Having a Good Time Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive
When living abroad or visiting a new place it can get pricey quickly. Although Lisbon is not as expensive as other places, it sometimes adds up and can get quite expensive. But if you know where to go there are a ton of affordable things you can do in the Portuguese capital. Here’s a list of some of my favourite affordable things to do in Lisbon.
1. Museum (MAAT)
If you like museums you should pay the MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) a visit. The museum has exhibitions of contemporary art, architecture, and technology. It’s located in Belém, right next to the Tagus River. If the weather is nice you can also go for a walk along the river or try one of the famous Pastel de Nata at Pastéis de Belém.
The museum also has a beautiful rooftop which you can access for free, you just have to walk up the stairs on the side. From the roof, you have a wonderful view of the famous Ponte 25 de Abril Bridge.
Every first Sunday of the month between 10 am and 1 pm the general public gets free entry to the museum, perfect if you are on a budget. On other days it’s around 11 Euros per person.
2. Visit a Miradouro
Lisbon is such a beautiful city with many great views. The city has a few so-called “Miradouros”, which basically just means viewpoint.
If you’re on a budget but you still want to experience something nice, go and visit one of these viewpoints. Sometimes there are also live musicians performing, people dancing or friends just having a glass of wine together.
If you’re planning on getting some wine try to find stores like Pingo Doce, Continente or Aldi, then the small corner stores are a lot more expensive. In the big supermarkets, you can find a nice bottle of wine anywhere between 3 and 5 Euros. (Or a shitty one for anything around 2 Euros). This is for sure one of my favourite cheap things to do in Lisbon.
You can find many miradouros in Lisbon just by googling “miradouro”, but here are some of my favourites.
Miradouro de Santa Luzia
This is a miradouro I always recommend to everyone visiting Lisbon. It is located in Alfama, the old town of Lisbon and has a great view of the harbour and the other side of the river. Sometimes there are live performers there as well and it’s just a wonderful atmosphere.
But the only downside is that it is often busy with tourists and to get there the easiest way is to walk since most of the trams are usually stuffed with tourists.
If you go there early or quite late it’s less crowded. For example, a friend of mine and I went to watch the sunrise there at around 7 am (which is one of the best spots to do so in Lisbon if you ask me) and the view was gorgeous. Also, there were not that many people there which was fantastic!
Miradouro de Santa Catarina
Another great place to go and see the river is the Miradouro de Santa Catarina. This one is quite popular, especially among people living in Lisbon. I was there one New Year’s Eve since you have a great view of the fireworks.
Also compared to Santa de Luzia, this Miradouro has a lot of space to sit down and have a glass of wine. This is also a popular place for live musicians and sometimes people even dance there. If you don’t feel like bringing your own drinks, there is also a Quiosque (a small outdoor bar) right there. Usually, you can get a glass of wine or a beer for a few Euros.
This miradouro is quite easily reachable, you just have to walk from Baixa-Chiado for a few minutes on foot.
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara
This place is close to Bairro Alto and similar to the Santa Catarina easily reachable by foot in a few minutes from the Baixa-Chiado metro station. It has two different floors, but you have a great view from both floors. The lower part, which you can reach by just going down the stairs is a little garden and it’s a wonderful place to hang out with friends or to have a glass of wine (or a bottle).
Sometimes there are little market booths on the higher floor of the miradouro and I’ve also seen them do little concerts and events in that space (especially during June).
Miradouro do Jardim do Torel
This one is another of my favourite miradouros. It has a few small green spaces where people usually sit, drink, chat and listen to some musicians. I’ve also seen a group of friends bring a guitar and just sing together (super adorable). Depending on where you’re coming from getting there might be a little bit of a hike. But to be fair, that’s quite common for Lisbon.
3. Watch the Sunset
You can see the sunset in many places from Lisbon, but believe me, this spot is one of the best places to see the sunset in Lisbon. It’s also a bit of an insider tip, I at least only learned about this after having lived in Lisbon for a few months.
On the other side of the river (in Almada), is a park called Jardim do Rio, it is located right after the famous restaurant Ponto Final (for which you need a reservation months in advance in case you are thinking of going there). From this park you have such a beautiful view of Lisbon and the Tagus River.
If you’re coming from Lisbon and want to get to Jardim do Rio you have two different options:
- Take the Ferry
- Uber
If you want to take the ferry you can just take the yellow ferry line from Cais do Sodré towards Cacilhas. And then you just walk towards the right side and walk along the water until you’ve walked passed Ponto Final. Then you will see a little green area and you’ve reached the park.
The ferry is around 3.30 Euros both ways.
If you decide to take the Uber (which is a bit more expensive maybe around 10 – 15 Euros) you can set the location to Panoramic Elevator of Boca do Vento. It’s the Elevator right by the park. The Uber will drive you over the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge and will let you out on top. Just be aware that sometimes there’s a lot of traffic and that can take a while. Once you’re out of the Uber, you just have to take the elevator down and you’re at the park and can enjoy the sunset.
From Jardim do Rio you have an amazing view of the city and the bridge and the sunset of course as well (although it’s best during summer and fall since the sun won’t be blocked during that time).
In the summer there are sometimes small bars there or people selling Brigadeiros, but I recommend buying some food and drinks at a supermarket before you head over. My friends and I would usually go to the Pingo Doce in Cais do Sodré before taking the ferry.
4. Eat Pastel de Nata
One thing you for sure need to do when you visit Lisbon is to get a Pastel de Nata.
It’s a traditional Portuguese custard tart. It is a crisp and flaky pastry dough tart filled with creamy custard cream. Usually, you can sprinkle them with powdered sugar or cinnamon.
A Pastel de Nata is usually around a Euro or two, the same goes for an espresso. I often tell people to go to places like “Manteigaria” or “Fábrica de Pastéis de Nata”, which are places where you can see them make the pastries. So you know they are fresh.
Although they are always super delicious, nothing beats a fresh, warm Pastel, from a baker made right in front of your eyes.
Here are some of my favourite places for Pasteis de Natas.5. Visit a Park
Besides wonderful pastries and beautiful miradouros, Lisbon also has a lot of parks to offer. If you’re more interested in something chill, maybe reading a book or sunbathing a little (but you can’t be bothered to go all the way to a beach), I recommend heading to a park.
I sometimes would grab a blanket and some cake and coffee and just enjoy the weather.
I have also discovered that painting or making bracelets can be a lot of fun while hanging out in a park. Supplies and materials for crafts and painting are super affordable at Asian stores / Chinese stores, there are a lot in Lisbon and they usually have everything you can think of for great prices.
Here are some of my favourite parks in Lisbon.
Parque Canino
This park is one of my favourite ones, because there are ducks and chickens walking around and the park. Also, there is a little pond in the middle and you can watch some of the ducks swim there. The park also has a lot of trees which is amazing during sunny days.
Parque Eduardo VII
This is probably the biggest park in Lisbon. I used to live in the area and would go here quite often. In the northern part of the park, there’s also a big pond and a café. A lot of dog owners walk their dogs in this park and it always made me super happy when the dogs would go and play in the pond. I have also had many hangouts with friends in this park, we even celebrated Midsommar with my Swedish friends there.
There is also a green house in the park and on Sundays (and public holidays) the entrace to this is completely free. Usually it is around 3 Euros. Sometimes there are also events held in this green house (I went for a Halloween party).
Garden of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
This is a beautiful little park with a pond in the back and even some statues and artwork around the park. In the park, you can also find an art museum. I personally haven’t spend a lot of time here but I had friends who used to live close by and visit this park regularly to read.
Alameda Park
Since I used to live in this area, I spent a lot of time in this park. The only downside here is that there are no trees, so if the sun is out, it can be hot very quickly. But it’s also a wonderful space to hang out in the evening and there are always people playing football or just hanging out and having a drink.
One of the main attractions in this park is the huge fountain, with beautiful statues and lights. Like in many other public areas in Lisbon, this park is also used for events and concerts sometimes. Also, there is a Quiosque in the park, if you fancy a glass of wine, some beer or just a coffee.
6. Get 1 Euro Tacos
If you’re looking for authentic Mexican food and a great deal then you have to check out La Malquerida. This is a very popular taco place in Santos. Usually, they have a taco happy hour which is between 6 – 7 pm. You can get some of their tacos for 1 Euro.
And even if you go outside of happy hour, a full menu (3 tacos and a small beer/drink) is around 7 Euros.
7. Play Pool
This another insider tip, not a lot of people know. Some of my friends and I really enjoy playing pool (even though we’re all quite bad at it). After trying a few different places we discovered this one. It’s technically a minigolf course but they also have a few arcade games and two pool tables downstairs. For the pool table, you need to have cash and sometimes you have to wait for it to be free.
They do require you to get a drink each and the pool table per game is 2 Euros. Compared to other places, this is a fantastic price, as you can play as long as you want (especially if you’re not that good at pool).
8. Have Dinner at 100 Montaditos
100 Montaditos is a Spanish chain restaurant which offers a wide selection of small sandwiches.
Usually, you pay around 1 – 3 Euros per sandwich, depending on what kind of filling you’re asking for. On Wednesdays, everything is only 1 Euro.
They also have beer and sangria for an amazing price. If you’re looking for cheap things to do in Lisbon and you’re hungry, this is a place to visit.
It’s a fantastic place to hang out and chat with your friends or coworkers. The atmosphere is lively and a wonderful place to socialize. There are a few different locations in Lisbon.
Angela
Angela, the mastermind behind theslowtravelista, is a passionate traveler who embraces slow travel's essence. With a knack for immersing herself in diverse cultures, she treasures connections formed across the globe. Beyond her adventures, Angela's vibrant personality shines through her love for spontaneous hair changes, hitchhiking escapades, and culinary delights. Join her for travel insights, laughter, and unforgettable adventures.
One Comment