Sunday Funday: The 7 Best Plans for Sunday in Lisbon

There’s never a dull moment in Lisbon, especially on the weekends. Fridays and Saturdays are for exciting nights out in the city, meanwhile Sundays in Lisbon offer a different, chill vibe.

It’s the perfect day of the week to slow down, do some people watching, and appreciate the little things that make this city what it is.

Curious about the best things going on in the Portuguese capital on domingo? Read along for the best of Sunday in Lisbon.

Sundays in Lisbon start with o pequeno-almoço (or, brunch!)

Traditional breakfast, or o pequeno-almoço, includes things like Portuguese bread, pastries, cheeses and meats like chorizo or presunto. Coffee is an integral part of the breakfast routine, too (but of course).

Going out for brunch in Lisbon isn’t a Portuguese tradition, but has been trendy in the city for a while. These days it’s common find a place offering brunches on Sundays—and some even dare to serve it all day, every day.

Locals’ favorite spots include Nicolau Lisboa in the Baixa-Chiado neighborhood and Dear Breakfast near the Santos neighborhood.

Stroll by the Tagus River

Exploring Lisbon on Sundays means finding some quiet areas to enjoy the views. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, there’s a chance the weather will be just right for a walk by the Tagus River. The pathways between Cais do Sodré and Alcântara, and Padrão dos Descobrimentos and the Belém Tower are the most popular. They’re also bike-friendly paths in case you’d rather pedal your way through.

On a cold day, enjoy hanging inside the Cais do Sodré café with a view of the river.

Insider’s Tip: If you love walking, there’s plenty of walking in Lisbon to be had (so many routes, so little time!).

Visit museums in the afternoon

Many museums are free for Portuguese citizens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays, which means some places will probably be more crowded during this window. If’d you’d like visiting museums to be part of your Sunday in Lisbon plans, take our advice and go after lunch. It’s more likely you’ll have the place to yourself.

Here are a few of our favorite museums in Lisbon:

• National Azulejo Museum: Glazed tiles are one of Portugal’s most emblematic symbols. Head to this museum to learn why they are so important to Portugal’s cultural and architectural history.
• Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology: This is one of those museums where the building itself is as impressive as the collection inside. It’s right on the water, so make sure you take a stroll on the outside before enjoying the impressive collection of contemporary Portuguese art on the inside.
• Museu do Fado: The brooding sound of Fado can be heard all around Portugal. While in Lisbon, learn about this musical art form by enjoying an immersive experience at this museum.
• Jerónimos Monastery (Praça do Império 1400-206): While the Jerónimos Monastery is not a museum itself, a section of its complex, the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia, housed in the western wing of the monastery’s cloisters, displays archaeological artifacts spanning Portugal’s history from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, allowing visitors to explore this historical collection during their visit.

Hunt for bargains at the LxMarket

Most street shops close in Lisbon on Sundays, except during holiday season in December, so locals flock to big malls like Colombo and Vasco da Gama. Go further west, to the heart of the old industrial area in the city, and you’ll come across the hippest second-hand market in Lisbon. The LxMarket happens every Sunday from morning to early evening, just under the 25 de Abril bridge, on the grounds of LX Factory.

Explore Lisbon’s most famous urban park

Step inside the gardens of the Gulbenkian Foundation and you’ll feel the city around you has disappeared. Designed by renowned Portuguese landscape architects in the late 1960s, everything from trees and resident animals to art has its place and its purpose. Weather permitting, grab a book and sit at the outside amphitheater. On rainy days, explore the two museums at the foundation. Both are free on Sundays after 2 p.m.

Catch a futebol match on a Sunday in Lisbon

Soccer season (or, futebol, in Portuguese) in Portugal runs from August to May. With two professional teams in the major league, Benfica and Sporting, you have great chances to catch a game and see how locals root for their favorite teams. Bonus points if that match is between the two big local ones. Food trucks line up outside the stadium selling mostly bifanas and pregos, the staple dishes of Lisbon street food.

Grab a drink with a view

One of the perks of a hilly city is the number of great views, most of them unofficial and free. Pair that with your favorite drink, and you’ve got the perfect end to your Sunday in Lisbon. Go for a classic view over Chiado, like the one you get from Entretanto Rooftop Bar, or opt to look at the Santa Justa lift and the S. Jorge castle from a different angle, at TOPO Chiado.

 

 

Dinner and Fado in Lisbon: The perfect end to Sunday in Lisbon

As your Sunday in Lisbon begins to wind down, it’s time to start thinking about dinnertime. And there is no better way to enjoy Portuguese food than listening to the soulful sounds of Fado.

You’ll find Fado restaurants all around the city, but your best bet is to head to some of the city’s oldest and more traditional neighborhoods such as Alfama and Bairro Alto. Here, you’ll find some of the best options including A Severa and Tasca do Chico, both of which are open on Sundays.

Local’s Tip: Fado restaurants tend to be small, intimate places with limited space. Make sure to make a reservation beforehand.