Lisbon City Break — Trams, Pastéis de Nata & Fado
Lisbon
Holidays
Yellow trams, cobbled hills, azulejo tiles, Fado music, pastéis de nata and 300 days of sunshine — Europe's most charming capital
Search Lisbon Holidays
Flight Time
2h30 from London; direct flights from most UK airports
Best Time
March–June and September–October — warm, sunny, fewer crowds than summer
Country
Portugal
Suppliers
our travel partners ·
Lisbon Holiday Guide
Lisbon is Europe's most charming and underrated capital — a city of yellow trams, cobbled hills, azulejo-tiled facades, Fado music and the world's best custard tarts. Built on seven hills above the Tagus estuary, Lisbon has a light and atmosphere unlike any other European capital — warm, golden, melancholic and deeply beautiful.
The Alfama, Lisbon's oldest neighbourhood, is a labyrinth of medieval lanes, Moorish walls and Fado houses that survived the 1755 earthquake that destroyed most of the city. The Belém district, 6km west, contains the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery — two of the finest examples of Manueline architecture in the world, and the original Pastéis de Belém bakery (open since 1837). The LX Factory, a creative hub in a former industrial complex, and the Time Out Market are both essential.
Lisbon is one of the sunniest capitals in Europe (300 days of sunshine per year) and one of the most affordable. It is 2h30 from London by air and has direct flights from most UK airports.
Popular Areas in Lisbon
Average Temperatures
Jan
15°C
Feb
16°C
Mar
18°C
Apr
20°C
May
23°C
Jun
27°C
Jul
29°C
Aug
29°C
Sep
27°C
Oct
22°C
Nov
18°C
Dec
15°C
Ready to Book?
Call us or send an enquiry and we'll find you the best deal across Travelpack and JTA Holidays.
Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Lisbon
The medieval Alfama, Manueline monuments, iconic yellow trams, Fado music, pastéis de nata and the best food market in Europe that make Lisbon one of the world's most loveable cities.
Alfama — Lisbon's Medieval Soul
The Alfama is Lisbon's oldest and most atmospheric neighbourhood — a labyrinth of medieval lanes, Moorish walls, whitewashed houses and miradouros (viewpoints) that survived the 1755 earthquake that destroyed most of the city. The São Jorge Castle (Moorish, 11th century) sits at the top of the hill. The Fado houses (casas de fado) in the Alfama are the best places to hear authentic Fado — the melancholic Portuguese music that is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Feira da Ladra flea market (Tuesday and Saturday) is excellent.
Belém Tower & Jerónimos Monastery
The Belém district, 6km west of the city centre, contains two of the finest examples of Manueline architecture in the world — the Belém Tower (Torre de Belém, 1519), a fortified tower on the Tagus that was the last sight of Portugal for explorers setting out for the New World, and the Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, 1502), a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Vasco da Gama is buried. Both are extraordinary examples of the uniquely Portuguese Manueline style — Gothic architecture decorated with maritime motifs.
Pastéis de Belém — The World's Best Custard Tart
The Pastéis de Belém bakery, open since 1837 in the Belém district, makes the original pastel de nata — a warm, flaky pastry shell filled with a creamy egg custard, dusted with cinnamon and icing sugar. The recipe is a closely guarded secret, known only to three people. The bakery sells over 20,000 pastéis per day and the queue stretches out of the door — but it moves quickly. Eating a warm pastel de nata at the counter with a bica (espresso) is one of the great pleasures of Lisbon.
Tram 28 — The Most Scenic Tram Ride in Europe
Tram 28 is Lisbon's most famous tram route — a 7km journey through the historic neighbourhoods of Martim Moniz, Alfama, Graça, Estrela and Prazeres on vintage yellow trams that have been running since 1930. The tram climbs steep hills, squeezes through narrow lanes and passes some of the most beautiful buildings in Lisbon. It is extremely popular with tourists — arrive early or late to avoid the crowds, and watch your pockets. The Eléctrico 28 is a genuine working tram, not a tourist attraction.
LX Factory — Creative Hub & Sunday Market
The LX Factory, in a former 19th-century industrial complex under the 25 de Abril Bridge in Alcântara, is Lisbon's most creative neighbourhood — a cluster of independent restaurants, bars, boutiques, bookshops, art galleries and studios in a series of repurposed factory buildings. The Sunday market (Mercado da LX Factory) is the best in Lisbon — vintage clothing, artisan food, plants, books and crafts. The Ler Devagar bookshop (in a former printing press, with a bicycle hanging from the ceiling) is one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world.
Sintra — Fairy-Tale Palaces Day Trip
Sintra, 30km northwest of Lisbon (40 minutes by train from Rossio station), is one of the most extraordinary day trips in Europe — a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of fairy-tale palaces, Moorish castles and romantic gardens in the Serra de Sintra hills. The Pena Palace (a 19th-century Romantic palace in vivid yellow and red, perched on a rocky peak), the Moorish Castle (9th century), the Quinta da Regaleira (with its mysterious initiation well) and the National Palace of Sintra are all extraordinary.
Bairro Alto & Príncipe Real — Lisbon's Best Neighbourhoods
Bairro Alto (Upper Quarter) is Lisbon's bohemian neighbourhood — a grid of narrow streets that transforms from a quiet residential area by day into the city's main nightlife district by night, with hundreds of bars, restaurants and Fado houses. Príncipe Real, adjacent to Bairro Alto, is Lisbon's most elegant neighbourhood — a tree-lined square surrounded by antique shops, concept stores, wine bars and excellent restaurants. The Jardim do Príncipe Real is the best park in central Lisbon.
Lisbon Food — Bacalhau, Bifanas & the Time Out Market
Lisbon has one of the best food scenes in Europe — bacalhau (salt cod, prepared in 365 different ways), bifanas (pork sandwiches with mustard), caldo verde (kale soup with chorizo), grilled sardines (best in June during the Santos Populares festival), francesinha (Porto's extraordinary sandwich, available in Lisbon too) and the extraordinary seafood of the Tagus estuary. The Time Out Market in the Cais do Sodré is the best food market in Europe — 35 restaurants and 8 bars under one roof, all curated by Time Out.
Explore Lisbon on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
Google Maps embed — add your API key to activate
Set mapEmbedUrl in the destination data to display an interactive map here