What To See And Do In One Night In Lisbon

Lisbon has a famous international airport with overnight stopovers. Maybe you are on one of those flights and you want to take advantage of your time getting to know the city a little. Or maybe you’re just passing through and only have a few hours to stay. A night in Lisbon will allow you to immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of this wonderful city.  

One night in Lisbon : stroll through the center

If you do not have much time to visit the city and the weather is good, you can take the opportunity to take a pleasant walk through the center. A good idea is to start in the Plaza del Comercio and go up to the Rossio, two of the most representative meeting points and places in the city, which are also always lively.

On the way  you will pass in front of the Santa Justa elevator, if it is not late you can get on it and take the opportunity to enjoy the image of Lisbon at night from its viewpoint.

If you no longer have time because it has closed (it closes at 11 p.m.),  you can continue from Rossio Square by walking along Avenida da Liberdade, one of the most elegant and pleasant streets of the Portuguese capital. You will pass by the monument to the Restorers and you will arrive at the monument to the Marquis of Pombal, in the square that bears his name.

Dine downtown: Time Out Market

Another good way to start the night in Lisbon is with dinner. You can do it at Time Out Market. Getting there is very simple, especially if you go from the airport. Just take the Vm line, get off at Alameda and connect with the green VD to get off six stops later at Cais do Sodré.

Right in front of the station you will find this food stall market where you can taste any typical dish of Portuguese gastronomy. Don’t forget to eat one of their cod dishes, a good Portuguese wine and their delicious Belém cakes, which you can find right at the entrance on the right-hand side. Hopefully, you’ll even eat them toasty.

And, to lower dinner, you can take a walk to the Plaza del Comercio, which is very close, or visit the Chiado district.

Listen to fado in the Alfama

You can take advantage of the night in Lisbon to dine in a very different way, in this case in one of the most picturesque neighborhoods of the city. In the Alfama you will find countless small places where you can dine while listening to this type of traditional Portuguese music.

Ride the tram

If it is not too late, you can take the opportunity to get on the most charming means of transport in the city: the tram. As you will not have much time and the service ends quite soon, we recommend a line: 28. It is the most touristic line, but from which you will see the best of Lisbon.

This tram will take you through the Bairro Alto and Chiado, Graça and Alfama, passing by the cathedral and very close to the castle of San Jorge, among other treasures. Of course, you should bear in mind that it only works until 11 p.m.

Discover the party places in Lisbon

If what you want is to take advantage of the night in Lisbon to enjoy its nightlife, you should know that the capital of Portugal will enchant you. And, if you’ve dined at Time Out Market, perfect, because in the Cais du Sodré area you will find bars and clubs where you can have fun. If the weather is good, you can relax on one of its terraces.

Another option is the Barrio Alto, frequented by young people and with countless bars with live music, jazz clubs and discos. You can also go to the Docas area, a step away from the April 25 bridge and which is full of establishments where you can have a good time.

These have been our proposals to enjoy a night in Lisbon. Choosing one or the other will depend on the time and also on your tastes, but with any of them you will enjoy the charm of a special city.

Cover photo: Fernando García / Flickr.com