Those that want to step off the beaten path of the Lisbon and Porto tourist route, and find unique (and free) things to do in Lisbon and Porto, this list is for you. When you have had enough of churches and tuktuks, here are some suggestions for unique things to do.
Music at Tejo Bar
In addition to Fado, the traditional music of Portugal, there is so much musical creativity due to the melting pot nature of the city. The best place to see music in Lisbon is Tejo Bar, located on the east side of Alfama. After walking down very narrow alleys and staircases, you come to a small square. Above an unassuming doorway is the handmade sign, Tejo Bar with a moon (making it a little hard to read). The place is small, and music may not start happening until 10pm. I got there early on a Thursday, around 21:00, and got a seat. Being one of the first there allowed me to chat with the musician, other guests, and the bartender, who somehow was able to speak every language that a guest brought in. It is an intimate space, where you will squish in next to strangers to make room for new arrivals, who will soon become your friends too.
- So they can keep the noise down for the neighbors, they don’t allow clapping – you have to rub your hands together to show appreciation.
- So that they can keep the distractions down for the guests and musicians, they don’t allow photos or video recording. You’ll be amazed at how much more you enjoy the sounds and experience when you aren’t trying to capture the uncapturable on your phone.
The bartender, the owner, the door man all stepped up to play at some point, delivering passionate and skilled performances on every instrument in the house (guitar, ukulele, piano, accordion). There are frequent “whiskey breaks” allowing the artists and guests to shift around and get more drinks. The place really started to fill up before midnight, and I don’t know if they turned more people away. It was such a magical experience, and each night is different, so you could go multiple nights in a row after you’ve taken in the Fado nearby.
Fado Music at Galeria de Paris
I had a near private show one day, and it was beautiful.
Artists and Flea Markets
I was surprised how many handmade artist markets I saw in Lisbon. Other cities often have booth after booth of vendors selling the same tchotchke souvenirs, made in China. However, Portugal seems to really support the handmade vendors, with multiple opportunities for artists to get in front of the throngs of tourists.
On Sunday, there were artists lined up along the Arco da Rua Augusta building facing the main Praça do Comércio in downtown Lisbon. On Thursday, there was a market lining the street of Avenida da Liberdade, right next to the fancy brand name stores.
I also attended the flea market, or Thieve’s Market (Feira da Ladra) on Tuesday by the Campo de Santa Clara market and Pantheon. This is what flea dreams are made of. From organized vintage vendors, to piles of clothes to sort through, to people selling shampoo or books, to local artists. Get there early, as the market can fill up when cruise ships are docked nearby! The market runs Saturday and Tuesday from 09:00 to 18:00, and even ran on the holiday of the Assumption (so I assume all holidays). There are restaurants and food vendors in and around the Campo de Santa Clara building, so you can make a day of it. This is the official site of the market (and where you can apply to vend!) and more on Lisboa’s tourism site. This was the best site I found for updated info on several of the markets- on a a travel blog, and from Lisbon’s tourism site.
Elevador de Santa Justa, in the early morning
The Santa Justa Lift, which opened in 1902, is a very popular attraction in the heart of the Baixa in Lisbon. I could NOT understand why tourists want to stand in line for hours to go up the elevator, and I planned to skip it all together. But one morning, I found myself strolling the quiet streets of Lisbon at 9am, surprised by the empty pedestrian malls usually bustling with people. I walked up the hill behind the Elevador de Santa Justa, to the Largo d Carmo (a small square), then followed the path to the right of the Association of Portuguese Archaeologists (the “ruins”), then up some stairs to a restaurant.
Past the restaurant is the bridge to the top observation deck of the Santa Justa lift, so I could walk right in for free, no wait. I had the place almost to myself, to take my time and gaze down the streets or out to the river without throngs of people trying to do the same. There were just enough people around for me to grab someone to snap my pic. It was so nice and peaceful, and I highly recommend it.
Pro Tip! If you don’t want to walk up a hill, you can take the elevator through the mall or metro to get you closer to the top.
Dance Parties
I happened upon this dance party on Sunday early evening, called Sunday Money. It was really fun and good vibes- using an empty storefront space for dancing, artwork, drinks, and food. It is worth looking up if you are there on a Sunday and want to really get off the beaten path and meet creative local Lisboans. I was also following along with Ecstatic Dance Lisboa’s instagram, but I couldn’t catch a dance while I was in town.
In Porto:
Tile history and painting class
I loved the colorful tiles lining the buildings all over Portugal, so I wanted to learn more. I registered ahead for a class at Gazette Azulejo, a studio working to record and preserve all the different tile art from Porto. They have documented the designs and locations of hundreds of tiles, and also teach people about traditional techniques for tile painting. We used stencils to add ceramic colors to the prepped tiles. Each color used a different stencil, layered to create a little masterpiece. You then leave the tile there so they can fire it overnight, and then pick it up the next day. It was fun to learn about the history of tiles, as they make Portugal so memorable (and Instagrammable).
Street Performers
You can’t walk down Rua de Santa Catarina, the main pedestrian mall in Porto, without experiencing street performers. I was so impressed with their creativity and execution, and I rarely saw the same type of performer twice. I am assuming that some of these performers are professionals who side hustle on the tile streets to make a few extra euro. From partner yoga, chickens, photos, tango dancers, fire spinners, these buskers were another level of skill up from what I’ve seen in other cities.
Street Performers in Portugal:
This group was the only ones I saw multiple times. They are dressed in vintage clothes, take your photo with what looks a bit like an old camera, and it prints straight to a printer in a box.
Sunset
In both Lisbon and Porto you had the advantage of having huge hills which means so many great places to watch the sunset. There are even specific places to do this, called miradouro, that have a kiosk or place that sells drinks and snacks, and there’s usually room for you to be able to bring your own and sit and have a picnic, however some are always crowded and filled with tuktuks and cars and can get a bit overwhelming. In Porto you have the advantage of a really huge bridge that has an upper deck and lower deck. Tons of people gather to watch the sunset and people are generally pretty jolly. And then you can also play the game asking anyone who’s taking a selfie if you can take a picture for them. Great way to interact with visitors and locals and have a good evening in the golden hour colors before sunset and right after. Unless it’s cloudy, you’ll be sure to snap some great pics.
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