Summer awakens something special in Lisbon. Golden light bounces off terracotta rooftops... The Atlantic breeze carries the scent of grilled sardines… Fado melodies drift from open windows... The whole city seems to exhale into a slower, more sensual rhythm.
Whether you're popping for a weekend or settling in for longer, here are five things to do in Lisbon this summer – from a self-guided subculture tour to a coastal escape. We bet you’ll be booking your next trip before you've even left.
Staying at the exclusive Anthropologie x Locke Apartment at Locke de Santa Joana is a surefire way to make your trip to the capital even more special. A hotel where you can buy the decor? Sign. Us. Up.
Lose yourself in authentic fado
Forget the tourist-trap fado houses with their dinner-show vibes: real fado happens in dimly lit tavernas where locals gather to hear raw, emotional ballads that capture the Portuguese soul. (The magic happens in the silence between songs, when it feels like the entire room is holding their breath.) It’s no surprise UNESCO declared fado a World Heritage art form.
High on our list of Lisbon summer experiences is a visit to Sr. Fado in the Alfama district (there are only nine tables, so be sure to make a reservation). Grab a bottle of vinho verde and settle in for an evening that'll haunt you long after the last note fades.
Take yourself on a street art tour
Lisbon’s dynamic street art movement dates back to the 1750s, when locals began incorporating colour and decorative tiles while rebuilding in the wake of a massive earthquake. Later, political upheaval in the 1970s unleashed a new wave of creative expression. Today, the Galeria de Arte Urbana (GAU) partners with international and local artists on murals all over the city.
Start your street art odyssey in Mouraria, where the colourful murals along Escadinhas de São Cristóvão lead you to the car park-cum-street-art-gallery near Castelo São Jorge. From there, drift down to Chiado's Calçada do Carmo to admire Utopia 63's Brazilian-influenced pieces, then tackle the steep Calçada da Glória (take the funicular up and walk down unless you want a serious workout) to appreciate yet more wall-sprayed masterpieces.
Continue to the legendary Amoreiras Wall on Avenida Conselheiro Fernando de Sousa, where dozens of artists layer their work in an ever-evolving gallery. Finally, absorb the industrial coolness of LX Factory on Rua Rodrigues Faria to discover pieces by Pedro Zamith and Bordalo II among the creative shops and eateries.
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Escape to the beach
A beach day is one of our must-do Lisbon summer experiences. Around an hour from central Lisbon by train (or half an hour if you’re driving), Praia de Carcavelos feels both cosmopolitan and refreshingly nostalgic. This long stretch of sand watched over by the São Julião da Barra Fort has the kind of energy that makes you want to stay all day: families claiming prime spots early, surfers checking the waves, and beach volleyball tournaments that turn into impromptu parties. Sure, you'll have plenty of company, but we reckon that only adds to the vibe.
Can’t be bothered to make the trip, but want to splash about and sunbathe? Head down to the guests-only outdoor pool at Locke de Santa Joana, open 10am-8pm daily.
In town a little longer? Find out how to spend 5 days in Lisbon.
Explore Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhood
Tourist groups follow the main routes through Alfama, Lisbon’s Moorish Quarter, cameras clicking at predictable photo spots. But the real Lisbon summer experience happens when you veer off the beaten track and let the neighbourhood's medieval logic guide you through its maze of cobbled alleys and hidden courtyards.
Start climbing from the Fado Museum and resist the urge to check Google Maps every five minutes – you'll discover viewpoints that aren't on any Instagram location tag, stumble into family-run restaurants where the menu is whatever's cooking in the back, and understand why Alfama feels more like a village that happens to sit in the middle of a capital city.
Dine alfresco
Summer in Lisbon means one thing: claiming a table outside and letting the morning/day/evening (or all three, if you really bed in) unfold at its own pace. For breakfast or lunch, Santa Marta serves vibrant, Mediterranean-inspired antipasti, fresh pasta, woodfired pizza and grilled meats and fish by the pool at Locke de Santa Joana. The secret to ordering like a local? Share small plates, order wine by the bottle, and never rush.
Come evening, make a reservation at Santa Joana restaurant, where chef Nuno Mendes celebrates the very best of Portugal’s land and sea with a menu that respects tradition, while embracing the city’s vibrant, cosmopolitan spirit. The best part? It’s right here in Locke de Santa Joana, so you’ll only have a short totter to bed when the evening finally comes to a close.
In a rush? Check out our 72-hour guide to Lisbon, courtesy of Locke friend Matilde Espírito Santo.
Stay in a hotel where you can buy the decor
Now you’ve got a whole stack of things to do in Lisbon this summer… but where to stay? How about a hotel where you can buy the decor…? Yes, you heard right. At the exclusive Anthropologie x Locke Apartment at Locke de Santa Joana, you can test drive this year’s interior trends (and maybe even order a piece or two to meet you back home). But hurry: it’s only available until 30th September 2025.
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