9 Best Sights in Alcântara, Cais do Sodré, and Santos, Lisbon

A former industrial area that's been transformed into a symbol of Lisbon's creative spirit, LX Factory is a colorful collection of cafés, bars, and boutiques. There's an excellent bookshop, Ler Devagar ("Read Slowly") with its own bar, plus a rooftop bar that serves cocktails and snacks to a young, laidback crowd. There's notable art to admire, too, and fans line up to snap pictures of the giant bee mural by Bordalo II, one of Lisbon's most celebrated street artists. 

Portugal has a rich history of using puppets—from cute to creepy—to tell stories, and this fascinating museum is an opportunity to see the marionettes and masks up close. The only one of its kind in Portugal, the Marionette Museum has expanded in recent years to include an impressive collection of African and Asian puppets, and big ticket visiting exhibitions have included a selection of puppets from Tim Burton's animated movies. The location, inside a former convent, adds an extra dash of drama to the proceedings, and there’s a chance to get hands on with some of the puppets.

Portugal’s National Ancient Art Museum is housed in an opulent 17th-century palace, built at the behest of the Count of Alvor and later occupied by the brother of the Marquis de Pombal. Try not to spend too much time gaping at the dramatic painted ceilings, stucco detailing, and baroque doorways or you’ll miss the collection of more than 40,000 works, including the unsettling 1501 triptych Temptation of Saint Anthony by Hieronymus Bosch, one of the most important pieces in the country. A café set in lovely gardens is the perfect place for a bite.

A local landmark since 1892, the Mercado da Ribeira is worth a visit to see where locals go for stalls selling the city’s freshest fruit, vegetables, fish, and seafood. An adjoining hall has been taken over by very popular and busy food hall, Time Out Market, where Lisbon’s top chefs and restaurants present their best creations to be enjoyed at communal seating areas. The massive warehouse building is where tourists get an overview of local gastronomy and where locals find their favorite bites.

In the shadow of the huge Ponte 25 de Abril, the old wharves have been made over so that you can stroll along the riverfront all the way to Belém (taking about 30 minutes each way). At Docas de Santo Amaro, known to locals simply as Docas, a line of swanky restaurants and clubs now inhabit the shells of former warehouses. On the terrace in front of the marina, the party goes on until late into the night.

Housed in a former bacalhau (salt cod) warehouse with impressive bas-reliefs on its facade, the Museu do Oriente is one of Lisbon's most important cultural institutions. Funded by the Fundação Oriente (a legacy of colonial Macau and its gaming revenues), this dockside giant seeks to tell the story of the centuries-long Portuguese presence in Asia and to provide a showcase for Asian cultures. Highlights of the permanent collections include unique maps and charts from the golden age of Portuguese maritime exploration and stunning Chinese and Japanese painted screens. The museum hosts excellent, inexpensive concerts in its cozy auditorium.

Lisbon's first suspension bridge across the Tagus River, linking the Alcântara and Almada districts, is a double-decker that stands 230 feet above the water and stretches almost 2½ km (1½ miles). Reminiscent of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, it's somewhat smaller, but still a spectacular sight from any direction. Cars and buses cross the river on the top tier, while trains make the crossing on the lower level, offering some great views. Overlooking the bridge from a hill on the south bank is the Cristo Rei (Christ the King) statue, which is smaller and stiffer than Rio de Janeiro's more famous Redeemer.

Together with nearby LX Factory, Village Underground is a colorful symbol of Lisbon's rebirth as Europe's Capital of Cool. Beneath the river-spanning 25 de Abril Bridge, shipping containers and double-decker buses have been transformed into spaces for eating, drinking, co-working, and partying. DJ sets, vibrant murals, funky family events, and the chance to eat and drink in a converted bus atop a shipping container make it one of Lisbon's hottest hangouts for scenesters and the Instagram brigade.