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Four people ride bicycles along a waterfront path on a sunny day, with a distant red suspension bridge and hills across a blue river backdrop.

Have fun in Lisbon - Here’s some fun activities you can do while in the city for UXLx

07 April 2025

After all the learning and networking at UXLx, why not surfing your first wave or paint a traditional Portuguese "azulejo" (tile)? We’ve rounded up 6 fun activities to help you make the most of your time in Lisbon.

Surf the perfect wave (or try to 😅)

Three surfers in wetsuits stand on a sandy beach at dusk. Surfboards lie on the sand, facing gentle ocean waves, under a pastel sky.

Photo by Volha Hrysheuskaya on Unsplash

With more than 850 km of coastline, Portugal has long become a premier year-round surf destination. Although there’s no sea in Lisbon, you can easily get to a surfing beach in less than an hour. Estoril coast is a preferred location for surfing tourists as it is linked by direct urban train lines from the city centre.

Other top surfing destinations include Sintra, Costa da Caparica or, if you don’t mind going further north, Ericeira and Peniche. In any of the locations you’ll find a number of surfing schools, with certified instructors.

Sail into the sunset on a Tagus cruise

A tour boat sails on a calm river beneath a red suspension bridge at sunset. The sky is clear, creating a peaceful and scenic atmosphere.

Source: Lisboat

Lisbon overlooks the beautiful and immense Tagus river. When exploring the city, you get some amazing views with the river in the backdrop. But have you wondered how Lisbon looks from the water? Hop on a cruise to get a unique perspective of Lisbon’s landmarks — 25 of April Bridge, Terreiro do Paço, and Belém Tower. For the ultimate experience, look for a boat cruise at sunset (often accompanied by some wine, snacks or even a DJ 🍷💃). Online you’ll find multiple options from different operators.

Bake your own Pastéis de Nata

A group of six people in aprons gather around a wooden table making pastéis de nata in a cozy kitchen with warm lighting. They appear engaged and collaborative.

Source: Homecooking Lisbon

If you’re planning a trip to Lisbon you must certainly have heard of the famous (and delicious 😋) egg custard tarts — Pastéis de Nata. Besides tasting them when you’re in town, why not learning how to bake them at home? You can take a Pastel de Nata Pastry workshop, which ends with you enjoying your own freshly-baked Pastel de Nata.

Hit the streets for a Lisbon street art tour

Colourful mural on a wall depicting a lively scene with musicians playing guitars, a woman dancing, and a cityscape. The text reads "Fado Vadio."

Photo by Tiff Ng on Pexels

Colourful street art perfectly blends with Lisbon’s century-old heritage. A real open-air exhibition that has placed the city as a premier street art destination. A municipal office spots vacant wall spaces in the city and partners with local and international artists to create some amazing art works all over the city.

You’ll probably be able to spot some when your out and about but taking a street art tour is one of the best ways to discover all the hidden gems, while learning more about it.

Have a memorable evening with a soulful Fado show

Singer in a black dress performs passionately on stage, arms raised, with two guitarists beside her. Warm lighting creates an intimate atmosphere.

Visit Portugal

You might not understand the words but the melancholy and soulfulness of Fado will certainly not leave you indifferent.

Born in Lisbon more than 200 years ago, this unique musical genre is part of the local culture and has been recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Search for typical Fado houses like Clube do Fado, Sr. Vinho or Adega Machado where you can have a traditional Portuguese cuisine dinner while a male or female fadista (fado singer) accompanied by the Portuguese guitarra, a pear-shaped guitar unique to Portugal, perform authentic fado.

Paint your own azulejo

Colorful facade of a building with intricate blue and yellow tiles, black iron balconies, and dark wooden doors. The scene conveys a vibrant, historic ambiance.

Photo by Diego García on Unsplash

When walking the streets of Lisbon it’s impossible not to spot them — colourful azulejos (tiles) embellish building, churches, train stations and palaces all over the city.

If you want to learn more about Portuguese tile heritage and get a unique souvenir to take back home why not attending a tile painting workshop?You’ll find two-hour painting workshops in Casa do Azulejo or VisitMyLisbon.

You might also be interested in visiting the National Azulejo Museum, housed in a 16th-century convent, where you can learn about how azulejos are created and its history.

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On our Medium page you’ll find a series of articles with practical information, tips to discover Lisbon and best spots for food & drinks. Take a look! 😉

See you in May! 👋