Are you in Lisbon, Portugal and can’t decide what to do?
Tired of all these beautiful works of art and beautiful architecture and want to see something a little different?
Today we will focus on some unusual things to do in Lisbon and the best way to see them. We’ve already covered some of the best places to visit in Lisbon, so be sure to check out this article if you need more ideas.
Lisbon is about 300 km south of Porto, the easiest way to get there from the north is to book a train from Porto to Lisbon via Omio or rent a car and get there. Keep in mind that there are many complex toll roads in Portugal, so be careful which roads you take if you decide to rent a car.
UNUSUAL ACTIVITIES IN LISBON PORTUGAL
Here they are, our favorite unusual, strange, unique or just plain weird enjoyment in Lisbon.
GETTING TANGLED UP IN THE PUPPET MUSEUM (PUPPET ART MUSEUM)
If you like puppets, the Puppet Museum should be at the top of your list of places to visit.
It presents puppets and dolls from all over the world, as well as a variety from Portugal itself. It presents a wide selection that spans centuries and covers the rich history of Puppet Opera that has existed in Portugal and Europe since the Middle Ages.
This puppet art museum is located in a reconstructed monastery, originally built in 1665 and then rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1786. The Bernardas Monastery in Madragoa, in the center of Lisbon, was renovated in 2001 and has a museum, a restaurant, a cafeteria and outdoor spaces.
HOW TO GET THERE
Puppet Museum – from Monday to Friday, take the tram n° 25 and on weekends, take the bus n° 774, which departs from the center of Praça da Figueira.
STAND AT THE TOP OF THE LISBON BRIDGE
Have you ever dreamed of climbing the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco? Well, the same developers who built the Oakland Bay Bridge built the Lisbon Bridge in 1965.
Originally known as the Salazar Bridge when it was built, it was the fifth largest suspension bridge in the world and the longest in Europe. After Salazar was suspended from power, the bridge was renamed the bridge on April 25 (named after liberation day in 1974). In Portuguese, it has the most eloquent name of Ponte 25 de Abril, but it is often simply called the Lisbon Bridge and crosses the Tagus River connecting Lisbon with Almada in the south.
You can visit the museum located on Pier 7 (Pillar 7), which gives you an overview of the construction of the bridges and even allows you to get a closer look at the huge cables supporting the bridge. You can also use the elevator that takes you to the top, where you can access the glazed outdoor observation deck and see both the huge bridge and the river below. It’s a rare opportunity to be so close and appreciate the ingenuity and courage of the people who built it.
WHERE TO FIND THE LISBON BRIDGE
Ponte 25 de Abril-Pilar 7-Open most days and free with Lisboa pass. On the ground floor, under the bridge, there is a large parking lot or you can get there by tram.
VISIT THE PLEASURE CEMETERY IN LISBON
Highly appreciated as one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Portugal, the Cemiterio dos Prazeres cemetery (translated from English means Cemetery of Pleasures) is worth a visit.
Filled with beautiful crypts, tombs and mausoleums overlooking the bay, some people compare it to a walk through such a complex miniature city.
If you are looking for a pleasant walk and like to walk on the quieter side of life, be sure to go there.
WHERE TO FIND CEMITERIO DOS PRAZERES
Cemiterio dos Prazeres-Located near the terminal of the historic tram 28
Walk AMONG THE FISH AT THE LISBON AQUARIUM
Not every day you can walk and look at the fish and inhabitants of the water from below. The Lisbon Aquarium is often considered one of the best aquariums in Europe and, although it is more popular than unusual, if you grew up on the prairies of Canada, you would realize how cool and unusual it is for me.
The central aquarium, which spans more than 3 floors, will allow you to see everything from corals and sand walkers at the bottom to the colorful fish that populate the central area and the smaller fish groups that populate the upper part of the aquarium.
From sea otters to sea dragons and sunfish, there is a lot to see here and there are probably some species that you have never seen before.
Make sure you have enough time to inspect everything and bring good walking shoes, because I guarantee that some of the tanks will keep you fascinated for hours.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LISBON AQUARIUM
The Lisbon Oceanarium is located in Doka dos Olivais, in the Parque das Naciens. There are several buses and trains, including the red line – gare de l’est Oriente.
HAVE A DELICIOUS SNACK AND THEN HEAD TO THE BELÉM TOWER.
OK, to be 100% honest, neither is particularly unusual, but it was one of our favorite things to do in Lisbon and I couldn’t help but add them.
Pasta de Nata is the national dessert of Portugal. Most of the variations owe their appearance to the recipes first prepared by the Jerónimo monastery, who transmitted his carefully preserved original recipe to the Pasteis pastry shop in Belém almost 200 centuries ago.
Sit back and enjoy these delicious cream pies with a cup of delicious coffee, or grab a bite and eat in the shade of the famous Belém Tower, located a few blocks away.
His defense of the city for 500 years against water invasions, sea level change, the catastrophic earthquake that leveled much of the city and now hordes of tourists talk about the quality of the original design.
WHERE TO FIND TORRE DE BELÉM AND PASTIS DE BELÉM
TAKE a 360-degree U-turn ON the MONSANTO LANDSCAPE
Take 1 part of a street art exhibition, 2 parts of an leaved building and 3 parts of great 360-degree views, and what will you get? That’s right, the panorama of Monsanto in Lisbon.
This stunning old leaved restaurant in the heart of the Monsanto Forest has hosted festivals, Madonna’s music video, the refuge and has been a local attraction since its closure in the 70s.
Since then, it has become a tourist attraction thanks to graffiti, roughness and stunning 360-degree views of the city.
Open and free to the public most days, but sometimes closed for festivals or certain events.
WHERE IS MONSANTO PANORAMA LOCATED?
anoramic Monsanto-Located in the Monsato forest, just outside the city, the easiest way to get there is to rent an Uber or take the Marqués de Pombal bus 711 or 724, then walk 10 minutes on foot through the forest.
UNUSUAL THINGS TO DO IN LISBON PORTUGALLeaving the city for a day trip is not unusual, but what is unusual is the excessively bright luxury of the Pena Palace and its crazy heights overlooking the neighboring mountain town of Sintra.
As in any Moderna tale, this colorful castle was invented by the Prince, and then built by the king. Built in the period of Romanticism of the XIX century, the castle is a beautiful example of this era.
It has such a rich history that you can get lost in its stories as easily as in the hectares of land that surround it, which include the Moorish Castle and several other structures that are worth exploring.
The palace is definitely worth getting to in a few minutes from Lisbon. The surroundings of Sintra also have a lot to see and do while you are there.
HOW TO GET TO PENA PALACE SINTRA
Just a 30-minute drive west of Lisbon. It is not difficult to jump high in the mountains, but it can be difficult to get there, so take a map or make sure you have Google Maps with you. You can also get there by bus 434 from Sintra to the Pena Palace if you use public transport. Take the Sintra train from Lisbon and get off at Sintra city center, then take bus 434. You can also buy a train and bus ticket before leaving Lisbon or use your Lisboa Pass. Bus 434 will take you directly to the top of the mountain.
BECOME AN EXPERT ON PORTUGUESE TILES AT THE NATIONAL TILE MUSEUM
If you are a fan of tile art, the National Tile Museum of Lisbon or the National Tile Museum, as the locals call it, houses hundreds of painted tiles dating back five centuries from different parts of the world.
Of course, we could suggest that you take a walk and admire all the stunning tiles of the streets of Lisbon for free, but we have already done this in this article about Portuguese sidewalks, so now that you are fascinated by the art of tiles, read on.
The gallery presents art tiles or azulejos from the after 1500s to the present day. In addition to the Tiles, ceramics, porcelain and faience are also presented, as well as the materials and strategies used to assemble the Tiles over the years.
