Lisbon

1. Straßenbahn 28

2. Pâdrao dos Descobrimentos

3. Torre de Bélem

4. Mosteiro dos Jéronimos

5. Confeteira Pastéis de Belém

6. Elevador de Santa Justa

7. More excursion tips for Lisbon

8. Lisbon with audioguide

9. Informationen zum Hafen von Lissabon

10. Book shore excursions

      10.1 Meine Landausflüge

      10.2 Get Your Guide

      10.3 Viator

Lisbon is one of Europe’s most vibrant and exciting cities. With around 600,000 inhabitants, Portugal’s capital is relatively small, yet it offers more than you could possibly explore in a single day. It is a place where tradition and modernity blend in a truly seamless way. With 290 days of sunshine a year, Lisbon provides its guests with a mild, pleasant climate year-round—the perfect mix for an interesting city break

In Lisbon, we were docked very centrally, right in the city and directly at a Metro station. We purchased a day pass for the entire public transport network there. We set off on our own with quite a few plans in mind. Our first goal was to ride the famous Tram 28.

Since the tram is always very crowded, we recommend going to one of the two starting points: Martim Moniz or Campo de Ourique. Because everyone is required to disembark at these stops, you have a great chance of getting a seat. A full loop takes about 55 minutes and passes by many of the city's top sights.

Next, we headed toward Belém. We took a bus along the Tagus (Tejo) until we reached the point directly across from the Christ the King statue on the opposite bank. From there, we walked along the riverfront to the Padrão dos Descobrimentos.

The Monument to the Discoveries, as it is known in English, is located in the Belém district right on the banks of the Tagus. It was erected in 1960 by the Salazar regime to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator.The monument stands 56 meters tall. Inside, it houses an auditorium for 101 people with a stage. On the second floor, there is an exhibition hall, which leads up to the observation deck.

The Torre de Belém is arguably Lisbon's most famous landmark and an absolute must-see for every visitor. Built in the 16th century in the Manueline style, this UNESCO World Heritage site originally served as a fortified tower in the Tagus River to protect the city from invaders. At the same time, it served as a ceremonial gateway welcoming home returning explorers.

Today, the tower is accessible via a small bridge. From the observation deck, you can enjoy a magnificent view over the river and the Monument to the Discoveries. Since capacity is limited, we recommend arriving early or booking your tickets in advance.

The Jerónimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos) is considered the most significant surviving example of Manueline architecture. After 42 years of construction, it was completed in 1544 and housed the Order of Saint Jerome until 1834.

Directly across from the monastery lies a beautiful park, perfect for a leisurely stroll toward the building. Remarkably, the monastery remained largely intact during the Great Earthquake of 1755. Since 1850, the west wing has been home to the National Archaeology Museum and the Maritime Museum. In 1983, the monastery was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Not far from the monastery, long queues form outside a specific pastry shop. This is home to arguably the most famous Pastéis de Nata in Lisbon. These custard-filled puff pastry tarts are truly delicious. The shop itself spans several rooms, and the glass-walled bakery is particularly impressive, allowing guests to watch the production of this popular treat.

We also stopped in here and patiently waited in line until a table became available. The moment you take a bite, you understand why even the monks of Lisbon were so fond of these tarts. Pair it with a cup of coffee, and everything is perfect. After this culinary highlight, we headed back toward Lisbon's city center.

Back in the center of Lisbon, we headed to the Elevador de Santa Justa. This vertical lift connects the lower district of Baixa with the higher-lying Chiado district. Built in 1902 and originally powered by steam, it was upgraded with electric motors in 1907.

The elevator stands 45 meters tall and features two wood-paneled cabins, each with a capacity of 24 people. You should plan for a short wait, as the crowds can be quite large depending on the time of day. We were lucky and didn't have to wait very long. Once you reach the top, you are rewarded with a fantastic panoramic view of Lisbon.

After we had taken all our photos, we headed back down and walked to the Rossio, Lisbon's central square. The area is filled with numerous bars and restaurants.

We received a surprising phone call—some friends of ours happened to be in Lisbon as well, so we met up and spent the evening together. We ended up eating at a small restaurant in the Alfama. This labyrinthine old town is built on a steep hillside. For those unfamiliar with the area, navigating the narrow, winding streets can be quite a challenge, even with GPS.

The next morning, we cast off and departed from Lisbon. Make sure to take the time to watch the sail-out along the Tagus; you will recognize many of the landmarks you visited. There is a lovely tradition when the ship passes under the Ponte 25 de Abril: if you throw a coin over your shoulder exactly as you pass beneath the bridge, it is said that you will one day return to Lisbon.

Lisbon can be explored very well independently. Here you can see the highlights awaiting you.

AOYO gives you the opportunity to explore Lisbon on your own and at your own pace, without having to miss out on the expert knowledge of experienced tour guides. Our audio-guided city tour features 29 stations and conveniently begins and ends right at the cruise terminal.

Getting started is easy: simply download the AOYO App to your smartphone and enter your download code after purchasing the audio guide. Once the download is complete, you can use the guide offline and with unlimited access throughout your stay.

Here you will find information about the location of the port, public transportation, rental cars, and options for independent excursions.

Meine Landausflüge offer you fantastic cruise trips at the most popular ports worldwide. Typically, they are available in much smaller groups and at more affordable prices than the cruise line’s own excursions. All our options are carefully selected to guarantee you an unforgettable outing experience.

• Small group sizes  
• Punctual return guarantee  
• Convenient pick-up and drop-off service from/to the port  
• Money-back guarantee for itinerary changes and port cancellations  
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour (Flex option up to 60 minutes before the tour start)

With GetYourGuide, you can book land excursions in small groups, often at better prices than those offered by cruise lines. All experiences are carefully selected and reviewed by experts. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start of the excursion.

Viator, a Tripadvisor company, is one of the world's leading online marketplaces for travel experiences. The platform provides travelers with access to more than 300,000 activities, including guided tours, day trips, attraction tickets, and exclusive experiences in thousands of destinations worldwide. A key advantage for users is the millions of authentic traveler reviews that help in making informed choices. 

Viator is known for its high flexibility:

• offering free cancellation on many bookings up to 24 hours in advance.
• Additionally, the "reserve now, pay later" option provides financial freedom during trip planning. 

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