved giant octopus measuring almost 9 metres / 30 feet in length.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Oceanário de Lisboa (Oceanarium)

Address: Esplanada de Carlos I, Parque das Naçoes, Lisbon, PT-1900-005, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 021 891 7002
A relatively recent addition to Lisbon's most popular tourist attractions and a stylish building to boot, the city's Oceanarium is perfect for families. There are also music sessions for young children, backstage tours explaining how the aquarists successfully look after the thousands of sea creatures, and dancing in the 'Ocean Critters' room. Also worth looking out for is the exhibition titled 'Terrible Sea Monsters', which includes life-size models of some huge marine reptiles, now sadly extinct.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children and seniors, children three years old and under are free

Costa da Caparica

Address: Rua Manuel de Agro Ferreira, Costa de Caparica, PT-2825, Portugal, PT
Lisbon, PT-1700-143, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 091 1948 3091
Head to the Costa da Caparica if you want to improve your surfing skills. This friendly club is amongst the best places to surf in Portugal and each year sees thousands upon thousands of keen surfers arrive here, to enjoy the strong waves and attend surfing championships.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Fonte Monumental (Monumental Fountain)

Address: Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques, Lisbon, PT-1000, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 021 346 3658
One of the most photographed of all Lisbon's many tourist attractions, the Fonte Monumental is a stunning fountain dating from the middle of the 20th century. This stone fountain is of epic proportions and dominates the area with its spectacular waterfalls, which are illuminated at night, when the Fonte Monumental takes on a rather magical appearance.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Jardim Zoológico (City Zoo / Zoological Gardens)

Address: Estrada de Benfica, Lisbon, PT-1549-004, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 021 723 2900
Home to a host of animal attractions, the city's zoological gardens date back to the latter part of the 19th century and operate a successful breeding programme, supporting many rare and unusual species of animals. Lisbon Zoo is particularly family orientated and features sea-lion feeding, free-flying birds, a children's farm with friendly farmyard animals, a reptile house and a playground area going by the name of 'Rainbow Park'. A zoo train is available to transport you around the grounds, along with a cable car, running high above the animals themselves.
Open hours: daily, April to September - 10:00 to 20:00; October to March - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children and seniors, children three years old and under are free

Marina de Cascais

Address: Estrada Guincho, Cascais, Lisbon, PT-2750, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 021 482 4800
A modern marina lying next to the westerly coastline of Lisbon, the Marina de Cascais has become a lively spot, although boat owners should note that it is amongst Portugal's most expensive marinas. Lining the waterfront are a series of shops, restaurants and various other eateries, which predictably offer a strong leaning towards seafood. This is a great place for an afternoon stroll, where you can sit back, enjoy a coffee and watch the boats coming and going.
Open hours: daily, April to October - 09:00 to 19:00; November to March - 09:00 to 18:00
Admission: free, charge for many of the main waterfront attractions

Planetário (Planetarium)

Address: Planetário Calouste Gulbenkian, Praça do Império, Lisbon, 1400-206, Portugal, PT
Tel: +351 021 362 0002
The Lisbon Planetarium resides alongside the Maritime Museum and offers a great way to learn more about the stars in the sky, with regular sky shows projected onto the interior of the domed roof. Operated by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the city's planetarium lies within the Belém area and is extremely popular, with other attractions including solar system exhibitions, diagrams and scale models.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge