Lisbon tours and tickets
Lisbon has few sights that sell out far ahead, but the queues are real. The Jerónimos Monastery, the Castelo de São Jorge and the Sintra palaces are the ones where a ticket saves time. Belém Tower is small and runs a timed queue. Trams, viewpoints, Alfama and the river need nothing booked, and fado and food tours are best set a day or two ahead.
Book these first
- Sintra palaces
- 1 to 3 days ahead in summer. Pena Palace queues are long, and timed tickets help.
- Jerónimos Monastery
- 1 to 2 days ahead in summer. The queue at the door can take over an hour.
- Cervejaria Ramiro
- Arrive early or expect a wait. Lisbon's best-known seafood restaurant, and its queue is part of the visit.
Nobody pays to be on this page. The Viator buttons are partner links: if you book through one, Viator may pay us a commission, at no cost to you. Where the official site sells the ticket, we link it too. How we rank
Museums and galleries
Museu Nacional do Azulejo
A former convent that holds centuries of Portuguese tile, from a huge panorama of old Lisbon to chapel walls. Entry is by ticket, with a cafe in the cloister, and a visit takes about two hours.
Which to pick. Buy the ticket at the door unless you arrive on a free day. A guided tour adds the history but is not needed.
Not needed, buy on the dayTours and tickets on ViatorMuseu Calouste Gulbenkian
A museum of ancient, Islamic and European art, set in a garden. Entry is by ticket, with a separate modern art center nearby. It is calm and rarely crowded.
Which to pick. Buy at the door. It is a good wet-day choice, and the collection is small enough for two hours.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Monuments and landmarks
Castelo de São Jorge
A hilltop castle above Alfama, with walls to walk and views over the river and the rooftops. Entry is by timed ticket, and guided tours are sold. The light is best early or late.
Which to pick. Buy a timed ticket online in summer, and arrive at opening or in the last hours. Walk up from Alfama rather than taking a tuk-tuk.
A few days ahead in summerVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorBelém Tower
A small defensive tower on the river, with rooms and a terrace at the top. Entry is by ticket and capacity is limited, so queues form on busy days. Combined tickets with other Belém sights exist.
Which to pick. Go at opening and buy the ticket online if you can. If the queue is long, view it from the outside and spend the time at Jerónimos.
1 to 2 days ahead in summerVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorSanta Justa Lift
A neo-Gothic iron lift that links Baixa and the Carmo square. Tickets are sold for the lift and the viewing platform, and the queue can be long. Trams also run on a combined ticket.
Which to pick. Skip the queue by walking up to the platform behind the Carmo Convent ruins, which shows a similar view. Ride the lift only for the ride.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Churches and palaces
Jerónimos Monastery
A Manueline monastery in Belém, with a carved cloister and the tomb of Vasco da Gama. Entry is by ticket and the church is free. Queues at the door can take over an hour in summer.
Which to pick. Buy the cloister ticket online and go at opening. Combine it with Belém Tower and a pastry nearby for a half-day in the area.
1 to 2 days ahead in summerVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorCarmo Convent ruins
The roofless Gothic nave of a church destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, now a small archaeological museum. Entry is by ticket and it takes less than an hour.
Which to pick. Buy at the door and visit in the morning for the light through the arches. It is quiet and good value.
Not needed, buy on the dayOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Sintra and Pena Palace
A hill town of palaces and gardens, about 40 minutes from Rossio by train. The Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, the Moorish Castle and the National Palace each need their own ticket. Buses link the sights.
Which to pick. Pick two sights, not four. Buy timed tickets for Pena online, go early, and use the bus rather than walking the hills.
1 to 3 days ahead in summerOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorCascais
A seaside town about 40 minutes by train from Cais do Sodré, with beaches, a sea-front walk and a small old center. Bikes and boat trips are sold locally.
Which to pick. Go by train and spend the day on foot or by bike. No tour is needed, and nothing needs booking.
Not needed, buy on the dayOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorSetúbal and Arrábida
A coastal day south of Lisbon, with beaches in the Arrábida park, a wine region and the Sado estuary, reachable by car or by train and ferry. Dolphin cruises and wine tours are sold.
Which to pick. Take a guided trip if you do not have a car, because the beaches and cellars are hard to reach by public transport. Book a day ahead.
A few days aheadTours and tickets on Viator
Food tours and classes
Food walking tour
A guided walk through Baixa, Chiado or Alfama that stops for tastings of cheese, ham, pastries and wine. Most last three to four hours and run in small groups, with a late lunch or an early dinner slot.
Which to pick. Choose a small group, and go hungry. Pick the neighborhood you plan to stay in, so you know where to eat again.
A few days aheadTours and tickets on ViatorPastel de nata class
A hands-on class where you make the custard tarts with a baker, usually in a small kitchen, with tasting at the end. Classes run for about two hours.
Which to pick. Book it for your first day, so you can look for the best tarts afterward. Check if the class includes the recipe for home.
A few days aheadTours and tickets on Viator
City and museum passes in Lisbon
- Lisboa CardA card that covers public transport and free or reduced entry to many sights, including Jerónimos and Belém Tower. It pays off if you visit several ticketed sights in one or two days. For a relaxed trip, single tickets are cheaper. Official page
Booking tours and tickets in Lisbon
Do I need to book the Jerónimos Monastery?
In summer, a day or two ahead is wise, since the queue at the door can take an hour. Out of season you can usually buy a ticket on arrival.
Is Sintra worth a full day?
Yes. The palaces and gardens fill a day, and each sight needs its own ticket. See two or three, not all of them, and start early to beat the crowds.
Can I ride Tram 28 with a ticket?
Yes, but it is crowded and slow. Buy a ticket from the driver or a transport pass, and ride early. Walking the same route is a good alternative.
Is the Lisboa Card worth it?
Only if you will use public transport a lot and visit several of its included sights in a short time. Single tickets suit most visitors with one or two paid sights.
Can I cancel a tour in Lisbon?
Many partner tours allow free cancellation a day before, but official monument tickets are usually fixed to a time slot. Read the terms before you pay.
What can wait until I arrive?
Museums, Cascais, the Santa Justa Lift and river boats can be done on the day. Book Sintra, Jerónimos and the castle ahead in summer.