Best Things to Do in Lisbon, Portugal: A First-Time Visitor's Guide to History, Fado and Iconic Landmarks

There are cities that impress immediately, and then there are cities that slowly work their way into your heart. Lisbon belongs firmly in the latter category.

Portugal's capital unfolds gradually. It reveals itself from hilltop viewpoints, quiet cobblestone streets, centuries-old churches, and the mournful notes of fado drifting from hidden taverns after sunset. Built upon the banks of the Tagus River, Lisbon is one of Europe's oldest cities, predating Rome by centuries, yet it feels remarkably vibrant and alive.

Like Porto, Lisbon is defined by hills. Locals often refer to it as a cidade das sete colinas—the city of seven hills—though some insist there are many more. Whatever the true number, those hills reward visitors with spectacular vistas at nearly every turn. From medieval neighborhoods and monuments celebrating the Age of Discovery to unforgettable music and riverfront plazas, Lisbon offers a fascinating blend of history, culture, and modern energy.

These were the places and experiences that captured my imagination during my first visit to this remarkable city.

Parque Eduardo VII

My exploration of Lisbon began at Parque Eduardo VII, the largest public park in the city's center.

Named in honor of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom following his visit to Portugal in 1903, the park stretches dramatically uphill from Praça Marquês de Pombal. Its most recognizable feature is a series of meticulously maintained hedges that create a geometric green corridor running down the center of the park.

Standing at the top, I was rewarded with one of Lisbon's classic views. The perfectly symmetrical gardens frame the city below, drawing the eye toward the Tagus River in the distance. It is a reminder that Lisbon's beauty often reveals itself through perspective. The city was built on hills, and its most memorable moments frequently come from looking out across it.

Praça do Comércio

Standing at Praça do Comércio feels a bit like standing at the front door of Lisbon. Few places better illustrate Lisbon's relationship with the sea than Praça do Comércio.

For centuries, this grand square served as the ceremonial entrance to the city. Travelers arriving by ship would disembark here before entering Lisbon proper. Standing in the plaza today, it is easy to imagine merchants, explorers, diplomats, and sailors from every corner of the known world gathering along the waterfront.

The square opens directly onto the Tagus Estuary and is surrounded by elegant yellow Pombaline buildings, named after the Marquis of Pombal, who oversaw Lisbon's reconstruction following the catastrophic earthquake of 1755. The result is one of Europe's most beautiful public spaces. Even centuries later, Praça do Comércio remains a fitting introduction to a city whose fortunes were built upon exploration and maritime trade.

Jerónimos Monastery

Among Lisbon's most impressive landmarks is the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery.

Constructed in the early sixteenth century, this UNESCO World Heritage Site stands as a monument to Portugal's Age of Discovery. The monastery was commissioned by King Manuel I to commemorate Vasco da Gama's successful voyage to India, a journey that forever changed global trade and elevated Portugal into one of the world's great maritime powers.

The architecture is breathtaking. Intricate stone carvings cover nearly every surface, transforming the building into a masterpiece of Manueline design, a uniquely Portuguese architectural style that incorporates nautical motifs and symbols of exploration.

The monastery is also the final resting place of Vasco da Gama himself, making it not merely a beautiful structure but a place deeply intertwined with Portugal's national identity.

Belém Tower

A short distance away stands another symbol of Portugal's maritime legacy: Belém Tower.

Perched on the edge of the river, the fortress once guarded the entrance to Lisbon's harbor. During the Age of Discovery, countless ships passed this point as they departed for Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Today, the tower appears almost romantic, rising gracefully above the water. Yet its original purpose was decidedly practical. It served as a defensive fortification, customs checkpoint, and ceremonial gateway to the city. Standing beside the river and gazing toward the Atlantic, it is easy to understand why this location became so important to Portugal's ambitions as a seafaring nation.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos

Just beyond Belém Tower rises one of Lisbon's most striking monuments. The Padrão dos Descobrimentos, or Monument to the Discoveries, commemorates the explorers, navigators, cartographers, missionaries, and visionaries who shaped Portugal's Age of Discovery during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

Standing nearly 170 feet tall, the monument resembles the prow of a ship cutting through the water. On one side are the thinkers, scholars, and patrons who helped make exploration possible. On the other are the explorers themselves.

The monument features thirty-two historical figures in total. Among them are some of history's most famous navigators, including Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and Prince Henry the Navigator. Only one woman appears among the figures: Queen Philippa of Lancaster, whose influence helped shape Portugal's early expansion.

Whether one views the Age of Discovery as an era of remarkable achievement, complicated legacy, or both, there is no denying its profound impact on world history. This monument stands as a reminder of that transformative period.

Cristo Rei

Across the river, another familiar silhouette dominates the skyline.

The Cristo Rei statue immediately evokes comparisons to Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, and for good reason. Inspired by the Brazilian monument, Cristo Rei was completed in 1959 and remains one of Lisbon's most recognizable landmarks.

The statue itself stands ninety-two feet tall atop a massive pedestal rising nearly three hundred feet above the river.

Visible from much of the city, Cristo Rei appears almost protective, overlooking Lisbon from the opposite bank of the Tagus.

Ponte 25 de Abril

Connecting Lisbon to the southern shore is the unmistakable Ponte 25 de Abril.

The bridge's resemblance to San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge is impossible to ignore. Painted in a similar red hue and spanning a broad body of water, it often causes visitors to do a double take.

Completed in 1966, the bridge originally bore the name of Portugal's longtime dictator, António de Oliveira Salazar. Following the Carnation Revolution of 1974, which ended decades of authoritarian rule, it was renamed Ponte 25 de Abril to commemorate the date of the revolution.

Today it serves as both an essential transportation link and one of Lisbon's defining visual landmarks.

Fado

While Lisbon's monuments tell the story of Portugal's history, fado reveals something deeper about its soul.

The word fado translates roughly to "fate," but the music encompasses emotions that are far more difficult to define. Central to the genre is the Portuguese concept of saudade—a profound sense of longing, nostalgia, and yearning.

Fado originated in Lisbon's historic neighborhoods, particularly Alfama, where it continues to flourish today.

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Attending a live performance was one of the most memorable experiences of my visit.

The singer stood nearly motionless as the music began. Yet despite the lack of movement, every note seemed to carry extraordinary emotional weight. Accompanied by Portuguese guitar and classical guitar, the performance conveyed feelings that transcended language.

Even without understanding every lyric, the emotion was unmistakable.

The music spoke of love, loss, hope, memory, and the passage of time. It felt less like entertainment and more like a conversation between the performer and the audience.

I have experienced several musical traditions in their places of origin during my travels, including flamenco in Spain, fado's emotional cousin. Similar to what I experienced there, there was something uniquely moving about hearing fado in Lisbon itself, where the genre was born.

Some cities are remembered through their monuments. Others are remembered through their food. Lisbon will always remain vivid in my memory for both of those reasons, but perhaps most of all because of its music.

The city's hills, historic landmarks, and riverfront vistas are magnificent. Yet what lingered with me long after I left was the feeling of Lisbon—the melancholy beauty of fado, the warmth of its people, and the sense that history is never very far away.

In my next two posts, I will share some of the memorable meals I enjoyed while exploring Portugal's capital. Stay tuned.